Published July 9, 2019

In Acts chapter 17 we find the Apostle Paul provoked by the large number of idols in the city of Athens.  It is a part of our human nature to gravitate toward things that we can worship.  Things can get in our way of worshiping Jesus Christ if we are not diligent with what and where our hearts are drawn to.  Idolatry is an issue of the heart.

Jesus calls us to worship Him and him alone with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:34).  The Lord spoke to Moses saying –

“Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Exodus 20:1–6, NASB95)

Idolatry was the biggest downfall of people of Israel.  It was not the enemies without, but the desires of their heart within.  The Lord ultimately judged Israel for their idolatry and rebellion by removing them from the land He had given to them.  Idolatry brings the Lord’s judgment.

Paul proclaimed that the true God was not one made by the hands of men –

“Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.” (Acts 17:29, NASB95)

In the Church today, many have come to worship their buildings rather than worship Jesus Christ.  Having forgotten that the temple is our hearts where the Lord wants to reside by His Holy Spirit, many have wondered from the simplicity in worshiping the Lord.  They must have a posh building, along complicated and extensive building campaign in order to have a place to worship.  Why is that?  The foundational truth at the root of American Christian growth theory is the premise that if you don’t have a remarkable building with lots of gear-driven programs, you simply cannot attract the American Christian.  The question then becomes why would we want to cater to carnal Christians that believe they need a donut, sushi and a cup of godless Starbucks coffee in order to feel the ambiance of the church building is properly conducive to coming into the presence of God?  Something is desperately wrong.

The Jews in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry had very much the same problem.  Everybody wanted to go to the Temple.  It was the center of Jewish culture and Jesus’ disciples were astonished at the architecture of the place, albeit sushi, donuts nor coffee could be found.  But Jesus knew that the Temple would be destroyed and prophesied that not one stone would be left upon another.  The Righteous Judge knew that judgment was coming, and He warned them ahead of time.  Clearly the building they admired and that was at the center of Jewish culture didn’t matter to the future of the Church they would ultimately lead.

But here we are in America, building all sorts of gathering places with few who are committed to Jesus Christ, coupled together with no power and no life.  Very few healings take place and even fewer souls are seen coming into the kingdom.  But in the name of everything holy, the American Christian will jettison the church clerical staff, followed quickly by the youth minister or associate pastor, then similar to a captain going down with his ship, the pastor can no longer be supported.  Why?  Well, its easy.  The building must be saved!  I mean if the building is lost, the whole world comes crashing down around the congregation!  The Holy Spirit rarely if ever moved, but they must have the building to feel there is some sort of hope that He will…someday, in the great by and by, maybe, possibly, even though so remotely, move.

When the building become the center piece of Christianity, it has become an idol and we can guarantee that Jesus will do something about it.  And I would submit that in America, that is exactly what has happened.  The great Christian cathedrals in Europe are dim reminders of the life of the Early Church and testify as to how an entire continent of Christians can lose their way.

The building is not the Church of Jesus Christ.  It never was.  If the Spirit of Jesus must cause our buildings to be lost to the bank in order to bring us back to our first love and forsake our idolatry, then that will be a small price indeed.  We need His fire.  The building is optional.  We must never forget it.

Mark Biteler