A few weeks ago, I helped write the opening number for the North Point Drive Conference in Atlanta. Steve Fee, who I might be doing some hilarious things with in the future, crushed the performance and it set a really cool vibe for the rest of the night. My only problem with the whole thing was that I had to suffer through a pretty serious "Half-SO." What's that?
A "Half-SO" is street slang for "Half Standing Ovation." This is that awkward experience where half the crowd decides to stand during a song and the other half decides to remain seated. That's what happened on opening night. A young girl in front of me immediately jumped to her feet and the guy next to her said, "Yeah no, not going to do that." My wife couldn't see, because of the standing girl, and I could because of the seated dude. So do I stand with my wife and show solidarity in the marriage? Do I remain seated and show that my wife and I express worship in different ways? Do I tap the guy in front of me on the shoulder and ask him why he is not standing?
So many questions.
People often accuse me of being negative on this site or mocking sweet baby Jesus. I don't see it that way. I am not rapper Method Man, I did not come to bring the pain. I see this as me just holding up a mirror to church and Christianity. Sure, I am sarcastic, but more than that, I just try to be reflective. Today, I want to reflect a quick guide on how to know when it's time to stand up during worship. I want to help eradicate the "Half-SO."
The Get Up Guide. (When to get up and stand vs. get down and sit)
1. If the worship leader says, "Please rise," it's time to get up.
2. If the worship leader is playing the piano alone in a really sad way, it's time to get down.
3. If at least 22% of the other people in the crowd are standing you have enough momentum to get everyone standing, so it's time to get up.
4. If someone plays a pan flute or a tambourine that has ribbons on it, don't encourage that behavior, it's time to get down.
5. If there are 14 verses in the bulletin for today's sermon, you're about to be sitting for a while, it's time get up.
6. If there is an old lady or squadron of old ladies behind you that won't be able to see if you stand, it's time to get down.
7. If the song sounds like it could be featured in a commercial for ESPN's X Games or Mountain Dew, it's time to get up.
8. If you can tell from the worship leader's face that unless she gets a full ovation she is going to play "I could sing of your love forever" for the next 27 minutes, it's time to get up.
9. If you have a friend visiting for the first time and they have promised to never return if you stand, dance or give them a side hug, it's time to get down.
10. If when you stand you are going to be tempted to bust out some of the moves you learned in a youth group dance number to the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart," it's time to get down.
Hopefully this will help simplify a lot of stand up situations and help end the "Half-SO" problem currently decimating churches across the world.
Worship leaders, how do you feel about the Half-SO? Do you notice it? Do you want to arm wrestle the people that refuse to get up? Do you talk about it with other worship leaders when you are buying Fidel Castro hats at Buckle or scarves at H&M? (I'm just jealous because I can't pull of either of those things and my goatee/soul patch is anemic at best)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
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65 comments:
The further in the front you sit, the less you feel intimidated to not stand. If everyone is standing behind you you can stick to your guns to stay firmly planted in your seat.
I despise it when worship leaders demand that I stand. Actually, this is when I stay firmly seated. I am a rebel like that. You can't make me stand. Or, if I do stand, the hands go right in the pockets. What do worship leaders have to say about that?!
My husband, Accountant from Louisville, won't stand up for anything in church. Really, it's like pulling teeth. He's the "non-clapping, non-standng" anit-emo. Maybe there's something spiritual about staying seated and not clapping that only the "frozen chosen" know about. And if he chimes in on this discussion, believe me, the Rapture is moments away.
Also, our congregation recently started clapping after the sermon. Now, I think that's just plain weird.
I'm a worship leader. I scored a 7 on the metrosexual test.
It's insecure wannabe rock star in me that reacts to Half-SO with fear and loathing. The truth is that it really doesn't matter who stands or not.
What annoys me is when somebody prays in the middle of the song set and the minute they say "amen" about 2/3rds of the room sits down and starts having a conversation. I think it's a knee-jerk response that comes from praying before every meal.
#8 cracked me up - That song (I could sing of your love forever) often is the song that never ends, regardless of whether we sit or stand.
What a timely post! This issue has really puzzled me lately; most of the time, in my church, its the youth group (who sit up front) who are the first to leap to their feet. Either them, or the pastors wife. And then a few more, then a few more, but there are always those who have a mystified look on their face while they are standing. I dont know; does it make you appear more spiritual if you stand?
1 - I do stand up in church usually when the sermon is almost over and music starts to play. Leaving during the invitation doesn't beat the rush anymore.
2 - There are too many sheep in the church who stand up because everyone else is standing. Why stand and applaud if it's not genuine.
3 - Actually my biggest beef with ovations is who are we applauding. The singer who just hit one out of the park or who they are singing about. If we are applauding the singer, we might as well be watching american idol.
4- Standing is ok, but really irks me is why worship leaders never make us lay prone on the floor?
5- If all of those standers would stop judging off of us sitters then wouldn't the world be a happier place?
OK, only 2 & 3 are serious, now duck, according to my wife Jesus will be here any second.
I so wish my youth group had learned a dance number to "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Because then I would rock.
Firstly, Princess of Something, you already rock, because you have, on your blog (which I've just been to because it's more interesting than translating about scaffolding, which is what I'm meant to be doing), written the sentence "If you are made out of newspaper, a finger-knitted scarf is not nearly as weird."
Secondly, when I'm leading worship, if the song is the recipient of a half-SO I tend to think it's my fault, cos in my church people want to stand up but think they have to be told. Just like they want to clap but they think someone on the stage has to start it.
I'm on the worship team and the worship planning committee at our church. Sometimes we ask people to stand in the middle of a song. Once, we actually got the following comment as feedback after a service--I thought you'd enjoy it:
"Picture this--I'm comfortably settled into my pew seat, my legs are crossed and I've got my arm around my wife's shoulders. I'm in 'the zone' and I'm worshiping. We're just about to hit the chorus for the 3rd time...What? Now I'm being asked to stand up? Now I've got to disentangle my legs, move my arm from around my wife's shoulders (hopefully without colliding with the groin of the person behind me, who has somehow managed to stand up much faster than I'm ever able to do), and then haul myself to my feet. That never fails to completely break my concentration. I know my wife feels much the same--but her manner of dealing with it is often to just remain seated anyway. I admire her for that, but I guess the awkwardness of bucking the peer pressure often seems even more distracting to me than just standing up."
He ended the comment (I'm assuming it was a "he" since he mentioned a wife...) with a request to ask people to stand BEFORE a song, if at all. Everytime we do the standing in the middle of a song now (whether as a request, or as a spontaneous SO by the congregation) I can't help but smile a little, thinking of this guy!
At my church, we stand through the whole worship set. Those who can't stand, don't, but the rest of us are on our feet. I admit to feeling a little irritated at times, though--can't I sing just as joyfully from my cushy pew-chair?
However, the assumption that most of us will stand stomps the note in the bulletin in the church where I grew up: "Please stand if convenient." What's convenient about following Jesus?! I know they were trying to make their older/less physically strong worshipers feel comfortable, but c'mon! Why not just say, "Please stand if you are able." ?
*sigh* this was me a couple of weeks ago. Although it wasn't for a standing O. (that doesn't look right) I mean standing ovation. It was the "youth" of the church in charge of the worship and the leader meekly recommended you stand "you know, if you want to". Which I usually always do want to if there's some bass and percussion going on. So of course I stood up, with about oh, 8 other people. Okay, 6 other people, whatever. Did the rest of my row, aka the rest of my family, stand in solidarity? Nooooo. My parents rebelled probably because the music was too "raucous" for them. And my boys like to sit. and bother me. and make fun of me. It was okay. I basically stood for a few songs because I didn't want to embarrass myself by changing my mind so soon after making it. I should have known better -- it's a new church for my family and I don't quite know the vibe of the congregation yet. p.s. I was on an end on the side, so definitely not blocking anybody's view. p.p.s Why would a worship leader want anything to do with a commie terrorist? Just wondering.
i'm a worship leader who scored a whopping ONE on the metrosexual test, so my contribution here should probably be immediately dismissed.
i'm very uncomfortable with any sort of ovation after the worship set unless it is obviously not for us. i try my hardest to make sure that the congregation knows that praising god is about god, not the band.
our congregation had stood during the music for years. it's just one of the things we do. plus, our pastor is pretty ADHD, so everyone knows they might be sitting for awhile afterward.
that being said, if anyone doesn't want to stand, then i surely don't want to force them. it's not that big of a deal.
Guy Married To Stacy-
You make some excellent points. I'm sure your wife is hot. That is worth a Total-SO.
I forgot. You did stand up in church once. When I walked down the aisle in our wedding. My bad.
There was a Drama presentation at my old church and after it ended every one stood up and clapped and a little boy next me said to his parents, "wow that was so good, it got a standing ovulation" The parents just cracked up. So did I!
Jon,
What about the Half-SO-Kne?
Some standing, some sitting and (gasp) some kneeling.
Or maybe that would be 1/3-SO-Kne?
Or singing about bowing down while standing?
Or singing about standing...you get the picture.
It sort of like "Simon Says Worship"
The Half-So is an Atlanta problem, not a church problem, I'm pretty sure. Many people in Atlanta give SOs whether they are called for or not, which devalues the gesture, which is why the rest of us don't stand. I've never encountered this problem in any other city I've lived in.
So, my worship leader always ends the singing time with "Thank you for your worship." Which, frankly, I think is really strange. We're not worshipping him!
Aside from that, I'm all in favor of standing. That way I can stay seated and nurse my baby in peace since he seems to think singing is snack time.
Could call on the Half-SO. It is much to common and much too awkward. I really would just prefer an "Ovation" or "Applause" sign like they have a live sitcom tapings so that we would all know what to do.
Also, just wanted to let you know that I have been reading this blog for a few weeks now and I am THRILLED someone else out actually thinks like me some.
But I do have to say that some of em hurt cuz I love your thinking, but being a youth pastor, I get caught in some of your sarcasm. Ouch.
you need to specify what type of Standing Ovation you mean.
is it a response to applaud
or more like " lets stand to gether as we come in worship"
Dont like the idea of a standing ovation at the end of a worship session. kinda makes you ask what is the focus. but if the applaus is for God in response to revelation of him then go for it.
just some clarification
Ever led a charismatic service where you have to beg people to sit down after the last song?
I think the phenominon of standing up during songs is different from the SO after a song, but anyway... The Buffalo, NY, newspaper (I forget what it's actually called.. the Sun?) ran a full-page article in their arts section last fall about how people stand up too often at concerts. Seriously. It was a bunch of classical musicians talking about how a SO used to be for something really awesome, but now people want to believe what they just paid exorbitant amounts of money to go see was worth it, so they stand up even if the performance wasn't that great. This ticks performers off because if the SO is the norm, what do you do for someone who was truly great? And what does just normal clapping mean? This leads to like seventeen callbacks for a really good performance, and really, musicians just want to go home after a concert.
I'm a music student, and a number of us and our professors had this article taped up in our offices or practice rooms. Maybe I should try sending it to my pastor....
Part of the problem is that some people are way too stand-happy. They're most apparent at a Christian concert. You'll notice a group in the front row that jumps to their feet, hands stretched toward the sky, the second the first chord is hit. I'm not trying to judge, but it takes me a few seconds (maybe even some words) to get into worship, it's apparently different for some. I often imagine them jogging, then someone drives by with Chris Tomlin blaring and they freez on the side walk and worship until the car is too far away to hear, then go back to jogging.
"Worship leaders, how do you feel about the Half-SO? Do you notice it?"
Yes. We hate it. And we usually read into it spiritually. Like, how could they sit and stare at us during the song. I hope God changes their heart.
"Do you want to arm wrestle the people that refuse to get up?"
No, I want to hug them because I assume that they are hurting. How do you sit through Planetshakers' "Healer"?!
"Do you talk about it with other worship leaders when you are buying Fidel Castro hats at Buckle or scarves at H&M?"
Yep. We seriously do.
And I think you can pull off an H&M scarf ... with a coat.
Everyone should stand during worship. Period.
Andre, we hate people like you. Yes, hate.
Pshaw, negative. Sweet baby Jesus has a sense of humor, and even if you were negative, you can't be positive about everything. For example, there is nothing positive that I can think of about the bubonic plague. Christians aren't perfect, and while I believe that a positive attitude is a good thing, a little negativity helps you to remain objective. Overly positive people can't see the forest for the trees because they are too busy deluding themselves that everything is great and awesome, when we all know there is stuff that we have to deal with that sucks, and that includes stuff in the realm of Christianity and church.
On principle, I will not stand up just because everyone else is. If the song leader has asked us to, then fine, I'll go ahead. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean I should. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that in my church. We sing only hymns and don't even clap for the musicians who play the offering interlude. The only exception is when it's the children's sunday school classes, but that's because they're cute little kids and they're singing Bible verses they memorized.
I'm a worship leader, and I try to remove this problem by audibly directing the worshippers (one or two p's?) as to sit or stand. However, at times, the best direction is to "Assume your favorite worship position." Different people worship in different ways. But this effort is much appreciated, awkward moments are abudant nonetheless.
As a former A/V guy for our youth worship services (I did it for 4-5 years before I quit), I could bore you with tons of stuff on this matter, but sense I'm a poor writer I'll just say everything in this post is correct. Oh and PowerPoint is cool, MediaShout is cooler.
O4
P. S. Video backgrounds :-P Plain black backgrounds with white Ariel text can be used to worship with just as well (and in my opinion better).
Oh yes, when things go haywire and get out of sync, it's not the tech guys' fault most of the time, so don't look at us! (And when it is don't forget were getting payed the "ministry rate" or below!)
Totally unrelated-
Just a request for Stacy and hubby to come make hilarious comments at my blog.
Please??
timbo,
just read this quote yesterday. your post made me think of it.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort - Herm Albright
i agree a pollyanna theology is oxymoronic. but sometimes the way out of a funk, is to choose to do something positive. and then there are the ancillary benefits of annoying the curmudgeons :)
"Well, let's go on disagreeing but don't let us 'judge'. What doesn't suit us may suit possible converts of a different type. My model here is the behaviour of the congregation at a 'Russian Orthodox' service, where some sit, some stand, some kneel, some walk about, and 'no one takes the slightest notice of what anyone else is doing.' That is good sense, good manners, and good Christianity. 'Mind one's own business' is a good rule in religion as in other things."
- C. S. Lewis
I think that the issue of giving a SO to guest speakers or someone giving their testimony or such needs to be addressed. The worst is when someone says something mediocre like, "I bought a coke and when I looked under the cap I had won another free coke" and someone decides that deserves a SO. Then before you know it everyone is standing and clapping and it drives me crazy!!
I guess since I volunteered in children's worship this past Sunday I shouldn't really complain about SO's or Half So's since i spent 10 minutes doing the "jump up, spin around, get up, get down".....and my legs are so sore.....
As a worship leader, yes I notice this big time. Most of our congregation does what feels comfortable to them. I invite people to stand as we begin our service and then people just sort of take it from there. We do about 25-30 min. of worship up front and that's a long time to stand for some people.
As a worship leader I just hope people actually come to worship however it ends up looking. What's most difficult is to see many people standing (it's a group on the left side...stage left, that is) with nothing on their face, nothing. They look like Lurch from the Adams Family. That is more distracting to me than any 1/2 SOs.
As far a SO goes for a solo or something, sometimes I think it's appropriate. God can move so strongly through music or drama or powerful speaking that our spirit must respond in some way. I have felt that- that as an artist I appreciate the skill that I am seeing/experiencing, but it's more that what it has stirred within me demands a response of some kind, ie. a verbal response, applause, or even a SO. That's just me, though.
Such a relevant post. For me - it's like I need to be the first one up - so that people know I am truly feeling led by the spirit and not the people around me. But, if someone beats me to it - then I have to be the LAST one up - because then I pretend to sit in my chair and pretend to be really wrestling with God about some things. If you're in between? That's kind of like being a lukewarm believer - and we all know what happens to those.
..oh, another thought regarding giving an SO to someone after a big special or something..on American Idol this past season, when one of the contestants made it through early on to Hollywood, Simon Cowell turned to his cohorts as the contestant went out screaming to be met by screaming friends and family, and said something to the effect of "It's the craziest thing about you Americans. You sincerely get excited over someone else's success". I think as Christians, those SO moments, when they are true and sincere, and a response of our spirit can be just that: rejoicing with those who rejoice; rejoicing in power of someone in their 'sweet spot' that God gave them to bring Him glory; rejoicing in just barely getting the smallest of tastes of heaven when that amazing high note is hit, or that trumpet sails through a descant, or the word goes forth with power.
I know it can become a people glorifying vs God glorifying moment, and you might block the guy behind you (which does stink for that guy, I'll admit), but I still say we stay open to response, be a little free-er and go for it.
What about when the worship leader says "Worship however you feel led." I don't often feel "led" in one particular up or down fashion. My friend stands, my sister sits. What to do, what to do...
And in a church plant that has roughly 15.78 people in it per week, it's really easy to tell "who feels led" and who doesn't. =)
I just found your blog. Very encouraging, challenging, transparent. Thanks! Actually, you remind me a lot of Donald Miller whom God just used thru "Blue Like Jazz" to work some neat changes in the heart of my husband and I.
I love the slow song that begins with sad piano so everyone has to sit and look contemplative, when all of a sudden the rest of the band joins and we're all triumphant and not only have to stand, but yell. If you listen carefully, you can hear me yelling "...WHY?!?"
when i was a worship leader wouldn't have minded how people gave standing ovations as long as they stopped reading books, texting and talking on the front few rows. It amazes me how many times i've seen people put in the effort (sometimes significant at big christian events)to get down the front and then stand there looking bored or focused on something else
So glad you are talking about this!
This just happened a couple weeks ago: we started out standing through a few songs, then the worship leader asked us to take our seats and then proceeded to play the song, "...and I'll stand in awe of you", and then there began the dilemma, should I stay seated or stand in awe? It was that awkward moment where a small percentage stood back up. I wanted to, but I didn't want to stand out.
Is this related to the "clap offering", which we occasionally do in my church? I always find that a little weird. Sometimes I will throw in a "yodel offering" when the Spirit is moving. Or maybe that is just my German heritage.
Sometimes I wonder if we would be led to truly heartfelt worship if we were in total darkness. That may bring a whole other set of problems, but I wouldn't be worried about whether the people around me think I'm a freak for doing jumping jacks unto the Lord in the aisle.
Isn't it amazing, though, how much we care about what others think? That sinful tug in my heart is so strong it is hard to really be free to worship God much of the time. Cranking some Indelible Grace in my car is probably my most authentic worship time.
It's always awkward in my church when the worship leader tells us to stand halfway through a song. I go to a traditional church, and we sing hymns, badly at that, to the accompaniment of a piano, organ, and sometimes a trumpet. Every now and then the associate pastor whips out his saxophone too. But the worship leader seems to think that we're getting all revved up while we're singing "How Firm a Foundation" at roughly the tempo of a funeral dirge, and shouts enthusiastically for us to stand, often with arm motions for the hard of hearing. The organ falters, waiting for him to begin the next verse. And any slim feeling of worship that happened to be in the room dies.
Okay, maybe you don't REALLY want to know, but as a worship leader I will tell you what I have truly observed. For the most part - not a blanket judgment but a sincere observation after leading worship for almost 22 years - people check out when they are sitting down. They read the bulletin and talk and WATCH. They quit participating for the most part. It's like someone throws a switch or something. Something about getting your body engaged helps us to focus. So I don't care if you sit prayerfully or stand with your hands raised or yes, get on your face. Just, for goodness sakes, don't look bored. That's a horrible thing to see when you are trying to lead worship. (which can be terrifying by the way)
I didn't realize that not standing is a hateable offense.
b, i too have that dilemma. I often find i can focus better sitting down but it seems odd singing songs about standing (hillsong uniteds"the stand" ect) while sitting down!
joanna,
Were you at the Exponential Conference in Orlando? Bunch of pastors and church planters. They had this totally rockin' praise band, and most of us were into it, but there were quite a few with their laptops running, texting on their phones, or just flat out talking to their faux hawk, square glasses wearing buddies.
I tend to judge ministry staff by whether or not they act differently when us "non-seminary" types are around. I know I shouldn't judge, but I do. And frankly, I've been pretty disgusted at times.
in regards to Anonymous at:June 4, 2008 9:38 AM who said:
"Everyone should stand during worship. Period."
hahaha.. in all humorously laced seriousness, that is the stupidest thing ive heard all day! :)
on another note, i think stacy's husband THE MAN! good points.
finally, maybe worship leaders need to get over themselves??? maybe seek that standing/specific affirmation from standing at your open mike/coffeeshop performance instead of a time when you're meant to be leading people to meet with God. though i certainly value the fragile egos of musicians (personal experience), maybe we could work on expanding worship to beyond music. how about leading us in some nice clay sculpting or doodling for jesus some times. im pretty sure the kids in sunday school who worship though that have a leg up on me with that most of the time!
See, the kind of churches that I'm from don't have that problem. You stand when you're told to stand, and you stay seated when you're told to stay seated; and if nothing is said, you default to being seated. You wouldn't dare go against the grain.
Personally, I'm not all about the whole conformist thing going on, but I do think it's distracting for someone to stand up when everyone else is sitting down, so I'd rather people act upon the direction given by the worship leader.
katdish, no wasn't at that conference but been to plenty where its happened. It confuses me why they make the effort to get to the very front if they really don't care. I've seen people fight to get to the front at worship music dvd recordings and then stand there looking bored. Do they really want everyone that buys the DVD seeing them looking like an idiot?
Ken from Normal, i agree with you about the whole Clap offering thing being weird. Its such an odd phrase. it sounds so ridiculous, i cringe everytime i hear it. i actually stopped listening to a christian podcast i otherwise liked cause the amount of times the guy said to give a clap offering sent me nuts.
Worship Leader
SCL Metro index:19
Nothing is worse than when 1 person starts clapping during a sermon and no one else follows! Awkward.
Dave, you're absolutely more spiritual if you stand. If you stand, you clearly are having a more intimate connection with the Almighty than if you sit. Although, you're having an even MORE intimate connection if you sit half bent over with your elbows on your knees and hands clasped in prayer pose.
I think you forgot the disclaimer about the Holy Spirit having the right to over turn "The Get Up Guide" in some situations.
hmmm, not sure what it is you are trying to "see" while worshiping. Aren't you supposed to be worshiping God and not trying to catch a glimpse of the worship leader's super-awesome faux-hawk?
Seriously, though, I see nothing wrong with the half-SO and would rather have that than forced standing (or forced anything)
In one sense this bugs me because I'm already too self-conscious about "doing the wrong thing" during worship... who needs the thought of the worship patrol standing by to critique your style?
I think we need to think of worship as sometimes an extremely individual experience with God, but also many times the whole point of church is corporate worship, in which case we should be willing to sacrifice our own agenda and worship in a unified way - whether standing or sitting or doing handstands... or singing songs we don't even like! Worship leaders shouldn't be afraid to remind people of this every once in a while and direct a unified church in worship.
On the other hand, I really want to write a worship song about "sitting in worship" now just to see what would happen... That would BLOW PEOPLE'S MINDS!!!
we don't have this problem at my church as we're ultra-traditional. hymns only, but sometimes our 'music pastor' mixes it up and has each gender sing a verse. yippee.
oh and thanks for using the phrase 'get down' in this post. throughout the whole thing i had a line from kanye west's 'gold digger' in my head. 'get down girl, go 'head get down'. not the greatest song ever.
At my church, we have a long worship set after the sermon rather than before. The worship leaders tell us that we can stand, sit, kneel, lay down, jump around, clap or not, or whatever we feel we should do in response to God. I think that is good, because I like to stand while singing--it feels more respectful to God to me. Sometimes I'll stand early in the worship set, when most people haven't yet, but I'll try to move to the side so I don't block anyone's view.
This free-form style probably works better when you have a long song set, rather than when you're moving frequently from one thing to another, like a lot of churches (pray, choir sings, announcement, everyone sings, prayer, greeting, etc...).
I used to lead worship for middle schoolers and some of them would try to pull the "too cool to stand" and some would try to creep off to the back. I'd call their bluff and bring the service to a halt until they cooperated. And I'd seed the congregation with the kids that jumped and lost their minds every time we played "Break Free" to peer pressure people into standing, jumping, running in place, and whatever else the song called for.
8. If you can tell from the worship leader's face that unless she gets a full ovation
do the people at your church actually give these self-gratifying performances, instead of worshipping our Lord? wow....
Allow me an observation. If you have a hymnbook, you can follow the words and the music in a sitting or standing position. If the words are on some screen in front of someone, it would be an offense and rude to deny some person the words by standing in their way. As I have remained seated during the song service, I have had to close my eyes to block out a sea of rear ends that totally destroy my "worship." If I were a person unable to stand as many older folks are, I would find some other solution for that part of a service. Many older saints may decide to stay home. Out of respect for each other, we should all sit when there is a visual we are expected to watch and use. Standing when there is no reason to see something (like during reverent prayer) would be more appropriate. The Word says, "In honor, preferring one another."
remember your post on photos of waterfalls as a background to the (sing-along-) words during worship?
i was traveling through asia and stumbled on a randomn church on a sunday morning (long story). the entire service, including worship, was done by the russian missionary pastor. it didn't take me long to figure out that a green background meant: you must stand now and a red background obviously meant you sat down.
crazy as it may sound, it really worked! the kids thought it was very entertaining. and... this is where major points could be scored: i also managed to stay awake during "our God is an awesome God". mainly cause i was terrified the screen was gonna switch colors, i wouldn't notice and everyone would know i wasn't paying attention. it also gave everyone an excuse to not close their eyes while singing which, jon, could be an entire post of it's own.
Two things:
1) Singing is not automatically worship. It may not even be worship most of the time, even if the people at the front look sincere, have their eyes closed, and are hailing taxis/heiling Hitler fit to bust. Play safe, call the person leading the singing the "song leader" and the band the "band" and don't pretend it is what it may not be with "worship team" etc.
2) I am sometimes one of the "frozen chosen" (love it). I'll stand up if requested to, but I won't be peer pressured into it (and don't give me crap about it being the holy Spirit moving people to stand, either. Maybe some of the time, but the odds are against you.).
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