THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF SHRINES

How, then should Christians view pilgrimages to and worship at shrines? Taking into account Jesus' command that true worshippers worship God with spirit and truth, it is clear that worship rendered at any shrine or sacred place had no special value to our heavenly Father. Additionally, the Bible tells us how God views the veneration of idols in worship. It says: "Flee from idolatry" and "guard yourselves from idols." (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21) Therefore, a true Christian would not worship at any place that is viewed a holy in itself or one that encourages idolatry. Thus, on account of the very nature of shrines, true Christians refrain from worshipping at them.

This, however, does not mean that God's Word forbids having a preferred location for prayer, study or meditation. A meeting place that is orderly and dignified is conducive to learning and discussing spiritual things. Neither is it wrong to make a memorial, such as a tombstone, for a deceased person. This may simply be an expression of remembrance or affection for the deceased. However, considering such a location as a holy place or venerating images or relics there would be completely contrary to Jesus' words. 

Therefore, you do not need to go a shrine in hopes that God is more likely to hear your prayer there. Nor will God be pleased with you or give you special blessings for making a pilgrimage to a shrine. The Bible tells us that Jehovah God, the "Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade temples." But this does not make God distant from us.  We can pray to him and be heard anywhere because "he is not far off from each of us." - ACTS 17:24-27. 

Next time: What Is a Shrine?

From the jw.org publications 

 

"WORSHIP "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH" - Conclusion

 In his conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus also mentioned that "the hour" for this change in God's worship was "coming." When would that be? The hour came when Jesus, by his sacrificial death, ended the Jewish system of worship based on the Law of Moses. (Romans 10:4) Yet, Jesus also said: "The hour . . . is now." Why? Because as the Messiah, he was already gathering disciples who would obey the command he stated next: "God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:24) What, then, does it mean to worship with spirit and truth?

When Jesus mentioned worshipping with spirit, he was not speaking of a particularly spirited, animated, or enthusiastic form of worship. Rather, he was talking about being guided by God's holy spirit, which among other things guides our understanding of the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 2:9-12) And the truth Jesus referred to is an accurate knowledge of Bible teachings. Therefore, rather than being rendered at any special place, our worship will be acceptable to God if it conforms to what the Bible teaches and is guided by the holy spirit.

Next time: THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF SHRINES

From the jw.org publications

WORSHIP "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH" - Continue

Jesus continued: 'The hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him." (John 4:23) For centuries, the Jews viewed the magnificent temple in Jerusalem as the center of their worship. They journeyed there three times a year to make sacrifices to their God, Jehovah. (Exodus 23:14-17) But Jesus said that all of this would be changed and that "true worshippers" would worship "with spirit and truth."

The Jewish temple was a tangible structure at a specific geographic location. But spirit and truth are not material, nor are they limited to any physical place. Thus, Jesus was explaining that true Christian worship would not be centered in or dependent on any material or physical location, whether Mount Gerizim, the temple in Jerusalem, or any other sacred place.

Next time: WORSHIP "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH"- Conclusion

From the jw.org publications 

WORSHIP "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH"

 A conversation with Jesus had with a Samaritan woman reveals God's view of worship at sacred places or shrines. Jesus was traveling through Samaria and stopped to rest at a well near the city of Sychar. He struck up a conversation with a woman who came to draw water from the well. As they talked the woman pointed out a major religious difference between the Jews and the Samaritans. "Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain," she said, "but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where people must worship." - JOHN 4:5-9, 20.

The mountain that the woman referred to was Mount Gerizim, located about 30 miles (50 km) north of Jerusalem. There the Samaritans once had a temple where they celebrated festivals such as Passover. However, instead of focusing on this controversial difference between them, Jesus said to the woman: "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will worship the Father." (John 4:21) What an astounding comment, especially coming from a Jew! Why would the worship at God's temple in Jerusalem cease?

Next time: WORSHIP "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH"

From the jw.org publications 

Should Christians Worship at Shrines?

 EVERY year, more than six million people travel to an isolated cedar forest on the Shima Peninsula in Japan. They come to the Grand Shrine of the Ise, where Shinto sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, has been worshipped for some two thousand years. The worshippers first purify themselves by washing their hands and their mouth. Then, standing before the shrine's haiden  (worship hall), they follow a ritual in which they bow. clap and pray to the goddess. Shinto allows its adherents to practice other faiths, and some Buddhists, professed Christians, and others see not conflict in performing the Shinto rituals at this shrine. 

Many of the world's major religions have shrines, and countless millions of people visit them. In professed Christians lands, there are numerous churches and shrines dedicated to Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Others like them are established in locations where Biblical events or "miracles" of more recent times are said to have taken place or where religious relics are kept. Many people go to the shrines because they believe that their prayers are more likely to be heard if offered in a sacred place. For others, reaching a shrine is the culmination of a long pilgrimage they have made to demonstrate their religious devotion. 

Are prayers and petitions more likely to be heard and answered if they are offered a shrine? Will God be pleased by the devotion of those who make pilgrimages to shrines? More to the point, should Christians worship at shrines?  The answers to these questions will not only tell us how we should view worshipping at shrines but also help us to understand the kind of worship that truly pleases God.

Next time: WORSHIP "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH"

From the jw.org publications

Can the Devil control people?

 SOME PEOPLE SAY that control by the Devil is a hoax whole others dread being possessed by evil spirits. What do you think? 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS 

The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) The Devil exerts great influence over mankind, but he does not control every human. 

WHAT ELSE CAN WE LEARN FROM THE BIBLE? 

. The Devil uses deception to increase his influence. - 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14.

. Wicked spirits can in some cases take control of people. - MATTHEW 12:22.

. With God's help, you can successfully "oppose the Devil." - JAMES 4:7. 

Next time: Should Christians Worship at Shrines?

From the jw.org publications

What Does the Bible Say?/Who or What is the Devi?

 Would you say that the Devil is . . .

. A spirit person?

. A symbol of the evil inside a person?

. A product of human imagination?

What the Bible says

The Devil conversed with and "tempted" Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-4) So the Devil is not imaginary, nor is he just a symbol of evil. He is a wicked spirit person. 

WHAT ELE CAN WE LEARN FROM THE BIBLE? 

. The Devil was originally a holy angel, but "he did not stand fast in the truth." (John 8:44) He became a liar and rebelled against God. 

. Other angels joined Satan's rebellion. - REVELATION 12:9.

. The Devil blinds many people to his existence. - 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4. 

Next time: Can the Devil Control People?

From the jw.org publications 

How Chapters and Verses Are Designated

 A chapter-and-verse reference lets you know where to find any passage of scripture. In this magazine, the reference "Isaiah 40:13," for example, identifies the following:

a. the book, Isaiah

b. the chapter, 40

c. the verse, 13

There, we find Isaiah's words: "Who has taken the measurements of the spirit of Jehovah, and who can instruct him as his adviser?"   Paul's use of these words can now be found easily at ROMANS 11:34 and 1 CORINTHIANS 2:16. 

Next time: What Does the Bible Say?/Who or What is the Devil? 

From the jw.org publications

A BOON FOR BIBLE STUDENTS

 It seems to be such a simple idea-numbered chapters and verses. This gives each verse in the Bible a unique "address"-like a postal code. True, the chapter and verse divisions are not inspired by God, and they do at times break up the Bible text in strange places. But they make it easier for us to pinpoint quotes    and to highlight or share individual verses that may have special meaning for us- just as we highlight expressions or phrases that we specially want to remember in a document or a book.

Convenient though the chapter-and-verse divisions are, always keep in mind the importance of getting the big picture-understanding the whole message God gave. Cultivate the habit of reading the context rather than isolated verses. Doing so will help you to become more and more familiar with all "the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation." - 2 TIMOTHY 3:15.

Next time: How Chapters and Verses Are Designated

From the jw.org publications

WHO ADDED THE VERSES?

Some 300 years later, in the middle of the sixteenth century renowned French printer-scholar Robert Estienne made thing even easier. His aim was to popularize Bible study. He realized how valuable it would be to have a uniform system of both numbered chapters and verses.

Estienne did not come up with the idea of dividing the Bible text into verses. Others had done that already. Centuries earlier, Jewish copyists, for example, had divided the whole Hebrew Bible, or the part of the Bible commonly known as the Old Testament, into verses but not into chapters. Again, as the development of chapters, there was no uniform system.

Estienne divided the Christian Greek Scriptures, or what is called the New Testament, into a new set of numbered verses and combined them with those already in the Hebrew Bible. In 1553, he published the first compete Bible (and edition in French) with basically the same chapters and verses that most Bibles use today. Some people were critical and said those verses broke the Bible text into fragments making it appear as a series of separate and detached statements. But his system was quickly adopted by other printers.

Next time: A BOON FOR BIBLE STUDENTS

From the jw.org publications