Posted on 11/23/2008 2:46:52 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
The post I offered was in response to the misuse of scripture on prayer as if it applied to worship. I was attempting to distinguish the differences. I agree that prayer cannot be separated from any Christian activity because we are called to pray continually.
Worship, instruction, communion are part of the reason for gathering as a community. Prayer can be done anytime and anyplace but these other things are done in community. The person I responded to was wrongly making the case that the scripture admonishing the Jews who prayed in public has the effect of negating the importance of corporate worship.
That poster is misguided regarding the reason for the gathering of the christian community to worship. The purpose is not merely prayer. It is to instruct in the word and to build each others faith and most importantly to worship God with other Christians. These purposes are not for the benefit of the individual (although it does), they are for the benefit of the Church body, for the whole Christian community.
Further, when corporate prayer is done it is done as one body. When it is done as one body it actually is consistent with Jesus’s instruction to pray in private. The Church body is praying in private as one.
The concern for Obama’s lack of attendance is not measured by the importance of his attending for himself. It is important for at least 2 reasons. The first is that as a Christian, he is part of the body of Christ’s church and is a necessary part of that body when it comes together to worship.
The second reason is submission, which is what I sense many on this thread are objecting to. When a Christian is faced with a new obligation, say a marriage, a child, a new profession or a job, the Christian’s first instinct is to bring these to God and seek his will. When we seek God’s will apart from scripture and apart from our Christian community we are prone to error and often end up seeking our own will and most dangerously begin relying on our own strengths rather than God’s.
For those of you with A.D.D., one more time....
“Real reason....Muslims go to services on Friday’s...”
For those of you with memory loss....”
“Real reason....Muslims go to services on Friday’s...
And for those who haven’t yet caught on....
“Real reason....Muslims go to services on Friday’s...”
Where are we in the Top 9 “Democracy Countdown”?
1. From bondage to spiritual faith
2. From spiritual faith to Great Courage
3. From Great Courage to Liberty
4. From Liberty to Abundance
5. From Abundance to Complacency
6. From Complacency to Apathy
7. From Apethy to Dependence
8. From Dependence into Bondage
Does anyone even know what his religion is? Doesn't go to church, doesn't belong to one, affiliation unknown. Number one priority upon taking office is exanding abortion, infanticide and embryonic stem cell research.
"Well...let's see...who could that be? Who could it be? Could it be...SATAN???"
Barack and Michelle should invite Rev. Wright to provide private services...... they don’t have to keep up the pretence anymore.
Heck, Rev. Wright’s pulpit rants didn’t seem to even raise anyone’s eyebrow when they were made public so they could have him “preach” (his word, not mine) on the White House lawn and you’d never hear a peep about it. :/
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