Valerie wrote:Sudsy, I will post some of the quotes now- per your request-
2 Scriptures were quoted:
"Lift your hands toward Him (Lamentations 2:19)
"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands." (1 Timothy 2:8)
Quotes from early Church:
"Full of holy designs, you....stretched forth your hands to God Almighty." Clement of Rome (c.96, W) He was a 1st century Bishop of the Church at Rome, says he well have been a companion of both Peter and Paul (Phil. 4:3)
"We also raise the head and lift the hands to heaven" Clement of Alexandria (c. 195) He was a learned Christian teacher at Alexandria, Egypt- who was in charge of the catechetical school there-lived between 150-215 A.D.
"We lived our eyes to heaven, with hands outstretched." Tertullian (c.195) Tertullian 160-230 was a fiery Christian writer in Carthage N. Africa, possibly an ordained presbyter-in around 211 he left the Church to join the Montanist congregation-
"With our hands thus stretched out and up to God, you tear us apart with your iron claws and hang us up on crosses... The very posture of a Christian praying is one of preparation for all punishment." Tertullian (c. 195)
"The Jews do not even dare to raise their hands to the Lord.... We, however, not only raise them, but even expand them. Taking our model from the Lord's passion, even in prayer we confess to Christ" Tertullian (c. 198)
"We commend our prayers to God better when we pray with modest and humility-with not even our hands too loftily elevated- but elevated temperately and becomingly." Tertullian (c. 1980
"We assuredly see the sign of a cross.... when a man adores God with a pure mind, with hands outstretched." Mark Minucius Felix (c. 200) He was a Roman lawyer who converted to Christianity (2nd or 3rd century) who wrote Christian apologetics-
"The tax collector did not pray with eyes lifted up boldly to heaven, nor with hands proudly raised." Cyprian (C. 250) Cyprian d. 258 was the Bishop of the Church in Carthage, N. Africa during a period of fierce persecution. Bercot writes "that an extensive collection of letters written by and to Cyprian still remains, along with various treatises written by him. These works give tremendous insight into the structure of the church in the middle of the third century"
I left out a couple, (practicing data entry is not a bad thing) but it does seem that the Apostles taught to actually lift the hands in prayer, and we see it was passed down as both oral and written tradition-
Bercot's book has a lot of quotes about kneeling, when to kneel, etc- as the Church practiced kneeling as well-
As mentioned earlier, the drawings of Christians lifting their hands does indicate the practice being done, having been taught to them apparently. It 'seems' by some of the quotes as reaching out to God or outstretched as those who follow Jesus who stretched out His hands in martyrdom-
Thanks Valerie. Our pastor often prays and worships with raised hands, palms up. In my Pentecostal days it was hands up but more like what is done when a police officer says "stickum up". I like the palms up as to me it suggests I am recognizing Jesus as my Lord and my dependence on God for His directions, corrections and blessings.
i remember as a young lad (although i have trouble now remembering yesterday) the first time I was in a church that had kneelers. I thought 'cool' (well back them likely 'neat') a church with foot stools. Someone quickly told me to get my feet off those. Probably not many of this type of pews with kneelers around anymore.
Here are a few postures -
1) laying flat on the floor, face down, with hands stretched out (also known as 'prostrate')
2) standing, hands raised and spread, palms up, looking upward
3) standing, head bowed, eyes closed
4) sitting, head bowed, eyes closed, hands folded
5) kneeling, head bowed, hands folded
6) kneeling, head to the ground, hands face down on ground next to head
7) standing, eyes forward, centered on an object
8) sitting eyes closed, hands in front, palms up
9) laying flat on the floor or bed, face up, palms up
10) slow leisurely walk, eyes open, in a safe place where one can pay very little attention to where one is
I don't recall using 1 and 6. I'm wondering if this says something about my attitude. Just rhetorical.