How sad the news from Paris, how devastating to the people of Paris, of France and to many Christians. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York described the destruction of Notre Dame Cathedral as a fire in your home, your spiritual home. The smaller but dear churches where you and I worship… oh, the tears we would shed if they were destroyed by fire, water, wind or earthquake. Nonetheless, in tragedy we are reminded of spiritual truths.
There is no command in the Bible to build church buildings. When David proposed building a house for God, the Lord said, “Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling” (2 Samuel 7:5-6). God consented. Solomon built the Temple and in the dedicatory prayer said, “Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Have regard to the prayer of your servant…that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there’” (1 Kings 8:27-29). God’s “name” is His revelation. Why no command to build churches? Because Christian life is a journey, following God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:14-15).
“Built on the Rock the Church shall stand / Even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land; / Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest, / But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.
“Still we our earthly temples rear / That we may herald His praises;
They are the homes where He draws near / And little children embraces.
Beautiful things in them are said; / God there with us His covenant made,
Making us heirs of His kingdom.”
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 467, 1, 5)
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