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MbiaJc said:Why would you think that, if I may ask. I am trying to understand the Catholic Church.
Lambslove said:If you feel you have to play piano music before praying to get God's attention or to let him know you are getting ready to pray, or if you play the piano as a form of prayer, or if you plat piano instead of actually talking to God, then yes, it's time to get rid of that, too.
Lambslove said:Anything that waters down the fact that Christ gave us total authority to speak to God directly anytime we want, that thing is an unnecessary ritual. It has more in common with the hindu practice of doing hand and body movements before, after or instead of prayer than it does with the Christian reality that God hears us whenever we speak to him.
No, I do not. I do not agree that I bowed down, preformed the sign of the cross every time i stood in front of a graven image at church. I do not believe that is godly.arunma said:Provided that this method of worship is not seen as a replacement for a true relationship with Christ, do you agree that it isn't ungodly?
But just as no one should use the sign of the cross in a legalistic manner, nor should we be legalistic about not using the sign of the cross. I think that it's quite possible to be a good Christian, and to make the sign of the cross during worship. Right?
No, I don't believe it is right to do only because I did it mostly when bowing before the crucifix, which is a graven image. I don't do it now because I feel its not right. And honestly, no one has ever preached to me about this. This is just a conviction I got from God to stop doing it. To Him, it means nothing. I believe He prefers us fellowshipping with Him by reading his Word, singing praises to him, and praying on our knees. This is what I believe God wants from me, not some motion i did with my hands out of habit.
I am not going to sit here and bash people for making the sign of the cross. That is between them and the Lord. I am just telling my personal experience with it.
I do have to say, that I did preform it in front of the alter/cross at church, before I entered and left church, during the mass, when I prayed to give thanks, and any other time i prayed, I started with the sign of the cross.
So I guess some of it could be considered "praise" but I know myself and ALOT more Catholics out there that do it to just ward off bad vibes.
GEL
Ps. Do you still bow down to those Hindu gods?
GreenEyedLady said:It was like kissing the cross hanging from my neck for luck. That kinda thing. You know? Does that make more sense? Making the sign of the cross is not just something that I did as a Catholic to "praise" God. I did it when I was scared as if to ward off bad luck, when I got bad news, if I almost got hit by a car, etc.
GEL
GEL said:I am not going to sit here and bash people for making the sign of the cross. That is between them and the Lord. I am just telling my personal experience with it.
GEL said:So I guess some of it could be considered "praise" but I know myself and ALOT more Catholics out there that do it to just ward off bad vibes.
GEL said:Ps. Do you still bow down to those Hindu gods?
arunma said:Of course not. That would be idolatry, which is a sin worthy of anathema. Why do you ask?
GreenEyedLady said:Well, I made the sign of the cross before many graven images such as the cross, statues etc. therefore, you can understand why God has convicted me NOT to do that anymore!
arunma said:I completely agree with that. Actually, I practiced Hinduism for most of my life, so I'm familiar with the idea of doing empty rituals without having any relationship with God. This legalism is precisely what roused the anger of Christ in the practices of the Pharisees, and it has no place in the church. But just as no one should use the sign of the cross in a legalistic manner, nor should we be legalistic about not using the sign of the cross. I think that it's quite possible to be a good Christian, and to make the sign of the cross during worship. Right?
lambslove said:It's possible, but if you go into a catholic church or a catholic function of any sort (like a church picnic, etc, even some bingo games start with prayer!) and DO NOT make the sign of the cross before the prayer begins, it makes people scowl at you and assume that you are mocking them. I know from years of experience at many catholic churches that when everyone is making the sign of the cross, you better be doing it too or else. So, for catholics, crossing yourself is part and parcel of the practice of their religion and they are very legalistic about it. They would never dream of praying without it and sometimes use it in lieu of an actual prayer, much like a hindu prayer wheel or buddhist candles. Thus, it is a legalism, much more so than the refusal to cross one's self, because they don't think God will notice their prayer unless they do it.
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