Blessing of the animals worship service

[The Biblicist]

That's about the size of it, pardon the pun.

Your comments are empty, senseless and unbiblical. You make much a do about nothing! There is not one single Biblical text that supports your position on animal blessings, not so much as even a Biblical inference.

 

[Michael Wrenn]

Your comments are empty, senseless and unbiblical. You make much a do about nothing! There is not one single Biblical text that supports your position on animal blessings, not so much as even a Biblical inference.

I contend that it is more "biblical" to pray for animals than it is to have fellowship meals where fat non-church members are invited to gorge themselves.

 

[The Biblicist]

I contend that it is more "biblical" to pray for animals than it is to have fellowship meals where fat non-church members are invited to gorge themselves.

The Fellowship meal is very Biblical as it was part of the passover meal when Christ instituted the Lord's Supper. Breaking bread with believers is mentioned several times in the Scriptures but blessing animals isn't so much as even inferred in the scriptures.

 

[Michael Wrenn]

Gluttony, especially by non-church members committing it at church, is not biblical.

 

[The Biblicist]

Gluttony, especially by non-church members committing it at church, is not biblical.

Do you know the difference between "gluttony" and "fellowship meals"????

If we follow your line of thinking that "gluttony" condemns the act of eating then we should abstain from all food and thus die of starvation.

Gluttony is simply abuse and that is condemned by Scriptures. However, fellowship meals are Biblical while blessing animals can't even be found in scriptures so much as even a hint!

However, that type of worship is found in the occult and has been found in the occult for millenniums.

 

[Michael Wrenn]

Do you know the difference between "gluttony" and "fellowship meals"????

If we follow your line of thinking that "gluttony" condemns the act of eating then we should abstain from all food and thus die of starvation.

Gluttony is simply abuse and that is condemned by Scriptures. However, fellowship meals are Biblical while blessing animals can't even be found in scriptures so much as even a hint!

However, that type of worship is found in the occult and has been found in the occult for millenniums.

Praying for animals is not "occultic".

Tell me, did you drive to church in your car Sunday? That's not biblical.

 

[The Biblicist]

Praying for animals is not "occultic".

Tell me, did you drive to church in your car Sunday? That's not biblical.

We are discussing ACTS OF WORSHIP and thus MORAL values not matters of CULTURAL progression in things neither right or wrong in themselves.

You are attempting to add and to justify an aspect of public worship that has no Biblical grounds whatsoever and an aspect that has been and is still prominent aspect of occult worship.

 

[Michael Wrenn]

The creation is part of the promise of redemption in Romans 8: 18-23.

It is not wrong to pray for animals and indeed the whole creation; in fact, it is good and even necessary.

 

[The Biblicist]

The creation is part of the promise of redemption in Romans 8: 18-23.

It is not wrong to pray for animals and indeed the whole creation; in fact, it is good and even necessary.

Nobody said it is wrong to pray for anything. However, you are attempting to justify prayer for animals as an entire aspect of PUBLIC worship which is rediculous and as an act of PUBLIC worship is occultic.

 

[Michael Wrenn]

Nobody said it is wrong to pray for anything. However, you are attempting to justify prayer for animals as an entire aspect of PUBLIC worship which is rediculous and as an act of PUBLIC worship is occultic.

So, it is only right to pray for them in private and out of the church; in the church, it is wrong. That is stupid.

 

[The Biblicist]

So, it is only right to pray for them in private and out of the church; in the church, it is wrong. That is stupid.

What is stupid, is that you are attempting to justify - a new type of public worship that is devoted to animals not merely a random prayer request but an entire service devoted to animals - that is occultic.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Just to throw in some food for thought. As I don't really have a dog in this fight (yes that was meant to be funny). Save that St. Francis of Assisi had a profound love for nature to include animals. But just to share some thoughts.

Didn't God create nature that he might enjoy it along with men?
Before God made Eve didn't he present the animals to Adam?
Didn't he give Adam the responsibility of authority over the animals to include naming them?
Didn't God rescue Balaam by having a donkey speak to him?
Didn't God use a fish to forward his plan with Jonah and prophesy at the same time about his redemption?
Didn't God prepare a donkey to bring his son triumphantly into Jerusalem?
Doesn't nature groan eagerly awaiting its restoration?
Doesn't Jesus Christ also redeem the Cosmos?
Doesn't the great picture of heaven include the lion laying down with the lamb?
Isn't God a God of life and love?
Does not God love his created animals? (not like he does man but they are still living things)
and isn't it true that Man having been given authority over animals is responsible for their treatement?

 

[The Biblicist]

Just to throw in some food for thought. As I don't really have a dog in this fight (yes that was meant to be funny). Save that St. Francis of Assisi had a profound love for nature to include animals. But just to share some thoughts.

Didn't God create nature that he might enjoy it along with men?
Before God made Eve didn't he present the animals to Adam?
Didn't he give Adam the responsibility of authority over the animals to include naming them?
Didn't God rescue Balaam by having a donkey speak to him?
Didn't God use a fish to forward his plan with Jonah and prophesy at the same time about his redemption?
Didn't God prepare a donkey to bring his son triumphantly into Jerusalem?
Doesn't nature groan eagerly awaiting its restoration?
Doesn't Jesus Christ also redeem the Cosmos?
Doesn't the great picture of heaven include the lion laying down with the lamb?
Isn't God a God of life and love?
Does not God love his created animals? (not like he does man but they are still living things)
and isn't it true that Man having been given authority over animals is responsible for their treatement?

Nobody is denying God created animals. We are talking about public institutional worship which has God as its focus and explicit acts of worship as its substance (songs, prayer, giving, preaching, ordinances) all of which are quite explicit in scripture.

However, to bring in animals as an aspect of an entire PUBLIC worship service is somthing ONLY found in occultic public worship and has been for millenniums and yet NEVER ONCE hinted to by God from Genesis to Revelation.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Nobody is denying God created animals.

I'm not talking about just creation. Aren't they implied in God's salvation story? What I mean is that throughout the history which scriptures are written aren't animals a proper element in worship? For instance what forshadows Christ own redemption plan? Isn't it the sacrifice of living animals particularily of the passover lamb?

“Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you

How about the Tabernacle?

“You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make...

Are they not involved in also waiting for their redemption fulfilment?

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

so that in the worship of God it can be said that

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

 

[Revmitchell]

Oh my word! The ridiculousness of this is astounding. Just because God created it does not mean we should include it in our worship services. The things liberals turn our churches into. Amazing.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What is stupid, is that you are attempting to justify - a new type of public worship that is devoted to animals not merely a random prayer request but an entire service devoted to animals - that is occultic.

Brothers listen--This has gotten way out of control. Since perceptions differ nobody is going to change anyones opinion on the subject matter. Its kinda like, does your church bring in a Christmas tree each year...each year there is always a conversation but most people & churches are so ingratiated to it that it generally stays status quo. Same here some people just think that a service dedicated to animals is wonderful while others do not with varying reasons.

In my community, I know that the local Methodist & Episcopal churches have those services so I can take my 3 bulldogs. Now personally I would be kinda apprehensive if I saw me walking in to a house of worship with 3 heavy set bulldogs but different strokes. LOL! So for the sake of hygiene perhaps leave the animals at home & just say a prayer for them. And keep the tree.....I like them! Just keep my mail bully away from it!! :laugh:

 

[annsni]

All we have ever said is that it is a nice, decent sweet christian thing to do, for those who want to do it.Thats all we are saying.

If it's Christian, it must be spoken of in Scripture. I don't see a blessing of the animals in Scripture.

 

[annsni]

Some posts in this thread remind me of something I heard once which I am coming closer all the time to confirming:

"The more I am around people, the more I like my dog!"

And when I get to heaven, I would prefer to be around the animals there rather than some Christians I know.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NAS

 

[annsni]

I contend that it is more "biblical" to pray for animals than it is to have fellowship meals where fat non-church members are invited to gorge themselves.

Show me in Scripture where we are told to pray for animals and I will show you where we are to fellowship with each other.

Just because we serve food at church doesn't mean that we have "fat non-church members...gorge themselves". If we are able to get ANY unsaved person in church, it's not a bad thing. We have a chance to present the Gospel and lead a person to the Lord.

I've yet to see a dog respond to the Gospel.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

If it's Christian, it must be spoken of in Scripture. I don't see a blessing of the animals in Scripture.

just some food for thought

"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth." (Genesis 9:9-10)

or

"In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety." (Hosea 2:18)

or

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:6-9)

I don't know seems like blessing animals are appropriate. After all God does.