A new practice was introduced into the church just over two decades ago in many non-denominational churches. It is the practice of standing when the minister reads the initial text of the sermon. No matter how long the passage many are now being taught that they should stand whenever the word is read. This practice indicates that those standing have respect for the word of God. It is a ritual rather than a doctrine or creed, because worshippers only have to stand the first time the word is read, not all of the other times that the word is read in the course of the sermon.

   It is a new practice because in the old church only the person who read the Scripture actually stood; and even then, standing was only required in formal situations. In the old church people would stop walking if someone was in the process of reading the Scripture. Conversely, if a person was reading the Scripture and someone continued to walk, the person reading would stop until that person was seated. It was an old-fashioned way of indicating the holiness of the word.

   At best all of these practices are rituals and ceremonies that have little meaning to the Lord. It is doubtful that God is impressed with the fact that we stop walking when the word is read, if we continue walking in disobedience of what is being read. God is probably not impressed with any of our rituals whether it is standing when the Scripture is read, pausing and not walking, or making sure that no one stacks anything on the Bibles in our homes. Rituals are meaningless unless they are backed up by heartfelt and sincere actions.

   While there is no harm in the practice believers must be aware that there is no saving grace in any of our rituals and customs, or practices. They are just that, practices that differ from worship center to worship center. In one worship center people stand and in another worship center people sit until asked to stand. It's all ritual and custom that has some basis in Scripture but is always secondary to the life we live and present to God.