Mat 6:6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Jesus tells us not to pray in public, but if I'm not mistaken, isn't that what churches are for? I mean, I've never been inside a church, but that's the impression I get...
2007-01-28 16:32:52 · 11 answers · asked by John S 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We are told to pray one for another, therefore praying in church is NOT a sin.
You might want to go visit one... :o) It might just turn your life inside out or outside in.
2007-01-28 16:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There's nothing wrong with going to church and it's definitely not a sin. Jesus said that because there were those people that used to pray in the streets and they want the public to think that they are really born again but they are not, that's why sometimes Jesus called them snakes.
Church is there for us to meet so we can worship God and praise Him and Glorify His name. Church is called God's house. There's a part in the Bible which says if you die and you never went to church and it's judgement day God will/might ask you if you ever visited Him in HIs house and what are you going to say....
"Where two or more people shall meet in my name it shall be done" that's a Bible quote. When people meet in church they pray, praise God and what is that? They have agreed in Jesus' name. Church is not evil my dear otherwise Jesus would have told us or would have destroyed church while he was here on earth. The Devil is just trying to keep you out of church because he knows you WILL loose out.
2007-01-28 16:51:01 · answer #2 · answered by sweetdivine 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Church is indeed a public place for prayer and worship. yet it is done with other people who are of a like mind engaged in the same activites, so it is merely an interpretation of the above quoted "closet". It's not like they're running down the street doing it, or in the middle of the mall.
BTW - Jesus didn't actually say that, Matthew did, in his nterpretation of jesus's words. Could be He messed it up or revised it to his understanding - which is how the bible is meant to be read anyway.
2007-01-28 16:41:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Going to church to listen to the word of the Holy Bible, is not a sin, worshipping God is not a sin. Confession is designed as part of Catholic Church faith. All religions have a church where they pray to a deity, tell of there wrong doings and ask for forgiveness. Jesus prayed to God to forsake him for what he would do. And what did he do he told the Romans he was the King of the Jews, words of the Jewish community. God could not help him, he could not instill in the minds of the authorities at the time to let him free, the law was you claim you are someone your not you where crucified. It was as plain as that.
He then asks God again, God forgive them, for they not know what they are doing. God could not help Jesus. Jesus died.
It bible teachers the lessons of Jesus and so many others to instill in us what is right and what is wrong, it is a philosophy that is changing our behaviour to be better people. The church will be with us till the day we all die.
If you do something wrong, and are not part of any church (Atheist) is what I think they are called, you still have to deal with God Almighty and the Government Authorities.
You are still part of a system
Church goers have to deal with the God, Church and the Government Authorities
2007-01-28 23:08:33 · answer #4 · answered by Tonia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gary M has it right. The verse is saying that what you do in secret - praying, charity, showing kindness to others when no one else knows about it - is seen by God, and He remembers. It brings a special gladness to His heart because you're helping others out of love and not because of glory. On the flip side, this means God also sees your secret sins.
Public prayer, like church on Sunday, is a command of God. We are to keep His day holy.
2007-01-28 16:59:46 · answer #5 · answered by Danny H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are correct. But sadly, you are mixing true yeshwarian philosophy with "christian bullcrap". The church was established because people during the first century, Rome wanted to eradicate all of the networks of Jesus' disciples. Through my tiresome research, I have come to learn that perhaps 45 or 50 years had past before the story of the disciples was finally accepted and marketed by Timothy, a teenager similar to myself. He knew that in order for everyone to meet safely, They needed to meet in a closed place. They knew that to keep it running... they needed money. They made it a Christian law to not forsake the assembly (1st letter to thess. 5:25). But because I read Greek, I can tell you that King James was a crafty translator, And The correct Translation is "do not abandon our common assembly" assembly meaning "our act of meeting up together"
So yes, to go to church and disobey Jesus is a sin. but to go simply to keep in touch with your brothers and sisters in Christ isn't.
2007-01-28 16:40:29 · answer #6 · answered by Sansprenom 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That verse is speaking of those who openly pray just to make people think they are in favor with God when in reality they are just showing off.
2007-01-28 16:43:16 · answer #7 · answered by Gary M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes
People waste useful time inside church
2007-01-28 16:49:03 · answer #8 · answered by Born again atheist 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible also says don't forsake the congregation
2007-01-28 16:40:08 · answer #9 · answered by theo48 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its all singing and teaching....and some coffee. Perhaps you should look inside one.
2007-01-28 16:39:07 · answer #10 · answered by David T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋