[Salvation]

Video

[Salvation]

Monsignor Pope Ping!

[silverleaf]

Bump

[Oratam]

In before the “What’s the big fuss, the Apostles met in homes,” and ‘any ol’ room where “two are gathered in My Name”’ posts.

[mlizzy]

"In effect, the builders of my church (built in 1939) were saying, when you walk into this church, you have entered Heaven. Indeed, it is a replica of the heavenly vision of John. And when we celebrate the Liturgy it is more than just a replica, for we are taken up to Heaven in every Mass, where we join countless angels and saints around the heavenly altar. There, we worship God with them. We don’t have to wait for some rapture; we go there in every Mass."

And if one goes to Mass more than just on Sundays, they can, in fact, be brought up to heaven seven days a week. Loved the article, and loved the video too. ♥

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I think the premise of the article is flawed, given that the NT has no instructions for any building.

In fact, the NT says Christians are the building in which the Holy Spirit dwells.

Hut, bowling alley, ornate building, tent, whatever. If God is worshiped by a gathering of His believers and His Word is taught and preached, it is a “Gathering”.

When groups focus on outward ritual and appearance, they misunderstand the transformation inside. Or as the saying goes, when the candles are lit, the Spirit departs.

[cookcounty]

Hey, sermons in stone are fine if some wealthy art patron wants to fund it, but the idea that people today will repent of their sins and follow Jesus because of the architecture of the meeting house is highly dubious. It’s as effective as Christian origami (which would be a lot cheaper!).

[avenir]

"The Book of Hebrews explained why God insisted that the pattern be followed so exactly: They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven (Heb 8:5). In other words, the Ancient Temple was meant to be a replica, or pattern of the heavenly sanctuary."

A lot of preachers Scripture surf to buttress their sermons. Here, Charles makes a point the letter to the Hebrews did NOT make. On the contrary, The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.(8:1-2)

Heavenly. Superior. The LORD set it up, not man. No more copy/shadow system. Can be accessed by anyone on earth, anywhere, anytime...by FAITH in the risen Lord.

[Buckeye McFrog]

God in His wisdom could NOT have possibly designed these newer Catholic churches that have seating “in the round”.

Communion is an absolute rugby scrum. And have you ever tried to navigate a casket through the aisles in one of those places?

[Biggirl]

“Long before most people could read, the Church was preaching the Gospel. And to do so, she used the very structure of her buildings to preach. Many of our older buildings are sermons in stone and stained glass.”

AMEN.

[NYer]

Ping!

[Iscool]

In effect, the builders of my church (built in 1939) were saying, when you walk into this church, you have entered Heaven. Indeed, it is a replica of the heavenly vision of John. And when we celebrate the Liturgy it is more than just a replica, for we are taken up to Heaven in every Mass, where we join countless angels and saints around the heavenly altar. There, we worship God with them.

Really??? You got some scripture to back that up??? No???

Actual born again Christians indwelt with the Holy Ghost are in heaven right now...24/7, every day of the year...Without ever stepping foot in a church building...

We don’t have to wait for some rapture; we go there in every Mass.

HaHa...We Christians don't have to wait for a Rapture either...But you guys have to wait for your fix at the Catholic altar and it gets you to heaven in the presence of Jesus for 15 or 20 minutes (so you claim)...

Actual Christians are indwelt with the Holy Ghost (God, Jesus) and heaven is brought down to us...Why would a person endeavor to get to heaven in the presence of God when God is in him/her...The answer is, he/she would not...

If you have the Spirit of God within you, you have no need for a Eucharist, or a trip to heaven to be in His presence...If you do not have the Spirit of God within you, you are not a Christian...

Rom_8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

[Iscool]

There is not a single place in the scriptures where God told any Christian to build a temple that was a replica of the Temple, or any building...That's because the real church is the congregation, not the building...There is no requirement by God to build a building to worship in...

Christians are the Temple of God...That's where you will find God, not in a building...

[Joe 6-pack]

I love Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth which follows the lives and intrigues of the parties involved in building a gothic cathedral. Follett was raised in a more puritan tradition, and was accustomed to more Spartan worship atmospheres, but later in life became captivated by the richness of gothic church architecture. Whether he did it consciously or not the novel depicts God's hand at work even through some very flawed, if not outright corrupt characters, as well as some particularly pious ones with feet of clay. It's a fascinating read for those who've never picked it up.

[SuzyQue]

I love these religious discussions, not because of the sides taken and the soapboxes pulled out, but because of the passionate defense and explanation of faith that comes from the discussions.

Jesus spoke in parables. I don’t know why, and I often wish He spoke in plain English :), but in His infinite wisdom, He chose to speak in ways that we have to interpret.