The Posture of Prayer: Why We Kneel
In the coming month, we will be introducing kneelers into our worship space, and with them, the practice of kneeling during our services. When the kneelers arrive, I’ll share the when and how of kneeling in worship. But in this article, I want to reflect on the why.
Why is kneeling in worship so important for us as Christians?
A Gesture Not of Culture, But of Christ
In many ancient Western cultures, like those of the Greeks and Romans, kneeling was seen as a belittling act. Aristotle even dismissed it as “barbaric.” They did not kneel before their gods, believing such a posture was demeaning. However, as Pope Benedict XVI points out in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy, “kneeling does not come from any culture—it comes from the Bible and its knowledge of God.”
The act of kneeling is a deeply ingrained practice found throughout the New Testament, especially in the heavenly liturgy described in the book of Revelation. It’s a physical posture that expresses a profound spiritual truth.
Every Knee Shall Bow
One of the clearest examples comes in Philippians 2:6–11, where Paul describes the humility of Christ:
“Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself… becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him… so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
When we bend the knee at the name of Jesus, we are embodying this truth. Our posture becomes the vehicle of our faith, expressing outwardly what we believe inwardly about Christ’s lordship.
Following Jesus’ Example
Jesus Himself knelt in prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Luke tells us:
“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’” (Luke 22:41–42)
In this moment of profound agony, Jesus kneels, entering fully into our human lowliness and submitting His will to the Father’s.
Kneeling is more than just a Christian gesture; it’s a Christological one. It is an act that binds us to the very example of our Lord and Savior, a powerful reminder of His humility and our call to follow Him. We kneel because He knelt.
A Christ-Shaped Gesture
When we kneel, we are connected with our brothers and sisters in the Church. We are participating in a timeless act of worship that connects us to saints and believers across centuries and cultures.
More than that, we join Jesus Himself in His humility and obedience to the Father.
As we prepare to introduce kneelers at Christ Church, may our practice of kneeling remind us of Christ’s humility, His obedience, and His glory—and may it shape us to become more like Him in our worship and in our lives. When the kneelers arrive, I encourage you to use them not just as a new piece of furniture, but as an opportunity to worship with your whole self—body, soul, and spirit.
Almighty God,
who sent your Son Jesus Christ to humble Himself,
taking the form of a servant
and kneeling in prayer before you:
Grant that we, following His example,
may bend our knees in reverence and love,
confessing Him as Lord with our lips and with our bodies;
that, sharing in His humility,
we may also be made partakers of His glory;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
