Incense

[LaGrange]

Ephesians 5:19

I have no problems with incense if the congregation considers it worshipful and spiritually edifying.

I wouldn’t accept it is normative or required for true worship.

At times, I appreciate the more somber approach Catholics use in worship, including the incense though I admit to being uncomfortable with the underlying beliefs.

I personally appreciate the Catholics here having a civil discussion in these issues. I know you have to be careful to not cross the line of proselytizing and that must be difficult.

It is informative to understand why you believe the things you do.

peace to you

Hi Canadyjd,
Very nice post. Kind. Honest.

 

[LaGrange]

The point being that there is NO higher authority in a Baptist church. That local Baptist church is fully autonomous and self-governing.

Though there may be "Denomination offices" they have NO control over any local church. A church may be affiliated with an organization, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, Bible Baptist Fellowship and ect. A local church is free to leave that affiliation at any time. The building is owned by the local church. Bottom line is that the local church makes its own decisions! - Thus there is NO such thing as the Baptist Church.

Keep in mind there are two definitions of "denomination"
1) an organization with a Hierarchy govt
2) churches with similar beliefs

Hi Salty,
Good points!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Ephesians 5:19

I have no problems with incense if the congregation considers it worshipful and spiritually edifying.

I wouldn’t accept it is normative or required for true worship.

At times, I appreciate the more somber approach Catholics use in worship, including the incense though I admit to being uncomfortable with the underlying beliefs.

I personally appreciate the Catholics here having a civil discussion in these issues. I know you have to be careful to not cross the line of proselytizing and that must be difficult.

It is informative to understand why you believe the things you do.

peace to you

Why feel that they are proselytizing, after all don’t we serve the same God and are we not trinitarian?

 

[canadyjd]

Why feel that they are proselytizing, after all don’t we serve the same God and are we not trinitarian?

I’m just saying that I have seen several threads that were shut down as proselytizing.

I think the common theme was “what baptists believe is bad, what Catholics believe is only truth”. Most don’t take that approach.

Personally, I have learned quite a bit from the interaction. For example, some time ago a Catholic used Revelation 5:8 to support praying to the saints. It says the 24 Elders around the throne of God hold bowls of incense that contain the prayers of the saints.

Now, I don’t agree with that interpretation justifying prayers to the saints, but I have to acknowledge they have a biblical foundation to support the belief.

peace to you

 

[Walter]

Ephesians 5:19

I have no problems with incense if the congregation considers it worshipful and spiritually edifying.

I wouldn’t accept it is normative or required for true worship.

At times, I appreciate the more somber approach Catholics use in worship, including the incense though I admit to being uncomfortable with the underlying beliefs.

I personally appreciate the Catholics here having a civil discussion in these issues. I know you have to be careful to not cross the line of proselytizing and that must be difficult.

It is informative to understand why you believe the things you do.

peace to you

Over the years, there have been times when I allowed my emotions to override my intellect and Christian charity in some of my posts. I have learned to pray about what I am about to post and ask myself if my words are kind. You are spot on when it comes to being careful not to be viewed as proselytizing. I have observed Catholics who I felt were proselytizing and usually after being warned to stop they were shown the door of the BB. My participation on the bb is a privilege and I don't take it for granted. I learn so much from other Christians and their different interpretations on Holy Scripture and have learned a lot over the years about Baptist doctrines.

Unfortunately, too many Catholics have been poorly catechized or are just cultural (in name only) and after receiving their first communion are only Christmas/Easter Catholics (if that). Many of the ex-Catholics on this board could probably attest to that. I teach RCIA classes in my parish and a significant number of the participants are re-verts to Catholicism. Most I find were nominal/cultural Catholics before becoming evangelicals. My participation on the BB has helped me to be better prepared to present the differences and agreements between these Christian bodies accurately.

 

[canadyjd]

Over the years, there have been times when I allowed my emotions to override my intellect and Christian charity in some of my posts. I have learned to pray about what I am about to post and ask myself if my words are kind. You are spot on when it comes to being careful not to be viewed as proselytizing. I have observed Catholics who I felt were proselytizing and usually after being warned to stop they were shown the door of the BB. My participation on the bb is a privilege and I don't take it for granted. I learn so much from other Christians and their different interpretations on Holy Scripture and have learned a lot over the years about Baptist doctrines.

Unfortunately, too many Catholics have been poorly catechized or are just cultural (in name only) and after receiving their first communion are only Christmas/Easter Catholics (if that). Many of the ex-Catholics on this board could probably attest to that. I teach RCIA classes in my parish and a significant number of the participants are re-verts to Catholicism. Most I find were nominal/cultural Catholics before becoming evangelicals. My participation on the BB has helped me to be better prepared to present the differences and agreements between these Christian bodies accurately.

Thank you for sharing. Emotions run high at times among baptists. Just visit Cal/Armin threads.

My sister is Methodist. She ask me to participate in her youngest son’s baptism (poured water on his head) She understands what I believe about believers baptism and I didn’t feel it necessary to try to change her mind. It was a somber, worshipful occasion and they were quite moved by it

We have a fun time discussing things. Her daughter told me that in vacation Bible school, they sang a sing with a verse “You can’t get to heaven on a Baptist bus”.

I laughed so hard I had tears. The Baptists are known for “bus ministries” which usually involve kids going to church and parents getting free babysitting.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words

peace to you

 

[LaGrange]

Over the years, there have been times when I allowed my emotions to override my intellect and Christian charity in some of my posts. I have learned to pray about what I am about to post and ask myself if my words are kind. You are spot on when it comes to being careful not to be viewed as proselytizing. I have observed Catholics who I felt were proselytizing and usually after being warned to stop they were shown the door of the BB. My participation on the bb is a privilege and I don't take it for granted. I learn so much from other Christians and their different interpretations on Holy Scripture and have learned a lot over the years about Baptist doctrines.

Unfortunately, too many Catholics have been poorly catechized or are just cultural (in name only) and after receiving their first communion are only Christmas/Easter Catholics (if that). Many of the ex-Catholics on this board could probably attest to that. I teach RCIA classes in my parish and a significant number of the participants are re-verts to Catholicism. Most I find were nominal/cultural Catholics before becoming evangelicals. My participation on the BB has helped me to be better prepared to present the differences and agreements between these Christian bodies accurately.

Hi Walter,

Good post! You are so right on everything you wrote here. I’m what many would call a “Cradle Catholic” and I see exactly what you are saying. It’s a good thing someone like you is teaching because catechism classes have been overall very poor since 1970. That was when they did away with the Baltimore Catechism. It’s been a little better since around 2000. You do have a very good insight into the difference in the faiths that many don’t have. I likewise need to try to maintain Christian Charity as well. Thanks for the post!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

When my dear uncle died of cancer several years a go they preformed a Catholic High Mass at the family church in Pennsylvania. Of course, incense was used and it agitated my asthma. My brothers asthma also flared up. So is it a necessary component in a service, no I don’t believe it is. But it is part of traditional service that is acceptable but do you really think it is necessary if it chokes some in the pews? Now I’d fully accept, indeed encourage singing as a way to emphasize spirituality.

 

[Walter]

When my dear uncle died of cancer several years a go they preformed a Catholic High Mass at the family church in Pennsylvania. Of course, incense was used and it agitated my asthma. My brothers asthma also flared up. So is it a necessary component in a service, no I don’t believe it is. But it is part of traditional service that is acceptable but do you really think it is necessary if it chokes some in the pews? Now I’d fully accept, indeed encourage singing as a way to emphasize spirituality.

The church I attended in NYC that had WAY too much choking incense in use was The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin, also known as 'Smokey Mary's'. They used so much incense I wondered when the last time it was anyone had seen their altar, so much that I think cars driving by might have to turn on their headlights when the doors were opened after mass. (kidding) There are incense blends that are far less choking than others. Our church uses such a blend and after it is used during the appropriate times the thurible (Censor) is taken out of the sanctuary. I hear no more coughing than at a service where it is not used at all.

 

[VDMA]

 

[Salty]

Thread is closed - OP is banned