Is there a reality behind ritual?

[Swordman]

I had an interesting discussion concerning an aspect of the Law the other day with some individuals of a Wesleyan persuasion. (I consider myself more or less a Wesleyan.) It involved a modern practice that ritualistically would have been considered abhorrent in ancient Judaism because it made a person "unclean" according to the law. To be "unclean" meant that you had to perform a ritual or wait a period of time for purification before entering the Temple. The Temple was where Israel met with God.

This led to a rather intense discussion where everyone disagreed with me, saying it really did not matter.

So - this got me thinking about ritual and reality. Is there a reality behind rituals?

We do have rituals in the Christian church in baptism, the Lord's Supper, and even marriage. (Other Christian traditions have more.) Are these just symbols/pictures, or is there something more involved?

Are there things that we do that can make us "unclean" before the living God?

 

[civic]

@TibiasDad what are your thoughts ?

 

[Selah]

I had an interesting discussion concerning an aspect of the Law the other day with some individuals of a Wesleyan persuasion. (I consider myself more or less a Wesleyan.) It involved a modern practice that ritualistically would have been considered abhorrent in ancient Judaism because it made a person "unclean" according to the law. To be "unclean" meant that you had to perform a ritual or wait a period of time for purification before entering the Temple. The Temple was where Israel met with God.

This led to a rather intense discussion where everyone disagreed with me, saying it really did not matter.

So - this got me thinking about ritual and reality. Is there a reality behind rituals?

We do have rituals in the Christian church in baptism, the Lord's Supper, and even marriage. (Other Christian traditions have more.) Are these just symbols/pictures, or is there something more involved?

Are there things that we do that can make us "unclean" before the living God?

Hello . . .
I believe that the only “unclean” things that can make Christians to not be in right standing before God are unrepented sins. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners and must confess ….

1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

s e l a h

 

[Tothalordbeallglory]

Hello . . .
I believe that the only “unclean” things that can make Christians to not be in right standing before God are unrepented sins. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners and must confess ….

1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

s e l a h

a parable just came to mind as i read this my friend .
Here ye the parable of the feverant prayer .
There once lived a lady who lived in a house
wherein many tenants did live .
Every sunday evening she could be heard crying and pleading in prayers .
Every morning she would awaken outside on the lawn .
Then the week would pass and again the tenants would hear her on sunday night
getting upset , crying , pleading and begging with GOD .
And the next morning she would awaken outside .
This went on for many months and the months soon turned into a year .
And every sunday night she would be heard crying , begging and pleading
and every monday morning she would awaken outside the house .
Finally one day one of the tenants drew up enough courage to ask her
My dear lady what is it you are always praying to GOD about , pleading about
Getting so upset about .
TO which she said , I am a pious woman of GOD
so every sunday night i ask him LORD PLEASE REMOVE ANY AND ALL EVIL OUTTA THIS HOUSE .
But he keeps misunderstanding me and thinks i must be meaning to remove me from the evil of said house .
BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW GOD dont make mistakes . HE KNOWS , HE Knows the hearts of all .

 

[Soyeong]

I had an interesting discussion concerning an aspect of the Law the other day with some individuals of a Wesleyan persuasion. (I consider myself more or less a Wesleyan.) It involved a modern practice that ritualistically would have been considered abhorrent in ancient Judaism because it made a person "unclean" according to the law. To be "unclean" meant that you had to perform a ritual or wait a period of time for purification before entering the Temple. The Temple was where Israel met with God.

This led to a rather intense discussion where everyone disagreed with me, saying it really did not matter.

So - this got me thinking about ritual and reality. Is there a reality behind rituals?

We do have rituals in the Christian church in baptism, the Lord's Supper, and even marriage. (Other Christian traditions have more.) Are these just symbols/pictures, or is there something more involved?

Are there things that we do that can make us "unclean" before the living God?

Our goal should be to embody God's likeness through being a doer of His character traits. One of those traits is holiness, which a lot of rituals are in regard to.