nebula Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 5,823 Topics Per Day: 0.76 Content Count: 45,870 Content Per Day: 5.97 Reputation: 1,897 Days Won: 83 Joined: 03/22/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/19/1970 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I still hear people refer to a church as the house of God. No, it is just a gathering place for the house of God. Yes! We are now the Temple of God, the place where God dwells, not individual buildings. Churches are more synonymous with Synagogues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebula Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 5,823 Topics Per Day: 0.76 Content Count: 45,870 Content Per Day: 5.97 Reputation: 1,897 Days Won: 83 Joined: 03/22/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/19/1970 Share Posted March 28, 2014 That said, there are churches where the presence of God can be felt. Likewise, there are churches where the presence of God is not felt. I have been to both. A couple of those "not" churches were quite elaborte and ornate. What makes the difference? The congregation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayin jade Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 44 Topic Count: 6,178 Topics Per Day: 0.88 Content Count: 43,784 Content Per Day: 6.23 Reputation: 11,227 Days Won: 58 Joined: 01/03/2005 Status: Offline Share Posted March 28, 2014 There is a building in the deserts here that is from the spanish times. It is elaborately decorated and a beautiful church. San Xavier del Bac. I used to go to that church often as an unbeliever just to see its beauty. When I was distressed over something I would go there and pray to God. Even though I didnt believe in Jesus. The last time I did so, it was just a couple of months before I got saved. The beauty in those churches can witness the gospel too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willa Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 68 Topic Count: 185 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 14,204 Content Per Day: 3.35 Reputation: 16,629 Days Won: 30 Joined: 08/14/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted March 28, 2014 God inhabits the praises of His people, and He seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. I have also sat in a dead church that sang hymns mechanicly without perceiving the meaning of the words they mouthed. Afterwards the pastor approached me saying there was something different about me. It was one of those missed opportunies to witness. Hopefully God will use it to whet his appetite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,989 Topics Per Day: 0.49 Content Count: 48,687 Content Per Day: 11.89 Reputation: 30,342 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Author Share Posted March 28, 2014 They are supposed to be using the blessings that they receive through GOD to reach out and feed the poor, clothe the widows and orphans, and spread the Word throughout the world. Not keep it in a safe in a building for it to be "stolen." OR buy houses and jets and cars and lavish lifestyles. Anyone see the movie "Saving GOD?" I did not but I totally agree with your answer.Just think of all the money they could have given to those in need and the starving with that money they spent on those lavish churches.I am thinking God would prefer that. What part don't you agree with? I'm saying that they should be spending the money doing the Lord's work, not living it up, not buying lavish homes, expensive cars and planes, etc. Large church congregations may be fine, but they don't need a $100,000 building. Maybe they should rehab an old cathedral that has been closed, or something of that sort. They don't need to buy a stadium. I agreed with your answer.I must have been in a hurry and should not have put in the "not".Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 683 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 11,128 Content Per Day: 2.01 Reputation: 1,352 Days Won: 54 Joined: 02/03/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/07/1952 Share Posted March 28, 2014 And yet no complaints when we waste money on stadiums to worship men chasing a ball over plastic grass....... "They" don't need the stadium, the temple to excess... Throw a ball, get a multi million dollar contract. Shepard a church and you are a greedy, wealth chasing fraud who should be giving everything to someone who has less than you? Louie Giglio proved it in his "symphony" Cd. We are more likely to lift our hands to a touchdown than we are to lift our hands in worship. Planks in eyes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebula Posted March 28, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 5,823 Topics Per Day: 0.76 Content Count: 45,870 Content Per Day: 5.97 Reputation: 1,897 Days Won: 83 Joined: 03/22/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/19/1970 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I appreciate your sentiments, Fez, but after touring the Crystal Cathedral back in the early 90's, it put a very bad taste in my mouth for ornate, expensive churches without the Spirit of God's manifest presence in their midst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Butero Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 What is the point in these Churches worth millions?Would God not be happy if we prayed in a wooden hut with a dirt floor? I am sure he would, but look at the expense that went into Solomon's temple. God seemed to give his stamp of approval to it, so I am not sure there is really anything wrong with an expensive house of worship. I would personally prefer a more modest building and to use the money for pressing needs, but if they have the ability to build something like that, why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Butero Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 And yet no complaints when we waste money on stadiums to worship men chasing a ball over plastic grass....... "They" don't need the stadium, the temple to excess... Throw a ball, get a multi million dollar contract. Shepard a church and you are a greedy, wealth chasing fraud who should be giving everything to someone who has less than you? Louie Giglio proved it in his "symphony" Cd. We are more likely to lift our hands to a touchdown than we are to lift our hands in worship. Planks in eyes.... While I don't see it as a waste of money to build a stadium for sporting events, I think you make a good point. What is more important? A ball park or a place to worship God? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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