Church Reverence by Occident

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 14.

Church Reverence.

By Occident

THE prevalent indifference to becoming attitude in prayer is one of the many evidences of declension in the spirit of true and acceptable worship. We believe there are but two postures common in religious assemblies in this country. There are at least but two that deserve to be noticed as recognizing the nature of prayer in Christian congregations. We have no controversy with those who stand reverently before the Lord and offer up their devotion in spirit and in truth. To those who have been thus educated the attitude may be highly significant of solemn and devout worship, altogether compatible with the spirit of acceptable service. Albeit, we prefer the kneeling posture. The psalmist says: "Oh come let us worship and bow down; and let us kneel before the Lord, our maker." The very attitude implies much that is suggestive of the spirit of prayer,—humility, dependence, homage. More or less of what is expressed by each of these terms almost universally obtains in the kneeling posture. Even the savage, with his stupid conception of the Supreme Being and no knowledge of acceptable worship, understands the significance of bowing the knee.—Occident.