On the Biblical Roots and Requirements of Church Design

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 07-30-15 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[mlizzy]

They almost always have long Communion lines during their Masses.

I meant to say "Confession" lines.... but Communion lines too; lots of people attend, especially on Sundays.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“This is the inside of the church not the outside.”

I understand. I am referring to the inward salvation that comes from entrusting ourselves to Christ alone.

[tbpiper]

Amen to that.

[Biggirl]

Have you ever seen online ruins of very old churches? Just looking online at how Christian believers met to worship makes my day everyday.

[Biggirl]

What is being presented is simply scripture put into stone.

[Biggirl]

But it helps to get the seeds of both repentence and faith planted.

[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.

[Salvation]

The sign of oncoming vocations — long Confession lines and 24/7 Adoration.

The vocations just come.

[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.

[mlizzy]

Why don’t some posters believe the Scriptures that Monsignor Pope referenced? ......

The sign of oncoming vocations — long Confession lines and 24/7 Adoration. The vocations just come.

I don't know regarding the disbelief, other than to say not all Christians interpret in the same way [to begin with] as you well know; however, when we all pass, there will be no discord in heaven! [Thank God!] .. =)

Today, at adoration, I noticed a card with the "Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ," printed on it, and for the first time, I recited same, right before my hours with Jesus were ending. What a beautiful chaplet; have you seen it [recited it]? I felt like I was riding home on my bike with angels. No kidding! I think one or two hitched a ride.... so I understand the increase in vocations when an adoration chapel is present within one's parish. So much peace, so much joy! There He is.... Jesus!!

Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Heaven's Weapon for These Times: Jesus said to Little Barnabas, a Nigerian visionary, on January 19, 1997, "My son pray your Holy Rosary always as My Mother has ordered you. Pray the Holy Chaplet of My Precious Blood immediately after your Holy Rosary. You must do this because the hour of salvation is very short."

[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...

[RobbyS]

And if one focuses on the individual, the one forgets the basic meaning of the Church, which is a gathering of the people of God to worship the Lord.

[tbpiper]

There are some in Scotland I’d like to visit.

[Rashputin]

And no where in Scripture does it say to rely on Scripture alone although it does clearly state to rely on both what is written and what is passed down by tradition.

Scripture does clearly condemn the heresy of Korah (you know, the "the priesthood of all believers is all we need" trash), does clearly say that those who throw Scripture in the garbage can are condemned, and does clearly state that we are to obey our prelates.

So, when someone wants to play, ". . . not a single place in Scripture . . ." games they without fail start by pretending that others should accept the lie of "Scripture Alone" and follow that up with deliberately ignoring what is in Scripture.

People who throw Scripture they don't want to accept in the garbage can and ignore a great deal of what they pretend to accept are nothing but tired old jokers with nothing like a real faith in Christ or Scripture. After all, they've blasphemed the Holy Spirit by insisting the Holy Spirit could not and did not protect Scripture from the inclusion of error so it's impossible for them to be led by that same Holy Spirit.

Christians reject the fundamental premise that "Scripture Alone" applies to the construction of churches or anything else. Therefore the balance of any argument based on that lie is worthless.

[Iscool]

And no where in Scripture does it say to rely on Scripture alone although it does clearly state to rely on both what is written and what is passed down by tradition.

Nothing got passed down except that which turned into scripture...What did the apostles pass down to your religion??? Nothing...

So, when someone wants to play, ". . . not a single place in Scripture . . ." games they without fail start by pretending that others should accept the lie of "Scripture Alone" and follow that up with deliberately ignoring what is in Scripture.

Really??? Ignoring what is in scripture??? Show us then the scripture where God tells his church to build fancy buildings to worship him in...

God certainly wouldn't tell his church to build a Jewish temple...And he didn't...There's no need for a Jewish temple...Just as there is no need of a priesthood...

[verga]

You might consider actual.ly reading the article before making a comment. If you are not able to do that you might consider reading the OT about the construction of both the Worship tent and the Temple.

[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.

[avenir]

“People who throw Scripture they don’t want to accept in the garbage can and ignore a great deal of what they pretend to accept are nothing but tired old jokers with nothing like a real faith in Christ or Scripture. After all, they’ve blasphemed the Holy Spirit by insisting the Holy Spirit could not and did not protect Scripture from the inclusion of error so it’s impossible for them to be led by that same Holy Spirit.”

Those that don’t agree with Charles on church design have blasphemed the Holy Spirit? One can accept everything God told Moses to do, marvel and delight in it, and yet yield to God’s revelation of a superior way in Christ. Such persons are not “destroyed in Korah’s rebellion”, nor have they committed the unpardonable sin.

[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.