Is the church building a sacred or holy place?

Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

Yes it is. secular activities should not go on there

11% (5)

no, just a building. Use it for whatever is not sinful.

64% (27)

I don't like secular in the sanctuary, but that is just my opinon.

11% (5)

other

11% (5)

Total Votes : 42

(last vote on : 8/16/2008 8:34:59 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

Message

bluestone -> Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:02:19 PM)
Or is it just a building used by a church, and can be used for other purposes, including secular? The church I used to attend did not allow baby showers for unwed mothers to takeplace on church property because the grounds were "holy" and I suppose the mother to be was not. Yet they had a womanless beauty pageant to raise money for missions.[8\|]

WesP -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:07:25 PM)
I chose the third option.

wintery -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:08:31 PM)
A church building is just a building. The people are the church. They should behave in a holy manner in or out of the presence of the other believers as well as in or out of the building. Other non-sinful uses I've heard of recently include as a storm shelter and as a local polling place.

bluestone -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:12:09 PM)
Red Cross Blood drives, benefits for charities, too. I was raised that it is "God's House" and nothing unholy should go on in there. No buying or selling in the sanctuary. nada. I am uncomfortable with a lot of things that may be allowed, but I realize it is my cultural conditioning in most cases, and I just need to clam up about it.

armydude -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:12:33 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: wintery A church building is just a building. The people are the church. They should behave in a holy manner in or out of the presence of the other believers as well as in or out of the building. Other non-sinful uses I've heard of recently include as a storm shelter and as a local polling place. I agree wholeheartedly. The church is the people. They could meet at the church building, a member's home, a park, or even Wal-Mart. Wherever they are, they are representing not only their church, but also their Savior. That makes that place church. The building could really be any building anywhere.

Qtman -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:19:13 PM)
I chose the second option. The church building ultimately is nothing more than an asset of the members or the "Denomination". A lot of people, myself included, were taught it was God's house. Try going uninvited into a church you are not affiliated with to hold a service of any kind. Say a Southern Gospel Concert for example. You would be kicked out on your heals in a heartbeat and it would not be God kicking you out. I don't think God has had a house of that nature since the Temple in the bible days. God does not reside in the building. In some of them I am not even sure he is invited in.[:D] But as they say that is another thread. That being said I think the church should shine in any community as a safe place, a place for comfort, a place for worship, and yes any other activity that is not sinful.

elastic -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:21:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: wintery A church building is just a building. The people are the church. They should behave in a holy manner in or out of the presence of the other believers as well as in or out of the building. Other non-sinful uses I've heard of recently include as a storm shelter and as a local polling place. i agree 100%. it's just a building. wherever two or more are gathered in His name, God is there, no matter what building they are in.

armydude -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:31:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Qtman God does not reside in the building. In some of them I am not even sure he is invited in.[:D] But as they say that is another thread. [sm=note.gif]MmHmmmm...[sm=note.gif] Amen... Hallelujah... (I'm your amen corner.)[:D]

DreadPirateRandy -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:35:12 PM)
A church is just a building, sure, but that doesn't take away from the fact it's supposed to be represented in a holy, sanctified manner.

bluestone -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:43:57 PM)
Perhaps a common sense approach is in order.

WesP -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:49:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bluestone Perhaps a common sense approach is in order. Problem is that not too many people have that! [:D]

Qtman -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:52:59 PM)
The church building as we know it probably dates back to the cathedrals of the 11-14 century. These were built in communities and used as a gathering place for worship. However, they were also used for many other purposes. Town meetings, plays etc. The reverence that has been placed on the church building is something fairly recent in light of history. Even early in this country they were often referred to as meeting houses. Some doubled as schools, town halls, and places of social gathering in addition to worship services. The building has not changed it is our attitude toward the building that has evolved into something the building is not.

Tinkerbell_ -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:54:02 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: armydude quote: ORIGINAL: wintery A church building is just a building. The people are the church. They should behave in a holy manner in or out of the presence of the other believers as well as in or out of the building. Other non-sinful uses I've heard of recently include as a storm shelter and as a local polling place. I agree wholeheartedly. The church is the people. They could meet at the church building, a member's home, a park, or even Wal-Mart. Wherever they are, they are representing not only their church, but also their Savior. That makes that place church. The building could really be any building anywhere. Tritto. The day we hold our church as reverent as we do the Spirit himself is the day that we think nothing of golden calfs. (is it calfs or calves? I can never remember). [8D]

bluestone -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 4:55:03 PM)
my calves are flesh, and wear hosiery at work[;)]

doinkdom -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 5:14:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bluestone Perhaps a common sense approach is in order. well now you're just having crazy talk just crazy talk [sm=rollingeyes.gif] common sense indeed[&:] where we gonna get that

CoeurdeLeon_ -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 6:31:46 PM)
A building is a building is a building. It's taken me a long time to learn that. I wasn't raised in the church and my idea of the church building was that it was way holy and that was where God was and where He inspected me and found me a serious disappointment. Oh, and that's where all the "you shoulds" and "you have tos" were brought up. You know, the guilt trip/unbearable burden. That all happened in a church.

deliveredarling -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 6:49:21 PM)
quote: Oh, and that's where all the "you shoulds" and "you have tos" were brought up. You know, the guilt trip/unbearable burden. That all happened in a church. Me too. But it's also where I found Him to tell me I could give Him my guilt and shame. I did, in a church.

Stephanos -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:03:51 PM)
As early as the 3rd and 4th Centuries a growing number of Christians decided to set aside one particular place where they all could meet for worship and fellowship. It has risen to the point where the majority of Christians today have a particular place, outside their home, where they meet to worship and fellowship with other Christians This, in essence, is no different than what the VFW, Shriners, American Legion, Kiwanias, (or dozens of other civic orginizations) do. If a group of believers desided to hold worship and fellowship meetings at the local IHOP (food place not the church), that would not make that place holy any more than another restaurant. Or any other building for that matter. When the people leave the building, whether it is a church or the movie theater down the street, God goes with them. For God no longer lives in a building, He lives in His people!!! BTW you can talk to God ANYWHERE. Not just in a church. And He can convict you ANYWERE, not just on one particular building.

DougHorton -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:13:29 PM)
Of course it is holy. That is what the word "sanctuary" means. Yes, it is a building, but it is a building set apart for worship. Other activities could take place there, however, if other activities take place there, these activities should be something which glorifies God.

armydude -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:16:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DougHorton Of course it is holy. That is what the word "sanctuary" means. Yes, it is a building, but it is a building set apart for worship. Other activities could take place there, however, if other activities take place there, these activities should be something which glorifies God. What you just said should apply to the Christian himself (or herself as the case may be). But too many Christians put too much of an emphasis on keeping the church building clean and set apart for worship (sanctification) and not their own self, which is the residence for the Holy Spirit. We've got that one backwards.

DougHorton -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:25:48 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: armydude What you just said should apply to the Christian himself (or herself as the case may be). But too many Christians put too much of an emphasis on keeping the church building clean and set apart for worship (sanctification) and not their own self, which is the residence for the Holy Spirit. We've got that one backwards. No we don't. The Christian should be Holy, but so should our place of worship. When Jesus cleansed the Temple and said His house should be a house of prayer, He was NOT referring to His body, but a building, a place of worship.

armydude -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:28:44 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DougHorton quote: ORIGINAL: armydude What you just said should apply to the Christian himself (or herself as the case may be). But too many Christians put too much of an emphasis on keeping the church building clean and set apart for worship (sanctification) and not their own self, which is the residence for the Holy Spirit. We've got that one backwards. No we don't. The Christian should be Holy, but so should our place of worship. When Jesus cleansed the Temple and said His house should be a house of prayer, He was NOT referring to His body, but a building, a place of worship. He was also referring to moneychangers robbing the people blind and preventing the worship of God by legalism. Keep it in context please.

SovereignIsHe -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:37:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: armydude quote: ORIGINAL: DougHorton quote: ORIGINAL: armydude What you just said should apply to the Christian himself (or herself as the case may be). But too many Christians put too much of an emphasis on keeping the church building clean and set apart for worship (sanctification) and not their own self, which is the residence for the Holy Spirit. We've got that one backwards. No we don't. The Christian should be Holy, but so should our place of worship. When Jesus cleansed the Temple and said His house should be a house of prayer, He was NOT referring to His body, but a building, a place of worship. He was also referring to moneychangers robbing the people blind and preventing the worship of God by legalism. Keep it in context please. Jesus said: It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer... So what is the context? Was He not referring to the building? John

WesP -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:41:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: armydude quote: ORIGINAL: DougHorton Of course it is holy. That is what the word "sanctuary" means. Yes, it is a building, but it is a building set apart for worship. Other activities could take place there, however, if other activities take place there, these activities should be something which glorifies God. What you just said should apply to the Christian himself (or herself as the case may be). But too many Christians put too much of an emphasis on keeping the church building clean and set apart for worship (sanctification) and not their own self, which is the residence for the Holy Spirit. We've got that one backwards. Sorry to interrupt. One of the main points of contention in the other thread for me was specifically referring to the bolded statement above. Granted, initially it came off as a drinking party while playing music, so that probably skewed my perceptions. At any rate, my offense was not because of the building itself, but because of the model being held up for the community. Come to church; drink a few beers; thrash with the guitars; etc. It was bringing to mind a picture of allowing disreputable behavior to take place, and I do not think that should be allowed. I think the Church should always be an example and shy away from allowing that type of perception to form. KWIM?

DougHorton -> RE: Is the church building a sacred or holy place? (7/24/2008 7:54:27 PM)
Wes, You don't drink beer at church? You don't play guitars? These activities could easily take place in God's house. Of course, if it was going overboard that would be wrong. How about using the sanctuary for concerts of classical music? Performances of the public schools? Or a covered dish dinner? All of these could be acceptable, or could be unacceptable, depending on whether god was getting the glory or not.

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