the kneeling church

I grew up in a kneeling church.  Attached to the back of the bench seating in the church building were kneelers, devices unheard of in most worship settings today.  It was a hinged 2 X 4  covered with padded cloth, which was flipped down during those parts of the service dedicated to prayer.  One was supposed to kneel on it - hence the name - and it was almost impossible not to, given how, as it was brought down, it would scrape the shins of those choosing to remain seated.

I remember telling a believing friend about this custom, to which he replied, "I don't kneel for anyone."  That confession struck me, given the many references in the Bible to kneeling, for example: The prophet Elijah knelt as he prayed for rain (1 Kings 18:42); Daniel kneeled to pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10); Jesus knelt in prayer (Luke 22:41); and Paul writes of bowing his knees to the Father in prayer (Ephesians 3:14).  Eventually, every knee in heaven and on earth will bow at the Name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10).  

It would appear that kneeling is not some quaint custom practiced by our ancestors at their bedsides or in old church buildings.  Rather, kneeling is an expression of the heart's devotion and submission to God.  It's an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace which, when practiced faithfully, points us to The One Who is both our Savior and our Lord.  This posture can encourage us to call upon Him to save us from our sins and lead us in obedience, and to do the same for others.

It's surprising that many worship gatherings have little opportunity to pray, let alone to do so on our knees.  Prayer is the Breath of The Holy Spirit, bringing Life to His People and conveying that Life through His People as they pray.  

So perhaps we can start a mini-revolution of kneeling in prayer during appropriate times in our gatherings, such as arriving early to pray for those leading worship and for ourselves to enter into it, or praying during the songs of worship.  You don't need a kneeler to do it.  With a small amount of contortions, you can find the space.  And I'm sure someone would be glad to help you get down and get back up.  Who knows?  They might even join you as, together, in the words of Manasseh's Prayer (Manasseh 1:11), you bend the knee of your heart to The Lord.