Sacred Places

The Lord said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.”

– 1 Kings 9:3

The saying goes that a man’s (or woman’s) home is his castle. After all, it’s a special place for family and friends that’s set apart from the troubles of the outside world. Moreover, it’s our memory-filled weekend retreat that we hate to leave when Monday mornings roll around. And it’s also where we direct so much of our income toward mortgage payments, repairs and maintenance. Whether our home is spacious and ornate or small and modest, it’s our sacred place.  

Church takes the concept of sacred to a much higher level because it involves our relationship with God. For example, many people feel closer to their Creator in a traditional worship setting — one typically characterized by stained glass windows, choirs, sanctuaries and

sacred organ music. But other Christ-followers have a different perspective. They feel comfortable with meeting in diverse locations ranging from storefronts to movie theaters. And some of them even contend that the formalities of a traditional church can hinder authentic worship. 

We may envision church as a cathedral, a coffee house or something in between, but the Bible defines it quite differently. Rather than being a structure filled with pews and crowned by a soaring steeple, the church is actually people: all those who count Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. No matter who you are and where you live — if you’re a Christ-follower — you’re part of his church called the Body of Christ.

Opinions vary. But regardless of where we gather on Sundays, we should all agree that it’s no replacement for the sacred presence of God with us. Jesus — who is God in the flesh — paid for his church with something much more valuable than money or gold. He came to earth to personally live out the human experience, and then buy our spiritual freedom and eternal future at the price of his own blood. One result is that Believers are now one body joined through a common faith. 

Yes, an awe-inspiring church sanctuary can be a holy place of prayer and celebration. But for that matter, so can the workplace, gym or supermarket. Let’s just remember that wherever we are each day, our sacred place of worship should be there as well.