Who said this?
2006-09-24 12:55:07 · 15 answers · asked by 6th Finger 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Church, I think is a place for saints and sinners. Christ's ministry was focused around sinners because they were in greater need of salvation. I think sainthood is a process whereby sinners graduate to different levels and finally attain saint status. The Bible says we have ALL sinned and fallen short. This would include what we refer to as the saint. Just my opinion since there is so much I do not know for sure.
2006-09-24 13:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by Marie 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't know who said it, but I have heard this said many times. Especially the idea that the church is a hospital for those who are spiritually ill. The sad thing is that unfortunately the church seems to enjoy only the spiritually healthy and tends to outcase the spiritually ill. Which may be why the spiritually ill start turning to other religions.
I'm a Hindu who used to be a Christian missionary and I remember quite well how the denomination I belonged to was more interested in gaining new converts to their denomination (even if it meant infighting within Christianity to take from another denomination) than it was in trying to help people who were spiritually ill or even the problems and ills in the world today (other than politicized issues). It was in my own exploration of spiritual traditions and lots of prayer that God led me to Hinduism.
Perhaps someday Christians will once again have their churches serve as spiritual hospitals again. Currently they are nothing more than social gatherings where people show off material possessions or try to out do the other in "good" deeds and where others are then ostracized and kicked out for not being good enough or spiritual enough, etc (for being sinners) and also places were politics and division seem to now also have gained ground.
There is a Hindu teacher who once said "Christians often seem to miss or ignore the best aspects of Christianity while practicing it's worst aspects that their founder criticized most."
2006-09-24 14:03:12 · answer #2 · answered by gabriel_zachary 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian Pastor I agree that the concept and duty of the Church would be more to the sinner than the saint.
However I must admit that most people that attend Church on a regular basis think they are Saints and in the process drive out those that need the message.
2006-09-24 13:04:46 · answer #3 · answered by drg5609 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The church (temple) is a gallery of saints comprised of doctors and nurses (matured believers) who open the doors of the hospital for new infirmities (babes in Christ).
The church (literal) IS the saint, and all saints are redeemed sinners.
The quote is by James Joseph Walsh, M.D., LL.D., Litt.D., Sc.D. (1865–1942)
2006-09-24 13:07:48 · answer #4 · answered by ConcernedMom 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Was it Saint John of God or St. Francis of Assisi?
Yes, a sinner goes to church asks God's forgiveness, or healing for his body and soul, and God grants graces, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. And through trials and hardships and God testing that person by firing him of gold, and that person is true, then he has a potential of joining the saints through suffering and unity with God.
2006-09-24 13:09:49 · answer #5 · answered by Born Valentine's Day 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea who first said it. I even Googled it and couldn't find it.
I have to agree with the statement. No one who attends church is perfect. It's a place to go to learn, and grow with like minded people. Some people think Christians go because they weak, but non Christians join groups that see eye to eye with them on their beliefs. We all gravitate toward people that we can agree with, have fun with, and grow with. And toward people who we can depend on and lean on in tough times.
2006-09-24 13:17:19 · answer #6 · answered by mocha5isfree 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I totally agree. That is why as Christians, we attend a local community church or fellowship to get help and ask forgiveness for our sins.
To God be the Glory, great things He hath done!
2006-09-24 13:06:14 · answer #7 · answered by son-shine 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In other words ,Jesus did.He said i have not come to call the Holy(That's what they thought they were )but sinners to repentance,and a Physician seeks out the sick not the well(paraphrased)
2006-09-24 12:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats a good way to put it yes, sinners that are trying to change their life, to turn from evil, and try hard to do good.or to fix their sickness.
2006-09-24 12:58:37 · answer #9 · answered by theladylooking 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It may be a (mental) hospital for sinners,but the it's cure rate seems to be really, really low.
2006-09-24 13:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋