Huntington Church of Christ

Throughout history, God has commanded various places where man could meet and worship Him. After the Law was given to Moses, God demanded the erection of the Tabernacle according to His pattern. The tabernacle was a temporary place of worship, easily packed and moved throughout Israel's wanderings (Exodus 25:8,9 Leviticus 26:11,12 Deuteronomy 12:5; 16:2-6). Once firmly established in the promised land, God commanded King Solomon to build His Temple in the city of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 7:12-16). This became the focal point of worship until the Mosaical Law was abolished (Galatians 3:23-25 Colossians 2:14 Hebrews 8-10).

Today, God dwells in the church (the Saved, All Christians) which is His spiritual building or Temple. The church is not the literal building located on X Street, but rather the people who are saved. "Ye are ...God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). We do not have the authority to build The Hnew Temple as we see fit. We are obliged to follow God's plan. "For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians3:10-15). "...Even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8:1-5). God's plan for the new Testament church is found only in the New Testament Scriptures.

Christians are "living stones, ...built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5-10). Paul confirms this teaching in Ephesians 2:19-22, "...ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. Not everyone who assembles in a physical building constitute the church, only those who faithfully obey God's will. The strength of the spiritual building depends upon the stones being securely cemented and builded together in peace and love.

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ