This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Isaiah 66:1-2)
Read: Isaiah 66:1-24, Philippians 3:4-21, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 24:15-16
Relate: It dominates the city skyline. Although the community around it is among the most poverty stricken areas in all of Istanbul, this building costs millions annually to maintain. Using two different methods to determine it’s original cost to build, I have come up with 2.9 billion or 9.9 billion. Either number would put it among the most expensive buildings built in the modern era. Surprisingly, this mosque wasn’t even the most building to be built in its own city and era. The more famous, and more expensive Blue Mosque was built just a few decades later taking both honors away from the Suleymaniye Mosque. The cost of these two buildings, more than any army or battle, are what bankrupted the Ottoman Empire, ended its golden age, and put a halt to its advances into Christendom.
In that light, the hundred thirty million building campaign for First Baptist Church in Dallas looks like chump change. The biggest difference is that the Suleymaniye and Blue Mosques were built by the most powerful kingdom of its era from money gained by conquering and subjugating other smaller kingdoms around them. The “church” in Dallas is built by a combination of gifts and tithes from it’s gullible attenders who are suckered into believing this is a good use of the money God has given them, and from mortgaging their future from bank loans secured by the promise of more gullible churchgoers in the future.
On what might seem like a much smaller scale sits Justo’s cathedral near madrid Spain. Justo Gallego MartÃnez is not an architect. He isn’t a contractor. He isn’t even a priest. He has no building contract with the city. He has no official sanction from the church. But he has been steadily and faithfully plodding away at building his own cathedral… for more than five decades. This former farmer has built one of the most unique and, um, rebellious religious buildings anywhere in the world. Eventually, hopefully, some day, he will finish it. If not him, someone will take up the charge. There is no end to people thinking that it is man’s responsibility to build God’s house.
React: As a kid, I was constantly getting yelled at for running, or fighting, or yelling, or horseplay in “God’s house”. Fortunately, I had a father who taught me to respond early to these well intentioned criticisms, “This is not God’s house, we are God’s house.” He also gave me a warning to say this respectfully or else he would still beat my butt. Needless to say, my butt was beat with regularity.
I wish more of us as adults would learn this lesson. We have convinced ourselves that we need to spend more and more on the best facilities and the latest technology to equip it. We have convinced ourselves that this is what is necessary to bring in those God has called us to reach. This is what they want and expect of us. But this is not a good use of God’s gifts of time and treasure. All it is, is gross misappropriation of funds. It is personal kingdom building seeking glory for ourselves while casting blame on God. Giving our best doesn’t equate with spending the most. Rather, it is found in the spending of ourselves for others.
Respond:
God, as much as I long to be about building Your Kingdom, all too often I find myself investing in my own. I long to please You, but all too often I am instead making a name for myself while claiming to be about Your business. For this, please forgive me. Give me a heart and a head of humility. Help me to understand that being about Your Kingdom is found through the example of the Samaritan, not of the priest. Help me to invest my time and my heart and my treasure in those who are hurting and lost. And if I am a part of a church that is not about doing this, give me the leadership to change it or the courage to leave.
Great post. I didn’t know about these mosques. Crazy! But Islamic salvation is based on “your good deeds must outway your bad deeds”. So whereas Christ’s perfect righteousness is substituted for our lack thereof in Christianity, no mosque or temple can ever be big enough to satisfy man’s fear of judgment. Only Christ can through His sacrifice for us on the cross.
Thanks and God bless
Thank you for posting this and putting the focus where it belongs.
Such a timely message. thank you and God bless.
BJ, what a blatant contrast of the Islam religion to christianity. Indeed, the Christian beliefs are an expression on the heart (where God sees if He is at residence or Idols of our heart have replaced Him). ~Zoey
Both Islam and Christianity have an obsession with an extravagance of “place” that is ungodly.
Sadly, there will be false teachers and prophets, as Jesus warned us…we must discern the times and guard our hearts.
Thank you for posting…great reminders that were so good for me to read.
Thank you for these beautiful and raw words. Things for me to think upon and pray about. Thank you and God Bless.
Amen, Amen! Well laid out and the problem in so many churches today. Thank you for sharing this message.
Reblogged this on emalineachieng and commented:
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.
TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD
LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
GOD IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA
BEHOLD HE THAT KEEPETH ISRAEL SHALL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP.
Thanks for the post. While we don’t necessarily go to the same extreme in Christianity in the US, I still see this focus. How many of us think of “the church” as a place instead of a people? I know I have far too often. This year I started gathering to worship with friends in a home. Money that we would have otherwise given for building maintenance and staff salaries is now being used to spread good news and kindness to those in our community. What a blessing it’s been to us and others around us!
One of my three examples was a so called church in Dallas. While I do understand that most Texans haven’t realized they have been annexed into the US…
My skimming skills were found lacking. 🙂
AMEN!!!!!!❤