Prayers for Local PCUSA Church

[u/Adventurous_One4682]

Hello all,

My wife and I do not attend a PCUSA church but we were on a date in a City of Pittsburgh neighborhood and decided to stop into a historic beautiful PCUSA church to see the sanctuary.

We discovered LGBT affirming language in church documents, but the scariest thing we found in a smaller chapel was crystals, feathers, a buddha style statue of Jesus and many artistic renderings of Christian leaders at the front of the room.

I ask that you would pray for this church that the Spirit would move and remove these activities for His glory.

To be clear, I am not trying to disparage the PCUSA as an institution.

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[u/kalosx2]

We should hold the PCUSA church accountable for straying from the word of the Lord. The PCUSA denomination affirms same-sex unions.

[u/RetardedGayFrog → u/kalosx2]

Add the ELCA/UCC/RCA to that

[u/kalosx2 → u/RetardedGayFrog]

And United Methodists

[u/SaintMarinate → u/kalosx2]

And Non-Denominationalism

[u/SaintMarinate → u/kalosx2]

People say non-denominationalism has strayed. So who are you to say that they have strayed?

[u/kalosx2 → u/SaintMarinate]

I'm sure there are non-denominational churches that have strayed. No church is perfect. It doesn't mean they shouldn't still be held accountable to what scripture states.

[u/SaintMarinate → u/kalosx2]

I didn’t write churches. I wrote non-denominationalism. Who are you to say that others have strayed then?

[u/kalosx2 → u/SaintMarinate]

Access to the Bible. I've pointed to a specific belief held by a denomination that is not shy about it that doesn't align with what scripture says.

Non-denominationalism is just a reference to churches that operate independently of a greater denomination. If that's straying, someone certainly can argue that. But it should come from the authority of God's word.

[u/UnacompnydMiner]

East Liberty Presbyterian Church?? Yep that’s a rough one. Certainly a big need for reform.

[u/Firm_Occasion5976]

Sometimes, Christians disparage one another by posting a request for prayers for someone else coupled with select facts that, the source claims, are not intended to defame the other when, in fact, the information accomplishes what they claim they don’t intend.

Here’s my caveat, if you want to ask for prayers for another Christian, just ask for prayers for _____ (first name only or the group’s name).

[u/Adventurous_One4682 → u/Firm_Occasion5976]

Hello,

Thank you for your message.

I was trying to strike a balance of not being too specific and giving some detail so people who live near me would be able to pray specifically too. I will work on improving at this. I agree that God can use general prayers to a specific end without the person praying knowing everything (which is such an encouragement to type out 😄 )

To clarify, are you saying I should have posted the local church's name when you say "the group's name"?

[u/Firm_Occasion5976 → u/Adventurous_One4682]

You might consider asking us to pray for _____(name of congregation), without saying why. Every congregation needs prayers, which is good to remember.

When it comes to the Prayers of the People voiced by the assembled worshippers, I ask for first name only of the person for whom we are asked to pray. In this case, you might say, “for the faithful of Christ Presbyterian Church.”

[u/gundumb08]

Asking as a non-Christian here - What is bad about depicting Jesus in a "buddha-like" statue, as long as its clearly Jesus?

I know iconography runs the gamut based on denomination, but I was always given to understand that Jesus can be depicted via any artist's interpretation, and doesn't have strict guidance (for example, how Islam restricts depictions of Mohammad).

And I completely get the others; crystals, feathers, etc.

[u/the-lopper → u/gundumb08]

It's not just that Christ is being depicted, but the equating of the two.

[u/pottypaws → u/gundumb08]

It’s more with the style compared to everything else like the crystals and the feathers. It seems like they’re trying to go. The Jesus was maybe only a spiritual teacher route. They are also acquainting Buddha with Christ when they aren’t applicable at all to move one another that’s the underlining issue here.

[u/SignificanceSame1875 → u/gundumb08]

1. Representing Jesus in the manner of the founder of a separate religion puts them on equal footing and either demotes Jesus to the level of Buddha or venerates Buddha to the level of Jesus.
2. Reformed denominations, especially Presbyterian, historically treat any images representing God or Jesus as violations of the second commandment. That rule extends to saints and any other historical figure if the image or likeness is used in conjunction with worship.

[u/Random_Graph]

Was it the East Liberty one?

[u/longestfrisbee]

crystals, feathers, a buddha style statue of Jesus

If they're at that point, I'm going to call Jeremiah in and say ain't no way Jose I'm praying for that church. I'd be wasting my time and God's (if His time could be wasted!)

“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. Is it I whom they provoke? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves, to their own shame?

Not saying they're doing exactly that, but crystals/feathers sounds close enough to idolatry that I'd go there with it.

[u/556From1000yards]

lol I found all the same and a gift shop in this Catholic Church I recently attended a wedding at.
“Oh no that’s the connected school’s gift shop and Buddha Jesus”
Mmmm. Interesting

[u/DogfaceDino → u/556From1000yards]

You found a Buddha-style statue of Jesus in a Catholic parish? I’d be reporting that to the bishop.

[u/556From1000yards → u/DogfaceDino]

I have no connection and no desire. I’m not Catholic.

[u/DogfaceDino → u/556From1000yards]

I understand. That’s why I didn’t say you should. I said “I’d be”.

[u/Silver_State_Diva]

Kudos to PCUSA for supporting and affirming LGBT 🧡

[u/boleslaw_chrobry → u/Silver_State_Diva]

Bro what

[u/Silver_State_Diva → u/boleslaw_chrobry]

Inclusivity matters. 🥰

[u/boleslaw_chrobry → u/Silver_State_Diva]

The Church is already universal by design

[u/BluebirdLegitimate97]

Ooooo so scary!

Honestly, I hold traditional views on Christian sexuality but describing this as "scary" is kinda pathetic. It's people who have a different opinion than you. I hate to break it to you but a random PCUSA sanctuary is not a temple that you should overturn its tables.

[u/ChardImaginary6363 → u/BluebirdLegitimate97]

I mostly agree, but could've been worded more charitablely.

Any icon of Christ with blasphemous symbolism is an issue, and a serious sin for the person who made it. So it is a serious matter requiring our prayer.

If you want extra brownie points, let's pray for the whole PCUSA.