Running the aisles
Encyclopedia
"Running the aisles" is an ecstatic expression of worship
that occurs occasionally in some contexts of worship in the Pentecostal and Holiness
movements. As the expression suggests, when a person runs the aisles in a worship setting, he leaves his seat and runs down the aisles between seating sections, or he may run around the interior perimeter of the sanctuary.
A biblical
basis for the act known as “running the aisles” is difficult to establish. Nevertheless, in the Pentecostal worship tradition, spontaneous expressions inspired by the moving of the Spirit
are highly valued, and in many congregations the spontaneous running of aisles has traditionally been an acceptable expression of joy. Typically those Pentecostals who run the church aisles do not do so unless they feel that they are overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit at a point in the service when the congregation in general is sensing His moving.
It may be reasonable to classify running as a form of dancing. It is worth noting that running occurs at times in modern Jewish folk dancing.
Opponents of this expression of worship would argue that it violates Paul's instructions on Orderly Worship found in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, as well as contradicting the idea that one of the "fruits" of the Holy Spirit is "self control" (Galatians 5:23). At its basic level, however, opponents of such a belief would have a different view of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
that occurs occasionally in some contexts of worship in the Pentecostal and Holiness
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
movements. As the expression suggests, when a person runs the aisles in a worship setting, he leaves his seat and runs down the aisles between seating sections, or he may run around the interior perimeter of the sanctuary.
A biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
basis for the act known as “running the aisles” is difficult to establish. Nevertheless, in the Pentecostal worship tradition, spontaneous expressions inspired by the moving of the Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
are highly valued, and in many congregations the spontaneous running of aisles has traditionally been an acceptable expression of joy. Typically those Pentecostals who run the church aisles do not do so unless they feel that they are overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit at a point in the service when the congregation in general is sensing His moving.
It may be reasonable to classify running as a form of dancing. It is worth noting that running occurs at times in modern Jewish folk dancing.
Opponents of this expression of worship would argue that it violates Paul's instructions on Orderly Worship found in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, as well as contradicting the idea that one of the "fruits" of the Holy Spirit is "self control" (Galatians 5:23). At its basic level, however, opponents of such a belief would have a different view of the work of the Holy Spirit.