Should Christians cry out to God loudly?

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Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
2,359
859
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#1
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
 
Dec 21, 2012
2,901
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#2
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
Matthew 6:[SUP]5 [/SUP]And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.[SUP]6 [/SUP]But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.[SUP]7 [/SUP]But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.[SUP]8 [/SUP]Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.[SUP]9 [/SUP]After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.[SUP]10 [/SUP]Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.[SUP]11 [/SUP]Give us this day our daily bread.[SUP]12 [/SUP]And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.[SUP]13 [/SUP]And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

So do not pray loudly, but in secret; do not pray by repeating the same prayer over and over again as if that will force God to listen to you, but pray once and stop... knowing He has heard you. You can say the same prayer later on, but not repetitious like in a row as if making a nonstop prayer chain to get His attention. That is almost like praying in unbelief. So trust Him in prayer. Be personal with God not to be seen of men.

Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.[SUP]2 [/SUP]For by it the elders obtained a good report........[SUP]6 [/SUP]But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

For church services.....

James 5:[SUP]13[/SUP]Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.[SUP]14 [/SUP]Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:[SUP]15 [/SUP]And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.[SUP]16 [/SUP]Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.[SUP]17 [/SUP]Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.[SUP]18 [/SUP]And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

But I doubt praying loudly or praying the same prayer over and over again non-stop shows any faith in God to hear it. So let us stop thinking small in relations to God as if God is a man Who has a hard time hearing or paying attention.
 

Isny

Senior Member
Jan 15, 2017
2,261
2,382
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#3
I believe that God is more interested in hearing what our hearts are saying to him than what our vocal cords are saying. Prayer is our personal communication with our Heavenly Father.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#4
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
Jesus's reference to the stones crying out was not about prayer. He was referring to the emotions they felt when he healed and saved them.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#5
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
Jesus's reference to the stones crying out was not about prayer. He was referring to the emotions they felt when he healed and saved them.
And let me add this:

[5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
[6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6:5-6 RSV
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,177
2,539
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#6
I don't sing in church mainly because I am not comfortable singing around people and also if I don't feel the song rising in my chest to sing then it feels fake to me and I was being told by people that I should sing because we are commanded to praise God.
my response was I cannot just fake it if i am to sing I want it to be something that pours out of the very depths my soul not because others do it or because we are commanded to praise him besides even if I don't praise him with my voice my heart itself is singing and that voice is real.

The same with raising hands in church I see people raising their hands but I just never felt as if that was something that I was to do and if I do raise them it would be when the spirit is leaping inside me full of joy and praise. And also when I pray I don't tend to speak it out loud which i have to admit is because I want my prayers to be private and I also feel embarrassed speaking and chanting prayers out loud.

but just as with everything God looks to the heart not the hands or the voice
 
Nov 1, 2016
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#7
"Should Christians cry out to God loudly?"

Sounds like a lot of 'Works'.

:p
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
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#8
I've lost control of my car several times on ice....and I relied out to Jesus rather loud. :)
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
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#9
Can yer hear me now??

:p
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#10
Depends on the motives of the heart..,do you seek for God to hear you or for others to watch how "holy" you are?

If it's to God, he will hear a whisper or a shout, dancing or face down on your knees prayer, or sitting silently in your seat.

God sees our hearts however we feel moved to pray and worship Him.
 
Dec 2, 2016
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#12
I think you can pray either way. I was going to this church where it seemed that they would storm the gates of Heaven and demand what they wanted from God, never did see much happen there. Then I went to this other place where the Pastor just made a simple request and the hand of God would move so fast it was amazing. Definitely what is in the heart not the force of sound that comes out of the mouth.
 

Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
2,359
859
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#13
I believe that God is more interested in hearing what our hearts are saying to him than what our vocal cords are saying. Prayer is our personal communication with our Heavenly Father.
I agree! I feel God wants us to worship Him intensely, but that doesn't mean we are supposed to disturb the neighborhood.

I know a believer who, together with his friends, praises God loudly until the small hours. Despite all the complaints from neighbors in the apartment building he says: "Nobody will keep me from praising MY God". And trust me; there are many like him.
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#14
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
The physical things in the Old Testament represented the spiritual things of the New Testament- such as shouting down the walls of Jericho. We need not shout physically, nor imagine shouting in our head, in order for God to hear us. He knows what we will pray before we even pray it.

What I think it represents is boldness. Let me give you an example. When I was a teen, I hid my love for God in order to seem cool. Now anyone who knows me knows I'm a Christian. Matter of fact, if a stranger were to ask them if I was a Christian, they may say that's a bit of an understatement. Nicodemis (sorry about the spelling) came to speak to Christ in private. Peter denied he even knew him, yet it came to the point that he didn't even feel honored to die in the same way as Christ, but had his cross be upside down.

I think the physical shout represents the spiritual shout that says "I will not be ashamed or shy to claim my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, nor my faith in His power over my life."

I don't think there is a better example of "Actions speak louder than words." Then to show our Christianity by what we do and say in our day to day lives, than how loud we can sound our vocal cords- which was once nessesary but currently does not match our current command to have order and reverence in the worship service.
 
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D

Depleted

Guest
#15
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
When I'm in total freak out mode, I can't talk at all. Inside my head I can talk to God, but it's something like, "Oh God, oh God, oh God, pleeeeeease help."

I also can't shout. Never could. (I can talk nonstop, I just can't get my voice to go very loud. When I worked in a factory and all the machines were going, I'd have to signal one of the guys to shout for me to get the boss's attention. Nowadays, I have to flap my arms and do a jig to get hubby's attention sometimes. He's hard of hearing so listens to TV with headphones. No way I can get loud enough for him to hear me. But I get him chuckling if I get all the way to dancing to get his attention. lol)

So, since God knows this about me, and saved me anyway, I'm not really worried about volume.

As for that verse? If I'm just talking, I'm not quiet. I'm talking. Oh, and seriously, I really hope one day I get to see God get the stones to worship him. Kind of like to know how a stone worships God.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#16
I don't sing in church mainly because I am not comfortable singing around people and also if I don't feel the song rising in my chest to sing then it feels fake to me and I was being told by people that I should sing because we are commanded to praise God.
my response was I cannot just fake it if i am to sing I want it to be something that pours out of the very depths my soul not because others do it or because we are commanded to praise him besides even if I don't praise him with my voice my heart itself is singing and that voice is real.

The same with raising hands in church I see people raising their hands but I just never felt as if that was something that I was to do and if I do raise them it would be when the spirit is leaping inside me full of joy and praise. And also when I pray I don't tend to speak it out loud which i have to admit is because I want my prayers to be private and I also feel embarrassed speaking and chanting prayers out loud.

but just as with everything God looks to the heart not the hands or the voice
I sing very quietly in church. I can only hit two notes, and they used my notes to create the sound of a foghorn. So, if I sing loud, everyone will get off key.

But I do sing, even if I don't feel it. I don't feel like writing, until I write. I don't feel like going out into the garden, until I go out into the garden. Most the things I truly enjoy doing I don't feel like doing, until I start anyway. Then within five seconds, I feel like this is the greatest thing in the world. I enjoy singing after five seconds. The words end up being what I want to say to God at that moment.

Recommendation: See if singing doesn't get you in the mood to sing.

(Not hitting raising hand. Rarely see where that does any good, other than to conform. And one thing I don't do in groups is conform. :))
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
63
#17
I know many Christians who measure other people's faith in decibels, and they provide Scripture for that: Luke 19:40 (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).

Many churches equate shouting with spirituality - if you cry out to God loudly you're a great Christian, but if you pray softly you're spiritually dead.

I know that deep communion with God produces deep emotions, but what I see in many churches is just the habit of shouting.

How do you folks interpret Jesus' words? (if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out).
I've been in a few churches and I've never seen this as a problem. It would be refreshing if someone wants to shout praises to God during worship!

Psalm 98:4-9
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
With the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.
Let the sea roar and all it contains,
The world and those who dwell in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy
Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth;
He will judge the world with righteousness
And the peoples with equity.
Praise to the Lord for His Fidelity to Israel.

The song Shout To The Lord happens to be one of my favorites. :)

<font size="4"><span style="font-family: verdana">[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-qkNthzidLE[/video]


The scripture you refer to is the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people were shouting and praising over all the miracles Jesus did shouting - Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

I would love to hear some genuine shouting for what God has done for us! :)


 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
6,480
113
#18
Yes...........and.........No :)

We probably should not make a spectacle of ourselves/Worship Services.........BUT........methinks we SHOULD disturb the Neighborhood........for we are Commanded to do so............see Matthew 28:19-20 :)


I agree! I feel God wants us to worship Him intensely, but that doesn't mean we are supposed to disturb the neighborhood.

I know a believer who, together with his friends, praises God loudly until the small hours. Despite all the complaints from neighbors in the apartment building he says: "Nobody will keep me from praising MY God". And trust me; there are many like him.
 
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#19
I don't sing in church mainly because I am not comfortable singing around people and also if I don't feel the song rising in my chest to sing then it feels fake to me and I was being told by people that I should sing because we are commanded to praise God.
my response was I cannot just fake it if i am to sing I want it to be something that pours out of the very depths my soul not because others do it or because we are commanded to praise him besides even if I don't praise him with my voice my heart itself is singing and that voice is real.

The same with raising hands in church I see people raising their hands but I just never felt as if that was something that I was to do and if I do raise them it would be when the spirit is leaping inside me full of joy and praise. And also when I pray I don't tend to speak it out loud which i have to admit is because I want my prayers to be private and I also feel embarrassed speaking and chanting prayers out loud.

but just as with everything God looks to the heart not the hands or the voice

I wonder If God looks to us sometimes to make the first move? He's worthy whether the Spirit moves you to do so or not.

Would God respect our worship if we were trying to do the right thing?

Do we need a Gibbs slap from the Spirit every time to worship God?

How did the faithful in the OT do it?
 
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
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#20
Mat 6: 5“, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Luke 18:35As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!40And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41“What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

The Bible only says "don't be like the hypocrites".

But if a religion puts a tradition on the backs of its people that is biblically unsound, it is still a sin, & shows the ignorance of that religion. That religion is being like the hypocrites, for they have a "show" of faith that promotes pride & arrogance.