Incenses

[Keachian]

What is everyone take on incenses?

I have looked into some time ago, and came up with frankincense and myrrh as being Holy Biblical incenses. Now when i burn the frankincense i love it great smells. I am trying to create a more Holy Place in my home, something that invites the Lord and His angels. I do know all I have to do is ask, and I have, however I can't help but think there is value in incenses. In the OT it was common practice when worshiping God. What is everyone thoughts on it, any ideas?

The bolded idea above borders on witchcraft, deism and all sorts of other things that are not beneficial for the Christian.

Because God is omnipresent there is nothing we can do to either get his presence, or get away from his presence, he simply is. On the other hand and this is where the distinction lies between Christianity and non-Christianity, if the point is to turn ourselves towards God, incense is a tool if used correctly to do so, as is prayer, fasting, communion, fellowship, Scriptural study, Scriptural recitation, etc. The point is never in any spiritual discipline to bring God down as if he were far off, but rather to conform ourselves to him.

 

[Bluelion]

The bolded idea above borders on witchcraft, deism and all sorts of other things that are not beneficial for the Christian.

Because God is omnipresent there is nothing we can do to either get his presence, or get away from his presence, he simply is. On the other hand and this is where the distinction lies between Christianity and non-Christianity, if the point is to turn ourselves towards God, incense is a tool if used correctly to do so, as is prayer, fasting, communion, fellowship, Scriptural study, Scriptural recitation, etc. The point is never in any spiritual discipline to bring God down as if he were far off, but rather to conform ourselves to him.

I believe my words were invites. I never said anything about bring God down, but speaking of doing that the way to do that is, love everyone then Jesus would hold all commandments kept as He said.

Certainly you understand that sinning over and over again in a place will invite a dark present, and worshiping God over and over again in a place will invite a Holy presents. I guess you don't understand incense while it is true it was used in pagan rituals it was also used in the worship of God. As others have pointed out incense is used in Rev pictured in Heaven.

 

[Keachian]

I believe my words were invites.

How can you invite someone who is already present everywhere?

I never said anything about bring God down, but speaking of doing that the way to do that is, love everyone then Jesus would hold all commandments kept as He said.

No, what you just described is how to live as Christ.

Certainly you understand that sinning over and over again in a place will invite a dark present, and worshiping God over and over again in a place will invite a Holy presents.

No, I don't understand that, and neither would I presume did any of the Apostles or Prophets. God is present in both our suffering and our exultation, he is present both when we sin and when we do not sin, where can I flee from God's presence if I go up to the heights of heaven, lo there he is, if I make my bed in the depths, lo even there he is.

I guess you don't understand incense while it is true it was used in pagan rituals it was also used in the worship of God. As others have pointed out incense is used in Rev pictured in Heaven.

I guess you didn't read the 2nd half of my 2nd paragraph where I liken the use of incense to prayer and fasting and declare that it is good to be used in turning the mind to God, just like anything which Christians do in the area of faith known as discipline.

 

[Bluelion]

How can you invite someone who is already present everywhere?


No, what you just described is how to live as Christ.


No, I don't understand that, and neither would I presume did any of the Apostles or Prophets. God is present in both our suffering and our exultation, he is present both when we sin and when we do not sin, where can I flee from God's presence if I go up to the heights of heaven, lo there he is, if I make my bed in the depths, lo even there he is.


I guess you didn't read the 2nd half of my 2nd paragraph where I liken the use of incense to prayer and fasting and declare that it is good to be used in turning the mind to God, just like anything which Christians do in the area of faith known as discipline.

Yeah It says in the Bible if we love one another Jesus would hold we kept all the commandments and return.

So you don't understand ok.

 

[Keachian]

Yeah It says in the Bible if we love one another Jesus would hold we kept all the commandments and return.

No, that's not what the Bible teaches, the Bible teaches that Christ is returning. There is no conditions, nor anything halting his return save God's good will.

So you don't understand ok.

And you wonder why I'm so abrasive towards you. I have said that I believe that the Apostles wouldn't have understood the nonsense you were spouting either, and then I paraphrased Psa 139 because it contradicts your view.

 

[Bluelion]

No, that's not what the Bible teaches, the Bible teaches that Christ is returning. There is no conditions, nor anything halting his return save God's good will.


And you wonder why I'm so abrasive towards you. I have said that I believe that the Apostles wouldn't have understood the nonsense you were spouting either, and then I paraphrased Psa 139 because it contradicts your view.

stop posting in my thread you arrogance is a bit much. thank you

 

[standingtall]

Burn all the incense you want. Build an altar. Burn some candles. Get a big huge cross and put it on your wall. Go for it...truly nothing wrong with that.

However, NONE of that is going to bring you closer to the Lord, or bring him closer to you. As progmonk stated, God is omnipresent. He is just as present in a broken-down shack as he would be in a house adorned as a mini "Holy of Holies".

 

[Andres88]

Burn all the incense you want. Build an altar. Burn some candles. Get a big huge cross and put it on your wall. Go for it...truly nothing wrong with that.

However, NONE of that is going to bring you closer to the Lord, or bring him closer to you. As progmonk stated, God is omnipresent. He is just as present in a broken-down shack as he would be in a house adorned as a mini "Holy of Holies".

True. However, I don't think OP meant to use incense to "get closer to God" in that sense: that would be reading too much between lines. He just wants to create an environment which would be more pleasant to him for the nourishment of his spiritual life.

I can pray in a landfill or in an orchard, but by all means I would prefer the latter. Same happens with the use of incense, candles, whatever. I can also use a diminute Bible, or a standard-sized one. I'd choose the latter, because it will be much better and comfortable for my personal taste.

The elements do not make the relationship with God, but the time of devotion can be particularly more pleasant with the use of elements.

 

[standingtall]

True. However, I don't think OP meant to use incense to "get closer to God" in that sense: that would be reading too much between lines.

I guess it was the "I am trying to create a more Holy Place in my home, something that invites the Lord and His angels" comment that can make one believe he feels he needs to do that as well as his comment "I can't help but think there is value in incenses". Go figure.

 

[Andres88]

I guess it was the "I am trying to create a more Holy Place in my home, something that invites the Lord and His angels" comment that can make one believe he feels he needs to do that as well as his comment "I can't help but think there is value in incenses". Go figure.

Let's not be just literal text auditors, but try to understand the sense behind what it's said. Maybe it was not the right expression for the message that was intended to be conveyed.

["Conveyed"... boy, do I feel big using that word! ]

 

[JM]

I use to burn incense because I enjoyed the scent but now I smoke a pipe from time to time and prefer the aromatic tobaccos.

 

[Bluelion]

True. However, I don't think OP meant to use incense to "get closer to God" in that sense: that would be reading too much between lines. He just wants to create an environment which would be more pleasant to him for the nourishment of his spiritual life.

I can pray in a landfill or in an orchard, but by all means I would prefer the latter. Same happens with the use of incense, candles, whatever. I can also use a diminute Bible, or a standard-sized one. I'd choose the latter, because it will be much better and comfortable for my personal taste.

The elements do not make the relationship with God, but the time of devotion can be particularly more pleasant with the use of elements.

Thank you You see to be one of the only ones that gets what I was saying, and did not pass judgement about it, thank you so much. That is my point and what i meant to say.

 

[Keachian]

Thank you You see to be one of the only ones that gets what I was saying, and did not pass judgement about it, thank you so much. That is my point and what i meant to say.

I wasn't wanting to pass judgment, merely correct what I saw as a misunderstanding of the effect of a tool. Of course there were numerous accessory claims subsequently made that also needed to be addressed.

Out of interest how far are you through your M.Div?