The Lord God has given us some very clear and detailed revelation concerning His perspective of the buildings in which we worship.
Let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches us about this subject:
1. The Patriarchs used to worship the Lord by building simple altars and offering sacrifices in the open country (Gen. 22:13-14 & 28:18 & 19).
2. At first, Moses set up a simple tent outside the camp of Israel where he met with God (Ex. 33:7-11).
3. Then the Lord commanded him to construct a portable tabernacle using the freewill offerings of the people (Ex. 25:1-8).
4. This portable tabernacle was used for about 500 years, even into the ministry of Samuel (1 Sam. 3:1-3) and the reigns of David (1 Chron. 16:39-40) and Solomon (2 Chron. 1:3-6).
5. King David had the idea of building the first temple, though it is clear from Scripture that God did not require this (2 Sam. 7:1-17), nor was it God’s priority. In fact, the Lord’s message to David was that His plan was to build “a house for David”. He meant the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ our Lord, not an earthly building.
6. However, it is also clear that God permitted and blessed the temple under Solomon (1 Kings 5:3-5 & 6:11-13 & 2 Chron. 7:12).
7. Yet the first temple was destroyed as part of the judgment God sent upon Israel (2 Chron. 7:19-20 & 2 Chr. 36:15-19).
8. The second temple was also in God’s plan (Ezra, Nehemiah, & Haggai).
9. Yet we have the New Covenant revelation of Jesus Christ and His apostles that believers are the temple of God, and the second temple was also taken away in judgment (see Acts 7:44-50).
10. Although a third temple is promised to Israel, we do not have any mandate in Scripture as Christians to build buildings for our place of worship.
11. Neither do we have His command not to make use of church buildings, yet the tradition of placing so much emphasis and material investment into church buildings certainly can’t be justified with Biblical principles. In fact, God only ever provided for ONE building for all Israelites to worship in (tabernacle or temple). Millions of people shared and supported ONE building! Why do we need so many church buildings today?
Therefore, the following Biblical principles ought to be followed:
1. If church buildings are used (we like nice buildings, that’s why we have them, not because we are commanded to have them by the Lord), they should be financed by offerings, not the tithes of the people. The tabernacle and the temples were supported by offerings exclusively.
2. The tithes of the people should support God-called, gifted, full-time ministers of the Word of God.
3. The temple of the Spirit is the believer, not the building, so this should be our priority: Don’t neglect the temple of God.
Let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches us about this subject:
1. The Patriarchs used to worship the Lord by building simple altars and offering sacrifices in the open country (Gen. 22:13-14 & 28:18 & 19).
2. At first, Moses set up a simple tent outside the camp of Israel where he met with God (Ex. 33:7-11).
3. Then the Lord commanded him to construct a portable tabernacle using the freewill offerings of the people (Ex. 25:1-8).
4. This portable tabernacle was used for about 500 years, even into the ministry of Samuel (1 Sam. 3:1-3) and the reigns of David (1 Chron. 16:39-40) and Solomon (2 Chron. 1:3-6).
5. King David had the idea of building the first temple, though it is clear from Scripture that God did not require this (2 Sam. 7:1-17), nor was it God’s priority. In fact, the Lord’s message to David was that His plan was to build “a house for David”. He meant the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ our Lord, not an earthly building.
6. However, it is also clear that God permitted and blessed the temple under Solomon (1 Kings 5:3-5 & 6:11-13 & 2 Chron. 7:12).
7. Yet the first temple was destroyed as part of the judgment God sent upon Israel (2 Chron. 7:19-20 & 2 Chr. 36:15-19).
8. The second temple was also in God’s plan (Ezra, Nehemiah, & Haggai).
9. Yet we have the New Covenant revelation of Jesus Christ and His apostles that believers are the temple of God, and the second temple was also taken away in judgment (see Acts 7:44-50).
10. Although a third temple is promised to Israel, we do not have any mandate in Scripture as Christians to build buildings for our place of worship.
11. Neither do we have His command not to make use of church buildings, yet the tradition of placing so much emphasis and material investment into church buildings certainly can’t be justified with Biblical principles. In fact, God only ever provided for ONE building for all Israelites to worship in (tabernacle or temple). Millions of people shared and supported ONE building! Why do we need so many church buildings today?
Therefore, the following Biblical principles ought to be followed:
1. If church buildings are used (we like nice buildings, that’s why we have them, not because we are commanded to have them by the Lord), they should be financed by offerings, not the tithes of the people. The tabernacle and the temples were supported by offerings exclusively.
2. The tithes of the people should support God-called, gifted, full-time ministers of the Word of God.
3. The temple of the Spirit is the believer, not the building, so this should be our priority: Don’t neglect the temple of God.
