If you live around the Twin Cities this billboard is likely very familiar to you. This local realtor went on an advertising blitz a few years ago and has flooded Minnesota and Wisconsin with now over 600 billboards. His famous “arms outstretched” pose can also be seen on city buses and buildings. Each one exhibits his famous pose. He even purchased a 30 second add during the 2024 Super Bowl… No audio, just his distinctive pose where his arms magically stretched wider and wider until the end of the video.
To be clear, I am not advertising for his business. I have never met Kris, or even anyone associated with him. But his vision and marketing campaign is impressive to say the least, and his bold advertisements have definitely sparked some thoughts in me. I hope these thoughts are a blessing and encouragement to you and to others in your life as well. 😊
I grew up attending my family’s small-town church that foundational in some ways, but was very conservative in the nature of worship. I gave my heart to the Lord when I was 21 years old, and started attending a church that was contrastingly very open in worship. There I witnessed many who worshipped Jesus with hands raised in the air. This was new to me. It was later explained that it was an act of worship that demonstrated to God—not others—a sign of surrender and honor to the Lord. That made sense to me. However, I wasn’t about to just start doing it just because others were. I vividly remember the struggle I went through with that.
I searched the Bible and found that it was indeed a very common form of worship—and not just when accompanied with worshipful music. One of the most well-known references to lifting hands during worship is found in Psalm 134:2, which says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” Still, I struggled with it. Keep in mind, my previous paradigm was that being silent whilst in church was a sign of respect. Also, I was more concerned about what the people around me would think if I did or didn’t raise my hands.
But soon I learned of the incredible release of self as I incorporated this powerful function in my time of worship. Basically, I got over the stigma of what people may think. And just focused on the Lord. After all, He is the one who is truly worthy of my praise, right? Lifting my hands was and is just one of the many ways to honor Him. Soon, raising my hands to Him, became a natural response of my gratitude. It no longer seemed weird. Besides, people express their emotions in all sorts of ways when they are cheering for their favorite sports team or anything really, that they are passionate about. Why would I not be passionate in my worship to King Jesus? Now, are there times that I don’t feel like worshiping? Absolutely. But in those times, choosing to worship actually has more value. He is worthy of my praise—all the time.
I am in no way suggesting that one needs to raise their hands in order to worship the Lord. There are so many ways in which we can give heart felt worship, to include times of in silently sitting or kneeling before Him. Additionally, no one should ever feel expected to worship in a certain posture or specific way etc. The heart of worship is exactly that—it comes from the heart. I am merely sharing that (#1) we are encouraged to do it—many scripture verses support that. And (#2) when combined with our heart, this posture has significant ties to honor, surrender, and freedom. He is worthy!
There is another physical posture to mention, which is more of a receiving posture. A few years ago, our senior pastor, when closing our services, would encourage everyone to put their hands out in front of them as though they were about to receive a gift. Then as a loving shepherd, he would proceed to pray a prayer of blessing over the congregation. This is a posture of receiving. Although I can’t find a particular Biblical reference for this exact posture, it is an incredibly impactful physical act that allows one to understand that God truly wants to bless us. Although our pastor speaks many encouraging words during his blessing, his premise comes from Num 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
One article I read said that Kris Lindahl’s famous-around-town marketing campaign is based on the tenants of kindness and giving to others. Once again, I don’t know Kris, or if he knows Jesus, but his chosen way of advertising speaks volumes to me as a Christian. Isn’t the posture of arms being wide open how the world should be seeing Jesus through us? Isn’t that how Jesus reached out to people while He walked the earth? He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted the lonely, encouraged the depressed, raised the dead, wept with the weeping, and had significant relationships with many.
I have seen a sign in some churches that is posted just above the inside of the main exterior doors. One can read it while exiting the building… “You are now entering the mission field.” What if we as Christ followers sincerely took that to heart? What if we had the mindset that as we left the church building and entered into our mission field, our arms were figuratively wide open, and the joy of the Lord was reflecting a genuine infectious smile? It is reported that Kris Lindahl has invested millions of dollars in his massive advertising campaign. What if we were similarly invested (not financially, but intentionality) in reaching out to those in our sphere of influence? Kris Lindahl’s sign to the community reads “GUARENTEED OFFER.” As Christ followers, what’s our guaranteed offer to the people we see and interact with in life? Do they even know that we care about them?
Years ago, during the Jesus Movement, there was a popular song that was being sung in many of our churches called We are One in the Spirit. There was a chorus line that said, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes…they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” I believe this comes directly from Scripture, as Jesus said, , “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (see John 13:34,35)
Jesus also said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matt. 22:37-39). Jesus gave love priority over all other Christian virtues. Every thought, response, and act of goodwill must first pass through the fine filter of love, or it means nothing at all. As Christians, I believe it is our responsibility to truly discover the meaning of this command and seek passionately to live it out in our daily lives. I understand this may be difficult in the world we live in today. One can easily become discouraged by all the chaos and injustices that we see in our society
From the very beginning, God’s plan was to develop a people that reflected His character. And what is His character? Love. “God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world” (1 John 4:16-17). Believers are God’s advertisement to a watching society as to how individuals could best live in that society. And listen, many of us have possibly said or thought these words during tough times, “Life in our world is getting to be so bad, I just Jesus to come back now.” But we cannot afford to lose our focus…our purpose. As much as we all might look forward to eternity in heaven, as long as we are living and breathing on this earth, God still has a purpose for us, and that purpose is to continue to be a conduit of His love. This, after all, is why we are here.
I encourage you today to picture the three postures mentioned (hands raised in worship, hands stretched out as to receive, and arms wide open to others) and realize that they follow a pattern. First, we worship the Lord. Second, He blesses us. And third, we reach out to others.
The most epic image of someone with arms stretched wide open is not Kris Lindahl. It is the image of none other than Jesus Christ while he hung on the cross of Calvary and became the ultimate sacrifice of love for you and me. Many churches display this image in the simple form of a cross, while others may display a cross in their home, or perhaps even on a necklace or keychain. All reminders of the sacrifice Christ made for all who will receive him. Let’s let it also remind us of His words, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (see John 13:35)
Let’s stre………ch out those arms of love! Blessings to you all.
Blessed by the Best,
Mark
See You in the River 