Acts20.com

Am I the only one who is concerned that the attention surrounding the burning of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is largely misguided?Our bodies are the temple of Christ. His Kingdom is alive in us; not a building. I realize this has been a building of significance in Christianity. The relics are very important to some. But, how much is God impressed by all this?It was beautiful hearing the hymns being sung in the streets of Paris. But why can't we hear that any day, not just while our part of the world is burning?Hopefully, CHRIST will be glorified to many through this...not the church, not a building, and certainly NOT a tourist attraction. My heart grieved, as a news announcer said it was the largest attraction for tourism in Paris.Again, is God impressed by all this? ONLY IF CHRIST is glorified in it, and Christ alone.

This was a good article on the topic, IMO: www.clarion-journal.com/clarion journal of spirit/2019/04/notre-dame-creation-ordered-in-space-toward-the-resurrection-kenneth-tanner.htmlAn excerpt:

My prayer for the nation of France is that the destruction by fire on the museum to past faith which Notre Dame had become will spark a fire of revival in the people. Just as the destruction of Jerusalem transformed the focus of the church and broke the remaining bondage to the practices of the Old Testament, a new faith in Christ will spread among the French. While history and historic items and art were lost (I do not count the so-call relics), Christ lives on and is not diminish.

I think we have too much of this Is God impressed? attitude in the church. This same line of reasoning is often used by some in the church to dismiss involvement in causes that stress preserving the United States of America and restoring

I can't speak for God but I think Matthew 26:7-12might be pertinent as this is seen as a lavish expense obviously, but I believe it is money well placed. It is what I was thinking when someone in my family told me that the money should be given to the poor instead of rebuilding it.

This is such a great viewpoint. I think that's exactly what a building like this does, why it is special, and why it is right to mourn it having burned.

Consider the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. It is a cruciform structure which was built in the European tradition of cathedrals. Its stained glass windows include one with a moon rock placed in the center. There is a President buried there, as well the ashes of Anne Sullivan (the Miracle Worker/Helen Keller), which if I remember right are the Roman-est Chapel (one of several chapels found in the cathedral. Great history, great events and great art.However, the cathedral is Episcopal which means a Episcopal Bishop has his throne there. This is the church which is ordaining practicing homosexual ministry and bishops, has embraced the teaching of inclusion (of LBGTQ...) and sanctifying same sex marriage while rejecting Biblical Christianity. All manner of guest speakers are welcomed and with all times of events, including a Muslim prayer meeting. My Anglican friends who have left the Episcopal Church consider the cathedral to be a center for the teachings of demons. We know Satan comes as an angel of light and is robed in religion and superstition.Mat

I did not know of the burning until after the fact. I was never inside, just drove past it. But I hate to see any object of history destroyed, i.e. when the ISIS bull dozed ancient ruins only because they related to Christianity or OUR Living God.I have been in several Cathedrals, sat and felt so small in my own eyes as I prayed trying to realize how BIG IS MY GOD!Now of course I wish I had stopped.ps: Also I only took a picture of the Eiffel Tower from a distance, I hope one day I don't regret not trying to climb it just a little. LO Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

First, Notre-Dame is, in many ways, one of the key repositories of Western Civilization (which is largely CHRISTIAN civilization). It not only held great works of art, but it was, even for the most secular, a significant cultural element. But perhaps the most important reason it matters--besides it's meaning to Christianity, per se--is simply that IT MATTERS TO THE PEOPLE OF EARTH.Yes, it took a great burning to cause an increasingly secularized world to turn teary eyes toward that great cathedral and realize just how much it meant to them. It is perhaps something like a once-beloved great-uncle who received few calls and visits, but upon nearing death, his relatives realize just how much they will lose by losing him.Something similar happened on 9/11, I think, though it was more dramatic, especially in terms of deaths. It might be that this would be a wondrous opportunity for believers to reach out to secularized, non-religious Frenchmen and call them back to what, in their souls, they now see as something that is priceless.One day, if the Lord tarries, the last church may be closed or burn to the ground. It might be only then that people realize that the sweet Voice that was calling to them, wooing them, has gone silent.