(Tim) Under the post dealing with the discipline of the soul through the body, a brother asked these questions:
It sounds like you all are saying that those who raise their hands in worship are somehow more spiritual than those who don't. At the very least the people who raise their hands are portrayed here as somehow more mature than the counterparts who don't. Can you not be a Pharisee if you worship with your hands raised or sitting quietly in the pew? It is the prayer of a righteous man that avails much, not necessarily the prayer of the man with upraised hands, if you get my drift. Personally in my prayers at home I may kneel, raise my hands etc., but at church I tend to be more reserved, not wanting to draw attention to myself.
What I'm saying is not that those who raise their hands, kneel, and stand in corporate worship are more spiritual, but that raising of hands, kneeling, and standing is obedient to Scripture, taught and practiced by the Reformers, gives glory to God, and is a needed discipline for our souls. I suppose such statements could be construed as making the case that those who have repented of being disembodied brains in worship are more spiritual...
But, if so, teaching and calling others to practice almost anything in worship--or really, in all of life--could equally be construed as spiritual pride.
As to whether or not those who follow Scripture and the Reformers by bringing bodily disciplines back into worship think themselves more mature because of it, I can't see how you've gotten that from the discussion? But to speak for myself, every time--and I mean every single time--I lift my hands in worship, I feel quite immature and childish. Then I am glad my hands are lifted because I remember our Lord warned us that our faith must be childlike if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
As to Phariseeism, it's all around us. No one holds a corner on it. And in this connection, keep in mind that the improper use of a tool does not invalidate its proper use. The question isn't whether preaching or prayer or standing or kneeling or lifting of hands can be abused in worship, but whether these are proper disciplines for worship. The reformers said so and I believe they are right.
Finally, about reserving bodily disciplines for home and privacy, and not corporate worship lest we call attention to ourselves: I'm convinced that it's time to reverse this equation. We should be allowed to neglect our bodies at home, where we don't have worship leaders, but not at church where the elders lead us and know our weaknesses. In other words, I'm working for the day when the man who doesn't kneel and lift his hands and stand during worship will call attention to himself.
Why?
Because my own pastoral diagnosis is that pride is the besetting sin of the hearts in our doctrinal fellowship. And it is excellent discipline for men with such a condition to stand, kneel, and lift hands in a childlike gesture to our Heavenly Father as we worship Him.
