The Church is Not the Building

John 2:19 (NET) - Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.”

The news broke recently about the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Like many others around the world, I continue to follow the story.

More recent headlines discuss the money that is already being raised for reconstruction.

As both a believer in Christ and a student of history, I am glad plans are under way.

But Notre Dame is by no means the only one to be damaged. destroyed or abandoned.

These others rarely make the headlines.

When they do, it is usually for a brief time period as news audiences quickly lose interest.

Some are only reported in their area only.

Many areas of the world are hostile toward Christianity.

Some in these areas take matters into their own hands and destroy church buildings.

They may also threaten, beat or even kill members as well as their leaders.

Some governments tear down church buildings and imprison those who attend.

When is the last time you saw a headline proclaiming this?

Perhaps saddest of all are church buildings that are simply abandoned.

According to one expert, 100 to 200 churches in America will close their doors this week alone.

Again, the news is virtually silent about this.

But there is hope.

We must distinguish between the church and the church building.

They are not the same thing.

Christ understood this and so must we.

In the verse I opened with, the leaders thought he meant the structure.

John 2:21 (NET) - But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body.

The church is the body of believers who gather to worship Christ.

Not long ago, a small church building nearby was destroyed by fire.

Those who attended there worshipped outdoors until a new building was erected.

They never ceased being a church even without a building.

As for declining numbers, a good friend often reminds me that God does incredible things with small numbers.

In Judges 7, we learn of Gideon who fought the Midianites.

God reduced the size of his army not once, but twice.

God did this in order that He be given the glory for the victory.

Let us remember that Jesus did exactly what He promised to do in the three days He promised.

John 2:22 (NET) - So after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.

Let us remember that there is a difference between the church building and the church.

Let us also remember that success is not determined by large numbers.

Matthew 15:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 26, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 3, 2019