according to I Peter 2 is that He is building us as individual Christians into a SPIRITUAL “building”, the living Temple (like that coral reef) that He has designed us to be together as a church family. And we will be that family, that “living building” whether we ever have a new building or not.
When I was pastoring in Southwest Louisiana, we had a hurricane come through in 2005 — Hurricane Rita. And many of our homes, as well as our church facility, were put out of action, due to loss of electricity, and limbs going through our roofs, and so on. We were unable to have services and meet in the “church building” for some weeks. But that didn’t stop the LIVING Church of God. We still met and prayed, and went out into our community with shovels and chain saws and ministered to people and cut trees down off their houses and shared Christ. All with our “building” out of commission. Because the “Church” is not the building. It is the LIVING TEMPLE OF GOD. And God’s purpose for each of His people is for us to be a part of this Living Temple.
This is why you can’t worship God just as well at the lake as you can with other believers. Because God’s purpose for you includes being part of something that is bigger than just you. He wants you to be a “living stone,” and to join together with other “living stones” to form the Living Temple of God. This is why we all need to be a part of a local church. This is why it is important that you have your church membership somewhere, and actively worship and serve there. Because a big part of God’s purpose for your life is for you to be part of something bigger than yourself: to be a part of the “living house” He’s making in His church
©️The Scope news.
