Does it matter where I worship?

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Besides that I have been invited via PM to join a church. On the website, and in the PM I recieved speaking in tongues seems to be a regular occouring thing. I never came across this before and I am a bit uncertain about it. Should speaking in tongues be taking seriously? I feel a bit wary of the whole thing.

My church (Assemblies of God) believes in speaking in tongues, but my particular congregation doesn't place a great deal of emphasis on it. I do believe it's a valid spiritual gift, very scriptural, and still available to believers today. Many churches (those that are not charismatic or Pentecostal) think it stopped after the 1st century A.D., but that doesn't make sense to me. That doctrine is called Cessationism should you wish to research it.

 

[KatyAD]

I go to a non denominational church that i believe is the best in all the world. But something in me told me to go to a catholic church. I thought I was going to have to go there for the rest of my life. So I went to the service and I was coming out of the church telling Jesus "that was interesting"...(trying to not let him know how boring i thought it was.) He asked me something like this, he said "Katy, where am I always?" I said, "your always with me". He said.."yes, so do you think it really matters where you go to church, being that I'm always with you?" I thought about it, and I said "no"

I kind of wonder about Catholics. The catholic service I went to seemed very saramonial. I mean, we sang some old songs. we recieved communion. Sang some more. Then we prayed.

In my church the survice is pretty long but we learn stuff. He preaches for about 45min. They really didn't preach much in the Catholic church.

If all else fails, pray to God to send you to a church.

people forgive me for the spelling errors, I don't have spell check right now.
God Bless,
Katy

 

[randomguy1]

John 4:20 (NKJV) "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you [Jews] say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."
21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 "God [is] Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

 

[Zoness]

Man I wish people would post more scripture with context and/or an explanation although I think I get it.



Just sayin.

 

[randomguy1]

Here is the entire context. Jesus is basically explaining the differences of physical verses spiritual. He uses water as a metaphor. Pay attention that he says you must worship in spirit.


John 4:7 (NKJV) A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."
8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, `Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
11 The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?
12 "Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"
13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, `I have no husband,'
18 "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."
19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
20 "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you [Jews] say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."
21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 "God [is] Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
25 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."
26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am [He]."

To give an idea of what he means by spirit, we can look at Luke.

Luke 24:39 (NKJV) "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

And here again in Acts we learn that you can not worship God with your hands or anything made by them, you must worship God in spirit.

Acts 17:24 (NKJV) "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
26 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

Acts 7:47 (NKJV) "But Solomon built Him a house.
48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 `Heaven [is] My throne,
And earth [is] My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,
Or what [is] the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not made all these things?'

 

[tturt]

Reading that other denominations besides Pentecostal have a few members that speak in tongues.

 

[Pat Colby]

Our Lord will guide us all.

 

[seekingbutnotfinding]

Not all Catholics think you have to worship at a Catholic church, or even take Communion there. That's a belief held among the more traditional, conservative Catholics, but there are plenty of non-traditional Catholics who don't believe that it really matters where you worship.

 

[karenrose]

It's good that you're seeking. It's important to find a Church that aligns with your conception of God and scripture and that will be one where you also feel right. Our conception of God influences all we do, and there are vastly different notions about Him and the Savior about. Some do or do not believe in resurrection, some do or do not believe that the Father is separate from the Son, some do or do not believe in the need for priesthood, etc. Some of these things could well be things to consider.

If you haven't given them much thought, it might be good to start with another reading of the New Testament, outlining what you learn and identify about elements in the Savior's Church and things that identify Him and His sacrifice and desires for you, and then pray about His leading you where He'd have you be in your life.

We live in a time when people are creating their own faith, dismissing the Biblical basis for truth and sort of smorgasbording their own brand. But there is truth, and it can be identified. Your search is known by the Lord as ae you, and I'd continue it prayerfully. Maybe investigate a host of other Churches, take notes on their teachings and what you feel, and then compare that with what you learn from the Bible and through prayer. You will be led. The Lord knows your heart and is grateful, I'm sure, that you are seeking Him and the right path. Don't give up.

 

[Rhamiel]

Not all Catholics think you have to worship at a Catholic church, or even take Communion there. That's a belief held among the more traditional, conservative Catholics, but there are plenty of non-traditional Catholics who don't believe that it really matters where you worship.

only nominal catholics would say somthing like this
if that catholic took faith in Jesus seriously then they would say that you have to be an active member of the Catholic Church

 

[seekingbutnotfinding]

only nominal catholics would say somthing like this
if that catholic took faith in Jesus seriously then they would say that you have to be an active member of the Catholic Church

Well then, most Catholics I know are nominal Catholics. It could be for practical reasons that one attends a different church. Maybe the Catholic church is too far away, or they're allergic to incense, or it's too crowded and they get anxious, etc. Maybe they don't feel that the way that particular parish worships isn't in line with Catholicism.

Anyway, maybe the OP will decide they're not interested in being Catholic anymore. If that turns out to be the case, it doesn't really matter what the Church says.

 

[DesertJoe]

Geoff,God bless you.First off I also was raised Catholic,& attended Catholic school.It is vital that you go to a Church where the Bible is taught as the authoritative word of God,& where the people love one another.As a Catholic growing up,I was never taught the words of Jesus in John chapter 3 when he said to Nicodemus," “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again".In the Duoay Rheims translation that Catholics use,it is translated born from above.Your relationship with Jesus Christ is not through a priest or through a Pope or through a church or through traditions of men.It is a personal relationship.There is no where in scripture that would indicate that you should baptize infants.Indeed,that word baptize is a transliterated Greek word because the early Bible translators were afraid to translate the original Greek.The original Greek word baptizo meaning "to immerse".There is never a place in the Bible where any person is baptized before they confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.Never in the Bible is an infant baptized.Geoff,have you ever turned from the path you are on and asked Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life?This is absolutely vital.No church can save you.No pope can save you.No pastor can save you.Only Jesus can save you.

 

[Rhamiel]

Geoff,God bless you.First off I also was raised Catholic,& attended Catholic school.It is vital that you go to a Church where the Bible is taught as the authoritative word of God,& where the people love one another.As a Catholic growing up,I was never taught the words of Jesus in John chapter 3 when he said to Nicodemus," “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again".In the Duoay Rheims translation that Catholics use,it is translated born from above.Your relationship with Jesus Christ is not through a priest or through a Pope or through a church or through traditions of men.It is a personal relationship.There is no where in scripture that would indicate that you should baptize infants.Indeed,that word baptize is a transliterated Greek word because the early Bible translators were afraid to translate the original Greek.The original Greek word baptizo meaning "to immerse".There is never a place in the Bible where any person is baptized before they confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.Never in the Bible is an infant baptized.Geoff,have you ever turned from the path you are on and asked Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life?This is absolutely vital.No church can save you.No pope can save you.No pastor can save you.Only Jesus can save you.

the Douay Rheims bible is not the bible that is read out of for Mass in English, it is the New American Bible that came out in 1970, before that i think it was the Saint Jerome Bible
The Gospel and the Old Testement and Psalms are read every sunday at mass, if you did not hear that we have to be born agian, then you were not listening at Mass
in Acts of the Apostles it talks about St.Paul setting up churches, about setting up elders to preach, St.Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says that we are all one body but many parts, the relationship with Jesus is personal, but it is also communal, with the entire Church being united by the Holy Spirit
as for the Baptism of infants, it says that entire house holds were baptised, the Bible does not state that only the adults but the entire household in some places was baptised

I do agree with you that it is important to find a church people love one another and the Bible is taught as the authoritative word or God

 

[DesertJoe]

Where does it state that any infant was ever baptized (fully immersed in the Greek)? When did John the Baptist ever fully immerse an infant?It is vital to be in what the Catholic church calls "the communion of saints",but that communion is the communion of the "ecclesia" as Jesus stated in Matthew 16.That word ecclesia means those called out,& Jesus does the calling.His "ecclesia" is not and has never been a building or an institution or a hierarchy.Jesus said to Pilate "My kingdom is not of this world".As for the translation used,that is not the point.I am fully aware of The NAB translation,& it translates it the same way as the DRB.My point is that Jesus said "Come unto me"(Matthew 11:28).What He did not say was come unto a church or a pope or a priest.Ringing down through the centuries,the voice of Jesus still echoes "Come unto Me".