I have wanted to ask this question directly to Christians for a long time.
Standing is a tradition, but there are many other reasons why Christians stand in church. They pray, praise and worship God. By standing to pray, they show their respect and reverence to God.
Prayer is a form of communication with God, and people communicate with more than words. Posture is an important means of non-verbally communicating with God or other higher powers. Kneeling during worship shows humility, and raising hands signals praise. So does standing.
We can observe the same in everyday life. We stand when a king or queen arrives at a ceremony, and when a judge enters or leaves a courtroom. This makes perfect sense.
But what about those who stand in church when the pastor approaches? What does that mean? Is the pastor God? What is the nature and meaning of such a practice?
