Do Christians need Temples?

[Publisher]

Thanks. Of course I don’t agree. Especially since Jesus instructed to baptize people. I don’t know how you get that the practice was intended to end.

On a side note, many early converts to Mormonism were Quakers. The influence on Mormon thought survives.

During the 19th century there was a movement within Quakerism which sought to have more of an ‘evangelical’ flavor. Quakerism had/has seen itself as a “rediscovery of early Christianity”…not focusing on ritual requirements which were done away with…but seeking to “reclaim/rediscover” the Living Christ in our midst as a Reality. Mormonism focused on ‘revelation’…it is no big surprise that “un-catechized” Quakers would see such beliefs “valid” and join such a movement.

 

[RebeccaJ]

During the 19th century there was a movement within Quakerism which sought to have more of an ‘evangelical’ flavor. Quakerism had/has seen itself as a “rediscovery of early Christianity”…not focusing on ritual requirements which were done away with…but seeking to “reclaim/rediscover” the Living Christ in our midst as a Reality. Mormonism focused on ‘revelation’…it is no big surprise that “un-catechized” Quakers would see such beliefs “valid” and join such a movement.

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[Cluny]

Mormonoid temples have no spiritual significance.

Their rites can offer neither health to the sinews, nor marrow in the bones, because there is no power in their priesthood for themselves, their descendants, or anyone else forever.

 

[Jamison97]

We don’t need a Temple that is a building. He is already the Temple.

 

[Hesychios]

He is everything!

 

[Holly3278]

Nope, we’re not Mormons.

 

[JohnVIII]

Mormonoid temples have no spiritual significance.

Their rites can offer neither health to the sinews, nor marrow in the bones, because there is no power in their priesthood for themselves, their descendants, or anyone else forever.

“What is that? It is the Second Token of the Melkisidek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail. Has it a name? It has. Will you give it to me? I cannot, I have not yet received it, it is for this purpose that I have come to converse with the Lord trough the veil. You shall receive it upon the Five Points of Fellowship through the veil …” :coffeeread:

 

[Religio71]

“What is that? It is the Second Token of the Melkisidek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail. Has it a name? It has. Will you give it to me? I cannot, I have not yet received it, it is for this purpose that I have come to converse with the Lord trough the veil. You shall receive it upon the Five Points of Fellowship through the veil …” :coffeeread:

Yes, one of the signs and tokens you need to pass the angels that stand as sentinels at the Celestial Kingdom. Signs and tokens were not found in the Biblical temples.

 

[ParkerD]

Temples are only a part of covenant theology, wherein covenants are seriously and bindingly kept. They are not whimsical, nor are the covenants whimsical.

Only the House of Israel (whether literal seed or adopted seed) would have an understanding of temples. To all others, to talk about temples is strictly guesswork, which is why they are left out of the picture. (That is a good thing, not a bad thing.) God is fully aware and is guiding what is happening with respect to temples on earth.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Who do you believe is the house of Israel?

 

[RebeccaJ]

To all others, to talk about temples is strictly guesswork, which is why they are left out of the picture. (That is a good thing, not a bad thing.) God is fully aware and is guiding what is happening with respect to temples on earth.

Who is guessing? You perhaps?

*“Let us come into his [God’s] presence with thanksgiving” *(Ps 95[94]: 2). These words, the Response to the Responsorial Psalm that we have just repeated, sum up clearly the meaning and importance of today’s celebration. We have gathered to praise and thank God in his house, in the temple that was built for him and, precisely because it is consecrated to him, is also the dwelling place of us who form his family, his people, redeemed by Christ’s Blood. We all feel at home here, united by a bond of love that knows no bounds of space or time.

In accepting the Psalmist’s invitation, we have come to sing and praise the Lord, “the rock of our salvation”, a “great God, and a great King above all gods”. In his hand “are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it; for his hands formed the dry land”; it is he who is “our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (cf. Ps 95[94]).

Who is the House of Israel?

1. At all times and in every race God has given welcome to whosoever fears Him and does what is right.(85) God, however, does not make men holy and save them merely as individuals, without bond or link between one another. Rather has it pleased Him to bring men together as one people, a people which acknowledges Him in truth and serves Him in holiness. He therefore chose the race of Israel as a people unto Himself. With it He set up a covenant. Step by step He taught and prepared this people, making known in its history both Himself and the decree of His will and making it holy unto Himself. All these things, however, were done by way of preparation and as a figure of that new and perfect covenant, which was to be ratified in Christ, and of that fuller revelation which was to be given through the Word of God Himself made flesh. "Behold the days shall come saith the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel, and with the house of Judah . . . I will give my law in their bowels, and I will write it in their heart, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people . . . For all of them shall know Me, from the least of them even to the greatest, saith the Lord.(86) Christ instituted this new covenant, the new testament, that is to say, in His Blood,(87) calling together a people made up of Jew and gentile, making them one, not according to the flesh but in the Spirit. This was to be the new People of God. For those who believe in Christ, who are reborn not from a perishable but from an imperishable seed through the word of the living God,(88) not from the flesh but from water and the Holy Spirit,(89) are finally established as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people . . . who in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God”.(90)

 

[ParkerD]

Who is guessing? You perhaps?

Who is the House of Israel?

Rebecca,
Thanks for sharing your beliefs. I am fine with them, as far as what I assume works for many, many people in figuring out what the Old Testament prophecies mean to them. I draw more literal meanings from many, many Old Testament prophecies about the house of Israel in the latter days. The new covenant spoken of by Jeremiah is important, however, and I’m glad you shared what you shared, so thank you. It has helped me to understand Catholicism better.

I did like the link you shared at one point some time ago about seeking personal spiritual inspiration better, when we happened to have a conversation about Gerard Manley Hopkins. Temples are, of course, places where personal spiritual inspiration such as your link talked about, is possible if one enters there with peace in their heart. Even open houses at LDS temples before their dedication result in visitors writing comments about that.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Rebecca,
Thanks for sharing your beliefs. I am fine with them, as far as what I assume works for many, many people in figuring out what the Old Testament prophecies mean to them. I draw more literal meanings from many, many Old Testament prophecies about the house of Israel in the latter days. The new covenant spoken of by Jeremiah is important, however, and I’m glad you shared what you shared, so thank you. It has helped me to understand Catholicism better.

The literal meaning is Jesus Christ, His Sacrifice, our call to repentance and baptism. These are not metaphors.

I did like the link you shared at one point some time ago about seeking personal spiritual inspiration better, when we happened to have a conversation about Gerard Manley Hopkins. Temples are, of course, places where personal spiritual inspiration such as your link talked about, is possible if one enters there with peace in their heart. Even open houses at LDS temples before their dedication result in visitors writing comments about that.

Parker, when I was an atheist I began my search for God in the greatest temple of all, the mountains that surround me. There are more than a few people who view the entire world as the temple, as Jesus did establish the Kingdom of God here. So where else is a temple but where God dwells? You can enter any place with peace in your heart and find God. He is always here. He never leaves us.

The OT was a time when people were still divided from God, by the sin of our first parents. The Holy of Holies represented where God dwelt, the veil separating humans from God. It was a reality, not a symbolism. When Christ died, the veil was torn. Literally. We are no longer separated from God. There is no reason to build temples that are designed around an old covenant that we are separated from God. We aren’t. All that was foretold in the OT, including the temples, point to a Person. To God coming into the world and reconciling us to Him. To a new covenant.

There are many Catholics who as they pass by a church they cross themselves. This is a prayer, asking God to bless us and an acknowledgement that we are passing where God is Present. We give particular attention to churches because for us, this is where God dwells, quite literally, not symbolically or metaphorically, in the Real Presence of His Body in the Blessed Sacrament. We keep an eternal flame lit, near our tabernacles, where God dwells.

Some of our Orthodox brothers/sisters have shared how their churches are laid out specifically. The Orthodox retain a screen, between the people in the nave and the Blessed Sacrament. In the Cathedral I go to the screen is there as well. The joyous thing is, for all of us, is this screen is not separating us from God. The veil is torn. We receive God at every Mass where His Sacrifice is Eternally given on an altar that is consecrated to God and this purpose.

 

[ParkerD]

The literal meaning is Jesus Christ, His Sacrifice, our call to repentance and baptism. These are not metaphors.

Parker, when I was an atheist I began my search for God in the greatest temple of all, the mountains that surround me. There are more than a few people who view the entire world as the temple, as Jesus did establish the Kingdom of God here. So where else is a temple but where God dwells? You can enter any place with peace in your heart and find God. He is always here. He never leaves us.

The OT was a time when people were still divided from God, by the sin of our first parents. The Holy of Holies represented where God dwelt, the veil separating humans from God. It was a reality, not a symbolism. When Christ died, the veil was torn. Literally. We are no longer separated from God. There is no reason to build temples that are designed around an old covenant that we are separated from God. We aren’t. All that was foretold in the OT, including the temples, point to a Person. To God coming into the world and reconciling us to Him. To a new covenant.

There are many Catholics who as they pass by a church they cross themselves. This is a prayer, asking God to bless us and an acknowledgement that we are passing where God is Present. We give particular attention to churches because for us, this is where God dwells, quite literally, not symbolically or metaphorically, in the Real Presence of His Body in the Blessed Sacrament. We keep an eternal flame lit, near our tabernacles, where God dwells.

Some of our Orthodox brothers/sisters have shared how their churches are laid out specifically. The Orthodox retain a screen, between the people in the nave and the Blessed Sacrament. In the Cathedral I go to the screen is there as well. The joyous thing is, for all of us, is this screen is not separating us from God. The veil is torn. We receive God at every Mass where His Sacrifice is Eternally given on an altar that is consecrated to God and this purpose.

Rebecca,
This post above is a beautiful expression of your faith and belief and the assurance that you have in your heart. I think it draws you close to the Savior in a beautiful way, and I am saying that without hesitation. Thank you for sharing this.