Are Lighthouses more useful than churches?

[ianb321red]

Benjamin Franklin - Wikiquote

Both Benjamin Franklin AND Bish Bash Bosh say that "Lighthouses are more useful than churches"

But is that really the case?
Well, there's only one way to find out......FIGHT!!

 

[ianb321red]

Benjamin Franklin - Wikiquote

Both Benjamin Franklin AND Bish Bash Bosh say that "Lighthouses are more useful than churches"

Well, this is actually quite an apt comparison.

Both show us "the way" using "the light".
But are both the way, the truth and the light?

Well, no - neither are.
They both just a load of bricks and mortar....aren't they?

Or are we talking about "the church" as in the universal body of Christ?
So does this mean that a lighthouse is more useful than all of the Christians in the world?

Since Benjamin Franklin is dead, we'll have to ask Bish to confirm what he means???

 

[Genersis]

Depends if the Church does anything to aid the community.

If all they do is preach the "truth" every Sunday, then a Lighthouse is FAR more useful.

If the Church runs clubs, fairs ETC, then it's up for debate on whether you personally find it's services useful or not.

 

[Robban]

An Irishman once told me if I was looking for a pub somewhere, then look for a church steeple.

 

[Bish bash bosh]

Well, this is actually quite an apt comparison.

Both show us "the way" using "the light".
But are both the way, the truth and the light?

Well, no - neither are.
They both just a load of bricks and mortar....aren't they?

Or are we talking about "the church" as in the universal body of Christ?
So does this mean that a lighthouse is more useful than all of the Christians in the world?

Since Benjamin Franklin is dead, we'll have to ask Bish to confirm what he means???

Well in my neck of the woods lighthouses are unmanned but still very active. Churches however are being snapped up by property developers to be transformed into flats and luxury homes. So in that respect both are extremely useful but the latter has lost its original purpose. No longer a house of god but simply a house.To conclude then, lighthouses are more useful than churches if you take their original purpose into account.

BTW there are some really lovely ones (churches I mean).

http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about_us/property_and_church_buildings/properties_for_sale

Bish

 

[Bish bash bosh]

Depends if the Church does anything to aid the community.

If all they do is preach the "truth" every Sunday, then a Lighthouse is FAR more useful.

If the Church runs clubs, fairs ETC, then it's up for debate on whether you personally find it's services useful or not.

Our local community centre was closed some time back. The activities were scattered throughout the ward, some ended up in a local gospel church hall.
The youth club attendance dropped significantly, questioning why, the young people said they felt suffocated by the various murals and religions symbolism which adorned the walls.

Bish

 

[Genersis]

Our local community centre was closed some time back. The activities were scattered throughout the ward, some ended up in a local gospel church hall.
The youth club attendance dropped significantly, questioning why, the young people said they felt suffocated by the various murals and religions symbolism which adorned the walls.

Bish

Hmm.
Must admit, i didn't think youth would be too arsed about where the club was situated.
I would of the thought simply it changing venue would of been what made some of them stop attending.

 

[Bish bash bosh]

Hmm.
Must admit, i didn't think youth would be too arsed about where the club was situated.
I would of the thought simply it changing venue would of been what made some of them stop attending.

You never seen inside the hall, horrible musty stereotypical venue.
I really don't blame the kids for not attending immaterial of the reason.

Bish

 

[Bish bash bosh]

Depends if the Church does anything to aid the community.

If all they do is preach the "truth" every Sunday, then a Lighthouse is FAR more useful.

If the Church runs clubs, fairs ETC, then it's up for debate on whether you personally find it's services useful or not.

You raise another interesting point here. Church fetes, jumble sales, cake sales a thing of the past?

Bish

 

[Genersis]

You raise another interesting point here. Church fetes, jumble sales, cake sales a thing of the past?

Bish

My local, which is affiliated with my old primary school still does the odd..err....fete....thing.
They run many services from the crypts though. Been to one, wasn't too bad.
They have a whole set of clubs dedicated to those who suffer from social anxiety and depression, something i think our local area is lucky to have.

Definitely a contender with a lighthouse.

 

[lismore]

Lismore lighthouse- wonderful place. But that's an aside!

 

[Robban]

In the days before lighthouses, they used to light beacons,
there were some who used to light false beacons as well,
just to lure ships onto the rocks.
Any port in a storm is not true, unless you are already safely tied up in port.

 

[savedbygrace05]

Coming to this late (as usual) ;-) However, my take is that The Church (i.e.) Christians have maybe put much store in meeting in buildings and not enough of being 'Church' 24/7 in their community.

Buildings have their place for gathering, but they are not the 'Church', Christians are. Maybe the less inclined that non Christians are inclined to go to these buildings, the more the real Church wil be forced out of these same buidings and into the communities that they are called to serve!!

 

[ukchristian28]

Well, first of all, Franklin didn't actually say this. It wouldn't allow me to post the link but check out a recent YouTube video by TektonTV titled "Bogus Quote Break 14: Ben Franklin Sees the Light".

However, I want to ponder this false quote.

First of all, what is meant exactly? Are we talking only about physically saving people from peril because if so that's not really a far comparison since churches don't have that purpose. You may as well say that "lighthouses are more useful than coffee bars."

On the message being non-useful doesn't it beg the question somewhat? It assumes that the gospel message proclaimed by churches is false and that they don't really point to a real God and a real saviour. From a Christian perspective one might argue that churches (providing they actually are preaching the gospel).

 

[Robban]

Found this, it may or may not warm the cockles of your hearts, mates.
The Lighthouse & Elvis Presley Live - Gospelsession - YouTube

 

[ebia]

An Irishman once told me if I was looking for a pub somewhere, then look for a church steeple.

Except in Southwold
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnshepherd/2089272033

 

[Robban]

Except in Southwold
Sole Bay Inn & Lighthouse, Southwold, Suffolk | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Good one ebia, would reckon it all ties in, in one way or another,

 

[Rascaduanok]

Well, there's only one way to find out......FIGHT!!

Churches win:

Lighthouses / Churches - Google Fight : make this fight with Googlefight !