John 4:20-21
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
The Samaritan Woman’s misconception is still prevalent today. For instance, when most people say church, they think of a building. But when Jesus first talked about the church (Mat 16:18), He was referring to people, the ekklesia–God’s called-out-ones.
Beloved, as New Covenant believers, we must not be preoccupied with sacred buildings, shrines, sanctuaries or monuments. True worship is not about WHERE we worship, but about the WAY we worship. It is the presence of God that sanctifies any place.
The West today has loads of beautiful cathedrals and church buildings that have become historical monuments due to disuse. They have become mere relics and reminders of a bygone era!
Remember what happened to Moses? The same ground he used to traverse as he herded his flock, all of a sudden became sacred on account of Yahweh’s presence, ‘Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground”‘ (Ex 3:5).
Likewise, Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Mat 18:20). That’s why early church believers turned their homes into churches, with phenomenal results. Wherever Jesus is, that is holy ground. Your house, office, car, class, ward, theatre, field, court, workshop, auditorium or wherever you are can become holy ground in Jesus’ name. Let our presence in God’s presence convert every venue to holy ground. Amen?
Pastor Josh