MONDAY
Yesterday we started a new campaign called The Temple. Here’s the brief description of the campaign:
Journey with us as we explore one of Scripture's most powerful images: The Temple. From the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, discover how this sacred space represents the extraordinary meeting point between heaven and earth. Throughout history, God has been crafting spaces to dwell among His people—first in the tabernacle, then the temple, ultimately in Jesus Christ, and now through his church. Join us as we uncover the profound truth that we, as believers, are being built together into a living temple where God's Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:5).
The word temple isn’t a term we use very much anymore in our culture. In one sense that can be really helpful, as it allows us to form our definition of it. However, it can be a challenge to come to a proper definition when we still have some connotations of meaning attached to the term. For most of us, temple carries connotations of ancient worship practices. It feels like a relic of a by-gone era. Yet, it’s all over Scripture, so let’s clarify its meaning, as we will be using it in this campaign.
Simply put, the temple refers to sacred space. For a space to be truly sacred, God’s presence must be there. Sacred space is where God is. In the biblical narrative, God’s space is all of creation. This theme is seen in Genesis 1 (we will talk about this tomorrow) and throughout the Scriptures.
Isaiah 66:1–2 (NIV) 66 This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord.
Although God’s presence is in all of creation, his presence is represented by certain sacred spaces—Eden, the tabernacle, the temple in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, sacred space is represented most fully in Jesus, then in the Church as the people of God. Finally, his presence will fully fill all of creation, represented by the New Jerusalem and new creation in Rev. 21-22.. We will unpack these themes in greater detail as we move through this campaign. My plan is to take at least one week on each representation of sacred space, with special attention given to our current representation of sacred space in the church.
These sacred spaces are the places of community worship. Throughout history the people of God gather to worship primarily in the tabernacle, the temple, and the church (by church I mean the gathering of Jesus followers, not the church building).
1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (NIV) 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
1 Peter 2:4–5 (NIV) 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Additional Content
Reflection
Reflect on your concept of a temple. When you hear that term, what connotations come to mind? How does your idea of a temple jive with your idea of sacred space? How do you determine what is sacred and what isn’t?