Why We Do What We Do 
The Bridge Christian Church believes that "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) We believe that the Bible is the infallible revelation of God's ways to mankind. Therefore, if we are to worship in spirit and in truth, we must pattern our worship after the Scriptures and not our personal traditions.

It is very possible that our worship service will be different than many others you have attended. We are often asked by visitors to explain, from a Scriptural standpoint, some of the practices they have observed in our services. Our purpose in presenting this page is to introduce you to the Biblical basis for what we do. We seek to be led by the Holy Spirit each time we meet together; consequently, not every service is the same. Therefore, you may not observe all the different aspects of worship that we explain, but we want to answer the most common questions. 
 
1. Why do we clap our hands and shout?
The Scripture clearly teaches that the clapping of our hands is an expression of worship to our great God and King. The Bible says, "Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!" Psalm 47:1 (RSV). Clapping of the hands is a universal expression of praise and joy. It is used extensively to express adulation, appreciation, praise, delight, approval, recognition and joy. We display it in everything from concerts to basketball games. We believe that if there is a valid reason for clapping, it is because we want to honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through obedience to His Word. We are told in Psalm 32:11 (NKJV), "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
 
  
2. Why do we lift our hands?
The Apostle Paul said, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 2:8). The lifting of hands expresses various things. It reveals hunger and desire for the Lord; "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land." (Psalm 143:6). It is an act of worship, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord." (Psalm 134:2). It is a universal expression of surrender. Also, like clapping, it is used throughout public gatherings to express joy, praise, adulation, approval and delight. Whatever it may mean to each individual as they lift their hands, it is an expression of worship that is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments.

3. Why do we sing?
We emphasize singing and worship because it delights the Lord and causes His Presence to draw near. As we praise the Lord our hearts are prepared to hear His Word. Worship is not a spectator activity, but an activity that all should collectively participate in. Psalm 69:30-32 (NKJV) says, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord...The humble shall see this and be glad." Psalm 22:3 in the King James Version declares, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." The New King James Version renders this verse, "But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel." Psalm 47:6-7 (NKJV) commands us, "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding."

 
4. Why do we bow?
Again, we desire to worship in truth, and the Scriptures tell us to bow before Him. Psalm 95:6 exhorts, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." Paul writes in Ephesians 3:14, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He writes further in Philippians 2:10-11, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

5. Why do we use musical instruments?
We believe in using all the instruments mentioned in the Scriptures. Psalm 150 refers to a large list of instruments that we are commanded to use in praising the Lord. It says, "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel, Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!"

 
6. Why do we dance?
We dance because the Lord through the Scripture tells us to dance. Psalm 150:4 says, "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance." Psalm 149:3 states, "Let them praise His name with the dance." There are many references to the people of God dancing for joy throughout their Biblical history. (Exodus 15:20, Psalm 30:11, Jeremiah 31:13) As Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, there is "a time to dance." The dancing you may observe will not be sensual or practiced. Spiritual dancing will not be pleasing to the flesh or natural man, as we can see from the response of Michal, the daughter of King Saul and wife of King David. 2 Samuel 6:14 tells us, "David danced before the Lord with all his might." The response of Michal is given in 2 Samuel 6:16, "Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling (literally "dancing") before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart." One of the Hebrew words translated "rejoice" in the English Bible actually means to "jump up for joy."

7. Why do we anoint a person with oil?
We are obeying the command of the Lord through James when he says, "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14 NKJV) We believe our omnipotent Lord hears and answers these prayers in His perfect and sovereign way.