This ish has been on my mind for a while, are we christians subconsciously engaging in ritualistic worship?

Orthodox Christians: This perhaps is the most controvertial yet documented. Recitation of prayers, processions, methodical worship to name a few.

Protestant Christians:Its more dramatic here. Its become a fad for us to add prefixes and suffixes to our prayers as we believe they add more vent and speed to the prsyers. Phrases like "holy ghost fire!", "amen......fire!", calling Jesus three times, Amen 7 times, halleluyah 7 times, etc. Are these really biblical?

What does the bible say: Jesus says in Matthew 6: 7-8 , we shouldnt engage in vain repetitive prayers for our father in heaven knows what we want already even before we ask. {paraphrased} .
Bible scholars pls come in and shed more light. Thanks

guy u are on point with ur write up, but y did u put those pics. it doesn't relate to what u are saying

delkuf:
guy u are on point with ur write up, but y did u put those pics. it doesn't relate to what u are saying

The pics portrays the two major Christian dominations : a Catholic procession and a protestant prayer. Those are the closest I could get without being offensive to any denomination.

ok

to my understanding, GOD is a special one no matter all what We do thee has thy own way, no one can comprehend... #OSEBABA

O ya pe oruko Jesu l'emeta, ina emi mimo l'emeje, ara orun o....as if the church is a shrine.... . How did we get to this point in the "Nigeria kind' of churchianity?

sapiosexual1:
This ish has been on my mind for a while, are we christians subconsciously engaging in ritualistic worship?

Orthodox Christians: This perhaps is the most controvertial yet documented. Recitation of prayers, processions, methodical worship to name a few.

Protestant Christians:Its more dramatic here. Its become a fad for us to add prefixes and suffixes to our prayers as we believe they add more vent and speed to the prsyers. Phrases like "holy ghost fire!", "amen......fire!", calling Jesus three times, Amen 7 times, halleluyah 7 times, etc. Are these really biblical?

What does the bible say: Jesus says in Matthew 6: 7-8 , we shouldnt engage in vain repetitive prayers for our father in heaven knows what we want already even before we ask. {paraphrased} .
Bible scholars pls come in and shed more light. Thanks

the second picture, is it talking about energetic prayer ? Energetic prayer is biblical.

James 5:16,
"Confess your faults one to another,and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The EFFECTUAL FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

The words “effectual” and “ fervent” are actually only one word in Greek. It comes from Greek word #1754,energeo, from which we get the word “energy.” It's talking about the energized prayer. The energetic prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James gives example of one who use energetic prayer:
James 5:17
"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he PRAYED EARNESTLY
that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months."

Luke 22:44
"...he prayed MORE EARNESTLY: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground"

CHRISTIANITY IS LIKE EVERY OTHER RELIGION... RITUALS AND RITES MUST BE DONE, AND TO THINK THAT THEY PAINT OTHERS BLACK IS JUST SHEER HYPOCRISY.


THE RITUALS IN ORTHODOX CHURCHES ARE SO SEVERE THAT SOME EVEN QUESTION THE METHODS....


#CATHOLICS

@malvisguy212, I thought I explained the rationale between the choice of pics earlier. Indeed fervent prayers are necessary, for the times are evil.
I pray fervently too, Ofcus it's relieving to pour your heart out to God in prayer. just like Hannah did.

Goshen360:
O ya pe oruko Jesu l'emeta, ina emi mimo l'emeje, ara orun o....as if the church is a shrine.... . How did we get to this point in the "Nigeria kind' of churchianity?

I'm not too old though but I think these "shout Jesus 3 times ", "shout the loudest amen " ish began in this generation. I still don't understand what brought about it, we surely haven't been like the Berean Christians who searched the scriptures when this practise was introduced. We're all guilty of this.

@Freemanan, little wonder we're having 'charismatic arms' off the Catholic Church. I respect the Catholic faith though.

sapiosexual1:
@Freemanan, little wonder we're having 'charismatic arms' off the Catholic Church. I respect the Catholic faith though.

I respect their ability to institutionalise religion... It is really remarkable even tho it has its shortcomings. Aside that, nothing else...

CHRISTIANITY will always be an experience, like the apostle Paul, Cornelius, Nicodemus, Lydia, May Magdalena.

RITUALS have never been part of Christianity, and nothing but the FRAUD that Marx rightly described as opiate of the masses.

No one can be a Christian without first making a rational evaluation of the claims of Jesus, The Christ, against all other religious claims within the individual's experience.

That's how Nicodemus, Lydia, Appolos, and any other person has ever become and lived as a Christian

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.


Institutions usurp liberty, create Sharia, the Inquisitions of the Catholic Church, or at least Dogmas. Non of these is of Christ, or Christianity.

Freemanan:


I respect their ability to institutionalise religion... It is really remarkable even tho it has its shortcomings. Aside that, nothing else...

@cckris, that's deep. Many of us understands that there is more to our 21st century brand of Christianity than we're permitted to know. No thanks to hidden and destroyed manuscripts by the early Popes.
Discovery of other books of the bible has began to expose the lopsided nature of the Christianity we practise.

cckris:

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.


Institutions usurp liberty, create Sharia, the Inquisitions of the Catholic Church, or at least Dogmas. Non of these is of Christ, or Christianity.

You wont know or hear anything about Christianity today if Emperor Constantine never made it a state religion to keep gis empire at bay...

Freemanan:
CHRISTIANITY IS LIKE EVERY OTHER RELIGION... RITUALS AND RITES MUST BE DONE, AND TO THINK THAT THEY PAINT OTHERS BLACK IS JUST SHEER HYPOCRISY.


THE RITUALS IN ORTHODOX CHURCHES ARE SO SEVERE THAT SOME EVEN QUESTION THE METHODS....


#CATHOLICS

Christianity is not even a religion,many churches have miss the point, Do you really believe that God favors your denomination over others? Quite the contrary, if your denomination professes to be “the only true way”, I can pretty well guarantee that it isn’t! Do you think that God’s intention was to have thousands of different denominations of His Church? They can’t all be right, and more than likely they’re all wrong.

Many reference in the old testament and Jesus statement indicate to us, God hate religion.

Isaiah 1:13-14 states, “Bring no more
vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons
and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblie.
it is iniquity…Your new moons and your
appointed feasts my soul hateth: they
are a trouble unto me; I am weary to
bear them.”

David prays to God in Psalm 40:6,
“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not
desire;…Burnt offering and sin offering
hast thou not required.”

Amos 5:21 says, “I hate, I despise your
feast days, and I will not smell (the odors of their sacrifices) in your solemn
assemblies.”

You see, the Israelites (Jews) of the Old
Testament had forgotten the relationship with God and became dependent upon the religious system of works and sacrifice and offerings expecting spiritual redemption or to appease God. But in these passages we see God Himself saying, “I don’t care how you shake and dance, I’m not interested in your religious activities, I want your heart.” In fact that is exactly what He expresses here in Isaiah 29:13, “ Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me …”(Jesus quoted this passage in Matt. 15:8-9 adding “…in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men .”)

malvisguy212:
Christianity is not even a religion,many churches have miss the point, Do you really believe that God favors your denomination over others? Quite the contrary, if your denomination professes to be “the only true way”, I can pretty well guarantee that it isn’t! Do you think that God’s intention was to have thousands of different denominations of His Church? They can’t all be right, and more than likely they’re all wrong.

Many reference in the old testament and Jesus statement indicate to us, God hate religion.

Isaiah 1:13-14 states, “Bring no more
vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons
and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblie.
it is iniquity…Your new moons and your
appointed feasts my soul hateth: they
are a trouble unto me; I am weary to
bear them.”

David prays to God in Psalm 40:6,
“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not
desire;…Burnt offering and sin offering
hast thou not required.”

Amos 5:21 says, “I hate, I despise your
feast days, and I will not smell (the odors of their sacrifices) in your solemn
assemblies.”

You see, the Israelites (Jews) of the Old
Testament had forgotten the relationship with God and became dependent upon the religious system of works and sacrifice and offerings expecting spiritual redemption or to appease God. But in these passages we see God Himself saying, “I don’t care how you shake and dance, I’m not interested in your religious activities, I want your heart.” In fact that is exactly what He expresses here in Isaiah 29:13, “ Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me …”(Jesus quoted this passage in Matt. 15:8-9 adding “…in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men .”)

Christianity is not a religion. What is it sir?

Freemanan:




You wont know or hear anything about Christianity today if Emperor Constantine never made it a state religion to keep gis empire at bay...

you are right in some way. The apostles never called themselves christians,The pagans at Antioch called the apostles "Christians" first, why ? Because the apostles do not followed the commercials world of the pagan,the substance is NOT in the word, is in the HEART of the man that is attempting to describe, and which the pagan user cannot see. The disciples called each other, "brethren", "disciples", "apostles", "servants", "believers", "followers", "the faithful", "the elect", "the called", and "saints." We can also identify ourselves as "bondservants" of Christ.

malvisguy212:
you are right in some way. The apostles never called themselves christians,The pagans at Antioch called the apostles "Christians" first, why ? Because the apostles do not followed the commercials world of the pagan,the substance is NOT in the word, is in the HEART of the man that is attempting to describe, and which the pagan user cannot see. The disciples called each other, "brethren", "disciples", "apostles", "servants", "believers", "followers", "the faithful", "the elect", "the called", and "saints." We can also identify ourselves as "bondservants" of Christ.

Chief, my point is Christianity is not different from other religion.It might be painted white by its followers but it is same.

Freemanan:


Christianity is not a religion. What is it sir?

you cannot see it because you do not belong to the kingdom of God. You can call us christian BUT we called ourselves "BRETHREN" because we belong to ONE family. When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus begin with the word " OUR FATHER" why ? Because God is the Father to whoever is saying this prayer, why dint Jesus say "MY father"? But instead OUR FATHER, the moment you say our father, you become my brother in christ. That what Christianity is all about.

Freemanan:




Chief, my point is Christianity is not different from other religion.It might be painted white by its followers but it is same.

alright.

malvisguy212:
you cannot see it because you do not belong to the kingdom of God. You can call us christian BUT we called ourselves "BRETHREN" because we belong to ONE family. When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus begin with the word " OUR FATHER" why ? Because God is the Father to whoever is saying this prayer, why dint Jesus say "MY father"? But instead OUR FATHER, the moment you say our father, you become my brother in christ. That what Christianity is all about.

Okay BRETHREN...

Freemanan:


Christianity is not a religion. What is it sir?

Christianity is a personal relationship with The Most High God, who like any father, cares PASSIONATELY for his children.
Christians are not servants of the God who identifies Himself as Jehovah Elohim, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the holy One of Israel.
Religion is human efforts to find God. Christianity is The Most High God reconciling mankind He created back to Himself.

Freemanan:

You wont know or hear anything about Christianity today if Emperor Constantine never made it a state religion to keep gis empire at bay...

Sorry to burst your bubble sir.
Ethiopia received Christianity straight from Jerusalem. So did India, among others. Christianity cannot be spread by imperial fiat, it MUST be spread by personal CONVICTION, through persuasion. That's why the more evil people kill Christians, the faster Christianity grows, as in Northern Nigeria. Christianity is becoming grounded and rooted in Nigeria and black Africa.

cckris:

Sorry to burst your bubble sir.
Ethiopia received Christianity straight from Jerusalem. So did India, among others. Christianity cannot be spread by imperial fiat, it MUST be spread by personal CONVICTION, through persuasion. That's why the more evil people kill Christians, the faster Christianity grows, as in Northern Nigeria. Christianity is becoming grounded and rooted in Nigeria and black Africa.

CHIEF, I AM NOT ARGUING ON THIS. IT IS A KNOWN FACT. THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY WAS AS A RESULT OF MAKING IT A STATE RELIGION BY EMPEROR CONSTANTINE AND THE VARIOUS CRUSADES WHERE THE EMPERORS USE FORCE AND COLONIALISM TO SPREAD IT.

YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN TODAY BECAUSE ANY GOD WANTS YOU TO, YOU ARE BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT OF COLONIALISM AND THE DESIRES OF SOME MEN IN POWER.

Freemanan:


YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN TODAY BECAUSE ANY GOD WANTS YOU TO, YOU ARE BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT OF COLONIALISM AND THE DESIRES OF SOME MEN IN POWER.

I was 'baptised' as an infant, and I CHOOSE to become a Christian after graduation, and was properly BAPTIZED, that is immersed, howsoever immersion can be defined, just like David Luiz, former Chelsea defender. That's the way to go, the only True Way of Life.

sapiosexual1:
This ish has been on my mind for a while, are we christians subconsciously engaging in ritualistic worship?

Orthodox Christians: This perhaps is the most controvertial yet documented. Recitation of prayers, processions, methodical worship to name a few.

Protestant Christians:Its more dramatic here. Its become a fad for us to add prefixes and suffixes to our prayers as we believe they add more vent and speed to the prsyers. Phrases like "holy ghost fire!", "amen......fire!", calling Jesus three times, Amen 7 times, halleluyah 7 times, etc. Are these really biblical?

What does the bible say: Jesus says in Matthew 6: 7-8 , we shouldnt engage in vain repetitive prayers for our father in heaven knows what we want already even before we ask. {paraphrased} .
Bible scholars pls come in and shed more light. Thanks

@Ops
When I clicked in here what I was expecting is not what I saw.
Those things you mentioned are not Christian Rituals. I was expecting practices like
1. Water Baptism.
2. Holy Communion.
3. The Use of Anointing Oil.
4. The Use of Mantle.
5. Laying on of hands.
6.Falling under anointing.
7. Speaking in tongues
8. Fasting and prayers.
9. Feed washing.
10. Burning of Candles and incense (for catholics)
Use of Holy Water.
Praying the Rosary. Bowing to images etc. These are Christian Rituals.

These are the things I expected to see. But you brought up prayers, processions, and methodical worship(what does that even mean).

Ah, must everybody open a thread?

analice107:


@Ops
When I clicked in here what I was expecting is not what I saw.
Those things you mentioned are not Christian Rituals. I was expecting practices like
1. Water Baptism.
2. Holy Communion.
3. The Use of Anointing Oil.
4. The Use of Mantle.
5. Laying on of hands.
6.Falling under anointing.
7. Speaking in tongues
8. Fasting and prayers.
9. Feed washing.
10. Burning of Candles and incense (for catholics)
Use of Holy Water.
Praying the Rosary. Bowing to images etc. These are Christian Rituals.

These are the things I expected to see. But you brought up prayers, processions, and methodical worship(what does that even mean).

Ah, must everybody open a thread?

My brother in Christ, i hope you do understand what a ritual is in literal definition and I hop you also understand your bible. All you mentioned above except for 9 & 10 are biblical injunctions. I don't see how they constitute a ritual.

Freemanan:




Chief, my point is Christianity is not different from other religion.It might be painted white by its followers but it is same.

No sir, there's a whole lotta difference between Christianity and other religions. Alot

olrotimi:

No sir, there's a whole lotta difference between Christianity and other religions. Alot

seconded