Is a Church Building the House of God?

 

How many church services have you been in where you were welcomed into the "House of God." How many prayers have you heard that went something like the following, "Thank you Lord for all these who have come to the House of God this morning..." Have you heard preachers invite you to come to the "Lord's House" when all along they meant come visit their church services? Most readers would admit to hearing this regularly. You hear this in all types of churches, including small country churches as well as large downtown "educated" churches.

Here is the question: Should the Christian refer to his church building as the House of God? In this paper we will examine the evidence and make a determination. The Bible says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore we will consider no other source for the final ruling on the question.

In the Old Testament the Tabernacle and the Temple were referred to as the House of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and the House of God. God's House represented His presence with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Tabernacle and later the Temple, were integral elements in God's plan for Israel. Numbers 2 details God's instructions for the Israelite's encampment during their wilderness wanderings. Numbers 3 offers further instructions for the camp layout of the Levites. The reader of Scripture will note that the centerpiece for Israel's camp was the Tabernacle, then the Levites, and then the twelve tribes. This illustrates the fact that Mosaic Law centered around the Tabernacle.

All five of the Levitical offerings were to be offered by the priest at the Tabernacle (Lev. 1-5). All seven of the Feasts of the Lord were centered around the Tabernacle or House of God. The heart of the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rested (Ex 36:23). Later when Solomon built the Temple of God and the Israelites were occupying their respective territories, they were to make the trip to Jerusalem three times per year to observe the Feasts of the Lord (Ex. 23:17).

I want to stress the importance of the reader understanding the fact that the Tabernacle and the Temple (the House of God) were for Old Testament Jews who observed Mosaic Law – and NOBODY else. The Jews were God's Peculiar Treasure and were unlike any other people.

When Christ came, He was rejected by the Jews and crucified in Jerusalem. Just before He gave up the Ghost, He uttered, "It is finished." When He said those words the Bible says in Mark 15:38, "And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." The tearing of the veil represents the end of a period of time when a structure is the House of God. From that point on sinners, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ would serve as the House of God. In Heb. 9 there are a couple passages that also emphasize this truth. Heb. 9:1 "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." Verse 1 associates the "first covenant" or Old Testament, with "ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." That "worldly sanctuary" is of course the Tabernacle (vss. 2-7). Look at vs. 11: "by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;" In other words, when Christ gave up the Ghost on the cross, He became a better Priest by a greater more perfect Tabernacle. The veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom at that point, indicating the end of the Jewish Temple and the Mosaic Covenant. For the time being, God was through with the Temple (physical building).

The “House of God” is no longer a physical building or structure. 

Here are several verses from Scripture, which clearly state exactly what the House of God is for this present age:

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:16-17).

1Cor. 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Heb. 3:6, "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

1Pet. 4:17, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

1Cor. 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

In John 2 Jesus Christ cleansed the Temple of the money-changers and the animal sales reps. "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body." (Jn. 2:19-21). Over two thousand years have passed since this incident took place and people are still confused. People continue to make the mistake of thinking the Body of Christ is a building made with hands.

There is usually someone who quotes a certain passage from 1 Timothy, which supposedly "proves" a church building is the House of God. Let's take a look at it. "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). To use this verse to prove a "church" is a building is an example of circular reasoning. (Circular reasoning is providing evidence for the validity of an assertion, which assumes the validity of the assertion. Example: "Piracy is wrong because it's against the law, and it's against the law because it's wrong.") The passage sited above from 1 Timothy, in essence states, "the house of God is the church." At least when used for an argument that a church building is the house of God. So the one who uses the verse for that reason assumes that "house of God" and "church" are both buildings and ignores the verses quoted earlier in this paper.

Traditions of Men

In the church today there are many traditions that have been handed down from one generation to another. No one ever stops to analyze them, they are simply accepted as the Christian status quo. We are going to step on some toes now. Get ready. Here are some common things found in the church:

·         Sunday School.

·         Sunday night and Wednesday night church services.

·         Easter Sunrise service.

·         Gabriel is an Archangel.

·         Any Christmas service: morning, evening, or Christmas Eve.

·         A steeple on top of the church auditorium.

·         Attending church on Saturday instead of Sunday.

·         No musical instruments allowed in a church service.

·         Stained glass windows in church auditorium.

·         "God won't put on us anymore than we can handle."

·         The Rosary.

·         Static display of a cross inside or outside of a church auditorium.

·         Wearing a cross around the neck as jewelry.

·         Burning candles for the dead.

·         Altar inside a church building.

·         A sign on the outside of a church building door that states, “Ladies, dresses only please.”

There are plenty more, but we'll stop here. These are all quite common and can be found in churches all over this country. They all have two things in common. They have to do with "church" and they are all traditions of men. They are all unfounded in Scripture and as traditions of men go, they will have staunch defenders who will fight for their existence and continuance. However, you will not find support for their existence in the word of God. Because they have no foundation in Scripture does not necessarily mean they are evil. Most church buildings have electric lights, air-conditioning, padded seating, and indoor plumbing and we thank God for these blessings.

In Mark 7 a certain group of Pharisees and scribes approached Jesus Christ and asked why His disciples didn't observe a certain tradition. They said, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" (Mk. 7:5). Christ's response would undoubtedly be considered rude and uncalled for in today's politically correct society. Notwithstanding, Christ's answer is recorded in the following verses: "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mk. 7:6-9).

Christ recognized that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with washing your hands before you eat. That was not the basis for His aggressive rebuke. In addition to disrespecting their parents and robbing them under the guise of Mosaic Law, these men held the word of God in contempt. They actually elevated their tradition over Scripture. God is very zealous of His word. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Heb. 2:12-13).

It is not the purpose of this paper to condemn any church for having a steeple or stained-glass windows. We are pointing out how traditions of men represent a significant part of our modern Christian culture. Additionally, these ideas have been around long enough that some have unknowingly adopted them as being Scripture-based. It is common for people to use the word "church" for a building. For example: "Oh isn't that a pretty country church." Another example: "Turn left at the church and go two miles, then right at the light."

Conclusion

We have given the passages of Scripture proving the Body of Christ (the Church) is not made of concrete, steel, wood, and bricks. The verses sited showed that Christians (those who received Christ as Savior) make up the Body of Christ. We are the Temple of God as well as the House of God.

At the risk of being criticized for writing a paper which some might dismiss as nonessential, unimportant, argumentative, or inconsequential, our response to that is a matter of record: If it's in The Book, it's worth writing about. The final verse in the Gospel of John states, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." The subject we covered in this paper was included in the word of God and thus it is worthy of our study. One final verse: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (1 Tim. 3:16).