Why Stand to Read Scripture?
— Thursday, June 4th, 2009 —
A pastor in Oklahoma wrote to me this week to ask why I typically ask people in my congregation (or elsewhere) to stand for the reading of the Scripture, and whether I encourage others to do so as well.
I don’t encourage others to do so, and never have. I don’t think it is an essential aspect of biblical preaching or of Christian worship. But I have found it helpful to me in my ministry and here’s why.
There is a biblical foundation for it. Nehemiah tells us the people of God all stood as Ezra opened the Word of God to them (Neh. 8:5). Likewise, our Lord Jesus stood when he read the Word in the synagogue in Nazareth, sitting down afterword to preach (Luke 4:16).
I learned, however, of ancient practices of reading the Scriptures while standing only after I started doing it. Truth is, there is no soul-rattling theological rationale for my practice here. It is, in many ways, a habit formed early in my ministry.
I was taught to preach in large part by a man named Argile Smith, who had served as interim pastor of my home congregation and as my preaching professor at New Orleans Seminary. Brother Argile (or “Dr. Smith,” depending on where I was when I said it) always had the congregation stand when he read the text, and I did likewise.
That said, the Lord has used the habit for good in my own sanctification. I don’t have the congregation stand for their benefit, at least not directly, as much as for mine. I’ve found that having the congregation stand with me, in reverence for the Word, is a visible, tangible reminder to me that it is not I who am there to instruct these people. I am instead part of the congregation being addressed by the Holy Spirit speaking through the Scriptures.
Standing alongside the people as we read the text is a cue to me of both the gravity of the moment and the fact that I am not only speaking but being spoken to by the Word of Christ.
There are many (probably most) preachers who can preach without this kind of persistent reminder, and that’s why I don’t think there’s anything “holy” or even necessarilly advisable about the practice. But I’m a weaker brother who needs the weekly pattern of a picture of sermonic submission and solidarity.
As I preach, I have always had people stand as scripture is read. I do it more out of reverence for God’s Word than anything else. I really like your response Dr. Moore and can’t wait to be there studying at Southern this fall semester.
nice post, i appreciate that you don’t make this custom prescriptive for everybody. kudos
I always have the folks in the church do this, except for every once in a while when I don’t, at which time I announce to the congregation that we’re not doing it that particular week just to remind us all that we don’t have to.
The rebel in me, I suppose.
It’s not our church’s practice, but I have taken some of my folks to conferences and places where it was done and done so as though it’s normative for all Jesus lovers.
After one speaker said something to the effect of, “Whenever the Scripture is read God’s people should stand to honor it,” a buddy nudged me wanting to know why we didn’t stand when the speaker read 7 verses of a supplemental text.
All I could do was smile.
Sometimes standing to read the text can be a good opportunity to get the people up and moving a bit, waking them perhaps prior to a longer time of sitting.
I think Bart’s on to something by ensuring folks understand “That’s how we roll,” but that doesn’t mean the other churches that don’t are stocked with heathen.
Good stuff, Dr. Moore. Thanks.
For purpose of comparison, I’ll report that in Anglican practice, the people sit for the reading of the OT passage and for the reading of a passage from the Epistles. Everyone stands when the passage from the gospels is read. Standing is also normative for singing of any sort — the Psalm appointed for that Sunday, any canticles, and all hymns. Prayer is done kneeling.
Here’s something else to consider when Scripture is read out loud in a worship service — try listening to it, rather than reading along in your own Bible. While the latter practice can be wholly innocent, it carries with it a constant temptation — especially for literate readers — to stand in judgment over the one who is actually reading the words out loud.
One is never simply reading along. While the eye scans the words on the page, the ear is judging whether the reader’s cadence is what it should be, or his pronunciation, or the inflections he gives. In this day, there are probably half a dozen or more different English versions in the hands of the congregation, bringing yet another temptation — to assess the various merits or demerits of the version being read aloud, rather than listening to what is being read aloud.
A nimble reader might actually misread a word or phrase with no real harm to the sense of the passage, UNLESS everyone is following along and catches his error. After that, no one is listening to the Scripture; they’re listening for the next bobble.
My parishioners have told me that at first listening to Scripture is hard to do, but after a while they’re grateful for the opportunity to make their ears entirely receptive to the sound of God’s Word.
Well said Dr. Moore. I do like the practice.
@LOUIE DAVIS, Is this the same Louis Davis who rebuked my Paw? RDM
I started this practice a couple of years ago and found that the congregation greatly appreciated this pattern. But specifically it is always a practical reminder to myself prior to preaching of the gravity of what I am about to participate in through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for the example Dr. Moore
Great response Dr. Moore, as a pastor I just recently started this practice out of my own inner convictions. A lot like you I just feel like when I have them stand we are placed in a position where we are equals, and God through the Holy Spirit is the one in control.
Thank you Dr. Moore and I look forward to studying under you in a couple of years when I graduate from Boyce.
Father Mouser, That is a good, and thought-provoking word. RDM
Whenever I’ve listened to your sermons, Dr. Moore, I’ve always appreciated this practice, and I wish more preachers would follow it.
One quibble, though: it’s very trendy in our day not to be “prescriptive” about our practices–as Mike and Gunny Hartman have shown here–but it’s always bothered me when people justify their opinions with the Bible and then say it’s just optional. I mean, if the Bible supports a thing, doesn’t it move out of the realm of opinion and into something more… authoritative?
Granted, the passages you cite aren’t stating a rule or command. But in that case, why cite them at all?
I think I agree with David in theory, but I do have to make a distinction between something being validated by the Bible versus being necessitated by the Bible.
It seems to be Dr. Moore gave some rationale for his practice, also citing some examples to show it’s clearly not contrary to some things seen in Scripture.
However, that’s not quite the same as texts dictating the necessity of a practice (e.g., standing during the public reading of Scripture).