Officating a funeral

How can something be liberal or conservative if it does not violate scripture?

 

We would say it violates Scripture on the principle of separation.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)

Though the building itself is just that--a building, it is a building that has been dedicated for the work of the Lord. It is to be used for God's work. To allow it to be used for the propagation of doctrinal error, heresy, a cult, or whatever else you want to add on to that list is wrong. Though the body in the NT is the temple of God, the building that we meet in is still where believers fellowship and is a place that has been dedicated to the Lord. We tend to try and keep it that way.

 

I would say that using those verses like that is a real stretch. However if that is what you want to do then I would assume in your holy plight that you do not shop at any store except one owned by a Christian. You do not work or have any monetary gains from any employer who is not a Christian. You do not allow anyone in your church and especially be a guest at any meal who is not a Christian. I think tradition and blindness are a great blight on the church and when it is backed up by twisting the intent of scripture it become blasphemy.
There is no command to allow or not allow others to use the church buildings. It is not about protecting God's name or righteousness. If a church so choose to allow others in fine if not that too is fine. There is no scriptural violation. I just hope if you believe that those scriptures mean how you are using them that you also deny yourself and the church the things I pointed out.
I found this statement interesting;
"Though the building itself is just that--a building, it is a building that has been dedicated for the work of the Lord. It is to be used for God's work." :tongue3:
Sort of like Corban in Mark 7:11 (KJV). One would do better to dedicate their life. :thumbs:

 

I don't own other people's stores. We, the members of our church, as a corporate body, own our church building. We have decided it to set it apart from the world as unto the Lord. We have decided to make a difference between the holy and the profane.

Even as a Catholic I grew up with a realization that churches were a place of worship. I didn't need the theology of the difference between temple, tabernacle, sanctuary, auditorium, etc. As a child I knew what that kind of building was supposed to be used for. I still do. I venture that every religion does. When those of other cultures and other religions see Baptists not heeding any respect for their buildings, what do they think?

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: (Luke 16:10)
--Perhaps the way that you treat the building where you gather to hear from God reflects the way that you hear from God. It is attitude.

 

"Even as a Catholic I grew up with a realization that churches were a place of worship."
I too have attended Catholic. Here in is part of your problem. You are still caught up in some of what the Catholic's teach. Christians do not go anyplace to worship we worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:19-24) It can take place in certain places, but it is not the place that makes it worship.
You dedicate the building and yet claim ownership to it? Strange! None the less the church that you attend has made a choice on this issue. It neither makes that church any greater or less then another. God is not impressed one way or another. To one, one day is holy to another none at all. It has nothing to do with any NT biblical principle. God accepts what you are doing as much as He accepts those who open their doors to other religions. Neither can make claim to doing God's will, nor be accused of denying it.

 

What I would call strange is your position. You dedicate a building to the Lord, you are supposed to be a good steward of that building, yet you would allow those that worship a false god to preach in that building? That's strange!

 

The reason you see it strange is because you are caught up in the error that a buildings can be dedicated to God. We alone are to be dedicated not some building. In fact dedication is usually double talk out of piety. The building is nothing and so called dedication does not change that. The people who allows the building where they come together for corporate worship to be used by outsiders are no less dedicated then the one who dedicates a building. Until our lives are so surrendered and dedicated to God we can forget about Him accepting a building dedication.

 

WOW Bob you do a funeral or wedding every couple of weeks, that can be time consuming by the time you do all the premarriage counseling and all

 

Excellent point, Ann. Now some questions, not to be argumentative but just curious.

Would your church allow its facility to be used for a school commencement?

For an ecumenical prayer service?

For the wedding of a nonmember, if your pastor presided?

For a baptism of persons who are not joining your church?

As a temporary shelter in case of a local disaster?

As a meeting place for the local Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, etc.?

 

Short answer, no. The funeral home will allow pretty much anyone preach one there. It ain't happening at my church. Even if I wasn't there to refuse the request, my deacons would.

 

You are correct Ann. In fact, when ever the prophets were sent to warn the people in relation to the Temple, it was that they were not worshiping Him in it. It became a place of running through the motions instead of a place of a contrite spirit. It was a den of thieves because men carried on as they desired in the world and showed up to fulfill the rituals. As Jesus said, quoting Isaiah, the people were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him.

Now, like Bob's congregation, the early church met wherever it could find space. They met in stores, homes, theaters, etc. and they were thankful for any place they could find to meet. This clearly shows that we are able to worship in Spirit and Truth...we do not have to go to the Temple mount.

Yet regardless of where the church met, we see absolutely no evidence of a willingness to let professors of a false faith have ready access to the pulpit. Just the opposite, the message of the New Testament is to test their theology and to count those who vary from the faith as accursed.

To argue that because we are blessed with buildings in which to meet that we should lower the high standard set down in the Apostolic era, quite frankly, boggles the mind and strains credibility.

 

Not If They Were The Last . . .

. . . available clergypersons on earth! And if I'm correct, they may be just that, "the last" following the Rapture of the church!

Keeping the negative, apostate spirits of those churches out of your church is essential and imparative, no argument from me!

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

What about singspiration ? in our small town all churchs take turns hosting the singspiration

 

Salty, I say this in all sincerity: I will personally burn our church to the ground before I will allow a Catholic priest into the pulpit.

And speaking of burning our church to the ground, I'm supposed to be there right now. So, goodbye.