More Than A Building

Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

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Introduction

As we wrap up another election season, or I should say still wrapping up, I believe one of the common phrases we heard centered on the idea of our leaders and us having "grit" or a spirit of perseverance. The notion of pushing through with a stiff upper lip isn't new; the Greeks laid the cornerstone of this philosophical lifestyle through stoicism (encouraged the endurance of pain or hardship). And as it's a philosophy that resonates still to this day, it spoke particular truths to the people of the ancient world and too early Jews and Christians living under the reign of the Roman empire.  

The Babylonians destroyed the Temple of Solomon before King Herod rebuilt the Second Temple. And Jesus tells his disciples there will be a time when they will experience trying days. But, whether it be the eventual destruction of the temple in 70 CE or the Roman inquisition of Christians, the destruction of these physical spaces did not destroy the communities or the faith they represented. So likewise, today, we face a number of trials that challenge the foundations of our faith, and while Jesus tells us to endure, he does not ask us to bear it alone. For we stand with one another, and God, who promises to be with us to the very end. 

Destruction of the Temple

Can you tell me what the value of a church building is? What's the worth of the wood, nails, shingles, paint, plumbing, and electrical wires that make up the church's physical structure? Is it worth keeping "the temple" as is? Or is there room for us to dream and vision of lifelong stewardship of this space and foresight that would allow us to move beyond the traditional and into the realm of future-proofing (using current resources to empower the next generation to use this church)? I'm not sure if there is a concrete answer, but I would imagine that the saints who laid the groundwork would not want us to bankrupt ourselves to keep the status quo.

Building projects are complex, and it shows a myriad of opinions and philosophies regarding what role physical places play in our spiritual lives. And it's a question that the people of God wrestled with as they suffered the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians. Under King Herod's reign, the temple was rebuilt, but was it still a place of worship? Or was this sacred space tainted by Herod's selfish desires? What good is a temple if the temple in people's hearts is already destroyed? It's a delicate balancing act where we seek to preserve the truth we know and the unfolding (continual newness) of God's truth that sometimes clashes with our plans. 

A New Temple

Jesus doesn't pull any punches (doesn't hold anything back) with the crowd around him. Instead, he tells them that the temple is not only going to be destroyed but that they're going to experience some pretty turbulent and challenging days ahead. Even if a day comes when the temple lies in ruins, a new temple is being constructed within the disciples' hearts. Turning inward, how have the temples built for God in our hearts fared? Perhaps this is the season where we can "rebuild" the place we made in our hearts for God by reassessing our current priorities amidst the swirling storms of life. 

A healthy sense of stoic grit and determination will be required in this process of rebuilding, knowing that our endurance pulls from our trust in God's love: "We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5) I am sure we could keep things the same in our hearts and keep things the same for this church building, but where is the willingness to endure and daring to be bold in our listening to God's Holy Spirit?

The Temple of Tomorrow

Continuing in the season of stewardship, the Session is asking questions about the full extent of our capital campaign. Some of you have already raised great ideas that lean into the call to be stewards of the earth and creation care as we find in Genesis, others have brought technical questions and expertise, and a few have asked how they can help. I would say that going forward into the new creation as disciples of Christ can't happen in the vacuum of a Session meeting. I mean, we have some great ideas, but you are also a part of the church. 

As we hear Jesus speaking to the disciples, we remember that the church (this temple) is not complete unless we each add our unique piece to its historical narrative. So if you are passionate about environmental improvements, let us know! If you have suggestions to improve our facilities' efficiency, let us know! And if you are still determining how you can play a role in this part of the larger stewardship story we are writing, ask. Because whatever path we take will include prayer, discernment, and giving our time and talents. 

Conclusion

There's a prayer by David Livingstone, a Scottish physician and missionary, who said, "Lord, send me anywhere, only to go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me... What has sustained me is the promise, 'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.'" Let us pray. Let us endure. Let us trust that the Spirit of God will see us through in times of trial and hardship, remembering that the Lord is with us. And that God will sustain us as we discern and prepare ourselves to embark on the continual building project that is God's holy temple, whether that is the temple in our hearts or the place we care for in our midst today.