Temples Are Known as Holy

Temples are known as holy places where religious groups like Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus alike offer their worship. The First Temple, Second Temple and Temple Mount were located in Jerusalem, a site that is of great importance for Christians. Despite the fact that this site is historically and prophetically important to Christians, clashes between extreme Jewish individuals and Muslim occupants have occurred. A temple is not only significant to national issues but it is also important for religious worship and prayer. For example, the Temple Mount was extremely important in the national issues of ancient life as well as being the focal point for Jewish worship and prayer.

Throughout the years, temples have always been of special attention to people who are interested in history, politics and religion. This is because temples are not only places of sharing joy but they are also places of sharing pains and sufferings, thanksgiving and praying for relief. In order to have freedom of worship and prayer, both Christians and Jews highly value temples as part of their Judeo-Christian heritage (Dolphin 1996). The Temple is significant to the foundation of a State and its religious life as well as being the strength and emblem of people's national spirit and faith.

In ancient Israel, the Temple was the heart of the nation and the focus of the peoples' faith. In fact, the Temple was the place where law and instruction to the Israelites emanated from as sons and daughters gathered around it. The Temple is also significant because it provides every individual with freedom of worship, right of entry to Holy Places as well as protection against desecration. Given the fact that every society has a symbolic culture, the Temple is the core of the societal culture because it affects the way how people behave and interact with each other.

Importance of Temple Worship and Sacrifice:

Given the fact that the Temple provides the focal point for worship and prayer, it has always been considered as a sanctified or consecrated place. Throughout history, daily and special offerings as well as worship and sacrifice have always been presented at the Temple. These sacrifices and worship were offered at the Temple because it's importance to the religious lifestyle of the people. The significance of Temple worship and sacrifice includes:

Freedom of Worship:

As mentioned earlier, the Temple provides every individual and society with freedom of worship and access to the Holy Places. This is one of the significances of Temple worship and sacrifice because it serves as a place where procedures and purpose of worship are practiced. As people gather in the Temple, they learn and practice the way of connecting with God. Consequently, these people are able to worship God freely through the procedures that they have learnt in temple worship and sacrifice.

Self-Discipline:

The other importance of Temple worship and sacrifice is that it enables a person to practice self-discipline and restraint. When people offer sacrifices and worship at the Temple, they learn to connect with God which in turn helps them to be disciplined. By and large, Temple worship and sacrifice is the means through which people exercise godly virtues and morals. Therefore, Temple worship and sacrifice affects the way people interact with each other within the society.

Relief:

Considering the fact that the Temple is a place where people pray for relief from their pains and sufferings, Temple worship and sacrifice enables them to have peace of mind. Worship and sacrifice strengthens a person's ways while relieving them from the burden of guilt. When one commits a wrong deed, they get an opportunity to ask for forgiveness through Temple worship and sacrifice. As a result of forgiveness, these people experience relief from the guilt in their conscience.

Today's Worship:

Though the basis of worship has remained permanent, present-day worship is very different from worship in the early days. For instance, Jesus' disciples did not form new worship practices but they worshipped and prayed like the Jews did. In fact, the early church was liturgical because Jews practiced liturgical worship. The order and structure of early church worship came into Christianity from Judaism liturgical practices. However, present day worship is different from early worship because of the rapid change in this age.