In the presence of a judge, we have to stand when told to do so. When the GG/Prime Minister is in our presence at any occasion, we have to pay the customary respect. Therefore, what is expected of us when someone brings us to the Throne of Grace on our behalf? Do we have such a hard time giving respect to the Great Being that is unseen? There is great decadence in regards to how we treat the Lord in this respect.
Following the simple requests of kneeling or bowing our heads when standing seems to be a thing of the past. I often see people disrespecting the Highest Order by sitting as if kneeling is too much of a pain. I know there are those who can’t kneel due health reasons, so let’s not go there. However it’s not possible under the world's sun that almost everyone has a health problem with there knees. How can we display such disrespect to the Greatest Sovereignty. "I’m tired", "He understands", "He will not mind", ore worst yet "I don’t have to kneel". If such thoughts have slightly entered the mind, there needs to be a spiritual check up. (And yes there are times you can’t kneel because of the floor texture that is excluded as well)
ONCE I FOLLOWED
I was tough to kneel at the appropriate times in worship to God. Guess it should not be such a great surprise because we as a nation do not even stand for our national anthem. Going against the taught lesson, I practiced sitting for years. As I got older, I realized the insolence which I could be accused of. I decided to stop and return to my roots. It was not an easy thing; years of sitting practice really takes its toll when you decide to kneel again. Like a 90 year old man, I knelt, aching with pain after the prayer, but I was adamant that I was going to kneel at every chance I got. The dry cleaning of the clothes does not matter, that is trivial.
NEED A CHANGE
It is now a wide spread exercise, and it is executed very well by the younger ones who fail not to be the protégé of our faults. If corrected, people tend to get rash and start to repine, but a change needs to come. Next time we approach the Throne of God, kneel, we are be the Almighty.
So... um, two questions:
ReplyDelete-Is kneeling the only form of respect?
&
- Wouldn't the congregation standing as a whole dureing the prayer (while the platform party kneels) (as is the accepted practice today) be more orderly than half the church kneeling and the other half sitting? (Remembering that worship should be orderly)
*during
ReplyDeleteOooh...one more...
ReplyDelete"In the presence of a judge, we have to stand when told to do so."
Has God specifically asked us to kneel?
To the first question, you like to tease me dont you. Of course kneeling is not the only form of respect, I am refering to kneeling when asked (specifiaclly divine worship at the intercesory prayer). The bible does not say "THOU SHALL KNEEL", it is (and I know you will agree) to a greater degree much more respect than standing, hence you dont bow to every human (and please dont mention the queen and any royalty because that is just custom). Jesus knelt why cant we. I am going to find scritural baking, I know I should have mentioned such references. If we can keep the mind frame of worship when we go to church and not ask why we have to do this (not saying you asking why) and try to realize that every action is done in the presence and for God, most of us will not have a problem. However, we usually do things to suit us and how we feel (and again I not saying you do things to suite self). My article is directed at the resistance placed on kneeling requests by individuals, and yes one can stand an pray.
ReplyDeleteOK.
ReplyDeleteSo I agree with some of what your saying and also in the context that persons resist when ASKED to kneel.
However, I hadn't realised that some churches still asked congregations to kneel (my bad! Its just that some churches got a 'directive' from up top -I would assume conference- saying that in order to return order to worship and to deal with the 'lack of kneeling pads', we now say "Would the congregation remain standing while the platform party kneels for prayer')
You may have hit a sound note though, which really encourages those of us who never really had an issue with it, to study more about it.
So I'll do that...thanks!
Heres and article complete with texts and references:
http://www.sdadefend.com/MINDEX-K-L/kneeling in prayer.pdf
I really hope this article helps those who are in the search for truer worship and a relationship with God, rather than lead us to legalistic, anti-salvivic ways...
...because it is possible to be caught up in such matters while simultaneously letting go of the fundamental truths that will lead us to heaven...(like 'Jesus loves me and died for me'?)
I get you know, and the point about kneeling pads is a solid point. If my church had some more of that , we definitely would have more kneeling. Not trying to be legalistic any way man. However even when we are asked to stand, some people still sit, its a shame. Thanks
ReplyDelete