God can be adored in our worship services without such things as choirs, mechanical instruments, praise teams, dramatic presentations, and yes—handclapping. In point of fact, God can only be adored in worship when we do those things prescribed in his worship manual—the Bible. Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:16-17).
In this essay, we’ll only make two primary observations. 1) Christians are governed by the New Testament in all that they say and do, religiously. 2) There are some specific instances when we’re not to clap.
I am governed by the New Testament in my religious practices.
The Bible clearly defines two covenants—old and new. The Hebrews writer said, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Heb. 9:15-17). Suppose you have a man who wants to write his will. He does and requests a friend to witness his signing of the will. A few months later he decides to change the will and sign another one in front of the same friend. Here’s the question, which of the two was in force, at the time the second set was signed? Answer: neither one, the testator had to die first. When Jesus died, he ushered in a new will. We call it the New Testament.
Since we are under the New Testament, we want to make sure that for all that we do, we have New Testament authority. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17). “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
Since we know we are under the New Testament, and we know that we are to have New Testament authority for all that we do, is there authority for clapping in worship? The best I can tell, there are nine references to clapping (in the KJV). None of them are found in the New Testament. Their occurrences are 2 Kings 11:12; Job 27:23; 34:37; Psa. 47:1; 98:8; Isa. 55:12; Lam. 2:15; Ezek. 25:6; Nahum 3:19. Consider the context of some of those references: In Psalm 98:8 it is figurative, “Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.” In Psalm 47:1 it is rejoicing over a military victory, “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” In 2 Kings 11:12 it is exalting the king, “And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.”
Since clapping is not found in the New Testament, and supposing for a moment that we can use the Old Testament as our pattern for authority, wouldn’t it be safe to say that in order for handclapping in worship to be approved of God, it must be authorized under the Old Testament? Most any individual of reasonable intelligence would agree with that. Here’s the problem: handclapping is not even authorized as an act of worship in the Old Testament. “Most occurrences show God’s enemies clapping. Two symbolically show floods and trees clapping. David encouraged Israel to clap their hands while they shouted to God in their excitements over military triumph.”
What New Testament passage provides indication that God desires that we clap our hands in worship? Remember, “…whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col. 3:17).
There are some specific instances when I’m not to clap.
Some want to clap when we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. To clap our hands during our singing is to misdirect our worship—exalting the worshipper rather than the One to be worshipped. Clapping in order to create a rhythmic percussion would be to add another element to our music in worship. One writer has stated, “Clapping in accompaniment to singing is nothing more than instrumental music in disguised form—using body parts to convey audible, rhythmical addition to the singing. There is no difference between slapping one hand against another during singing, and slapping one hand against a drum during singing. Both are forms of musical expression….” Again, it is a matter of authority—what kind of music does God want in worship? “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
Some want to clap during the sermon when the preacher drives home a point, or at the end of a powerful sermon. This type of clapping we call, an applause. An applause is something we do at ball games to show our excitement and approval of a last minute touchdown to send the game into overtime, or a grand slam to put the baseball team up by one run. What’s so wrong with applauding the preacher? Isn’t it essentially the same as saying “amen?” No! To say “amen” is to praise the message as being that with which one agrees. To applaud is to praise the messenger. To applaud in worship is to refocus the attention away from the Creator and place it on the orator. Furthermore, it is that authority issue again. What New Testament passage provides any indication that God approves us to clap our hands in such settings? One does not exist. On the other hand, we can find passages where God encourages us to say “amen” as an affirmation of God’s revealed truth. Paul said, “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?”
Some want to clap following a baptism. I recall about twelve years ago visiting a congregation in southeast Missouri where I used to attend as a child. On that occasion someone responded to the invitation requesting to be baptized. Following the baptism the people erupted with applause. The lady with whom I was sitting, an old friend of the family, leaned over to me and said “I don’t know about this clapping.” Well I know, it’s not authorized! But someone says, “baptism is a very special occasion. Doesn’t the one who is being baptized deserve the applause?” “The person being baptized certainly does not deserve to be applauded; he/she is simply doing what every individual of accountable age on the planet is obligated to do. Consider what baptism signifies. Baptism is a symbolic portrayal of Calvary (Rm. 6:3-6). Imagine yourself standing at Golgotha’s hill and seeing the Lamb of God with the sins of the world resting upon his shoulders. Would you have clapped if you were there? The fact of the matter is, the only ones who would have been clapping were those who wanted to see Him murdered.
We learned a long time ago by observing Cain’s worship that God expects us to do in worship what He has authorized. In short, what would the Lord have us to do about handclapping in worship? He would have us to stop if we are currently practicing it. If we are fighting it, whether it be on special occasions, during our worship services, at church camp, etc., He would want us to keep fighting it. Remember, “…whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col. 3:17).
Sources:
Scripture quotes from the King James Version.
An article that Glenn Colley submitted to me for publication a few years ago called “Clapping in Worship.”
The 1999 Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship Book. The theme was God Hath Spoken, Affirming Truth and Reproving Error.
The 2004 East Tennessee School of Preaching Lectureship Book. The theme was Jesus: That I May Know Him. A Quote was taken from Dave Miller during the open forum.
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