Bulletin

Uncertain Sounds
Bob Bauer

A few years ago I attended a graduation ceremony for a family member. The speaker at the ceremony derided the United States' foreign policy. What he said is not important to this article but something which occurred during his speech is. At one point he made a comment and most of the graduating class applauded vigorously. He thanked them for their enthusiastic support, however, the class was not expressing approval for his anti-U.S. rhetoric. He had prefaced his comment by stating that the graduation may not have been the proper place to voice his political views and this is what they were applauding.

Herein lies one of the problems with hand-clapping in worship. It is an uncertain sound. One cannot be sure of what message the person hand-clapping is conveying. In the apostle Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, he addressed some problems the church was having regarding the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14). In chapter 14, Paul pointed out that, unless there is an interpreter, the one who spoke in a foreign language offered no edification to the brethren. He wrote, But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air (1 Cor. 14:6-9 NKJV). He concludes his thought with the following verse, What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding (1 Cor. 14:15 NKJV). Paul was making the Corinthians aware that any message being conveyed must be done it such a way that it could be understood by all.

When Christians clap their hands in worship, what message is being sent? It is that some are clapping because the preacher has finally finished and sat down? Is it that some have enjoyed hearing voices sing and are applauding such fine singing? No one knows for sure unless the individual interprets. Hand-clapping is no different that speaking in tongues with no interpreter. Neither message can be understood. As Christians, any message we are conveying must be certain and understood by all who hear it and hand-clapping does not convey such. It is an uncertain sound which must be avoided.