Incense

I do.


Forgive me...

We burn them on charcoal.

http://orthodoxincense.com/images/Censers/CEN1801.jpg

Forgive me...

Incariol said:

I think it is a significant (though yes, not necessarily essential for salvation since I know how many of you feel that is all that matters) part of Christian worship.

Click to expand...

Could you explain what is so significant about incense? What is it's purpose in worship (aside from making the place smell nice)?

Incense



Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon
Strong's Number G2368 matches the Greek θυμίαμα (thymiama), which occurs 6 times in 6 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV [Luke 1:10,11/Reve 5:8, 8:3,4, 18:13]

Last time used in NT:

NKJV) Revelation 18:13 "and cinnamon and incense/qumiamata <2368>, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

2368. thumiama from 2370; an aroma, i.e. fragrant powder burnt in religious service; by implication, the burning itself:--incense, odour.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7536141-9/#post56786167
Icons, candles, incense and images. Creating an atomosphere? for what?

I do have a question.
Do the RC and EO Congregations use the same ingredients for their incense?
And how do they determine the ingredients used to make it? Thanks

Click to expand...

The Christian liturgy is intended to engage all our senses.

It goes with the liturgy, but it is not a necessity.

Forgive me...

Nothing wrong with using incense, but I could see it could be a distraction from real worship - it risks turning worship into a specatcle for ourselves. I don't believe God cares whether or not we use incense or not - what matters is that we are worshiping in spirit and truth.

I use it at home sometimes, although most of the time I don't.

Scottish Knight said:

Nothing wrong with using incense, but I could see it could be a distraction from real worship - it risks turning worship into a specatcle for ourselves. I don't believe God cares whether or not we use incense or not - what matters is that we are worshiping in spirit and truth.

Click to expand...

I noticed one of the options in the poll was "no! incense is of Satan!!!!!!!"

Evidently, that Church in Revelation 18 wasn't doing the incense the right way

Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon
Strong's Number H7004 matches the Hebrew &#1511;&#1456;&#1496;&#1465;&#1512;&#1462;&#1514; (q&#277;toreth), which occurs 60 times in 58 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV

1st time used in Bible:

NKJV) Exodus 25:6 "oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;

NKJV) Revelation 18:13 "and cinnamon and incense fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

Click to expand...

I think that based on the law, the psalms and the prophets, incense is an essential part of right liturgical worship - BUT it does not make the worship right by it's presence. Offering strange smells unto the Lord result in death. It is the pleasing odor that results from right worship, that is our living sacrifice that is pleasing to the Lord. Why incense? I don't know - maybe it has to do with smell, maybe it represents our prayers, maybe it sets the solemn tone, maybe it represent spirit - whatever the case, the why can remain somewhat ambiguous without distorting the necessity.

Once again I find it almost comically ironic that mnay in the Sola Scriptura crowd don't use incense and some even condemn it. Liturgical worship is the cornerstone of the Christian life as shown in Acts. Let us continue steadfastly in THE teaching of THE apostles...

HAHAHHAHHAHH! the first option cracked me up! many thanks!

I see incense as a figure to prayer (offer to him) in the Spirit and truth of what it is.

Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.

2Kings 22:17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods.

1Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.

So when they ask Jesus, HOW to pray, he specifically says, WHEN ye pray say FATHER hallowed be THY NAME. It was to be offered to Him. As in everyplace incense was to be offered to His name, being His house was a house of prayer (incense being a figure to "the true").

Michael Collum said:

HAHAHHAHHAHH! the first option cracked me up! many thanks!

Click to expand...

That caught my eye also. May just vote that one to play "devil's advocate" ehehe

edit to add: the spirit compelled me ehehe

Fireinfolding said:

I see incense as a figure to prayer (offer to him) in the Spirit and truth of what it is.

Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.

Click to expand...

Straight out of the evening prayers (every night)

Psalm 141 is always sung at Vespers. During this psalm the evening incense is offered:

Lord, I call upon Thee, hear me. Hear me, O Lord.
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense.
And let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.
(Psalm 141:1-2).
​

Click to expand...

Forgive me...

How long has Vespers been a part of Christian worship?

Forgive me...

OrthodoxyUSA said:

Straight out of the evening prayers (every night)


Forgive me...

Click to expand...

Amen Ortho, you can catch in various ways

2Kings 22:17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods.

Whereas it says...

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

As here...


Jerm 44:5 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

Heres the crying unto or as offering incense here...

Jerm 11:12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

Or the calling unto (other gods other then Him)

1Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD


In the same accord as Jesus says when they asked him to teach them how to pray

When ye pray say OUR FATHER which art in heaven hallowed be THY NAME

So as here...(again)


Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense


Which shows (in the same accord) the smoke of the incense which come with the prayers of the saints before God

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

And ofcourse its written they burned incense unto the Queen of heaven as well (that not pleasing Him too much)

They also burned incense before the brazen serpent (a figure of Christ lifted up) and Hezekiah broke it, but likewise very interesting Jesus said, in that day ye shall ASK ME NOTHING but the Father (in my name) and he added, I SAY NOT to you, that I will pray the Father (for you) just the same. He taught them to do exactly that wherein the others had failed in respects to calling on One God.

God bless

OrthodoxyUSA said:

How long has Vespers been a part of Christian worship?

Forgive me...

Click to expand...

Good question!

http://www.christianforums.com/f145/

http://www.christianforums.com/t7577394/
Vespers

St. Justin said:

Can someone give a synopsis of what occurs during Vespers? I have attended the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings but never Vespers. What should I expect? How long does the service typically last, etc?

Click to expand...

Sorry, I forgot, no colors again

If nothing else, incense, among other things (like a lit candle, an icon or two etc), helps to prepare and orient our hearts so that they are more inclined toward prayer. Nothing magic about it or anything.

LittleLambofJesus said:

That caught my eye also. May just vote that one to play "devil's advocate" ehehe

edit to add: the spirit compelled me ehehe

Click to expand...

yeah! LOL .. hahahahha the devil made me doit . hahahah ohh that's good . tahahaha