Who is the most pious?

[alzado]

Who is the most pious?

A.  The pope-- presently His Holiness Alexander XVI.

B.  Archbishop of Canterbury.

C.  The Dalhi Lahma.

[pianistimo]

if we should 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul...'  (and love neighbor as ourselves) then we wouldn't worry who is the most pious.  we would ALL be pious to the same extent.  God doesn't show favoritism, which we will readily see in the next life.

[donjuan]

D.  Pianistimo

[pianistimo]

piousness doesn't matter a whit.  what about the scribes and pharisees that cleaned the outside of the cup without cleaning the inside.  i'm not saying the above named are those - but i'm just saying - no one can see inside you except God and only He can cleanse us.  We can't cleanse ourselves.  even when you HAVe the Holy Spirit through baptism you still are TEMPTEd.  and, not always do we do the right thing.  so then, you DAILY go back to God an d say 'i'm a sinner. HELP.'  that isn't pious in our thinking.  pious means being perfect to us.  BUT, the bible says that EVERY ONE is a sinner.  so how can you be pioius and a sinner at the same time?  well, it's pretty hard.  i would omit pious from the dictionary.  (unless it's a person known for good deeds, and then you might say 'saint' because they make others feel like God cares).  And, God's saints are MANY MANY - not just a few pious. and ps. God chooses saints NOT A CHURCH.

come to think of it, when we are raised and God calls us a saint - is when we really know we are.

[alzado]

I'm sorry to disagree, but I believe piety is the most important religious quality.

It is the appearance of devoutness and sincerity during prayer.

[pianistimo]

appearances are deceiving.

[tac-tics]

The woman in this video is clearly the most pious of the bunch.

https://thatvideosite.com/view/2178.html

[pianistimo]

why did Christ say to go and pray in a closet?  so people could see their piety?  why do people think that you always have to pray outwardly.  can't you pray in your mind.  no one would know, though.  but, God. 

and, God says 'the greatest of these is love.'  where does piety fit that scheme...if you are simply trying to make yourself look good.  not saying that pious looking people can't be approved by God - but it's God's approval and not a church.  Churches that think they control everything from who's pious to who is not, and who is a saint and who is not are usurping the role that Christ plays as our MEDIATOR. there is no one else to mediate.  not a priest.  not a pious person.  only someone that belives and obeys.  obedience is sometimes categorized as slavery to the law - but slavery to piousness while doing nothing is like watching TV endlessly.

[alzado]

Sorry to have to disagree with pianistimo.  But from a doctrinal perspective, I believe that he or she is verging into error.

Nothing is more seemly at prayer than piety.  We go to the cathedral, and I usually spend my time watching other worshippers.

One new way of praying is to hold one's forearms out, with the hands open and the head slightly bowed.

Another important measure of piety is to gently beat one's breast when the altar server rings the bell three times -- at the consecration of the mass.

When kneeling, if one bends the head forward and rests the forehead on one's hands, it appears as one is deeply in prayer . . . . or even weeping.

Daubing the eyes with a kleenex at key points in the service will create the impression that the worshipper is blotting at a tear . . .  a measure of piety.

We don't really support the Pentecostal practices of wildly jerking about, "shimmying," or doing other absurd things.   Is this what you were advocating?

I would suggest that pianistimo or others observe the deportment of the Holy Father or other highly placed clerics when saying mass.   And imitate same.

[tac-tics]

why did Christ say to go and pray in a closet?

Why did the chicken pray to God?

To get to the other side

X-D

[pianistimo]

i don't have a problem with congregational prayer at all, alzado.  and, i agree that we should have a certain deportment when we come before God in that context.  what i disagree with is to say 'this person has piety.'  and 'this person does not.'  when, in actuality, piety is a very unknowable thing to us.  can we know what each person is thinking?  what if a person is daubing their eye because of allergies.  i know this is kind of a silly way to put it - but we really don't know their hearts. 

appropriateness is always a pleasure to see though.  i'd prefer to use the word 'devout.'  a person truly believes what they believe.  this is just a matter of preference though, and i admit that you may have a point about what is appropriate in what setting.

i personally appreciate it when people dress for an occasion.  sometimes, my daughter wants to go to church in jeans.  i just don't think that's appropriate - but sometimes i get my way and other times she wears just a nice blouse and still wears pants.  being somewhat old fashioned , i see your point about piety too.  to me, for men and women to worship together according to a set and orderly religious service appeals to me much more than pentecostal ways, too.  but, maybe there's a time and place for 'feelings.'  i think it's hard to tell sometimes until you are 'moved' yourself to sing louder, sway to the music, or just make smaller gestures of a more personal nature as you mentioned.  if we can be excited by music itself - and God is the creator of it all - however we express our happiness should be fine.

king david danced enough that his wife told him she thought he should stop.  did someone see his underwear?  was he wearing a kilt?  i don't think God minds enthusiasm - it's probably that as humans we can get caught up in the moment of whatever we are doing and have noone else to answer to about our sincerity but God.

[stevie]

i can spell god and jesus without capitalizing the first letter, im clever! 

[alzado]

For pianistimo, here is some poetry from memory that involves piety--

The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on--
Not all your piety or wit can call it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all your tears wash out one word of it.

This must be my final word on piety.

But to be devout, that is -- to possess much "devotion" -- this is also very good.

So I meet you halfway.

[026497]

Who is the most pious?

A.  The pope-- presently His Holiness Alexander XVI.

B.  Archbishop of Canterbury.

C.  The Dalhi Lahma.

A and C