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2nd Samuel 7:5-7 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? (6) Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. (7) In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
This area of scripture seems to be one that is frequently used by people to indicate that, because God cannot be contained in one physical location, therefore a building where people congregate is unnecessary.
Some may even go as far as to say it’s wrong to have a church building and to call it “the house of God”. When we find people making extreme claims like this, it’s best to go to the scriptures and find out what God has revealed to us about the topic.
The beginning text from 2nd Samuel 7 would later be referenced by Stephen in Acts 7:48-50 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, (49) Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? (50) Hath not my hand made all these things?
People may ask, “If God can be worshipped anywhere, then why do we need one place to worship Him?” Since this seems to be a point of contention for some people, let’s look at it through the lens of scripture!
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness
Starting in Exodus 20, God gave Moses commandments that were to be taught to and obeyed by the people of God. This is not only where God gave the original 10 Commandments, but God also gave Moses laws concerning what kind of altars to build, laws about servants and how to treat them, laws about restitution of people’s possessions, and so much more.
Then, in Exodus 25, God took 40 days and 40 nights to lay out the specifications of how to build a tabernacle in which to worship Him. God told Moses what kind of fabric to use, exactly how to build the Ark of the Covenant, the table of shewbread, and many other articles that would be used in the worship of God. God then reinforced this to Moses by saying in Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
So, we see that all the way back to when Israel was travelling through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promise Land, God wanted to establish one location for His people to gather in order to worship Him.
The Temple in Jerusalem
When king David wanted to build a house for God, he was not allowed to do so. God told David, through the prophet Nathan, that it would be David’s son, Solomon, who would build a house for God’s name. 2nd Samuel 7:13 He (Solomon) shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
Solomon would later reference this in 1st Kings 8:18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.
So far we see that, not only did God actually command that a house be built for His people to worship Him in while they were in the wilderness, but we also see that God was pleased that it was in David’s heart to build God a house after Israel was already in their inheritance.
Of course, we have to deal with the typical rebuttal that says, “Well, that was in the Old Testament!”
Physical Church Locations in the New Testament
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
We see from this scripture alone that Jesus would go to a physical location to congregate with others when it was open to do so, which was usually on the Sabbath day. We also see that He went there frequently, by Luke’s use of the phrase “as his custom was…”
Of course Jesus would teach while in the mountains (Matthew 5), by the sea side (Mark 2), by the coast (Mark 10), and many other places that were outside of a physical building.
God spoke to the heart of a man named Jairus in Mark 9 that Jesus could heal his dying daughter. In the same chapter, God spoke to the heart of the woman with the issue of blood that if she would just touch Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Both of these situations took place outside of a physical building.
In Mark 2, God spoke to the hearts of four men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus, believing that Jesus would heal their friend. They believed it so much they tore open the roof of the place where Jesus was preaching just to let their friend down to where Jesus was…and the man was healed AND forgiven of his sins! This healing took place inside of a physical building.
So, we see that the unlimited God is not limited to the inside of a physical structure, but He is also not limited to the outside of a physical structure. God can speak to our hearts anywhere He pleases.
The problem comes when we start thinking He can only speak to us where we want Him to speak. I have found this to be the approach people take when they say things like, “I don’t have to be in a church building for God to speak to me”, and they’re right. But, do you notice in that phrase who is calling the shots? It isn’t God!
What Jesus Said About Church Buildings
For those who like to say that, “A church building is not the house of God”, they have to contend with at least two places where Jesus Himself says differently:
John 2:16-17 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. (17) And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (Referencing Psalms 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up…)
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Of course, this is Jesus’ parable about reaching out to anyone you can with the Gospel message and not just to those who have heard the Gospel and refuse to accept the invitation.
While it is certainly true that we should not look at church buildings as being the goal of a ministry, nor as the only place God’s presence dwells, we can certainly see that for thousands of years, God has used physical buildings to bring people together to learn of Him and to worship Him.
I personally have never met anyone who believes in going to church who would also say that God’s presence is limited to their church building. Most, if not all, realize that church buildings are simply a gathering place for God’s people to worship God together.
Some Benefits of Gathering Together
With gathering together, there is also a sense of accountability, not just to the Lord, but also one to another. This is what was going on during the time of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in 1st Corinthians 5:4-5 – In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
This sense of accountability could be one of the very reasons many do not want to gather together, and would rather limit God to outside of a church building. It may also be why they constantly say phrases like, “I can worship God wherever I want because God is everywhere and He hears my prayers”. Again, this is true, but it is only part of the way that God speaks to people.
In conclusion, we see that God calls His people to be together, not on any certain time or day, although certain days have come to be known as “church days”. But, He calls His people to be together nevertheless and that He speaks to people both inside and outside of the physical church building.
The church building is a hospital for the hurting and a classroom for the learning. God’s ability to speak to us anywhere does not discount His use of physical locations where His people can gather to hear His word and His voice!
So, is the church building also considered to be “the house of God”? Jesus said it is.
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Pastor Fulmer
Pastor Fulmer's Blog 