In this series I have set out to examine the issue of the atmosphere of worship especially as it is formed by the contemporary practices of clapping and hand-raising in worship. But before addressing those practices, I addressed the matter of saying the amen in worship. Using the confessional categories provided by to us by the confessional distinction between parts and circumstances, I have argued in my last post that saying the amen at appropriate points in formal worship is actually a required part of worship. It is the clear duty of Christians to say “amen” in worship.
Using the same confessional categories, we now come to examine clapping and hand-raising. Are they also perhaps required parts of worship? Or are they permitted circumstances of worship? Or are they perhaps an actual violation of the regulative principle and neither a required part or permitted circumstance of worship?
Now granted, the subjects of clapping and raising hands in worship cause deep visceral reactions. Some see such things as the sign that a church is really alive. Others want to flee in horror from any place where such things are allowed. What seldom happens is for either the devotee of contemporary worship or the supporter of traditional worship to actually ask if either clapping or raising hands in worship have any biblical basis or precedent.
Let’s look at the biblical status of clapping in worship.
I. Its Various Meanings in the Bible
Clapping has a variety of uses and meanings in the Bible. Let me quickly survey the passages where it is mentioned so you can see this. These are the 12 places where clapping is mentioned in the NASB—every last one of them!
2 Kings 11:12 Then he brought the king’s son out and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” Literally, the text says that these people “struck palms.” It is apparent that this clapping was the expression of joy.
Job 27:23 “Men will clap their hands at him And will hiss him from his place.” Literally, the text says that men will strike their hands. Context suggests that the meaning of this is strong derision.
Job 34:37 “‘For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'” Literally the Hebrew means to “clap or slap.” Context suggests that this expresses anger against God.
Psalm 47:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. “O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.” Literally, the text calls people to strike their hand. The context suggests that this clapping expresses joy and praise to God.
Psalm 98:8 “Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy.” Literally, the psalm says that the rivers clap their hands. Context suggests joy and praise to God.
Isaiah 55:12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Literally, the Hebrew speaks of striking or clapping hands. Context suggests that clapping expresses joy and praise.
Lamentations 2:15 “All who pass along the way Clap their hands in derision at you; They hiss and shake their heads At the daughter of Jerusalem, ‘Is this the city of which they said, “The perfection of beauty, A joy to all the earth”?'” Literally the Hebrews says they slap or clap hands. Context suggests that clapping expresses derision.
Ezekiel 6:11 “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Clap your hand, stamp your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, famine and plague!”‘” Literally, the Hebrew says strike in your hands. Context suggests that this is an expression of sorrow and grief.
Ezekiel 21:14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain.” It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them, Literally the Hebrew reads smite palm. Context suggests that this is an expression of sorrow and grief.
Ezekiel 21:17 “I will also clap My hands together, and I will appease My wrath; I, the LORD, have spoken.” Literally, the Hebrews says, I will smite hand to hand. The context suggests that this an expression of anger.
Ezekiel 25:6-7 “For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel'” Literally, the Hebrews says because you have clapped hand. Context suggests derisive glee or joy or triumph as the meaning of this clapping.
Nahum 3:19 “There is no relief for your breakdown, Your wound is incurable. All who hear about you Will clap their hands over you, For on whom has not your evil passed continually?” Literally the Hebrews reads, strike hand. Context suggests derisive glee or joy or triumph.
These various references to clapping in the Bible show that it is a physical expression of strong emotion with reference to something or someone. As such one might suppose that at least in some cultures it might appropriately and naturally express the strong emotions associated with the worship of God. This raises the question directly, then, of …
II. Its Possible Application to the Formal Worship of God
With regard to the possible application of clapping in worship, consider three things:
A. The Indisputable Fact
Is there any evidence that anyone ever clapped in the context of the formal worship of God in the Old or New Testament? The simple answer to that question is no! There is no mention of it with regard to New Testament worship simply because there is no reference to clapping at all in the New Testament. There is no mention of it with regard to Old Testament worship. None of the 12 texts we looked is speaking of a formal worship context. Those are the facts of the case; and the facts are not in dispute!
B. The Disputed Text
One text is sometimes raised in defense of clapping in worship. It is Psalm 41:1: “O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.” This text is brought forward as proof for clapping in worship. How shall we think about it?
This call is not a specific call for the nations to clap their hands in the context of formal worship. This is a general (and poetically stated) call for all the nations to praise God.
This call, if urged as a command to clap in worship, proves far too much. Why? If this text obligates Christians to clap in New Covenant worship, then the failure to clap is sin. It is a violation of the clear command of God for New Covenant worship. The advocates of clapping with whom I am familiar, while they wish to argue for clapping as almost a duty, are not willing to say that Christians are in sin for not clapping in worship.
This command was not implemented in the formal worship of the Old Covenant. There is no record or instance of clapping in the formal worship of the Old Testament.
This command, if command it is, so far as we have any record, was never practiced in New Testament worship. There is no mention of clapping in the New Testament at all.
Psalm 47:1 is a poetically stated call for all the world to praise God. The clapping mentioned is simply a vivid, poetic way of expressing the call for that praise. We must not hyper-focus on clapping in a verse that has for its main point a call to universal praise of God.
Clapping is mentioned simply because it is one way in which human beings sometimes expressed the strong emotion of joy. At most, this text, along with the other texts we have seen, suggests that clapping may sometimes be permitted as a natural and spontaneous circumstance of the joy that should characterize our worship of God.
C. The Necessary Rules
The above study of clapping in the Bible dictates, however, that certain rules be recognized which must regulate clapping in worship. If we admit that clapping may sometimes occur in worship as a natural expression of joyful praise, then there are certain necessary rules which must be remembered.
It must, firstly, be spontaneous—not manipulated or commanded. Clapping is not a part or element of worship. It is at most a permissible circumstance of worship. It must never be required or commanded of God’s people. They must not be berated, criticized, or reprimanded for not practicing it. I can tell you that you ought to say amen. It is a required part of worship. I cannot tell you that you ought to clap.
It must, secondly, be God-centered—not applause for men, but joyful praise to God. When and if clapping spontaneously occurs in formal worship, the God-centered or theocentric nature of worship must control its use and rationale. It must definitely not be applause for men, but an expression of joyful praise to God.
It must, thirdly, be appropriate—not disruptive or attention-seeking. It is certainly possible to conceive of a situation where clapping is so lacking in the fruit of the Spirit which is self-control that it becomes disruptive to the worship of God. It is also possible in today’s context especially that some might clap in a way that is downright attention-seeking. This would be, of course, profoundly contrary to the God-centered-ness of true worship and, thus, profoundly wrong.
Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.
