churches-why?

[darkpenguin]

i'm intrigued as to why various religions namely christianity and catholocism pray in churches when in the bible 'god' protests against being prayed to in a building specificaly built for him/her, why would people pray in churches when it would obviously upset their god as 'god' is everywhere and doesn't need a building in his/her name? just a thought!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Christians do not only pray in church.

Churches are gathering places dedicated to God and are very suitable for showing his Glory, in services of thanksgiving , love and worship.

Churches are certainly not essential, but gathering places are.
An enclosed gathering place is more suitable in most climates and soon becomes a Church.

 

[darkpenguin]

Christians do not only pray in church.

Churches are gathering places dedicated to God and are very suitable for showing his Glory, in services of thanksgiving , love and worship.

Churches are certainly not essential, but gathering places are.
An enclosed gathering place is more suitable in most climates and soon becomes a Church.

showing his glory? so i am right gods are egotistical beings yet we are damned for being the same? i don't understand why buildings would be raised in the name of god, if you want a gathering place then why not use a simple house or be like pagans and have festivals in the country side and nature and embrace what your god has given to you instead of being cooped up inside a man made building?

 

[James the Persian]

For the umpteenth time Catholics are Christian. Saying Christianity and Catholicism is like saying mammals and cows. It's completely absurd.

James

 

[darkpenguin]

For the umpteenth time Catholics are Christian. Saying Christianity and Catholicism is like saying mammals and cows. It's completely absurd.

James

seems fair lol, although i don't think either religion would like to see it that way!

 

[CaptainXeroid]

...when in the bible 'god' protests against being prayed to in a building specificaly built for him/her,...

You really need to substantiate this assertion. Chapter and verse would be helpful.

I can't speak for other churches, but we use our 'building' for weddings, meeting space for various organizations, polling place during elections, and through utility offsets office space for other non-profit groups.

As Terry mentioned, we do not only pray in church.:cross:

 

[darkpenguin]

You really need to substantiate this assertion. Chapter and verse would be helpful.

I can't speak for other churches, but we use our 'building' for weddings, meeting space for various organizations, polling place during elections, and through utility offsets office space for other non-profit groups.

As Terry mentioned, we do not only pray in church.:cross:

but that is historicaly what churches were made for, gathering and praying, just because there are fringe activities now doesn't change a thing, and what god would be happy that a building put up in his/her name was not being used for it's intended purpose?

 

[Booko]

but that is historicaly what churches were made for, gathering and praying, just because there are fringe activities now doesn't change a thing, and what god would be happy that a building put up in his/her name was not being used for it's intended purpose?

You could always pray at home and ask god what he wants you to do about it. : hamster :

 

[CaptainXeroid]

but that is historicaly what churches were made for, gathering ...

Please answer the question in my first post, or we can assume you made this up.

 

[sojourner]

I think what is being alluded to is the passage in which Jesus teaches not to make a show of praying in public, in order to impress others. Rather, one should pray "in secret, so that the Father, who is in secret, will hear" one. The poster is misunderstanding the passage. The operative clause here is "in order to impress others." In other words, "don't pray just to show others how pious you are; let your prayer be earnest."

God never says that God doesn't desire our prayers. Jesus says not to pray in order to impress other people. Historically, those of the Judeo/Christian faith have always prayed in special places, be they outdoors, a tent, or a building. In fact, anciently, God was seen as actually living on the holy mountain -- so God was perceived as having a specific "dwelling place." Later, the temple housed the Ark of the Covenant, in which God dwelt. To extend the symbolic "house of God," the Christians later came to see God as specially dwelling within the sanctuaries of their buildings.

 

[darkpenguin]

You could always pray at home and ask god what he wants you to do about it. : hamster :

tried that when i was a kid, was the last time that i did, even as a child i realised it would be silly of me to expect 'god' to speak to little old me, tis when i realised i had no faith in 'the great one'. kind of sad really but it left me open to explore and realise that nature and the mother of is a more valid idea then an all seeing god. thats why now i like the idea of paganism, it's more valid to think that there is more than one power controling everything and that ultimately we are that power and the power is us!

 

[sojourner]

showing his glory? so i am right gods are egotistical beings yet we are damned for being the same? i don't understand why buildings would be raised in the name of god, if you want a gathering place then why not use a simple house or be like pagans and have festivals in the country side and nature and embrace what your god has given to you instead of being cooped up inside a man made building?

God is glorious.

We are made in God's image.

We are, therefore, reflectors of God's glory.

Christ is God incarnate.

Christ is, therefore, God.

Christ is, likewise, glorious.

The Church is the Body of Christ.

The Church, therefore, shows forth God's glory.

It has nothing to do with "ego."

 

[darkpenguin]

Please answer the question in my first post, or we can assume you made this up.

there's a slight problem there my friend, you didn't ask me a specific question, would you care to elaborate on the question at hand? thanks.

 

[darkpenguin]

God is glorious.

We are made in God's image.

We are, therefore, reflectors of God's glory.

Christ is God incarnate.

Christ is, therefore, God.

Christ is, likewise, glorious.

The Church is the Body of Christ.

The Church, therefore, shows forth God's glory.

It has nothing to do with "ego."

sorry but what you have just said there contradicts your statement, to a logical person it has everything to do with ego!

 

[sojourner]

but that is historicaly what churches were made for, gathering and praying, just because there are fringe activities now doesn't change a thing, and what god would be happy that a building put up in his/her name was not being used for it's intended purpose?

Historically the church's buildings were "intended" for worship, for fellowship, for education, and for staging various ministries to the community. There is no such thing that goes on in the Church as a "fringe activity." God is happy that our buildings are used for their intended purposes.

 

[sojourner]

sorry but what you have just said there contradicts your statement, to a logical person it has everything to do with ego!

Ego (in the sense you're using it) has to do with elevating one's own sense of superior self-worth, as measured against the worth of others. God's glory is not ego, because God does not measure God's self-worth against humanity's worth. We measure our worth against God's, and find that we are not superior to, but in subservience to God's worth.

 

[CaptainXeroid]

there's a slight problem there my friend, you didn't ask me a specific question, would you care to elaborate on the question at hand? thanks.

I most certainly did! Please re-read post #6 and substantiate your assertion.

 

[darkpenguin]

Ego (in the sense you're using it) has to do with elevating one's own sense of superior self-worth, as measured against the worth of others. God's glory is not ego, because God does not measure God's self-worth against humanity's worth. We measure our worth against God's, and find that we are not superior to, but in subservience to God's worth.

i think that we are superior to 'god' and i don't measure my worth against a 'god', did 'god' make evolution happen? no!did 'god' make the big bang happen? no!i have an idea that a higher power may have done or maybe a random act did, who knows? i don't see the need to pray in churches to a 'god' who has been pretty much disproved by science. but thats just my view and i respect that you hae yours too and if you want to believe in your god then so be it, i just feel no need to!and although i have an idea and views they can easily be changed, could your beliefs?

 

[darkpenguin]

You really need to substantiate this assertion. Chapter and verse would be helpful.

I can't speak for other churches, but we use our 'building' for weddings, meeting space for various organizations, polling place during elections, and through utility offsets office space for other non-profit groups.

As Terry mentioned, we do not only pray in church.:cross:

ok i'm not going to do chapter and verse as it's been a long time since ive read the story that is the bible, but i'm pretty sure that in no place did god want churches in his name and as far as i'm aware he didn't want churches in his name but hey i may be wrong, and if i can be proved so then i will accept that i am wrong!

 

[James the Persian]

seems fair lol, although i don't think either religion would like to see it that way!

What are you talking about? No RC would object to being called Christian, because they are, no Protestant would, no Orthodox would. There is no group called simply Christian, it describes the faith of various churches, so the analogy is exactly as I said. In case it's not clear, mammals are the equivalent to Christianity, cow to Roman Catholicism. So just as cows (and dogs, cats, pigs, etc.) are all mammals, so RCs (and Protestants, Orthodox, OOs etc.) are all Christian. Why do you seem unable to grasp this simple truth?

James