Pastor Billy question 101, Catholics what are your opinions on this Protestant....?

Question

Catholics what are your opinions on Rick Warrens most important parts of your Church building, see article below,

Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) recently shared with The Christian Post six physical factors about church buildings that affect a worship service. Here is a summary:

1.Lighting
Lighting has a profound effect on people’s moods. Inadequate lighting dampens the spirit of a service. Shadows across a speaker’s face reduce the impact of any message.
2. Sound
It doesn’t matter how persuasive the message is if people can’t hear it in a pleasing manner. A tinny, fuzzy sound system can undermine the most gifted musician and incapacitate the most profound preacher. And nothing can destroy a holy moment faster than a loud blast of feedback!

3.Seating
4.Temperature
5.Clean, Safe Nurseries
6.Clean Restrooms
goto the following link for the full story http://churchrelevance.com/6-parts-of-your-church-building-that-affect-your-worship-service/

personal my impression of Rick's marketting stategy makes the church more empty, infact his entire definition of "church" emblazes empty in my mind.

I suggest all Catholics and even non-Catholics read this article

Wrong Turn - The Purpose-Given Life Gives Bad Directions
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0512fea2.asp

Nevertheless, Catholics should be aware that there are dangers on the Purpose-Driven road.

Answer 1

I assume Mr Warren already knows the difference between the Church (even a purpose driven church) and a church building.

While Mr Warren's list is good, it seems to ignore God.

While the guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops "Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship" state that:

A church building "is both the house of God on earth (domus Dei) and a house fit for the prayers of the saints (domus ecclesiae). Such a house of prayer must be expressive of the presence of God and suited for the celebration of the sacrifice of Christ, as well as reflective of the community that celebrates there."

For the entire document, see: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/livingstones.shtml#chapteroneb

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The Purpose Driven Life (2002) is a devotional book written by Christian author Rick Warren and published by Zondervan. The book has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for advice books for 174 weeks (as of May 2006). The book offers readers a 40-day personal spiritual journey, and presents what Warren says are God's five purposes for human life on Earth.[1] As of November 2005, The Purpose Driven Life has been translated into 56 languages and was the bestselling book in the world for 2003, 2004, and 2005. It has been a controversial book among the Christian community.

Since September 2002, over 30,000 congregations, corporations, and sports teams across the United States have participated in a "40 Days of Purpose" emphasis. A May 2005 survey of American pastors and ministers conducted by George Barna asked Christian leaders to identify what books were the most influential on their lives and ministries. The Purpose Driven Life was the most frequent response. The Purpose Driven Church, Warren's previous book, was the second most frequent response.[2] The book has sold over 24 million copies (as of October 2006).[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Purpose_Driven_Life

Answer 3

I will give Rick credit for pointing out some basic common sense factors that do make going into a church more pleasant.

Everyone likes to have a place to sit, to be able to hear clearly every word of the priest, and to be comfortable temperature-wise.

However, none of these things are absolutely essential, especially when you have a small parish on a tight budget.

Besides, he misses a couple of important things:

1. Beauty (every church no matter how small or simple should be "beautified" since it is God's house)
2. Cleanliness (not just the bathrooms and nurseries...what about the sanctuary itself??)
3. Uplifting - the architecture should lift our minds and hearts upwards

And of course, for the Catholic, the physical presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is absolutely crucial.

Pax Vobiscum+

Answer 4

all of that helps but it's not the reason you should go to church. I think it's insane that people believe they can go to church in an old gas station. I mean it's God's house for goodness sake have some respect.

(I'm not attacking anyone who can't afford anything else than a gas station to go to church but where I live there are 200 something churches and it's a relatively small community and they're setting up churches in everything.)

Answer 5

I think it stems from the mistaken concept that many have about what "worship" is, and from that flows the mistaken concept of what "Church" is.

We have plenty of feedback in our parish. Sometimes we even get bleed through from the fire station next door! But it doesn't "reduce the impact of any message," or "destroy a holy moment" because the message isn't about us--it's the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Answer 6

actual, i do not imagine any of the anti-Catholic Protestants right here care 2 nickels about the salvation of any Roman Catholic Christian. Given the vitriol they so conveniently spew at us, i'm positive they could cheerfully watch us rot in Hell, which they are so particular we can. This, for sure, begs the question about the sincerity of their own Christian faith, given Christ's preparation that we are to love one yet another. i imagine the objective of each and each and every of the "one-liners" is amazingly to reassure themselves that their splintered church homes have a extra robust concept about what Christianity is meant to be than the Church that has stood faithfully by ability of the teachings of Christ and the Apostles for 2000 years. If those reassurances ring a touch hollow... properly, possibly it really is because they are. That reported, Protestant Christians are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I bear them no ill will, even those who openly hate the Catholic Church. that's my trustworthy, if naive, wish that further and further of them will study the *real* Catholic Church, no longer the imaginary construct that their ministers choose them to imagine the Catholic Church is. i understand many Protestants are completely polite and tolerant of the RCC - this isn't directed at them. there is an extremely vocal minority (a minimum of, i wish that's a minority) that engages interior the habit you describe. that's that this minority about which I communicate.

Answer 7

That's the way it sounds to me marketing religion. Uugh, I think I like going to a warm dimly lit church, where the sound echos. The smell of candles and incense. It is more privite and one on one. I love the smell of furniture polish too.
I don't like attending churches like that because I feel like I'm being 'pushed' into it, know what I mean? That's why people get turned off by us, Christians.
Clean restrooms are a MUST though. You don't go to church to get diseases and viruses. That's just being sanitary.

Answer 8

The Catholic Church has the power (through our beloved clergy) to turn simple bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ. Think about that. We believe that, as Catholics. Does anything else matter? So I may have to stand, or wear a heavy coat....SO WHAT!

Answer 9

Well our church has failed in some of the areas..
1. we are lucky to even have electricity
2. We are also lucky to have any sound system
3. Plastic chairs for seats
4. Almost out of doors
5. No nursery, don't have any rooms available.
6. Our latrine is the best we can do

Answer 10

I recognize Rick Warren as a brother in Christ who is trying to share the love of Christ with others -- in ways that are culturally relevant in our (American / Western) society.

Cordially,
John
http://www.GodSci.org