Music Matters
March 2008
Applause in Worship
As I visit congregations of the Community of Christ and other denominations,
I am frequently asked about applause in worship. Is it appropriate to clap
during a worship service? Does applause diminish the worship experience, or is
it a way to glorify God?
A recent web search on “applause in worship” generated over 327,000 search
results – some of those are below. It’s definitely a hot topic in churches these
days, no matter what their worship styles.
My opinion on this topic was shaped in large part by watching my father in
worship. Dad was a respected musician and leader in our small Presbyterian
church in my hometown in western Kansas. His faithfulness and years of service
to the church were unquestioned. His definite views about worship were
well-known to the congregation – and applause, for any reason, was definitely
not part of his vision of worship in our church.
However, applause occurred regularly at Colby Presbyterian. The congregation
would clap every time children would sing or play in worship, and also
occasionally after other musical offerings. When this would happen, Dad felt the
worshipful atmosphere was ruined. He said that it turned a worshipful musical
offering into nothing more than a performance. To him, it didn’t make sense to
view applause as an expression of glory to God, because we didn’t clap after
heartfelt prayers or great sermons, no matter how much they glorified God. Our
congregation learned to expect Dad’s negative reaction whenever that first clap
occurred that would start the rest of the congregation clapping. He’d sit with
his arms folded, his face showing his great displeasure with the rest of us.
One summer Sunday morning, a visiting youth choir from Africa sang in our
worship service. As usual, my family sat in “our” pew, second from the front,
and Dad was in his normal seat at the leftmost end. I remember the Africans sang
in an unfamiliar language, but the excellence of their offering, and the joy
they felt in their praise of God, was obvious to all of us!
As the worship ended, I just knew what was going to happen. In the seconds of
silence that followed the singers’ final jubilant chord, I looked over at Dad,
expecting to hear the first clap and see his frowning face … but what I saw was
a man who was as emotionally moved as the rest of us. And I watched, amazed, as
my Dad slowly rose to his feet – and started the applause!
I learned that day that applause can be appropriate – when the applauder is
sincerely moved. Applause given automatically, like every time the children
“perform,” is not.
So now … when I am moved to tears in worship, I cry. When I am moved to stand
and sway, I do that. When I am moved to listen for the still, small voice of
God, I sit in awestruck silence. When I am moved to shout or murmur a heartfelt
“Amen,” I do that. And when I am moved to applaud, I clap loud and long. But I
don’t do any of those things on auto-pilot. Natural responses to the movement of
the Holy Spirit in the hearts and bodies of worshipers truly glorify God.
—Jan Kraybill
If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA
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