In search of the holy place!

Among the various reasons that trigger war, claim on holy structures tops the list, both at national and global level. Monuments, Cathedrals and the holy shrines always attracted attention in human history. Special days are observed even in Christendom like other religions. Religious places have become integral in various business deals. Let me point out some of the business activities that were happening in the temple at the time of Jesus. John 2:14 states, “In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there.”. As we know Jesus overturned the tables and made this bold statement, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my father’s house into a marketplace!”.

Let’s pause on the word marketplace and compare it to today’s Church reality. Is our Church facility used for the original purpose for which Christ established the concept of Church as in Caesarea Philippi or is it a mix of marketplace to provide satisfying Church activities? Throughout religious history the so-called holy places were camouflages for enterprises. If we follow the story we read that the Jews wanted a sign for doing what Jesus was doing. Jesus states this, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” John 2:19.

During the trial Jesus was questioned by the members of the Sanhedrin were finding ways to prove Him guilty. It is recorded in Matthew 26:61 that “…Finally two came forward and stated, “This man said, I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.”. Note this specific phrase of the allegation. Jesus was accused of saying He can destroy the temple of God. The God of the temple was right in front of them, yet they were so blinded and believed the temple structure as the holy zone. Before Jesus' crucifixion He prophesied the destruction of the temple, which was institutionalized with legalism and political governance. Jesus replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down." Matthew 24:3.

What is important gets the attention. Institutionalism had ingrained people to the point of rejecting the obvious truth and embrace the lies of the so called holy institution, in other words the synagogue. The story of the blind boy in Gospel of John chapter 9 is a clear indication of the institution having hold over the lay people. 'His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. ' John 9:22 . People adhere to the institution for recognition and support during good and bad times. Nothing more than that.

Every religion has a special place for worship be it Ram Temple or Mecca. However, the Bible refers to a religious place differently. Until we hold on to a religious place as a structure and continue to conduct activities, Christ and His mission will continue to be ignored. We are disciples of Christ and carriers of the gospel. In other words when I say the word disciple it means we are the disciple maker as Christ commissioned in Matthew 28:19.

Let’s take Stephen’s life in the book of Acts. Stephen was anointed and powerful in establishing the gospel. He was accused over the holy place too.  The Bible states, "They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. [14] For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”  Acts 6:13-14 CSB.  And we all know how the story ended for Stephen. People fail or refuse to understand that when Jesus is present, a particular worship place is meaningless.

Church is a force, not a great monument or a beautiful cathedral but a group of people worshipping the living Saviour. You are the temple of the living God. The facility becomes irrelevant. And then most importantly, it equips the believer to relentlessly take the gospel in ones sphere of influence.  If a Church fails to understand this then it becomes a prison, transacting funds with its believers for its activities and survival. It grossly fails to equip and empower its believers to carry the gospel, which Christ has entrusted to all. Invest your time and energy to build a strong evangelistic force and observe Christ and His mission as holy than settling for the structure which is always at risk given in the present scenario. 

 

You may read the last blog  HERE

 

Click here You can follow on Twitter