Of Temples and Churches

Picture courtesy thejewishmuseum.org

Does the temple of ancient Judaism provide a pattern to be followed by modern Christianity?

My recent reading of my daily Bible reading plan has brought me to the part of the Bible that depicts the provisions for, and the building of, Solomon's temple (which can be found in 1 Kings 5-8).  Reading this account got me thinking again about the concept of how to build places of worship.  For a long while I have often thought about awe-inspiring places of worship only in the context of medieval cathedrals, but as I am writing this, thoughts of other buildings come to mind:  places such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Parthenon in Greece, or the Dome of the Rock in Israel.  Regardless of who built them, and for what deity (or deities) they were built, they all have something in common, they all sought to give humanity a taste of the divine.

Solomon's temple certainly sought to inspire those who entered with the greatness of God.  The elements that struck me was the pair of golden angel statues in the Most Holy Place of the temple.  These statues were about 15 ft (4.5 m) tall, and each had a wingspan which was also 15 ft.  To give it some perspective, that is the same width of the average two-car garage in the U.S.  Now picture these statues standing side-by-side as you enter the room with a ceiling approximately 30 ft. (9 m) tall, and be sure to note that these angels were overlaid with gold.  Gold and bronze were used extensively throughout the temple complex, as well as polished stone and various types of wood.

Now how does one translate such impressive display to modern Christianity?  Now I am not advocating that Christians should model their churches after such a pattern.  By doing so, we could set up an obstacle between  people and God.  Those who are not Christians could see us as trying to show off in a world that so many people are struggling simply to survive, or as in the case of ancient Israel, the believers could become so focused on the structure as to lose sight for Whom it was built to honor.  In the same way, we should not go so far the other way so that our churches would be shabbily constructed that people would wonder if it would be safer to worship outside.  Hence the tension that is Christianity.

In a more figurative sense, the Bible states that believers are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19).  We then have to stop and think, "What kind of temple am I?  Am I one that seeks to draw attention to myself rather than God?  Am I so 'shabbily constructed' in the way I act and talk that people wonder if it would be better to leave me alone?"  The only true solution to these questions is the Lord Himself.  As Solomon himself wrote in Psalm 127, "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain."

Paul Appeals to Caesar

Sometimes God's workers get more support from nonbelievers than from the church.

This chapter is relatively short, but there is still some key points to highlight. Festus has replaced Felix as the provincial leader, and the Jewish leaders hoped to take advantage of this situation and tried to convince him to have Paul transported back to Jerusalem. Festus declined their request and said that he was going to Caesarea, and that they should go there as well. This was not what they had in mind.

This was not what the Jews wanted. They had not forgotten their former defeat at Caesarea. In contrast with the calm bearing and forcible arguments of the apostle, their own malignant spirit and baseless accusations would appear in the worst possible light. Again they urged that Paul be brought to Jerusalem for trial, but Festus held firmly to his purpose of giving Paul a fair trial at Caesarea. God in His providence controlled the decision of Festus, that the life of the apostle might be lengthened. pg. 429

After hearing the arguments in Caesarea, Festus determined that it was a matter of Jewish law, so he suggested that Paul be transported under Roman guard back to Jerusalem. Paul knew that there was no way he was going to get a fair trial there, so he exercised his right as a Roman citizen.

In answer to the governor's question, Paul said: "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar." pg. 430

 Festus was surprised by this request, but after some deliberation granted it. Now comes the sad part.

Thus it was that once more, because of hatred born of bigotry and self-righteousness, a servant of God was driven to turn for protection to the heathen. It was this same hatred that forced the prophet Elijah to flee for succor to the widow of Sarepta; and that forced the heralds of the gospel to turn from the Jews to proclaim their message to the Gentiles. And this hatred the people of God living in this age have yet to meet. Among many of the professing followers of Christ there is the same pride, formalism, and selfishness, the same spirit of oppression, that held so large a place in the Jewish heart. In the future, men claiming to be Christ's representatives will take a course similar to that followed by the priests and rulers in their treatment of Christ and the apostles. In the great crisis through which they are soon to pass, the faithful servants of God will encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel determination, the same unyielding hatred. pg. 430, 431

This is doubly sad because of how things went back then, and how things will happen in the future. E.G. White wrote in another place that we will have more to fear from within than from without. She summarizes this chapter by saying,

When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike character will shine the brightest. When every other trust fails, then it will be seen who have an abiding trust in Jehovah. And while the enemies of truth are on every side, watching the Lord's servants for evil, God will watch over them for good. He will be to them as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. pg. 432

May we all have godlike characters so that we will be on the right side when the trials come.

Paul a Prisoner

Paul ended up in chains, but it was the Jewish leaders who were truly prisoners.

This chapter details the events that led up to Paul becoming a prisoner. I found this chapter to be quite interesting because the story told here is filled with danger and intrigue, but it was disappointing to read that all these events could have been avoided.

What started these events in motion was that the leaders of the Christian church in Jerusalem were stuck in their old ways of thinking.

In the earlier years of the gospel work among the Gentiles some of the leading brethren at Jerusalem, clinging to former prejudices and habits of thought, had not co-operated heartily with Paul and his associates. In their anxiety to preserve a few meaningless forms and ceremonies, they had lost sight of the blessing that would come to them and to the cause they loved, through an effort to unite in one all parts of the Lord's work. Although desirous of safeguarding the best interests of the Christian church, they had failed to keep step with the advancing providences of God, and in their human wisdom attempted to throw about workers many unnecessary restrictions. Thus there arose a group of men who were unacquainted personally with the changing circumstances and peculiar needs met by laborers in distant fields, yet who insisted that they had the authority to direct their brethren in these fields to follow certain specified methods of labor. They felt as if the work of preaching the gospel should be carried forward in harmony with their opinions. pg. 400

I had mentioned in an earlier post about the need for God's workers to adapt there methods to their target audience. These leaders refused to change, and deceived themselves into thinking that their way was the best way to do things.

These men had lost sight of the fact that God is the teacher of His people; that every worker in His cause is to obtain an individual experience in following the divine Leader, not looking to man for direct guidance; that His workers are to be molded and fashioned, not after man's ideas, but after the similitude of the divine. pg. 401

The leaders that asked that Paul go through a process in which he should become ceremonially pure so as to not arouse negative feelings among the Jews. Paul wanted so much to reconcile these parties that he went through with this needless process, and it was while he was doing this that things really went awry.

 Those who advised Paul to take this step had not fully considered the great peril to which he would thus be exposed. At this season, Jerusalem was filled with worshipers from many lands. As, in fulfillment of the commission given him by God, Paul had borne the gospel to the Gentiles, he had visited many of the world's largest cities, and he was well known to thousands who from foreign parts had come to Jerusalem to attend the feast. Among these were men whose hearts were filled with bitter hatred for Paul, and for him to enter the temple on a public occasion was to risk his life. For several days he passed in and out among the worshipers, apparently unnoticed; but before the close of the specified period, as he was talking with a priest concerning the sacrifices to be offered, he was recognized by some of the Jews from Asia. pg. 406

This recognition brought about a flurry of events that included his binding in chains, ministering to the mob, a hearing in front of the Sanhedrin, avoiding forty Jewish assassins, and being transported out of the city by heavy Roman guard.

E.G. White writes a sobering epitaph for those Jewish leaders.

. . . Had the leaders in the church fully surrendered their feeling of bitterness toward the apostle, and accepted him as one specially called of God to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, the Lord would have spared him to them. God had not ordained that Paul's labors should so soon end, but He did not work a miracle to counteract the train of circumstances to which the course of the leaders in the church at Jerusalem had given rise. pg. 417

 Then she had this to say about us in modern times.

The same spirit is still leading to the same results. A neglect to appreciate and improve the provisions of divine grace has deprived the church of many a blessing. How often would the Lord have prolonged the work of some faithful minister, had his labors been appreciated! But if the church permits the enemy of souls to pervert the understanding, so that they misrepresent and misinterpret the words and acts of the servant of Christ; if they allow themselves to stand in his way and hinder his usefulness, the Lord sometimes removes from them the blessing which He gave. pgs. 417,418

Lord help us to appreciate those who sacrifice themselves for Your work.

Paul's Last Journey to Jerusalem

Those who work for God should not have any fear.

The title of this chapter indicates that most likely it's story comes from near the end of Paul's life because of his willingness to travel it would take a lot for something to be his last journey anywhere.  He had high hopes for the work there.

Paul greatly desired to reach Jerusalem before the Passover as he would thus have an opportunity to meet those who should come from all parts of the world to attend the feast. Ever he cherished the hope that in some way he might be instrumental in removing the prejudice of his unbelieving countrymen, so that they might be led to accept the precious light of the gospel. He also desired to meet the church at Jerusalem and bear to them the gifts sent by the Gentile churches to the poor brethren in Judea. And by this visit he hoped to bring about a firmer union between the Jewish and the Gentile converts to the faith. pg. 389

However, he soon found out that such hopes would be quite difficult to achieve.

 Having completed his work at Corinth, he determined to sail directly for one of the ports on the coast of Palestine. All the arrangements had been made, and he was about to step on board the ship, when he was told of a plot laid by the Jews to take his life. Ibid

Therefore, he decided to take his time in getting to Jerusalem, and made what turned out to be a farewell tour.

Upon reaching the city of Miletus, he discovered that he had some time before the next ship, and took the time to speak to the believers there. His message there is one all workers of Christ can apply to their lives.

"Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." No fear of giving offense, no desire for friendship or applause, could lead Paul to withhold the words that God had given him for their instruction, warning, or correction. From His servants today God requires fearlessness in preaching the word and in carrying out its precepts. The minister of Christ is not to present to the people only those truths that are the most pleasing, while he withholds others that might cause them pain. He should watch with deep solicitude the development of character. If he sees that any of his flock are cherishing sin he must as a faithful shepherd give them from God's word the instruction that is applicable to their case. Should he permit them in their self-confidence to go on unwarned, he would be held responsible for their souls. The pastor who fulfills his high commission must give his people faithful instruction on every point of the Christian faith, showing them what they must be and do in order to stand perfect in the day of God. He only who is a faithful teacher of the truth will at the close of his work be able to say with Paul, "I am pure from the blood of all men." pgs. 393, 394

All those who work for God, not only just pastors, should seek to give a complete message. Too many times, I hear about ministers who only give messages that people like to hear. Messages that promise prosperity and peace without any real sacrifice on their part. I am reminded of an interview from some years ago between a prominent preacher of this kind of gospel and Larry King. Note the following exchange.

OSTEEN: I have thoughts. I just, you know, I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be. I don't think abortion is the best. I think there are other, you know, a better way to live your life. But I'm not going to condemn those people. I tell them all the time our church is open for everybody.

KING: You don't call them sinners?

OSTEEN: I don't.

KING: Is that a word you don't use?

OSTEEN: I don't use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don't. But most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change. There can be a difference in your life. So I don't go down the road of condemning.

 Paul, in contrast, did not mince words in regards to sin as anyone who even just skims his writings can discover. He wasn't afraid to call sin by it's right name, but always did it with love and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wasn't afraid to point out sin, and he definitely wasn't afraid to suffer for the sake of the gospel. His friends sought to prevent him from going to Jerusalem, but to no avail.

"When we heard these things," Luke continues, "both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem." But Paul would not swerve from the path of duty. He would follow Christ if need be to prison and to death. "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?" he exclaimed; "for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Seeing that they caused him pain without changing his purpose, the brethren ceased their importunity, saying only, "The will of the Lord be done." pg. 397

Lord, help me to be as fearless in my Christian duty as Paul was.