Summit VI – General Session Day 2 – Thoughts on Spirituality
Posted by Patrick Corkum on April 30, 2010
I am sitting in the General Session this morning, typing this blog post as people all around me are standing, clapping, kneeling, raising hands and all kinds of stuff. Now don’t get me wrong, I love to stand and sing (my wife would probably not call it singing), clap, and all that stuff like the person next to me. What I don’t particularly like is when someone tells me to go putting my hands on someone else. Okay, so why do I not like it and why do I not like this so-called “spirituality”? Well, a couple reasons.
First, it is an emotional in-the-moment kind of false “spiritual high”. I am not saying that God doesn’t meet you there, but I AM saying that he doesn’t need singing and hand-raising to meet us, he wants holiness. He is the God that draws near, but he requires us to be holy. He makes us holy and it’s not when we’re raising our hands, singing. If people want to praise God that way, I have no issue with it. Just reflect as to why you do it.
Secondly, it creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for others. Now, I think most Christians that are not into the whole thing are going to just get over it and think that you are weird. Those that are used to it are just going to not even realize that not everyone else does this kind of thing. However, what about the non-believer who has never experienced this and has showed up to see what this is all about. What are they going to think? I know what I would think…. “they’re crazy! Why would I ever want to be doing this stupid stuff? These people freak me out. If I don’t do what they do, which I am not going to,because it is awkward for me, I’m am going to be judged and looked down to as ‘not spiritual’” Why do I say this? Because it is what I think. I just get over it, because I know better and am more accepting of other people’s culture. But what those who aren’t like me in that way?
Now, I know that some people are not going to agree and may take it personally. Please don’t, I am not attacking anyone. I would love your comments, just please don’t be inflammatory.
Anyway, I really have enjoyed the music here. Peder Eide has a really nice sound and some awesome music. He also has a great sense of humor. I can’t wait for the rest of the day!
Sounds like you are having a lot of great experiences. I’m thinking the laying on of hands thing is a perfectly fine thing to do at this conference–one can assume where there are a lot of Christian speakers, there are a lot of Christians and no need to be overly concerned about non-Christians observing. If it does feel odd for you then I agree you shouldn’t participate. I think the oddness wears off as we become less self-conscious in our faith–laying on of hands is scriptural and a common practice in many protestant denominations. Some say there is an actual supernatural experience that can occur.
When I encounter homeless people on the street and I offer to pray for them I always ask permission to lay my hand on their back and have never been told not to.
Good stuff.
Oh, please don’t get me wrong, I definitely think that there is something to the laying on of hands. The problem is that most people just do it to fit in. It is totally not personal done in a that kind of environment, in that way. The oddness of those kinds of things will never wear-off me. I am used to it, but it will always be odd. It is like when I was in Korea, some of the custom’s were quite odd to me and will always be odd.