Zone1 What Church Is and Isn't: Why God Isn't Just a Building

[TemplarKormac]

Church is a place. God is everywhere. Church is a start, not the finish. You go there to learn how to be a Christian there and everywhere else. You don't go there to act Chistian there and nowhere else.

Don't confine God to a building. God isn't a deity you can confine against his will. Don't get me wrong, GO TO CHURCH, but don't think Church is the only place God can be, or where you can do his will.

If you could confine God, the master of this universe and universes beyond, to a building, he wouldn't be a master of anything, would he? He wouldn't even be God.

Acting like a church is the only place he'll be and the only place you need to be a Christian is misguided, and minimizes the One True Almighy God, dare I say SINFULLY.

You don't always need a building, you can worship anywhere you please. Jesus preached on a lake! He taught anywhere and everywhere in the ancient world. He didn't need any buildings to preach his father's gospel.

Don't believe me? Go read your nearest Bible.

 

[Dogmaphobe]

Yep.

Jesus said, "whenever two or three gather together...." which indicates to me that people do not need fancy buildings to form a church.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Yep.

Jesus said, "whenever two or three gather together...." which indicates to me that people do not need fancy buildings to form a church.

Indeed. And anyone who reads the book of Hebrews will know that we should not forsake the gathering of fellow Christians in his name. It also doesn't say where they'll be.

Don't assume they're at church. It doesn't always have to be.

 

[JanetTheGreat]

The idea that a physical building, a location is required to "worship" the "creator" is silly, and ultimate proof of the infiltration of the human ego into the idea of "faith". I have no interest in attending, or gathering with such people in said building.

 

[DGS49]

Church facilitates focusing on God. There is nothing magic about it, but those associations are ingrained in our personalities (or not).

The trend over the past fifty years to build "modern" churches that look like union halls is not helpful. At least to me.

One's life should be a prayer, eh?

I'm working on it.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Church facilitates focusing on God. There is nothing magic about it, but those associations are ingrained in our personalities (or not).

The trend over the past fifty years to build "modern" churches that look like union halls is not helpful. At least to me.

One's life should be a prayer, eh?

I'm working on it.

That's all your fellow brother on Christ wants.

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

--Colossians 3:16

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

The idea that a physical building, a location is required to "worship" the "creator" is silly, and ultimate proof of the infiltration of the human ego into the idea of "faith". I have no interest in attending, or gathering with such people in said building.

What about other places or locales?

 

[JanetTheGreat]

What about other places or locales?

That would depend on the place, or locale in question.

That's all your fellow brother on Christ wants.

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

--Colossians 3:16

I have not really had much problem with the idea of Christ in general. The idea of Christ being "divine" doesn't really bother me. What bothers me is the actions of the various denominations of those who call themselves "Christian", and the corruption that is committed in the name of "Christ". Years ago I was probably very anti-Christian, but I came to more of an understanding that it was the organizations that I had a quarrel with, rather than the idea, or faith in Christ itself.

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

I think the problem is not just confining God to a building but also confining God to one's own ideas, interpretations, and interests, regardless of the place or situation.

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

That would depend on the place, or locale in question.


I have not really had much problem with the idea of Christ in general. The idea of Christ being "divine" doesn't really bother me. What bothers me is the actions of the various denominations of those who call themselves "Christian", and the corruption that is committed in the name of "Christ". Years ago I was probably very anti-Christian, but I came to more of an understanding that it was the organizations that I had a quarrel with, rather than the idea, or faith in Christ itself.

And not just the various denominations and organizations as a whole, but many individual people who "talk the talk" but don't "walk the walk."

Do as I say, not as I do.

Way to go, role models!

 

[TemplarKormac]

That would depend on the place, or locale in question.


I have not really had much problem with the idea of Christ in general. The idea of Christ being "divine" doesn't really bother me. What bothers me is the actions of the various denominations of those who call themselves "Christian", and the corruption that is committed in the name of "Christ". Years ago I was probably very anti-Christian, but I came to more of an understanding that it was the organizations that I had a quarrel with, rather than the idea, or faith in Christ itself.

That's generally what I run into. A congregation shouldn't act tribal or do anything to discourage fellow believers. But they do. It angers me.

 

[TemplarKormac]

That would depend on the place, or locale in question.

And, I would assume, the people also.

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

That's generally what I run into. A congregation shouldn't act tribal or do anything to discourage fellow believers. But they do. It angers me.

And especially nonbelievers and/or newcomers.

 

[DukeU]

That's generally what I run into. A congregation shouldn't act tribal or do anything to discourage fellow believers. But they do. It angers me.

If mankind didn't have flaws/sin, we wouldn't need Christ.

 

[JanetTheGreat]

That's generally what I run into. A congregation shouldn't act tribal or do anything to discourage fellow believers. But they do. It angers me.

What is it that you, yourself, believe about Christ?

 

[TemplarKormac]

What is it that you, yourself, believe about Christ?

That's quite a broad question. In what context, madam?

 

[JanetTheGreat]

That's quite a broad question. In what context, madam?

Given the fact that history is often warped by those who have ulterior motives, how do we know for sure that the events that we are told about Christ are as we are told?

 

[TemplarKormac]

Given the fact that history is often warped by those who have ulterior motives, how do we know for sure that the events that we are told about Christ are as we are told?

That's something I wrestle with too. What was the Council of Nicaea thinking when it compiled the 66 known books of the Bible? Was God driving them to discern what would be apocryphal and what wouldn't?

I choose to believe God was.

 

[TemplarKormac]

JanetTheGreat

I would advise you do an objective investigation into the veracity of the claims or statements in the Bible you are having issues with.

If it were me, I'd also pray for insight.

 

[Cougarbear]

I think the problem is not just confining God to a building but also confining God to one's own ideas, interpretations, and interests, regardless of the place or situation.

Interesting statement. Because, there are 45,000 Christian denomination, churches, beliefs because someone picks a specific thing out of the Bible and focuses on that one thing because it fits their own beliefs. People are members of a Church, Denomination because either they go where their parents went or they look for something that fits their ideas, interpretations and interest regardless of whether or not it's correct. People will say, "I'm looking for a church that teaches X." Other, "I'm looing for a church that teaches Y." While other, "I'm looking for a church that teaches Z." This method is one who has a double mind. Joseph Smith didn't. He went to the Father, in the name of the Son, with real intent, faith not wavering and without that double mind. The Father and Son came to him and told him not to join any of the existing churches. That, they were all wrong. That meant that those churches were double minded doing things for themselves. That they had not received authority to preach, teach or administer any ordinance like baptism itself. Through Joseph Smith, the Godhead proceeded to again administer the ordinances and priesthood to mankind establishing Jesus Christ's Church again in the world.

As far as needing buildings for congregations to teach and preach, to administer baptisms and the Sacraments, why not? Makes a lot of convenience for people. They have necessary things like bathrooms in them. They have "sanctuaries" where the Sacraments of the flesh and blood of the atonement can be blessed and given easily. Anyway, nice that people spend time in the wilderness and pray to God. But, it's hard to grow a church that will be the same throughout the entire world without buildings.