Should We Stand When The Bible Read? Learn the Details Here
Standing while reading the Bible is a religious practice or a cultural practice? To understand this, we will look at different verses of the Bible. Many people stand because they consider it a sign of devotion and some people think that standing while reading the Bible is obligatory, it is a part of worship.
Verse
“As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” (Nehemiah 5:8-6)
Historical Background
In the beginning the practice of standing while reading the Bible was found. Slowly, in this process, people’s thoughts and beliefs kept on changing. Some people have started to think that it is a duty and some people have thought that it is only a choice, if you want to stand or not. There is no obligation or restriction that one must stand while reading the Bible, so different doctrines arose with different denominations.
References From Old Testament
If we look at the Old Testament, we do not find any verse in it where it is made obligatory. There are certainly verses about standing while reading the Bible, but there is no instruction to do so.
Verse #1
“Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped each at the entrance to their tent.” (Exodus 33:10)
Verse #2
“Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?” (Psalm 24:3)
Verse #3
“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven.” (1 Kings 8:22)
Reference From New Testament
As in the Old Testament, if we look for this practice in the New Testament, we do not find any verse that shows that it was a duty (standing while reading the Bible). But as an honor, it is preferable to do this process.
Verse #1
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5)
Verse #2
“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read.” (Luke 4:16)
Verse #3
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5)
Sign of Respect and Love
Standing up for someone is a sign of respect. For example, when we are sitting in the classroom and the teacher comes, we stand up in respect. If we stand like this when the Bible is read, it shows love and respect and it is a good gesture.
Verse #1
“Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.” (Ezekiel 1:28)
Verse #2
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” (Psalm 95:6)
Verse #3
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Importance in Modern Era
The importance of anything can be judged by how much it is practiced. Now, people have different points of views. Every sect has different perspectives on whether one should stand or not while reading the Bible, It is a duty or not. But everyone agrees that one should stand because if we are standing, we are either standing as a matter of respect or we are standing because it is an obligation. But the point is that if everyone is standing while reading the bible, this thing or gesture has a great importance.
Different Viewpoints
There are many sects in Christianity. Some main denominations such as Catholicism and Orthodoxy, have their own point of view. Catholics say that reading the Bible while standing is a duty because when Jesus delivered the messages to the people, people used to stand and listen to them, so it is a duty. On the orthodox side, they say it’s just a standing for respect because when we worship, God is there, so we stand for God’s presence and His respect.
Verse #1
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)
Verse #2
“Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles, who worship God, listen to me!” (Acts 13:16)
Verse #3
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” (Revelation 20:12)
Standing in Church
If we talk about the old times, people used to stand during worship and even today, people stand during worship in the church. Most of the people stand respectfully. Overall, whether it is a duty or not, we should stand while reading The Bible respectfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The conclusion of all these things is that whether standing is obligatory or not, one should stand respectfully. It trains us spiritually, and it is a gesture of humbling ourselves before God. Standing is beneficial to us, whether we stand as a duty or as a matter of respect. Humbling oneself before God trains a person spiritually, physically and mentally and it helps to live a good life and obey God’s commandments.
Verse
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” (Revelation 7:9)
