Why Does the Church Keep Rebuilding the Temple?
Matt 24:1-2 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
In the passage above Jesus is letting his disciples in on a future event that was to take place within a generation. In fact, from history we know that the temple He was speaking about came tumbling down in 70AD which was about 37 years after Christ’s resurrection. The old way of religion was ending and Jesus was foretelling of it’s final days. Yes, the reality of it happened at the cross when he drew all men unto himself (in his body), but unfortunately the organized church of today is still peddling the lie that you must do something to GET INTO GOD, OR TO GET GOD INTO YOU.
Jesus was signaling that the time was soon to be over where man would need a special place where he could find God. In fact God’s presence in a temple built by man’s hands was never a reality except in the mind of a fallen race. In another place Jesus speaks of where the Kingdom (reign) of God really is:
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
People often ask me "Where do you go to Church at Cliff?", and to that I reply "Everywhere, because the whole world is my church." By that I mean of course that to me the reign (which means Kingdom) of God is in the heart of every human being, so, it really doesn’t matter where I am because where ever it is God is there.
On top of all this I don’t know of one example where the early believers ever built a building with the specific purpose of gathering. Yes, I do know they met in each others homes but when you look at organized religion today how much of the budget is spent on bigger and bigger TEMPLES.
I also don’t know of one example of the permanently paid local preacher. The point of all this is to simply help the folks out who think they are supporting a biblically authorized system of worship when in reality it is a big scam.
Not all, but most churches I have ever been associated with constantly beg for money. For what? to pay for the building and the preachers wages.
I would encourage any church goer to ask for a full financial statement of where all the money goes. You might just begin to understand why Jesus foretold of the temples destruction. Could it be that He knew as long as you have a temple you have a money making business where true worship will never really happen.
In the story of the woman at the well Jesus reveals once again that God is not interested in places of worship:
John 4:19-24 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
In spirit and truth. Real worship never did and never will happen in a building. It happens within US. And by the way the word truth in this passage means "Reality".
When we adore the God within us in a real (not phony) way how could we not be pleasing to God. He has NEVER been far from any of us but as long as the organized church keeps building temples and setting them up with glorified preachers people will continue to struggle with finding a REAL relationship with God.
And for the church goers who visit here…….my objections are not with you!!!!!!…….but rather with the system of lies that come from and perpetuated by the organization we call the Church. I will also guarantee that if you speak up about these areas of financial abuse you will find yourself soon to be on the outside looking in.
Yes, Christ came to rescue us from a religion of temple worship and the modern day church keeps trying to resurrect the old temple. Why aren’t more Christians questioning this? Could it be that they feel more comfortable with temple worship then with getting to know the one true God who has always been right there in their hearts?
Not all, but most churches I have ever been associated with constantly beg for money. For what? to pay for the building and the preachers wages.
Or to support missions work, or to bless (read: pay) visiting ministries/ministers (never mind the regular pastor’s salary).
“It is tragic that, to so many, we have turned the life of Jesus into a building and a book!” ~ Geoff Bullock, former worship leader/songwriter at Hillsongs church in Australia, now unchurched
Yes rebuilding temples, and… building kingdoms!
I’ve come to believe that the power of worship is not in the “event” but in the heart of every believer… an attitude of peace & well-being, not an obligation to perform… a way of life, not a periodic participation in a program.
We have been deceived, friends. We have been indoctrinated into the money-machine of the purveyors of religion and religious things. They need our money and our lives to grow their kingdoms. Wake up and smell the corruption.
Even the most well-meaning people, upon deep introspection, will see traces of a the spirit of manipulation and the desire for power. If we are honest…
The problem is, we build organizations… machines… that feed on people’s lives, and grow from their pain. I was once a part of that terrible machine, and for that I am deeply sorry. And for that, I am compelled to sound the alarm!
Well said Bruce and I do think there are so many well meaning people out there that just keep their eyes closed to the corruption because it’s too painful to admit it.
Hello everybody
It seems to me recently the posts have become about bashing rather than lifting up. If thats the intent from the writers, then what pretell makes them different from the leaders of the churches?
And by the way, you may say that “my objections are not with you”, but technically the system of the Church is ALL the people in it. So in essence you are actually trashing ALL your brothers and sisters who are trying as best as they can at their present time. I will mention this again, so forgive me for my repetition. There are just as many deceptive, manipulative people outside the church as inside it. In reality we are all a little Whacked.
John T…..could you be more specific where we have bashed any particular person? To me it’s no different then pointing out why the KKK organization is a scam, but that does not change the fact the every person who belongs to the KKK is still redeemed and loved by God. As far as people being deceptive in or out of the church I will remind you that here at Boldgrace we have left behind the philosophy of personal performance so we are not trying to keep score on either side. The cross demonstrates that the score was settled long ago. I believe it’s you want to make this a competion between people. Jesus continually pointed out the negatives of a religious system and I just happen to agree with his sentiments.
One of the challenges of deciphering things is when our barbs our generic. Like saying its about a system or an organization. The truth is that it is “personal”, because ultimately someone or maybe several organize the system. And ultimately others see fit in their lives to join and partake. I think other than when dictating our trying to influence our young who are susceptible, everyone else is fair game to make their own decisions. And then let the chips fall where they may. Its easy to say youre not trashing anyone when you dont use names. I always wondered what Jesus’s intent was on calling the Pharisees “Hypocrites”. I am sure of this, it wasnt to make them repent or endear himself to them. You can attract a lot more flies with Honey rather than vinegar. No wonder they nailed him to a cross.
John T…..When I was heavily involved in the church organization I also took it personal because I felt a need to explain why I was a part of something that I knew in my heart was wrong. You have expressed several times that you disagree with many things in the church and so I understand why you feel the need to defend your position of still supporting a corrupt system. I truly hope that your involvement can make a positive change but my experience is not that optimistic that you can accomplish that. In fact, try asking your pastor if you could get up some Sunday morning and present the Gospel of God’s unconditional love and acceptance by Him without belief or righteouse acts and see if he or the leaders are willing to let you do that. I am confident that they won’t and that’s exactly why sites like BoldGrace are here. At least here people from all parts of the spiritual journey can come to learn and express themslves freely without fear of rejection, just as we welcome you and your comments.
Hey Cliff
My wife made a good point to me. What is my intention on bantering back and forth with you on this matter. Sometimes my intention is not so good and other times it is. I guess ultimately it is when I hear people state things about which they believe yet it seems to sound so much the same as who they rail against.I know the church would not let me do what you suggested, but I accept that and try to take what I can from them. In our home church, their positives outweigh their negatives. I have several areas from where I get my spiritual food. This site being one of them. Cliff, if only you could Golf, I would come visit and banter with you on the course. Now that would show you much of my Spiritual balance lol.
FOURRRRRRRRR…………#%*&#*$*#@
John T…..I am not very good at golf but I would still love the bantering back and forth and I’m absolutely certain we would instantly be great friends.
Cliff
Just curious, what State are you in? And good or not….do you actually go out golfing?
I’m in Richmond Indiana and the only time I golf is with my son and son-in-laws……they have pity on me and let me walk with them.
Cliff have you ever tryed Disc Golf me and my son Christian are going to take up the game this spring.
Love Dan
This reminds me of a quote I came across that the creator of scientology L. Ron Hubbard said, “If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to make a lot of money, create a religion.” Someone posted this on cafemom.com so don’t worry I am not dabbling into the Tom Cruise looney religion!
I used to attend church at the famous Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA. I still have a few friends who go there. One friend told me that they now have ATMs on their church campus. I wanted to crack a joke, but I do respect her choice for being a churchgoer. I know that her heart is in the right place. I never tell her to stop going. I had a hard time letting go of my resentment and annoyance toward church, but now I see that it doesn’t matter. We are all OK. God loves us.
Dan….I have never heard of it.
Michelle said: “We are all OK. God Loves us.”……but it so much more peaceful to know this.
“You don’t need organized religion to connect with the universe. Often a church is the only place you can go to find peace and quiet… But it shouldn’t be confused with connecting with one’s spirit.” — Alice Walker
Cliff Disc Golf is play like Golf instead of hitting a ball with a club you throw disc at wire basket around the course.
Just goggle Disc Golf and you can findout about the game.
Love Dan
What do you think of the quote I left. It was sent to me by a friend. I use to think a Church was for peace and quiet, but now I realize that peace is found within me which is where God is.
Mindy
Technically if peace is found in you then you can find it at Church too, because thats where you are at the time
Luke 17:21 sums it up best
John T.
Technically YOU can find peace in church, but technically I can’t. I am not at peace in Church. I am not at peace in any environment where I am forced to listen and abide by things that I don’t agree with, but most importantly not able to speak MY truths? My beliefs?
I am confident in what I have found through my journey and religion holds no place in my heart. Church is not an environment where I feel safe. For me it would be like sitting in a room full of bees and having to patiently wait to get stung and knowing that is what would happen.
Church is one of those places that tempt people to be judgemental and hypocritical. Church teaches fear. It teaches people to not trust themselves. Society is hard enough as it is to fight the judgements of others and I am not at peace when I am forced to face people who have too many faces. Why would I want to put myself in a position to be unhappy, uncomfortable and uneasy?
Mindy, First of all I loved the quote.
John T, Peace is not something you find in a place but rather it is something you realize by knowing. When my father was alive I always enjoyed a certain kind of peace that was hard to explain. It’s not that I ever really needed him for anything because I was fairly self sufficient but rather it was knowing that no matter what peril I might face in life that he would move heaven and earth if he could to make it easier. I could always lay my head down at night knowing my Dad would never abandon me under any circumstances, and those that knew my Dad know I speak the truth.
It’s kind of the same way when we talk about peace here at Boldgrace. It’s a peace that comes from knowing we have a Father that will never abandon us under any circumstances. You can’t say that about the churches message because its message continually makes the point that the Father will abandon you to an eternity in Hell if you don’t get it right. How could you possibly find peace in hearing that message week after week?
So, yes, technically if I am in a church building I would still have peace but it has nothing to do with the building, rather it’s what I brought with me. I can also still have my peace if I attend a KKK meeting. I don’t plan on supporting the organized church with a message of HELL any more then I plan on supporting the KKK. One is just more subtle about their message of fear.
Mindy,
I really loved that quote!
I loved the quote, too, Mindy. I have a little plaque in my bedroom that I found when my husband Jim was in his final days that has been very helpful to me:
“When there is peace in the heart, the wildest storm is full of solemn beauty.” (C.F. Richardson)
Thank you Connie. That quote you gave is absolutely true!!!!!!
Cliff I am reading a good book it is Everything Must Change by Brain McLaren.It is a real eye opener.
Love Dan
Dan…..Let me know how you like it and thanks for the info.
What you said is truly beautiful. Concerning the temple, the building known as the temple, preceded by the tent — the tabernacle in the wilderness — was God’s dwelling place of the Old Covenant. It was His dwelling place as close to them as He could get, because as yet He could not reveal that He dwelt in people. He could be near them, but not in them. The Old Testament temple was always merely a type and a shadow of the coming true Temple that God Himself was building and would build — in the hearts of people. After Jesus and the Cross, God has revealed that He lives and dwells in people because of the Holy Spirit that Jesus opened the door for.
Jesus was the dwelling place of God when He walked the earth, because He was fully dwelt by God. Now that Jesus the Christ has gone away, the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of the glorified Christ — indwells every person. When one comes to believe in Jesus, he is made aware and awakened to the fact that he and all others are the true dwelling place of God. At least that is what should be. Religion has distorted the picture and deceived most people.
One more thing about the temple. There are many Christians who are attempting to help Israel rebuild it, because they believe the end time prophecy that the temple must be rebuilt before Jesus comes. Indeed the temple does have to be BUILT, i.e. a completed work of transforming the world from the big lie to TRUTH, must take place. But it is not a temple made of stone. It is an insult to Jesus our Lord Who died for us to set us free, to assume that a stone temple must be rebuilt and animal sacrifices re-instituted. The book of Hebrews makes it clear that to do such is contrary to the true Gospel of Christ.
Mary, Again thanks for your obvious knowledge in this area.