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Tigress
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/28/2003 5:00 AM (GMT -6) |   | Hi All,
This has been troubling me for a long time. Many times when the pastors in our church (Woodland Hills) ask us all in the congregation to pray for a missions group standing on the stage they'll ask us to extend our hands in prayer. Sometimes they'll say to specifically extend our right hands.
I'm a left-handed person and so my natural inclination is to extend my left hand in prayer - just as if someone were handing me a pen to write with, I would take it with my left hand.
Now I have heard of occultic practices where people use the left hand to curse and the right hand to bless, but I just wondered if that really matters or has any power in the Kingdom of God. On the one hand (excuse the pun) as a lefty I feel like I'm being discriminated against when required to use my right hand, but on the other hand (again excuse the pun, has anyone ever seen "Fiddler on the Roof"?  ) I don't want to negatively influence the prayer if indeed extending my left hand does signify a curse instead of a blessing.
Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thanks.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Laika
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Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/28/2003 5:08 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Tigress
Hi All,
This has been troubling me for a long time. Many times when the pastors in our church (Woodland Hills) ask us all in the congregation to pray for a missions group standing on the stage they'll ask us to extend our hands in prayer. Sometimes they'll say to specifically extend our right hands.
I'm a left-handed person and so my natural inclination is to extend my left hand in prayer - just as if someone were handing me a pen to write with, I would take it with my left hand.
Now I have heard of occultic practices where people use the left hand to curse and the right hand to bless, but I just wondered if that really matters or has any power in the Kingdom of God. On the one hand (excuse the pun) as a lefty I feel like I'm being discriminated against when required to use my right hand, but on the other hand (again excuse the pun, has anyone ever seen "Fiddler on the Roof"? ) I don't want to negatively influence the prayer if indeed extending my left hand does signify a curse instead of a blessing.
Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thanks.
I extended my left hand even though I'm right-handed. It doesn't matter.
"on the other hand, four fingers and a thumb" -- Groucho Marx
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shell
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Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 280
| Posted 7/28/2003 5:29 AM (GMT -6) | | Tigress,
What is important is what is in your heart. Occultic curses are intentional and begin in the heart. They are rooted in evil and destruction. I don't believe that they really have anything to do with body posture, what hand you use, or any other detail like that. Those who practice the Occult have made up symbols and actions to demonstrate what is going on in their hearts and minds. (It's like my five year old pointing at something with his middle finger vs. someone flipping the bird. )
On the other hand, in regards to the believer, the bible talks a lot about our tongue, and how our tongue is an instrument of cursing. We can choose to bless or curse, by what we choose to speak into another's life, or even our own.
James 3:8-10-11 says:
...But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
Blessings Tigress,
Shell
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might-be-don
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Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830
| Posted 7/28/2003 5:56 AM (GMT -6) | | A hand raised is like a spiritual antenna that collects all the assembled spiritual energy and then redirects it towards it's intended target. As we all know not only does it matter which hand, must be right, it is extremely important that the palms be facing upward. Otherwise the thumb is pointing in the wrong direction.
If not done correctly, the hand-raiser can be rightly accused of being gnostic and not paying proper attention to the physical nature of human beings. Also, if not pointing in the right direction the wrong person might be getting the benefit of the prayer.
peace , don
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Laika
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Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/28/2003 6:00 AM (GMT -6) | | Though, in a muslim culture I'd use my right hand Tigress. Ask TGB about that some time.
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Tigress
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Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/28/2003 6:27 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Laika
Though, in a muslim culture I'd use my right hand Tigress. Ask TGB about that some time.
Oh, believe me, I've heard about that one! I have O.C.D. Therefore I am petrified of germs so I could never go to a place that doesn't have toilet paper, soap and running hot water! 
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
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Tigress
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/28/2003 6:36 AM (GMT -6) | | Might-be-don,
I really hope you're just joking! 
Laika and Shell,
If it doesn't matter, why then do some of the pastors ask us specifically to extend our right hand towards a person or group we're praying for? That's happened a few times. I notice it so much because I'm left-handed and therefore I've had to switch from my left hand to my right hand when they say to do this. Right-handed people probably don't notice it at all because they just naturally extend their right hands, in the first place.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Laika
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/28/2003 6:38 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Tigress
Oh, believe me, I've heard about that one! I have O.C.D. Therefore I am petrified of germs so I could never go to a place that doesn't have toilet paper, soap and running hot water!
I was reading letters to the editor of a science magazine once. Someone wrote in about an earlier issue where they had shown a photo of berber tribesmen sitting around eating, everyone of them using their left hand to eat from the communal meal. The letter writer told about the muslim custom and upbraided them for showing the photo. The magazine's editor sheepishly admitted they had accidentally flipped the negative of the photo when they had printed the article. Faux Pas!
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shell
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 280
| Posted 7/28/2003 6:55 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Laika and Shell,
If it doesn't matter, why then do some of the pastors ask us specifically to extend our right hand towards a person or group we're praying for? That's happened a few times. I notice it so much because I'm left-handed and therefore I've had to switch from my left hand to my right hand when they say to do this. Right-handed people probably don't notice it at all because they just naturally extend their right hands, in the first place.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb
Have you heard Greg say that? I don't recall...I just hear "extend your hand towards the person in prayer"...As far as other pastors doing that...maybe it's so you don't bonk the person next to you...or pastor paranoia...I don't believe that there is any significance to that at all. I can't speak for the pastors who have said this though.???? | | Back to Top | | |
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Tigress
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/28/2003 7:48 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by shell
quote:
Laika and Shell,
If it doesn't matter, why then do some of the pastors ask us specifically to extend our right hand towards a person or group we're praying for? That's happened a few times. I notice it so much because I'm left-handed and therefore I've had to switch from my left hand to my right hand when they say to do this. Right-handed people probably don't notice it at all because they just naturally extend their right hands, in the first place.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb
Have you heard Greg say that? I don't recall...I just hear "extend your hand towards the person in prayer"...As far as other pastors doing that...maybe it's so you don't bonk the person next to you...or pastor paranoia...I don't believe that there is any significance to that at all. I can't speak for the pastors who have said this though.????
No, I haven't noticed Greg saying that either. I think that it was whenever Pastor Jim Winters was asking everyone to pray, he specifically said to extend our right hands. I'm not positive, though. It might have been someone else. The man had a white beard and mustache and glasses. I think that's Jim Winters.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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might-be-don
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830
| Posted 7/28/2003 11:29 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Tigress
Might-be-don,
I really hope you're just joking!
I would think that pOtOnwHeEl could back me up on the need to get the physical aspect correct. Things such as a church having an arched doorway are very important, wouldn't want the holy spirit bumping his head on the way in, would we!
peace, don
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Laika
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/28/2003 11:46 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by might-be-don
I would think that pOtOnwHeEl could back me up on the need to get the physical aspect correct. Things such as a church having an arched doorway are very important, wouldn't want the holy spirit bumping his head on the way in, would we!
"Christian feng shui"
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John Earp
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Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1715
| Posted 7/28/2003 6:51 PM (GMT -6) | | Ex 15:6 "Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
While I would certainly agree that it is the heart that matters most when you are praying for someone, there are many places in Scripture, such as the above, that relate the right hand to strength, power, and blessing. However, most interesting to me is the following passage, in which Israel (Jacob) blessed his grandsons:
Gen 48:13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them close to him.
14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 He blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
17 ¶ When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18 Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head."
19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."
More verses that I found interesting with regard to this subject:
Deut 33:2 He said, "The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones; At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them.
Ps 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Ps 20:6 ¶ Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
Ps 98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.
Ps 108:6 That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer me!
Ps 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."
Ps 110:5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
Ps 118:15 ¶ The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
Ps 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
Ps 138:7 ¶ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
Ps 139:10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
Is 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Is 41:13 "For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'
Dan 12:7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half {a} {time;} and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these {events} will be completed.
"The Discovery of new truth will modify old views and opinions, and there is perhaps no end to this process with finite minds in any world." Charles G. Finney, Systematic Theology.
revivaltheology.net
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shell
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 280
| Posted 7/28/2003 7:15 PM (GMT -6) | | That's interesting John, I had no idea it was referred to so many times...could it have been culturally significant at the time? It seems symbolic rather than true power being in one's literal right hand. In the past, being left-handed was seen as a sign of being deviant, and there were supposed spiritual implications that went along with that. Interesting. We also raise our right hand when taking an oath...
Shell | | Back to Top | | |
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BBBCanada
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Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 2763
| Posted 7/29/2003 3:03 AM (GMT -6) | | In my opinion? Use both of them! You can't afford to offend anyone these days. 
Brandon
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Laika
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Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/29/2003 3:04 AM (GMT -6) | | Does it matter which 'hand' someone like Captain Hook would use?
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Tigress
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Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/29/2003 4:44 AM (GMT -6) | | I looked at the list of WHC pastors on this week's bulletin last night, and I think that it's actually Pastor Steve Schmidt, the Missions Pastor, who usually asks us to extend our right hands towards the person or people we're praying for. I don't see Jim Winter get up and speak in front of the congregation very much.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Laika
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/29/2003 4:46 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Tigress
I looked at the list of WHC pastors on this week's bulletin last night, and I think that it's actually Pastor Steve Schmidt, the Missions Pastor, who usually asks us to extend our right hands towards the person or people we're praying for. I don't see Jim Winter get up and speak in front of the congregation very much.
Tigress, if you ever see a one-armed man on a ladder, don't wave at him.
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might-be-don
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Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830
| Posted 7/29/2003 5:46 AM (GMT -6) | | .knus m'I ,tnatropmi si redro thgir eht ni slobmys eht gnitteg fI
peace, don
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shell
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 280
| Posted 7/29/2003 5:50 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Tigress, if you ever see a one-armed man on a ladder, don't wave at him.
Laika,
Your sense of humor is great! I love a good laugh and you bring that about every time I read your posts.
Tigress, good job tracking down the "right-hand" pastor...if it's troubling you why not ask him?
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Tigress
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Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/29/2003 6:03 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by might-be-don
.knus m'I ,tnatropmi si redro thgir eht ni slobmys eht gnitteg fI
peace, don
---
"You cannot step twice into the same river; for fresh waters are ever flowing in upon you." Heraclitus
Might-be-don,
Were you using your left hand to type the right-handed letters?!
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Tigress
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/29/2003 6:05 AM (GMT -6) | | Tigress, good job tracking down the "right-hand" pastor...if it's troubling you why not ask him?
Shell
Good idea! I think I will!
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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John Earp
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1715
| Posted 7/29/2003 6:42 AM (GMT -6) | | As a lifelong Pentecostal, I have often heard ministers use the "stretch your right hand towards..." thing. Again, I think it is the heart that truly matters in prayer, but I think this very likely has something to do with the biblical practice of blessing using the right hand and the right hand as a biblical symbol of power and authority.
"The Discovery of new truth will modify old views and opinions, and there is perhaps no end to this process with finite minds in any world." Charles G. Finney, Systematic Theology.
revivaltheology.net
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might-be-don
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Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830
| Posted 7/29/2003 8:31 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Tigress
quote:
Originally posted by might-be-don
.knus m'I ,tnatropmi si redro thgir eht ni slobmys eht gnitteg fI
peace, don
---
"You cannot step twice into the same river; for fresh waters are ever flowing in upon you." Heraclitus
Might-be-don,
Were you using your left hand to type the right-handed letters?!
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
-Hawaiian Proverb
.knus m'I ,tnatropmi si redro thgir eht ni slobmys eht gnitteg fI
If getting the symbols in the right order is important, I'm sunk.
peace, don
---
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Tigress
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 7/29/2003 11:02 AM (GMT -6) | | Well, I asked Pastor Schmidt about this and he said that he usually just asks the congregation to extend their right hands toward the people on stage because he's often holding the microphone in his left hand and he just asks everyone else to do the same. He told me to ask Tyler DeArmond whether or not there's any Church tradition behind doing this, though so I sent Tyler an e-mail about it. We'll see what he says. I asked Tyler to let me know if the Bible specifically commands the exclusive use of the right hand in blessing and praying over someone, because to be honest, I don't care about the tradition of the Church. I care about what the Bible says that the Church must do. Just because the Church practiced something for a long time, doesn't mean that it's a rule for all time. Only if the Bible tells us to do something should we do it.
Tigress
Don't forget the small things. The kite flies because of its tail.
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