By Dr. Kenneth Kuykendall: When you consider and study the dwellings of God throughout history (the tabernacle, the Holy Place, and the temple) you discover that these institutions were divinely designed to unite God and man. Such places were always associated with reverence, awe, consecration, and even fear. The priest dare not enter the Holy of Holies without clean garments and shed blood.
Strict laws were given, applied, and enforced upon those who even considered drawing close to the House of God. The parishioners did not casually or carelessly approach the presence of God with a flippant or relaxed attitude. They understood they were going to meet God and therefore prepared accordingly, or paid the price.
I wonder how the Lord feels about our frivolous approach to worship in these modern times? Further, I wonder what He thinks about our treatment of His House? There was a time in our society when the House of God was the most respected and revered place in the community. It was a refuge of righteousness and a habitation of holiness; but over time we have tried to “evolve” the House of God into something that is more suitable to the world. For some convoluted reason we want people to feel like they are anywhere BUT the House of God. This casual, come-as-you-are approach may bring in the masses but what does it do for the Master?
The Church is still the House of God! It is not a bowling alley, a sports arena, a coffee shop, or a movie theater; it is the pillar and ground of the truth. I wonder why we expect standards, regulations, and values in every other facet of our life, but when it comes to God’s House we are supposed to allow anything to go on? 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? (1 Peter 4:17)
This is not a matter of preference this is simply a matter of respect and admiration to God. In an attempt to be relevant, many have compromised the very presence and power of God from their midst. We should realize something every time we go to church- we are not going to the beach, we are not going to the ball game, we are not going to the grocery store, we are going to God’s House. God help this Laodicean age to dress up, clean up, pray up, and look up- it’s time to get up and go to the House of God!
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://www.independentbaptist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/kkendall3.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Dr. Kenneth Kuykendall has served as pastor in the Atlanta-metro area for over 12 years. He is the pastor of Cross Roads Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Along with his pastoral duties he is a songwriter and author of 17 books. In 2007 he founded the Seed and the Sower Baptist Publications which is a ministry that seeks to provide literature for pastors, preachers, teachers, and Christian workers. He serves as the Vice President of Macedonia World Baptist Missions in Hoschton, Georgia and also sits on the Board of Directors at Baptist Institute of America and Seminary as the acting Chairman of Capital Expansion.
Kenneth has studied and earned degrees from Bethany Theological Seminary; Luther Rice University; and Crown College and Seminary.
Ministry contacts
770.652.5909[/author_info] [/author]
Article submitted to IndependentBaptist.com
I wish I could get behind this article because the author obviously has a heart that yearns for the things of God. But the fact is that out of all of the New Testament references to the ‘house of God’ or even the house of the Lord’, it is never a reference to a building except for the temple references in the Gospels. You will not see a single church building in the entire book of Acts, and the idea that there is this one building where we look different and act different and talk different seems very unscriptural to me.
You are mistaken, sir.
1 Timothy 3:15 – 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.
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
I agree with those that have mentioned the fact that there is a clear difference between the OT and NT dwelling of God. The new covenant is clear that God’s law would be written on hearts and that the Spirit of God would dwell within the believer. No doubt we must respect the place of proper worship within the walls of the church but the church is not a building…the church is the people. Therefore, let us not simply go to church…let us be the church!