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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
In Nehemiah 8:5, the priest Ezra gathered the people who had rebuilt Jerusalem's wall for the reading of God's law: "Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above...
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Tim Maas
During worship services in the particular Lutheran denomination in which I was raised, there was normally the reading of a designated passage (correlated, if appropriate, to the significance of each particular Sunday in the church year) from one of the books of the Old Testament, followed by the reading of a passage from one of the New Testament epistles. The congregation remained seated for these readings, but then rose at the end of the epistle reading for the singing of a threefold Hallelujah, and remained standing during the reading of a designated passage from one of the gospels, with the gospel reading itself being preceded by the singing of "Glory be to Thee, O Lord", and being followed by the singing of "Praise be to Thee, O Christ", after which the congregation sat down again.
Petie Van De Werken
There are many ways in which we can show our reverence, respect and love to God. We take our shoes off when we enter the service to show that we respect God's holy presence. I see no wrong in standing while someone prays or reads from the word of God. It shows the utmost respect, reverence and submission to God's ultimate and undisputed authority. We must, however, guard against religion, doing things or performing rituals that we don't understand if we are not fully convinced in our own hearts. It should be a sacrifice of love from the heart in total humility and obedience to the conviction by the Holy Spirit. If everyone in the congregation understands and respects the gesture, then it would be a beautiful offering to the glory of God. Paul touches on this subject in Rom 14:5-12 “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God”. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” If God's Holy Spirit has convicted you to stand when His word is read, then you should do it and thereby set an example to others. Let your actions be a testimony to your own convictions, reverence, obedience and love for God in all humility.
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