Why do most churches make you stand for the music?

[lecach]

I've been to many different denominations and they all make you stand for the music. I wish they'd let us stay seated and just enjoy it. It gets uncomfortable to stand in one spot for 20 minutes. I know I COULD just sit but I would be the only one. Just wondering if there is a good reason behind it?

 

[jamimb]

Funny you should mention this. I was just saying something like this to my dh this morning in church. I don't mind standing for 1 or 2 songs but come on why is it necessary to stand for the whole song service (especially if your wearing heels) I would enjoy it alot more if I could sit!

 

[TheGoofster]

Probably because you sing better (at least with more energy) when you're standing. I think some of it might be part tradition as well (my grandparents stood, my parents stood, I stood, and so will you), but I imagine it's mostly because of singing louder and with more enthusiasm while standing (unless it goes on for a long time, then I think it might be the other way around).
At my home church in the states, we actually did a combination of some standing and some sitting.

 

[Chelley00]

I work for a church, and I'm part of worship teams at the church we attend. When you are standing, you are part of the worship. You participate more if you are up.

If you are seated, then it becomes the worship people/choir performing to an audience.

 

[minkydog]

Standing for the music is a way of honoring God. In the same way that you would stand in the presence of royalty rather than remaining in your chair, you stand in the presence of God. Of course, there are good reasons for not standing, such as health problems, injuries, etc. But most of us can endure standing for 15 minutes while we show respect for the God we worship.

 

[Jennasis]

I always thought it was because the congregation was (was part of) the choir, and a choir stands to sing.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Music is part of praise and worship and not really a "concert" so to speak.

Standing is showing reverence to Jesus/God in your praise.

And in the Catholic church, we are famous for our stand/sit/stand/sit/kneel/sit/stand exercises. I've been ill lately (morning sickness--so nothing contagious!) and I am simply drained of energy and it takes every ounce of me to stand up.

 

[Angelhalo]

I work for a church, and I'm part of worship teams at the church we attend. When you are standing, you are part of the worship. You participate more if you are up.

If you are seated, then it becomes the worship people/choir performing to an audience.

I was going to say the same thing. I too am in the praise band at church. The idea is that you are more engaged in the activity if you are standing. If you're sitting, you may be reading the bulletin, talking to your children, etc etc. Obviously we know that the same things can be done while standing but in general it helps wake people up and keep people engaged as part of a musical ensemble instead of just being a watching audience. Also, in many churches it is seen as part of worshipping to get up off your keister to praise the Lord, kind of a respect to God kind of thing. After all, he hung on the cross, the least we could do is stand for a few minutes. But, the music group understands if people need to sit, and your fellow churchgoers do too. If they are judging you for sitting then that's their problem.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I always found it annoying to have to sit, stand, kneel, bark like a dog in church. I would enjoy the service and get a lot more out of it if I didn't have to do a dance routine. Even as a kid I could never get why we had to stand then sit, stand then sit etc. I understand kneeling in prayer but other than that I think sitting would be nice. I am always thinking ahead as to whether I should be standing/sitting/kneeling during any given part.

 

[Angelhalo]

I always found it annoying to have to sit, stand, kneel, bark like a dog in church. I would enjoy the service and get a lot more out of it if I didn't have to do a dance routine. Even as a kid I could never get why we had to stand then sit, stand then sit etc. I understand kneeling in prayer but other than that I think sitting would be nice. I am always thinking ahead as to whether I should be standing/sitting/kneeling during any given part.

Yeah, I went to a Catholic church once, and a Lutheran church once. I hated all the up and down and never went back.Now we're at a United Methodist Church that we LOVE. We get up for a few songs and the rest is all sitting...there's no kneeling at all.

 

[december]

I'm Methodist now, and grew up Baptist, and this is the way we've always done it. You stand for maybe 3 or 4 songs, and the prayer that may or may not follow it. But other than that, you sit.

I have been attending a local Catholic Church (meets at 9, and my church meets at 11) as part of research for a class I'm taking, and I've been taking my 4 mo old with me. All that standing/kneeling is not possible while holding a baby!!!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Yeah, I went to a Catholic church once, and a Lutheran church once. I hated all the up and down and never went back.Now we're at a United Methodist Church that we LOVE. We get up for a few songs and the rest is all sitting...there's no kneeling at all.

See now that sounds nice. I am Catholic and there is so much moving around during mass that I can barely concentrate on what is being talked about.

 

[JR6ooo4]

read in a cheerleading cadence


LETS GO JESUS clap clap, clap clap clap

LETS GO JESUS clap clap, clap clap clap

Stand up Sit down Pray Pray PRAY!!!!!

Mikeeee

 

[Angelhalo]

See now that sounds nice. I am Catholic and there is so much moving around during mass that I can barely concentrate on what is being talked about.

That was how I felt at the Catholic church I went too. Besides all of the standing, sitting, and kneeling, I also couldn't get used to any of the chanting or reciting of things. I grew up southern Baptist so I had no idea what was going on. I told my roommate at the time that I would try it with her though, so I did. It just wasn't for me. It took us about 6 different churches to find the one we're at now. We went to a few that just felt like loud rock concerts, then we went to some that were ridiculously stiff and formal. It is nice though that there are so many options for people to try so they can find what works for them

 

[tchrrx]

I always thought it was b/c they knew you'd sat for an hour (give or take) in Sunday School and you're going to be sitting for a long time during the sermon. The music part is your chance to stretch. I get restless if I have to sit too long, so I'm glad we stand for the music portion.

 

[Tiggeroo]

i have found myself disliking services because you stand and sing too long. It just seems to go on forever. I understand the reason but I think they make it too long. Most churches I have been to have 2-3 times when they do it too.

 

[JR6ooo4]

St James in Arlington Heights has so many masses to fit the congregation of about 5 thousand families that they have about 7 or 8 different music styles. several different kids choirs, teen choirs, contemporary music, adult choirs and the traditional cantors.

Mikeeee

 

[BalooTheBear]

We had a sermon today that covered church attendance. One of the many reasons that were covered was - worshiping is not just for your entertainment.

 

[disykat]

I'm curious if the people who prefer to sit through the whole service have issues that make it physically difficult to be up and down?

Personally, I've had a few times (when I was super pregnant, post surgical, and when I had a long-term virus) that I just remained seated some of the times we were supposed to stand. Most of the time though, I prefer to be moving and it does help me feel like I'm participating in the service. Sometimes I wish the minister would have us stand up for parts of the sermon!

I've always thought it was simply a way of helping people actively participate, and at certain points in the service it gives special emphasis or reverance to something, but as a teacher I think it's also a good teaching strategy to have people moving around.

 

[Northstar]

Churches don't make you stand for the music. They suggest that you stand. Your own feeling that you should do what everybody else is doing then makes you stand.

I think you should just sit if you want to. Think holy thoughts. soar up to heaven on that music, and don't worry about what people might be thinking.

I would hate to go to a church where they made us sit down for the music!