Posted on 05/13/2008 5:46:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus
The founders of Columbia were convinced that religion, like everything else in the planned community envisioned as a suburban utopia, should be harmonious and inclusive. So instead of a welter of churches all vying for space within the model township, the founders opted for interfaith centers.
Now, one congregation's plan to place a 16-foot cross on a new building at the town's oldest interfaith center in Wilde Lake Village has stirred an anxious response. Some guardians of local tradition see the cross as a challenge to the core values of Columbia.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
>> Some guardians of local tradition see the cross as a challenge to the core values of Columbia.
There is an eternity of sadness in that statement.
Blech! This sounds like the most mushy, wishy washy, week kneed town in the country. It makes me want to go beat them all up. Like the guy at my work who has long curly hair and wears pink and purple shirts. You know? It’s like they’re asking for it.
People are always trying to hide the "Cross" and the cross will always divide people. Satan hates the cross because he knows that the work on the cross provided us with salvation. Without the cross and without his blood there is no salvation. A certain 'denomination' who posts here on FreeRepublic and posts their daily devos also hates the cross and none of their buildings (I won't call them churches) are permitted to have them and their members aren't allowed to wear them as necklaces etc. Think cults and you'll know who I am talking about. They epitomize wolves in sheeps clothing with an incredibly moralistic lifestyle and yet those works they espouse will not save them because it must be through the blood of our perfect savior. Yes, faith without works is dead but our works are in response to our incredible gift and not as an attempt to bribe God to let us into heaven. That work has already been done for us by someone much great than us - Jesus.
Oh yeah, and I couldn’t imagine a worse place to “worship” than at that interfaith building. Why bother waking up on a Sunday to go to that.
“Oh yeah, and I couldn’t imagine a worse place to “worship” than at that interfaith building. Why bother waking up on a Sunday to go to that.”
This particular interfaith building has a Catholic congregation and a Protestant one. Which one do you object to?
What is a Protestant congregation? Is it Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist? Those aren’t all the same and don’t teach the same doctrine. You have to leave out a lot of Bible in order to maintain a generic Protestant title. I don’t see why someone would waste their time getting a squishy generic sermon.
“I guess we should not have bothered?”
It depends.
I like interfaith churches - to me it's about worshiping a person and not a denomination. I can join together with anyone who believes core/essential Christian doctrine - (1) the Bible is the inherent word of God (2) Christ died on the cross and rose again (3) Christ's work on the cross accomplished salvation through his shed blood and that it's not by works that we are saved, etc.
A 'denomination' never saved anyone ... only Christ can do that work.
“What is a Protestant congregation? Is it Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist? “Those aren’t all the same and don’t teach the same doctrine. You have to leave out a lot of Bible in order to maintain a generic Protestant title. I don’t see why someone would waste their time getting a squishy generic sermon.”
I see. You want to make sure they preach the “right” way. At least what you see as the right way.
Those who read the story know that this Protestant congregation is sort of a mix between Presbyterian and Methodist, both of which are Protestant enough for me. And, I assume, Protestant enough for those who attend there. They obviously find it worth going for.
“Growing up as an AirForce brat I often attended services at the base chapel. That building served for both Catholic and Protestant services. I guess we should not have bothered?”
Shoot, I’ll bet Muslims and Jews have worshipped on the same plot of battlefield with Protestants and Catholics.
How can you have one Protestant congregation? There are so many different Protestant traditions.
There are Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal...each quite different from the last in many ways.
There are Monergist Protestants and Synergist Protestants.
There are Calvinist and Arminian doctrinal branches.
Some believe in Sacraments, others practice “Ordinances.”
The “interfaith buildings” mentioned in the article are NOT non-denominational churches. They are buildings where Buddhists, Jews, Hare Krishnas, Unitarians, Methodists, and Episcopalians can meet—and where no one could possibly offended, because a cross is not permitted.
Besides that, denominationalism is often related to different (European) histories of church groups, as much as it is to differences in beliefs. When people reach a level of bible study to make up their minds about something more than Christian basics—and agree with other congregations about the same things, the result is a denomination. Even the biggest independent true “non-denominational” church is a denomination-unto-itself. Often the pastors simply don’t want to be under the accountability of authority which denominational groups provide...
I’m all for denominations, as Christians should be unified, and under godly authority.
Jesus saves us yes, but almost always through the work of a church.
A military base’s chapel—constrained as it is by government money and property space—is a different situation entirely from a free community. That Columbia should expect different faith traditions to share the same buildings tells me Columbia’s founders didn’t understand religion.
I once attended a church which sold its buidling, and then rented it back (until it’s new building was done) from a Roman Catholic school. Before the service the photos of the pope and other icons were taken down, to keep our space appropriate. That’s no way to live on a permanent basis!
That makes sense — thanks for further explanation. I am definitely not for inter-FAITH churches then as I do not hold to the same doctrine as a Buddhist, Jew, or Hare Krishna. I do not have a problem with Christian denominations and attend a church of a specific denomination. However, I do have a problem when the focus is on the denomination and not the person and work of Christ. Or, when one has an attitude of superiority with other Christians because they are of a certain denomination. I can worship in any church who teaches *accurately* from the Bible and I feel united to all believers of various denominations who believe the same core principals of Christianity.
“core/essential”
Those are great and needful but the Bible as a lot to say and if you get into meat you’ll have to offend people. That’s why denominations are formed.
“They obviously find it worth going for.”
Yeah but really they’re wasting their time. Nobody should care what I think but what God thinks.
So a combination of post Christian liberal theology? You do understand, don't you, what they mean when they say that they are 'inclusive'? http://mysite.verizon.net/sju2/Site%203/SJU%20Home%20page.html
Is what is taught in the PCUSA really 'protestant enough' for you?
Oops, I clicked too soon. Wouldn’t want you to miss
“SJU celebrated Holy Humor Sunday” - check out the photos:
http://mysite.verizon.net/sju2/news/sju.htm
“SJU celebrated Holy Humor Sunday” - check out the photos:”
The nerve!!! Allowing humor in church!!! Only hellfire and brimstone for me.
“Nobody should care what I think but what God thinks.”
And different people have different ideas about what God thinks concerning worship. Even denominations and individuals who claim to follow a literal interpretation of every word of the Bible don’t agree on everything.
So tell me, how are you sure exactly what God thinks?
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