This is a common question my friends and I get asked, and it’s understandable why people ask this. I want to explain that the church is a body of people; it is not a temple, a structure, or anything that is associated with an organization. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, said, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet.” (Acts 7:48)

This quote from Stephen is taken from a prophet in the Old Testament who also said, “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:1-2)

Why was this said in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament? In the OT, the prophet Isaiah was correcting a wrong focus and spirit on the temple. The people returned from exile in Babylon, and they were heavily, if not entirely, focused on the temple more than what God actually wanted from them. The same rebellious spirit and issue of the temple being holier than God himself are recorded in the NT with the same people after two thousand years!

The Jews have been rebellious ever since, even today still focusing on the third temple as the top priority. You would think they would take their own prophet’s advice. Even proper religious acts (sacrifices, offerings) become offensive if the person is living in rebellion.

God compares their worship to shocking, forbidden acts to show how serious hypocrisy is in the next verses: “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions and will bring their fears upon them, because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear, but they did evil before my eyes and chose that in which I delighted not.” (Isaiah 66:3-4)

This often extends to a lot of churches today. People often respond and say, “But we need churches to meet for fellowship.” It is a good use for the churches that are built, but they are rarely used for fellowship now, are they? Most of the time (not all the time), people deep down respect how large their buildings are and brag about them and how magnificent the architecture is and how beautiful it looks.

If you tell any real church owner that God does not need their church buildings for Him to bring about the Kingdom, they defend the buildings. They use every excuse to justify keeping them for once or twice-a-week service. And they expand them to ridiculous heights that are only used to create a spectacle for people.

Like the Pharisees, they adore their great buildings for the look. They want to keep them to show others how great their church is and to attract attention for more seats filled. Just look at the mega churches; it’s not hard to tell that is their reasoning for creating large structures. It’s for the most popular church on the block. Jesus said the contrary when his disciples complimented these great architecturally made buildings that were decked with precious stones in their time.

“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:1-2)

The first Christians did not need buildings to show the glad tidings of the Kingdom of Heaven, and neither do you, friend. Most of the church buildings are way too expensive to maintain in the first place, taking away all the money that could be going to the poor instead. If they even wanted to give to the poor in the first place. And when financial pressure is laid on the pastor that is in charge of that building, the sermons are emphasized on money and donations, making it seem like another church out to use God for obtaining money.

If you have attended many churches as I have and been in different parts of the world and have seen the same problems in almost every church, you realize just how many people in those churches say, “LORD, LORD.” They don’t do what Jesus said anyway. It’s the same problem we have had in the past and now. Many think just attending a church is enough to save them for eternity. The Jews thought that building their synagogue was enough in God’s eyes and just performing the sacrifices and motions, but it was not. The same can be said with churches and people that only attend them; most people are not actually following Jesus and what He taught; they only attend a church because that is all they are really interested in, unfortunately.

Jesus desires people to worship him in spirit and truth, brothers and sisters. (John 4:23) This phrase from Jesus goes beyond a building of any sort. It goes beyond a synagogue, a church, or any other structure. There will be a time when there are no buildings around to attend, and in that moment, wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, God will be there in the midst. (Matthew 18:20)

Originally the church was the body of believers and Christ himself said that he and God dwells in our temple, our body. Paul repeats this three different times in the New Testament.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Jesus also emphasized that he dwells with us and that the spiritual state of your body was far more important then the building itself. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

So don’t let a building distract you from what God really wants. God wants people who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. On judgment day, Jesus won’t ask you, “What church did you attend?” Instead he will ask, “What did you do in obedience to me?”

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14)