Just Wondering February 2025
What's with all the standing up during the worship service? After all, this isn't an exercise class!
Standing as a norm, in the secular world, is a sign of acknowledgement and respect far a person or an event taking place.
- For instance, we stand if a respected official -- such as the President, or, if in the military, a person of senior rank enters the room.
- It used to be the norm that we would stand when a woman, or a person older than we, would enter -- though that is no longer always the case.
- As for event, an example would be standng the the National Anthem.
In church, we stand for the reading of the Gospel, as it is the life of Christ, the Word of God made flesh, in our midst.
- We stand for songs of praise -- as praise is always worth standing for!
- Though not required, it has always been my act of respect to stand when the Light of Christ enters the room, and when it is carried into the world, as we are acknowledging the visual presence of Christ among us in worship and our Lord's leading of us out in mission to all the world.