Why bow your head?
- Thread starter Willie-T
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I think you are right. And I think there might be a bit more to it... I get a strangely disturbing feeling when I hear directions for preparation to praying given from the pulpit, "Every head bowed, every eye closed." Somehow it seems the preacher is trying to lower some "embarrassment factor", or something.
As others have said, it is mostly to not get distracted. (I get VERY easily distracted .... not just in prayer but doing anything 
)
I often do look up if I pray for "something big" or if giving thanks, but in large gatherings it is easier to shut out the world by closing eyes and bowing the head.
)I often do look up if I pray for "something big" or if giving thanks, but in large gatherings it is easier to shut out the world by closing eyes and bowing the head.
V
When I pray, I think of myself as being in common with Luke's tax collector (18:13), who said, too ashamed to even lift his eyes to heaven, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!"
Not that I continue in sin, necessarily, though I do certainly sin as all Christians do. But I am unworthy to approach the throne of grace without giving the One who sits on it the reverence and gratitude, the worship, that He has coming to Him.
Not that I continue in sin, necessarily, though I do certainly sin as all Christians do. But I am unworthy to approach the throne of grace without giving the One who sits on it the reverence and gratitude, the worship, that He has coming to Him.
The question is ok to ask, the logic following is flawed however. How some human depicted/drew/painted Jesus as He prayed is not Biblical Truth, but a rendering of that particular person. Just saying. We can't base anything on the renderings of men to be Biblical Truth in my opinion.
That being said, as many have stated to bow and close one's eyes is a sign of reverence and respect for our Living King. For He surely is our King! One scripture given, there are others as well. The prayer of the Publican comes first to mind:
Luke 18:10 .) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 .) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 .) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 .) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 .) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
There are times I pray kneeling down, head bowed, eyes closed, and sometimes - even weeping. There are other times, when my arthritis is so bad that I can't kneel down, I will sit on the side of my bed with head bowed, eyes closed to pray. Other times, when asked to pray in Church Service, I will stand with eyes closed, head bowed to pray. Sometimes I spread open my arms, sometimes I don't. Other times I pray while driving, while walking around, or at the table asking Him to bless a meal, or many other times during the day. Much of the times such as these, my eyes are open.
Praying to God is NOT about a particular physical position, praying to God is ALL ABOUT the Spiritual condition of the one praying. We worship Him, and pray to Him............in Spirit and in Truth.
Don't look to the artistic renderings of man to learn how to worship God, look to the Holy Spirit.
God bless
That being said, as many have stated to bow and close one's eyes is a sign of reverence and respect for our Living King. For He surely is our King! One scripture given, there are others as well. The prayer of the Publican comes first to mind:
Luke 18:10 .) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 .) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 .) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 .) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 .) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
There are times I pray kneeling down, head bowed, eyes closed, and sometimes - even weeping. There are other times, when my arthritis is so bad that I can't kneel down, I will sit on the side of my bed with head bowed, eyes closed to pray. Other times, when asked to pray in Church Service, I will stand with eyes closed, head bowed to pray. Sometimes I spread open my arms, sometimes I don't. Other times I pray while driving, while walking around, or at the table asking Him to bless a meal, or many other times during the day. Much of the times such as these, my eyes are open.
Praying to God is NOT about a particular physical position, praying to God is ALL ABOUT the Spiritual condition of the one praying. We worship Him, and pray to Him............in Spirit and in Truth.
Don't look to the artistic renderings of man to learn how to worship God, look to the Holy Spirit.
God bless
Even the verse you quoted indicates that if the publican understood his position he would have raised his eyes in eagerness to be coming closer to Daddy. We are told that we are not to come to God as ashamed or timidly. I, personally, have always felt that if we stand around thinking how low and scummy we are, that we are, in essence, telling God that He must not be a very good bargainer... to be so foolish as to trade the beautiful life of His son for something as worthless as us.
Agree to a point, and disagree to a point. There is Christian humility to also add to the equation. As well as the fact that none of us are now, or ever have been worthy of His precious Gift of Grace He bestowed upon us. We don't have to consider ourselves "scummy" or any such to recognize that we should show proper reverence to Him.
Jesus taught us that in the Prayer. Our Father, which art in heaven HALLOWED be thy name.............
Now, it is certainly true that now (because of Jesus) the veil has been rent from top to bottom, and we can boldly approach His Throne with our petitions. But this does not excuse us from recognizing who He is. It's a balancing act for some I suppose, but as for me, reverence of Him and respect to Him will always come first for me.
Jesus taught us that in the Prayer. Our Father, which art in heaven HALLOWED be thy name.............
Now, it is certainly true that now (because of Jesus) the veil has been rent from top to bottom, and we can boldly approach His Throne with our petitions. But this does not excuse us from recognizing who He is. It's a balancing act for some I suppose, but as for me, reverence of Him and respect to Him will always come first for me.