Pre-Service Prayer in Apostolic Churches?

[OneAccord]

I don't believe in "mandatory" pre-service prayer. We serve God out of a willing heart. When "things" are made to be "madatory", whether it be prayer or giving... it comes a ritual void of power. I do believe we should enter a worship service prayerfully but to "mandate" a time of prayer is a vain attempt to force spirituality. Prayer, like everything else we give to God, should be offered out of willingness and a desire to please God. We serve God because we love Him, not because we are "required" to serve Him.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

I don't believe in "mandatory" pre-service prayer. We serve God out of a willing heart. When "things" are made to be "madatory", whether it be prayer or giving... it comes a ritual void of power. I do believe we should enter a worship service prayerfully but to "mandate" a time of prayer is a vain attempt to force spirituality. Prayer, like everything else we give to God, should be offered out of willingness and a desire to please God. We serve God because we love Him, not because we are "required" to serve Him.

As I stated in an earlier post, the LORD in the OT mandated that the high priest do very specific things BEFORE he was ready to hear God's word in the Holy of Holies where he entered once a year; I wonder why that was?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by theoldpaths

As I stated in an earlier post, the LORD in the OT mandated that the high priest do very specific things BEFORE he was ready to hear God's word in the Holy of Holies where he entered once a year; I wonder why that was?

to make him ritually pure. In the NT we don't need to pray an hour to become clean.