"From the time I rescued the people of Israel from Egypt until now, I have never lived in a temple; I have traveled around living in a tent. In all my traveling with the people of Israel I never asked any of the leaders that I appointed why they had not built me a temple made of cedar.
- 2 Samuel 7:6,7 (TEV)
Photo courtesy hilltopchurchofchrist.nky.c
The idea came from man, not God.
See 2 Samuel 7:1 - 17
Photo courtesy www.connectingpoints.com
On the mount of transfiguration the disciples saw Jesus in his glory. Then,
"Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said."
- Luke 9:33 (KJV)
It is man that wants to build. That is something creative we can do - even in the flesh.
Photo courtesy www.tireeimages.com
What was God's response to Peter about building a tabernacle?
"A voice said from the cloud, 'This is my Son, whom I have chosen - listen to him!'"
-Luke 9 35 (TEV)
There is our responsibility.
"When the voice stopped, there was Jesus all alone..."
- Luke 9:36 (TEV)
Jesus alone is our need
Photo courtesy buildingdesign.remodeling...
Halley Bible Handbook on p.859 says,
"The First church building was erected in the reign of Alexander Severus (222-35). After the edict of Constantine they began to be built everywhere."
Wow! From Pentecost to 222-35 AD. with out a church building.
You don't suppose the "church" was too busy turning the world "upside down" (Acts 17:6 KJV) to worry about building a church building.
All those years with out a church building,
printing press,
radio,
TV,
or the Internet.
yet turning the world upside down.
Then the church went into the construction business.
And we lost something.
Photo courtesy www.peterbrownconst.com
Is it possible that the real motivation behind our mad drive for buildings is the same one that motivated;
King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:12,
or "wannabe" king Absalom 2 Samuel 18:18
to build a "Monument"?
Yes, a monument to a ministry or
a monument to a churches presence in the community,
or a monument to our successful "Christian" program.
3 comments:
You know what's sad? After all the costly stained glass & brick laying construction projects in many a church, hardly anyone attends them. Many of the old, traditional churches sit cold and vacant.
More-and-more churches are facilitating Home Groups which, in my opinion, are far more the biblical model anyway. It's where relationships are built & people feel connected. I can't help but wonder if they won't be the way of tomorrow (sort of like the church in China) given our climate for all things Godly (or the lack thereof).
Blessings,
Kathleen
Maybe I was raised wrong? When I see a church building like that, I'm reminded of Mathew 18 v 20 and going to church held in living rooms and on front porches.Gatherings in backyards where the Lord joined us.
Luther:
You know that the New Testament church just gathered where Jesus was... and the upper room is where the prayer meeting was held. What a good reminder. I'm more drawn to the small gatherings in little churches that I grew up with. My dad never preached in a mega church, but he did preach in some crusades where there were many gathered, but not in a fancy building. My heart sort of stayed in those places.
Good word.
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