Reverence in God's house

[abcgrad94]

I've heard this statement and have read it many times here on the board. Why do some Christians believe we must be formal and "reverent" in the church building? What constitutes reverence or respect and what constitutes casual?

The Bible tells us that God does not have a house made with hands, he resides in us. So why is it "reverent" to dress one way in a church building and another way at home when God is with us at both places?

 

[Revmitchell]

Why did God tell Moses to take his shoes off?

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Good question. Is a church building any more holy than my house? What about in the early days of the church plant when the church met here? We meet in a community centre. Is that place holy when we are there and unholy the rest of the week?

 

[Johnv]

Why do some Christians believe we must be formal and "reverent" in the church building? What constitutes reverence or respect and what constitutes casual?

Excellent question! There's a difference between "formal" and "reverent". Most Christians would agree that there should be at least a cursory level of revence in church (or, at least, in the worship center of the church building). However, what constitutes reverence varies wildly from region to region. I mentioned about having been to churches in Hawaii. Many churches are, quite literally, beachfront. So when worship starts, people will literally will come out of the water into church. Shorts, bathing attire, and shirtless men are a common site in such instances, and there is no irreverence whatsoever. OTOH, if I attended worship at some presbyterian churches, anything less than a nice pair of slacks and button up shirt might be considered irreverent.

If you're a Christian in some parts of Papua New Guinea, it would be the height of irreverence to wear a belt. Now, keep in mind, that in those same areas, a belt is pretty much all people wear (both men and women are topless). On a mission trip to Indonesia, I was required to remove my shows and leave them at the front of the church, because shoes in the church was considered irreverent. OTOH, NOT wearing shoes is considered irreverent in most US churches.

Now, in regards to formal vs informal, it's likewise regional. "formal" should never be considered a synonym for "reverent". However, in some parts of the country and world, formal attire is considered appropriate attire for being reverent.

This truly is acase of "when in Rome".

 

[Scarlett O.]

I have some thoughts on this.....(you know I'm opinionated!)....but I hear my class being escorting back to my class from lunch and acountability calls (and so does the science test!)

I'll come back later (unless someone posts the same thoughts I had.)

Anyhoo.....gotta teach!!..:type:

 

[Peggy]

I think that it is important to be reverant in church because you are there to worship God in a place set aside for worship.

We are talking about worshipping the God of the Universe. It's not a social occasion.

Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

 

[Johnv]

We are talking about worshipping the God of the Universe. It's not a social occasion.

I don't quite agree. Corporate worship is a defacto social occasion, by virtue of the fact that it is corporate.

 

[annsni]

Why did God tell Moses to take his shoes off?

Because he was in God's presence. That's why I never wear shoes. Because I'm always in God's presence.


Seriously, I think there should be a reverence in the worship service and I think there should be a respect for the church as it's a place that is not our personal property just as we'd be respectful at a library, a store, a hotel, etc. But to make it a place more "holy" than anyplace else? Not so much.

 

[fbcodr]

Why did God tell Moses to take his shoes off?

Good point!!! The awareness of His Holy presence!!!:applause::thumbsup:

 

[Peggy]

I don't quite agree. Corporate worship is a defacto social occasion, by virtue of the fact that it is corporate.

Its not a social occasion like a dinner party or Super Bowl party. We are there to worship.

Our attitude should reflect our awareness of the presence of God. Why shouldn't a church be a more holy place than others when it is set aside as a place for worshipping Him?

If you really believe you are in the presence of the all-Holy presence of God, your attitude should mirror your belief.

 

[rbell]

Q: Why should we be quiet in church?
A: Because all the deacons are sleeping.

 

[rbell]

I think we'll always be finding the balance between celebration:

"Clap your hands, all you people! Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!"

And awe:

"The Lord is in His holy temple; let all mortal flesh keep silent before Him."

There can be errors on both sides: One is too flippant; the other does not reflect the joy and triumph that is ours in Christ.

 

[abcgrad94]

Why shouldn't a church be a more holy place than others when it is set aside as a place for worshipping Him?

See, I think that type of reasoning has made us to be "churchy" or more spiritual, AT church, and more "worldly" at home. We don't "do" church, we "ARE" the church. God is always with us and we should always be conscious of that fact whether at home, work, in the car or in a building with other believers. Should we not always reverence God?

I think it's fine to say dressing up for worship is socially expected or culturally acceptable. However, equating "dressing up" with a level of reverence for God or equating it with one's level of spirituality is extra-Biblical and wrong.

 

[Johnv]

I concur with abcgrad!!

 

[Revmitchell]

See, I think that type of reasoning has made us to be "churchy" or more spiritual, AT church, and more "worldly" at home. We don't "do" church, we "ARE" the church. God is always with us and we should always be conscious of that fact whether at home, work, in the car or in a building with other believers. Should we not always reverence God?

I think it's fine to say dressing up for worship is socially expected or culturally acceptable. However, equating "dressing up" with a level of reverence for God or equating it with one's level of spirituality is extra-Biblical and wrong.

Did God want Moses to be more churchy?

 

[annsni]

Did God want Moses to be more churchy?

Was Moses indwelt with the Holy Spirit?

 

[nodak]

What does the Bible tell us? It tells us dress modestly, which means both not sexually enticing AND not expensively. It also tells us if a man comes in expensively dressed and another comes in in rags, and we treat the nicely dressed guy better than the one in rags, we sin.

Peggy, I believe we are in the presence of a Holy God 24/7. To that end, you won't find me in wallyworld in short shorts and a halter top or in some tee shirt with trashy words on it. I try to dress for His Presence daily. I also represent Him to the world daily.

So for me to "dress up" on Sunday to show reverence for Him would be hypocritical. He is with me always--so why do I need to impress Him on Sunday? More truthfully, wouldn't I be dressing up to impress people?

Moses was indeed told to take his shoes off. He was indeed in the Presence of the Lord--but in a way we, as temples of the Holy Spirit, are not. He had entered into the Presence of the Lord and would leave it. We do not. And there were not others there to see Moses take his shoes off. It was to impress Moses as to what was taking place, not to impress other people or to impress God.

I don't believe for a minute that blue denim is less reverent than the same shade of blue in polyester, silk, or wool.

I DO believe God might be getting mightily ticked when we spend a small fortune on Sunday duds and then wear them right past some hungry kid come Sunday.

 

[tinytim]

See, I think that type of reasoning has made us to be "churchy" or more spiritual, AT church, and more "worldly" at home. We don't "do" church, we "ARE" the church. God is always with us and we should always be conscious of that fact whether at home, work, in the car or in a building with other believers. Should we not always reverence God?

I think it's fine to say dressing up for worship is socially expected or culturally acceptable. However, equating "dressing up" with a level of reverence for God or equating it with one's level of spirituality is extra-Biblical and wrong.

Exactly.. we have pigeon holed God to a building...

My mom would never wear pants to church because she said it was a sin...
But she would everywhere else...

I always thought that was strange...

It's OK not to sin in a church building, but it is in Krogers?

(my stepmom does the same thing!... UGH!.. she will come here and complains because my wife goes to church in jeans... but she can wear jeans anywhere else!)


Those that think the church is holier than anywhere else needs to heed Christ's teaching to the woman at the well who thought one mountain was holier than the other....

We worship God in Spirit and truth because WE ARE GOD'S HOUSE.

The Church..

This is the problem of today's church.. No wonder the world wants us to keep our religion inside the walls of our church building...

WE have taught this to them.

Respect and take care of the building .. OF course.
Recognize it is dedicated for the church to worship in it... OF course

Think the sanctuary is more sacred than the parking lot... NO... God is both places... and we need to recognize that!

 

[abcgrad94]

Did God want Moses to be more churchy?

I'm not sure what you're getting at there, Rev.

My point is that somewhere along the line we've gotten sucked into thinking the church building is "God's house" and is a holy place, when really wherever Jesus is present is the holy place.

I've even been guilty of telling my kids not to run "in God's house" because it was disrespectful, but now when I think about it, there is no biblical basis for this. Socially, they should behave, yes, but not because they are "disrespectful in God's house."

 

[Johnv]

What does the Bible tell us? It tells us dress modestly, which means both not sexually enticing AND not expensively.

You realize, though, that that's relative? Not the admonition of modesty (that's objective), but the rules of what constitutes "sexually enticing" and "not expensive" are constantly changing.