Why are there churches erected for Christian worship (rather than private homes or other buildings)?

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coffito

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The earliest Christians did not gather for worship in a church. Isn’t it a pagan influence? Is it not in contradiction with the Bible that our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost?
 
The Christians couldn’t set aside buildings for worship.

They were being persecuted.

Also, even the earliest house churches we have records of were re-organized for purposes that church buildings would later have: With baptistries and altars, for example.
 
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coffito said:
The earliest Christians did not gather for worship in a church. Isn’t it a pagan influence? Is it not in contradiction with the Bible that our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost?
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It’s because the earliest Christians (1) didn’t have the money to build churches and (2) because Christianity was off and on illegal in Rome. As a new religion, it was easiest to just meet in the larger houses of members. As it established itself, it was able to build dedicated worship spaces.

Our bodies are still temples of the Holy Spirit.
 
But certain Christian groups gather in simple buildings.
Did not pagan temples have influence on the construction of Christian churches?
 
Are Jews pagans?

God instructed the creation of the Ark. Solomon built a temple for God. Jesus worshipped in dedicated worship spaces like the Temple and synagogues.
 
coffito said:
The earliest Christians did not gather for worship in a church
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Well, not exactly. In the very beginning they met in the synagogues and in various public places for the Eucharist.

Soon, they met in secret in catacombs, houses, and other buildings. Because they were in hiding from the Romans and Christianity has become persecuted.
coffito said:
Isn’t it a pagan influence?
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No, not at all. Corporate worship has broad roots including Jewish roots.
coffito said:
Is it not in contradiction with the Bible that our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost?
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Uh, what?
 
Can a sinner be baptized and have the Holy Spirit dwell in them? Yes.
Can a building be built to worship God? Yes. Will the Holy Spirit be there with the believers? Yes.

The people of God have a building so when 500 people come to a funeral they can gather together and pray for the deceased. This honors God and He doesn’t have a problem with it. How else can the faithful gather on Sundays? Have baptisms and weddings? These holy events need space.
 
coffito said:
Did not pagan temples have influence on the construction of Christian churches?
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To the extent that Christians took over the temples, threw out the pagan stuff, and made a Christian church out of the existing temple, which was already standing there ready to use, yes.
 
coffito said:
The earliest Christians did not gather for worship in a church.
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Wrong. They would gather up wherever they could and mostly in the Roman basilica. The place where they would gather was church.
Why wasn’t it as seen today? Because of the chase against Christians.
You can take on an altar and a church and desecrate it if you will, take 1000+ years of Christianity to the ground. But as you tear down the benefits of legally accepted Christianity (from 5th century Saint Constatine) do not whine for the tribulations coming from being a Christian while it is not acceptable to be a Christian. Don’t be a hypocrite. Self-imposed tribulation is not the same.as God given tribulation (Psalm 9) because it means you substitude yourself for God in regards to when tribulation starts and when it ends. Which is not what Jesus did. He said “Thy will, Father, shall be done.”
 
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