Christianity QA » Christian Worship » Places of Worship
Question:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Most other places it’s not that clear what they are. For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship. The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to. CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
Response:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship.
Just out of curiosity, what do you think the Biblical places of worship looked like, when they worshipped in their homes? Do you think they had giant stained-glass windows of the Madonna? Most other places it’s not that clear what they are.
Does it *matter* where one is?!: Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Joh 4:20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." Joh 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. Joh 4:22 You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. Joh 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. Joh 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." Why do you make such a big deal about "where" we worship, or what it "looks" like?! For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity– greedy, dishonest, adulterous– [or have a modest place of worship, being improperly "labelled"] The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to.
Maybe we’d rather use our financial resources to help the needy, the starving, the poor, than to use it to build elaborate stained-glass, and statues, etc. etc? CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
You need to stop acting holier-than-thou, William… — Jeff Shirton jshirton at cogeco.ca Pray thee, take care, that tak’st my book in hand, To read it well: that is, to understand. — Ben Jonson
Response:
If you think that of a roman rite church, you should faint in an Eastern Orthodox Church!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Most other places it’s not that clear what they are. For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship. The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to. CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
Response:
O I was glad when they said unto me….let us go into the House of the Lord! William you do not need all the grandeur and garb that most catholic churches have in their sanctuaries. All you need is the presence and I have enough Living Saints around me that came pray for me and intercede without the cold dead statues of people that are waiting the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Most other places it’s not that clear what they are. For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship. The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to. CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
– Isaiah 46:18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.
Response:
he do want to faint, does he? Someone might think he had be slain in the Spirit…..we do want to have that now! LOL – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you think that of a roman rite church, you should faint in an Eastern Orthodox Church! One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Most other places it’s not that clear what they are. For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship. The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to. CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
– Isaiah 46:18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.
Response:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Rather, you can tell it’s a collection of statues. You also keep Jesus on the cross as best you can, but little do you know HE is no longer on it, but is alive and well… no longer suffering on it as the RCC buildings always try to portray.
Jesus died on the cross for us – not arose. Testimony: For real filth, see Alan Ferris’s web page, www.arcerland.com/dungeon.
Response:
Why do you make such a big deal about "where" we worship, or what it "looks" like?!
I think a place of worship should look like one. And it should be obvious that it is a place of worship when you enter it. Maybe we’d rather use our financial resources to help the needy, the starving, the poor, than to use it to build elaborate stained-glass, and statues, etc. etc?
I never hear this arguement when a nice office building is built, or the latest stadium or ballpark. But let someone build a church to reflect the glory of God then people (who don’t even attend the church in question) make this type of comment). We have learned that not only can we have places of worship that look like places of worship but we can help the needy, the poor, and the staving too. You need to stop acting holier-than-thou, William…
Since when is gratitude to God "holier-than-thou"?
Response:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Most other places it’s not that clear what they are. For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship. The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to.
You do not, and can not, tell the worth of a building from how it looks, rather, the purpose to which it is put tells us how good a church it is. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
Response:
Why do you make such a big deal about "where" we worship, or what it "looks" like?! I think a place of worship should look like one. And it should be obvious that it is a place of worship when you enter it.
Since you’re not God, what makes you think that your opinion is even the least bit significant? Maybe we’d rather use our financial resources to help the needy, the starving, the poor, than to use it to build elaborate stained-glass, and statues, etc. etc? I never hear this arguement when a nice office building is built, or the latest stadium or ballpark.
Oh? Which churches build office buildings or stadiums?! But let someone build a church to reflect the glory of God then people (who don’t even attend the church in question) make this type of comment).
I’m not the one looking down on the Protestant churches, William. You need to stop acting holier-than-thou, William… Since when is gratitude to God "holier-than-thou"?
C’mon! What purpose did your post serve accept to criticize Protestant churches for not looking "worshippy" enough? Your entire post cried out, "holier-than-thou!" — Jeff Shirton jshirton at cogeco.ca Pray thee, take care, that tak’st my book in hand, To read it well: that is, to understand. — Ben Jonson
Response:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Just out of curiosity, what do you think the Biblical places of worship looked like, when they worshipped in their homes? Do you think they had giant stained-glass windows of the Madonna?
Hmmmmm "Biblical places of worship"…like the tent that Moses was instructed to make to house the Ark of the Covenant? Like the temple of Solomon? — Buny —-"Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal." ~ Albert Camus
Response:
Just out of curiosity, what do you think the Biblical places of worship looked like, when they worshipped in their homes? Do you think they had giant stained-glass windows of the Madonna? Hmmmmm "Biblical places of worship"…like the tent that Moses was instructed to make to house the Ark of the Covenant? Like the temple of Solomon?
Are you saying that "the tent that Moses was instructed to make" had stained-glass in it? Are you saying that these temples were on every street corner in every city in the world? And why did you delete my Scriptural citations? Buny
– Jeff Shirton jshirton at cogeco.ca Pray thee, take care, that tak’st my book in hand, To read it well: that is, to understand. — Ben Jonson
Response:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Just out of curiosity, what do you think the Biblical places of worship looked like, when they worshipped in their homes? Do you think they had giant stained-glass windows of the Madonna? Hmmmmm "Biblical places of worship"…like the tent that Moses was instructed to make to house the Ark of the Covenant? Like the temple of Solomon?
"For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." (Hebrews 13:11-14). — Huldah For the Bible truth about the Jehovah’s Witnesses, see: http://mywebpage.netscape.com/trisagionseraph/jw.html For the Bible truth about ‘Oneness’ Pentecostalism, see: http://mywebpage.netscape.com/trisagionseraph/op.html
Response:
Just out of curiosity, what do you think the Biblical places of worship looked like, when they worshipped in their homes? Do you think they had giant stained-glass windows of the Madonna? Hmmmmm "Biblical places of worship"…like the tent that Moses was instructed to make to house the Ark of the Covenant? Like the temple of Solomon? Are you saying that "the tent that Moses was instructed to make" had stained-glass in it? Are you saying that these temples were on every street corner in every city in the world?
No, I am saying that You can tell what they were made for, because they did not look like any other construction–they looked like places of worship. And why did you delete my Scriptural citations?
Because I was not commenting on them…because I do not understand why people quote long expanses of previous material to comment on a small part of it(thereby wasting bandwidth)….because my server has this thing about "more quoted material than new material" and will net send it if the ratio is too high… Why are you upset about it? — Buny —-"Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal." ~ Albert Camus
Response:
Just out of curiosity, what do you think the Biblical places of worship looked like, when they worshipped in their homes? Do you think they had giant stained-glass windows of the Madonna? Hmmmmm "Biblical places of worship"…like the tent that Moses was instructed to make to house the Ark of the Covenant? Like the temple of Solomon? And why did you delete my Scriptural citations? Because I was not commenting on them…
Why did you not comment on them? They speak to why William is out of line to make comments about places of worship being specially adorned or otherwise set apart. because I do not understand why people quote long expanses of previous material to comment on a small part of it (thereby wasting bandwidth)….
And I don’t understand why people respond to posts while deleting the parts which prove them wrong… because my server has this thing about "more quoted material than new material" and will net send it if the ratio is too high…
That would have been solved by quoting the citations and then simply *commenting* on them… (Sorry to have to point out the obvious.) Why are you upset about it?
I’m not "upset" about it at all. I’m simply pointing out that your position has no leg to stand on if you include the cites, which is why you were forced to delete them instead of commenting on them. Buny
– Jeff Shirton jshirton at cogeco.ca Pray thee, take care, that tak’st my book in hand, To read it well: that is, to understand. — Ben Jonson
Response:
And why did you delete my Scriptural citations? Because I was not commenting on them… Why did you not comment on them? They speak to why William is out of line to make comments about places of worship being specially adorned or otherwise set apart.
What is wrong with a church looking like a church, a temple looking like a temple, a mosque looking like a mosque. Note that I did not say it had to be filled with expensive artwork, or anything elso ostentatious…I have attended Mass in a church that was origianlly a trailer…but when you looked at it, you knew it *was* a church. Heck, the parish I grew up in had a church that was originally built to be a gymnasium. It was in the archdiocese of New Orleans in the ’60s and the archbishop was on a school building kick. The archdiocese had acquired land in the suburbs (and this was not an affluent community-most homes were in the $30s), and they started building the school-gym first, which was basically a big cube. Then the archbishop realised that perhaps it would be better to have a church there first-and the gym was then refitted to become a church. No school was ever built, and the remaineg land eventaully sold. A church does not have to be really fancy–but it does have to have certain attributes, which tend to identify it *as* a church… because my server has this thing about "more quoted material than new material" and will net send it if the ratio is too high… That would have been solved by quoting the citations and then simply *commenting* on them… (Sorry to have to point out the obvious.)
Perhaps I did not wish to comment on the entire post–which I did not. I do not disagree with your entire post, only part of it-which is why I have further explained my opinion above… Why are you upset about it? I’m not "upset" about it at all. I’m simply pointing out that your position has no leg to stand on if you include the cites, which is why you were forced to delete them instead of commenting on them.
I was not "forced" to delete them…I was just commenting on why I think "churches look like churches"…this also helps when you are on vacation in an unfamilar town and are trying to find a church to attend Mass on Sunday…ours happens to be in the middle of a neighborhood, and to get to it, one must make several turns when driving through this neigborhood. One of the jokes that visiting priests often make is that they always arrive early, because they are afraid of getting lost-again. — Buny —-"Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal." ~ Albert Camus
Response:
O I was glad when they said unto me….let us go into the House of the Lord!
Yes, but you weren’t so glad about turning from sin…. Now when you go to the House of the Lord you are a hypocritical stench. You reprobate scum would be funny in your hypocrisy were you not now so malicious. See folks, the weak minded Taylors, spiritual dimbulbs, decided to be neutral about sin (the sin of the reprobate Mark Bassett). But look at how quickly they have joined him in sin! You cannot be neutral about sin or you will end up as some religious scum like the Taylors! See what the sinful, lukewarm spiritual filth, the Taylors condone and support at http://www.impsmail.org/bassett.html These reprobate spiritual filth do not represent "Oneness" except to testify to the backslidden and pride engorged condition of some in the UPCI leadership. They have blindly joined the handful of dimbulbs who threw away their integrity, honor, and salvation to support the reprobate Mark Bassett in his life of unrepentant sin. Let any real Christians join with me in prayer that the Taylors would be the last that reprobate Bassett deceives into hell with him. Pastor Winter — "Winters, you are a blabbering heretic. In a truly godly nation you would be executed for publicly promoting your heretical doctrines." – Tom Albrecht trinitarian deceiver 2000 "Copyright infringement my ***" (obscenity deleted) – Brian Boggs cultist 2000 "lying to mr. winter is just a defense" – Mark Bassett UPC Preacher 1999 "It isnt a salvation issue…" - Mark Bassett 1999 regarding Biblical holiness "Sorry old man. I never lie, if I, can help it." – Raymond W Knapp 2000 "…God is Triune in nature…" – Raymond W Knapp 2000 ",I did get saved in a Southern Baptist Church," – Raymond Knapp 2000 http://www.onenesschristian.org Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal See reprobates Bassett, Moon & Knapp in action: http://www.impsmail.org
Response:
CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER!
Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. Pastor Winter — Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal /*/ PreRapture Ministry http://www.pentecostal.biz for Bible studies (text and audio) Have you obeyed Acts 2:38 as Paul taught in Acts 19:4-6?
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Most other places it’s not that clear what they are. For example i was recently visiting a friend at a local congregation. With the exception of a (very small) cross on the podium there was no indication as to what this structure was made for. It could as well have been city hall as the walls, windows, etc were totally absent of anything desiganating it a place of Christian worship. The same can be said for most of the protestant and non-denom buildings I have been to. The art doesn’t make a Church William. I have been to some very beautiful Protestant churches and I have been to very simple and plain Catholic Churches. When our Church was being renovated, we went to Mass in a gym for over 2 months. When I go to the Poconos, I have a choice of driving 20 miles to Mass in a very beautiful but modern Catholic Church, or a mile away to a local fire hall. I drive the mile. Beautiful art should inspire you to think of God, my Church has beautiful stain glass windows of Biblical scenes. I often look at one after my prayers before Mass starts and meditate on what is being depicted. A Protestant who goes to church may not have the windows or art to reflect on, but he usually has a Bible and may read a passage that results in exactly the same effect. Remember our Lords words, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Art is nice but isn’t necessary, the main attraction is there, that is what is really important. I find this all rather silly. We have some people here who claim we are worshipping stain glass windows and statues, etc. We spend countless hours trying to explain the use of icons in Catholicism/Orthodoxy. Now you come along as a Catholic and complain that the Protestant churches don’t have art. Kind of feeds the misconception in an indirect sort of way, doesn’t it? I’ve been to several Protestant churches which do indeed have stained glass windows. It was ‘the thing’ years ago to build churches with same in order to depict biblical scenery, catch the sun’s beauty and magnify the art, etc…. Not all churches build today using stained glass, because in some cases, the art has died out, although, it appears to be making a bit of a comeback — more so as a crafting hobby.
My local Anglican church has just had a new stained glass window installed. It’s very beautiful, and depicts a local landmark.
Response:
As with Paul we ‘Preach Christ Crucified’. So there’s the biblical basis for that one. Also the acknowledgement and respect for relics goes back to pre-NT days. Remeber the dead man thrown in the grave of (Elisha?) who was brought back from the dead through contact with the bones of the prophet. Also in the NT people passed around the handkerchief of Paul and they were healed. The Temple was chock full of statues so what is wrong with statues? Lastly we don’t bow to statues. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What purpose did your post serve accept to criticize Protestant churches for not looking "worshippy" enough? Your entire post cried out, "holier-than-thou!" Amen. I guess that’s because we don’t let on Christ is still nailed to the cross, and display that theme in our churches, or have the building cluttered with statues and relics…. and we don’t bow down to statues either. What a shame, isn’t it, how ‘unholy’ we Prots are…… Doc 
) SMILE ! Only a DENTIST should look down in the mouth!
Response:
One thing i have always appreciated about the Catholic Church is that anyone can walk in and tell right away that this is a place of Christian worship. Rather, you can tell it’s a collection of statues. You also keep Jesus on the cross as best you can, but little do you know HE is no longer on it, but is alive and well… no longer suffering on it as the RCC buildings always try to portray.
Be honest Doc. When was time you were IN a Catholic Church? Or are you taking this all on hearsay? The Catholic Churches I’ve been in have the RISEN Christ in front of the Cross. Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com – Still Only $9.95 – http://www.uncensored-news.com With NINE Servers In California And Texas – The Worlds Uncensored News Source
Response:
CATHOLIC AND GRATEFUL! CATHOLIC FOREVER! Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
Leave it to MR. Winter (notice I did not say pastor) to come up with something completly irrelvant.
Response:
Why do you make such a big deal about "where" we worship, or what it "looks" like?! I think a place of worship should look like one. And it should be obvious that it is a place of worship when you enter it. So if a sick person is bedridden, and can’t enter that ‘place of worship; — and they pray to God from their bed instead, you’re claiming that God will refuse to hear those prayers? After all, according to you, that sick-bed is ‘not a place of worship What shallowness…..
Doc, I don’t know whether the desert ‘looks like’ a place of worship, but it’s been found adequate: "And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings
no comment untill now