Like all of life, I believe that even church buildings should be designed in such a way that points people’s thinking to God, His holiness, the cross, etc…

That being said, I wouldn’t want to sink millions of dollars on it. Honestly, thought thought just saddens me.

I think a strong case can be made for that. This speaks powerfully to the priesthood of the believer. It must also be remembered that Jesus understood his body to be the temple (John 2:19-21). I guess I would also suggest that there is a temple of sorts in heaven (Rev 3:12; 7:15; esp. 21:22).

In any case, the biblical teaching that the bodies of believers are temples of God is a staggering truth. Wherever we are; whatever we do, we represent both the mercy and judgment of God…”and who is sufficient for these things.”

Spiritual architecture is remarkable, is it not? Maybe the question goes something like this: to what degree will the spiritual architecture of the bible inform the physical architecture of our homes and places of worship? Does it need too?

Chuck

CT

You asked a good question in your initial comment.

I apologize for sounding a bit defensive in my response to your post. I think we are attempting to balance more than two or three issues here as the New Testament people of God.

You have appropriately brought to light one of those issues…the home…the family…daily fellowship. We are “the household of God” and should reflect that regarding the intimacy of our fellowship and daily discourse.

There was a time in the not-too-distant-past when the church-house was the focal point of culture and community in any neighborhood, town or city. This has been lost. Some of this we can chalk up to political socialism where the government and not the church is responsible for caring for the poor, etc. Some of it has to do with a postmodern, postchristian culture. Some of it has to do with the fact that we attend churches that are outside of our immediate neighborhoods for doctrinal reasons, etc.

We’re praying that whether we meet in homes or church buildings or cathedrals or in barns…that the gospel is preached, that physical needs are met, that sinners are converted, and that God’s people are sanctified…to the praise of His glorious grace.

Best regards,

Chuck

You are correct. The more I eat Isaiah 66:1-2, to use the words from Ezekiel 3 that our Worship Pastor boldly proclaimed yesterday, the more I realize it is “unworthy of God’s majesty to view his presence as confined to a visible and frail building” (Calvin), even one that I deem respective of his holiness. The temple or the sanctuary and what goes on within them, “if unaccompanied by purity of heart (ie humility, contriteness, and trembling at God’s Word), are absolute trifles; for since it is evident from his dwelling-place being in heaven that the nature of God is spiritual, if the worship does not correspond to that nature, it is undoubtedly wicked and corrupted.” (Calvin)

The dilemma remains though. A dilemma you admit facing yourself. I wouldn’t call you a hypocrite. You are just honest enough to admit that there is the ideal and then there is reality. Oh how I wish the two were one and the same. Somehow this dove-tails with the whole Christianity and Culture discussion. At least I think it does.

CT

I am aware that the early believers also worshipped in synagogues, as a matter of fact the synagogue founded by James, brother of the Messiah, is a well known place I believe. But regarding the temple itself and the Messiah’s defense thereof … did not the temple become our bodies when the veil was torn?

In any event, you are correct in many respects. God did give us gifts to use to glorify Him, and those certainly include being gifted in architecture, engineering, construction, etc. to build great buildings to worship in, and artistic talents in painting, sculpting, metalworking, embroidery, etc. to adorn these houses of worship. I merely wanted to interject a different line of thinking into the conversation. Thank you.

I think you should consider not having a permanent church home because it will become a monument to something. What if your church was more involved in being active ministers to the poor than funding and then keeping up and then remodeling some facility?

It is nice to have a “megachurch” or even a “church” in the sense of having a place the body calls its own. I think it is more God-honoring to have a church which puts what Christ said was most important first — and becoming tied to some building or some strategic plan for getting to 1000 on Sundays with a Gym and a salad bar or whatever takes our eyes off of Jesus.

That said, I just helped Tad get the money to remodel our church, so I’m actually a hypocrite. Just so you know who’s saying what to whom.