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"Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing" (1 Timothy 2:8).

I received a bulletin recently in which appeared an article about the raising of hands, especially in "those that involve ‘devotional’ settings and ‘contemporary Christian music’" (1). I too have notice this in any number of venues. To me, it is one of those areas where it is permissible, but the questions that also need to be asked are, is it beneficial or edifying and are we thinking of others (see 1 Corinthians 10:23-24)? I would like to take a look at the arguments made by the author opposing this and see if we can understand more of scripture in the process. Let me say this, I do not know the author and have nothing against this person at all. I just think that sometimes our arguments present problems within themselves.

Before we look at the arguments, let’s look at some scriptures where hand raising or lifting up of hands are mentioned. One of the only two New Testament references is found in 1 Timothy 2:8. The subject is prayer. The context of 1 Timothy is issues raised concerning problems in Ephesus where Timothy was located. Some see the context of 2:8-15 as an assembly, others a boarder view. The other is found in Luke 24:50 where Jesus "lifted up his hands and blessed them."

The Old Testament has some interesting uses of lifting up of hands. A number of times, the idea of lifting up one’s hands is used metaphorically, suggesting to strike or not strike someone (Deuteronomy 32:40; 2 Samuel 1:14, etc.). Lifting up of one’s eyes and head are also found in a number of texts (Genesis 13:14; Psalm 24:7, 9). It is also found in praise. "I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:4). "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord" (134:2). The Psalmist lifts up his hands to God’s commands (119:48). Interesting to me is that the lifting up of hands is often found in lament. "May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2). "Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place" (28:2). "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner" (Lamentations 2:19). "Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say; We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven" (3:41-42).

As one can see, at least by the above texts, both in need and in praise, people lifted up hands to the Lord (2). What about today? Let’s take a look at the arguments made. The first is the author stating that she knows where they come from; churches that promote "charismatic gifts of the Spirit." I see this argument as "guilt by association." I’ll return to that later. She goes on to say that "some have been led to believe that such expressions make their worship more meaningful and spiritual." As I said in the beginning, this is in the area of the permissible. We have been afraid of emotions in worship, fearing we will be like someone else. God made us emotional beings, some more so than others. We are to love God with our entire being, which would include our emotions (Mark 12:30). The danger is to let emotions run wild but being stone cold stoics isn’t much better, is it? There is a balance in this that needs to be found.

In her second argument, she describes worship as being in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). As I have stated before, it is not the place but the heart or attitude that is important. She also quotes Acts 17:24-25 where Paul states that God did not dwell in temples made by hands. Continuing this thought, she states that there is no position in worship. We have often stated that position is not important. In practice, however, we have often asked people to bow their heads, and sometimes to closer their eyes, in prayer. And we have heard of preachers who have knelt down in prayer before preaching, which to some is a position of humility. Maybe we need to consider position as more important than we think. Kneeling down, falling down, and prostrate are some of the positions mentioned in scripture, including some who responded to Jesus. The argument of worship being from the heart is an important one and the author is right in expressing that importance.

The third argument to me is problematic. She recognizes the "literal" meaning of worship but sees it as spiritual. She looks at the metaphors in scripture and then applies that to her argument that worship is spiritual, therefore, the lifting up of hands is that of the heart directed toward God. To a point, she is correct. Our hearts need to be right before God. The question: is 1 Timothy 2:8 a metaphor for a right heart or is it to be taken literally? There is nothing in the text to suggest anything other than literally.

The problem with taking this as spiritual is that it could lead in directions we would not want to go. For instance, a group called the Jesus Seminar sees the resurrection as spiritual, that is, that Jesus was raised spiritually but not physically from the dead. N.T. Wright as argued extensively against this idea. The physical resurrection of Jesus is vital to our understanding of Christianity. When we read Luke 24 and John 21, we see Jesus eating with disciples and allowing disciples to touch Him. Jesus was literally, physically raised from the dead.

Now I mentioned "guilt by association" earlier. Using the author’s argument that the lifting up of hands is spiritual, one could also argue that she is in agreement with the Jesus Seminar, which she definitely is not. But that is the danger of "guilt by association" arguments.

She does not condemn those who raise their hands in worship, and neither do I. Her desire is to see us be Biblical in our practices. I could not agree more. However, I think that we can be spiritual by raising up hands and spiritual if we do not. Looking at the various texts of scripture shows people in emotional positions of both praise and sorrow lifting up hands to God. I see that as important and something we might think about. I have seen preachers conclude a message with a prayer, lifting up there hands, quoting Jude 24-25. We must be careful with our arguments and sometimes it might just be easier to say that I do not like or am uncomfortable with such things as raising hands. At least, we are being honest with both ourselves and those who listen to us. As for me, it is not an issue and should not be. That’s my opinion.

George B. Mearns

(1) The article is by Dana Slingluff, published in the Tipp City church of Christ bulletin, Tipp City, Ohio, 8/13/06.

(2) John Willis did a lecture on the lifting up of hands and suggested while he wasn’t all that enthused about it, the position of the hands could suggest different things. Palms up would suggest dependence on God.