Today's readings are 1 Kings 7.51-8.21 and 2 Corinthians 3.1-18.
Solomon built quite the temple for the presence of God. His acts, about which we read today in 1 Kings 7 and 8, raise a few important questions. Some of those questions I can answer. Some I can't. Let's look at one that I can answer and one I can't today.
Why did Solomon make such lavish expenditures? Wouldn't that money and those sacrificial animals have been put to better use feeding and clothing the poor? We often see arguments like this today, especially surrounding church building programs, purchases of furnishings for a church building, even when talking about investing a significant portion of a congregation's budget providing a pastor with a wage that might be considered comfortable by the society at large. Shouldn't we dedicate all our resources to ministries of mercy? Shouldn't we deprive ourselves and prefer others? I've heard this referred to often as a "wartime" mentality. I think much of that teaching currently comes from John Piper, though I don't know exactly. I know the people I've mostly heard talking about it are big fans of him and his style of Calvinism.
Here's a counter-question. Does celebration of the God of the Universe deserve all the resources we can provide? Does the owner of the cattle of a thousand hills get a few cattle for his celebration, where he uses them as means of pouring out forgiveness and grace upon his people? Is it appropriate to celebrate the riches of life in Christ in a building that looks as purposely like an emergency relief shed as possible? No, celebration of the Lord and what he has done is a very serious matter and is worthy of serious dedication of resources. Yes, we want to give generously, provide relief, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, shelter the homeless. But in our worship we are busy recognizing that God himself, the one who in the person of Jesus Christ was hungry, poor, and homeless, has come to visit us and will again visit us as he brings us to be with him in glory. This is one serious celebration.
Now a question I can't answer. What's all this talk about God's presence being in Jerusalem? I thought he was present everywhere. We use the term "omnipresent" to describe the Lord. And it's an appropriate term. Yet in the Bible we often see places described as having the particular presence of God. This is my non-answer which might serve as an answer. Yes, God's presence is in Jerusalem, just as it is in Jericho, Joplin, and all the other towns with letters in their names. But God has revealed himself specifically and for specific purposes in different means, at different times, in different places. God's very real presence for his people is where he says it will be and is available when he says it will be available. Therefore, in the New Testament, it seems that the Lord has said his presence is there for his people in baptism and teaching from Scripture (Matthew 28) and in communion (1 Corinthians 11). Is he present in all creation? Is God present in the shade tree outside my window? Yes, he is present there, as he is everywhere. But it is not there that he is working forgiveness and reconciliation of sinners to himself. We look for God's presence for us where he has promised it will be for us.
That's enough for today!
Solomon built quite the temple for the presence of God. His acts, about which we read today in 1 Kings 7 and 8, raise a few important questions. Some of those questions I can answer. Some I can't. Let's look at one that I can answer and one I can't today.
Why did Solomon make such lavish expenditures? Wouldn't that money and those sacrificial animals have been put to better use feeding and clothing the poor? We often see arguments like this today, especially surrounding church building programs, purchases of furnishings for a church building, even when talking about investing a significant portion of a congregation's budget providing a pastor with a wage that might be considered comfortable by the society at large. Shouldn't we dedicate all our resources to ministries of mercy? Shouldn't we deprive ourselves and prefer others? I've heard this referred to often as a "wartime" mentality. I think much of that teaching currently comes from John Piper, though I don't know exactly. I know the people I've mostly heard talking about it are big fans of him and his style of Calvinism.
Here's a counter-question. Does celebration of the God of the Universe deserve all the resources we can provide? Does the owner of the cattle of a thousand hills get a few cattle for his celebration, where he uses them as means of pouring out forgiveness and grace upon his people? Is it appropriate to celebrate the riches of life in Christ in a building that looks as purposely like an emergency relief shed as possible? No, celebration of the Lord and what he has done is a very serious matter and is worthy of serious dedication of resources. Yes, we want to give generously, provide relief, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, shelter the homeless. But in our worship we are busy recognizing that God himself, the one who in the person of Jesus Christ was hungry, poor, and homeless, has come to visit us and will again visit us as he brings us to be with him in glory. This is one serious celebration.
Now a question I can't answer. What's all this talk about God's presence being in Jerusalem? I thought he was present everywhere. We use the term "omnipresent" to describe the Lord. And it's an appropriate term. Yet in the Bible we often see places described as having the particular presence of God. This is my non-answer which might serve as an answer. Yes, God's presence is in Jerusalem, just as it is in Jericho, Joplin, and all the other towns with letters in their names. But God has revealed himself specifically and for specific purposes in different means, at different times, in different places. God's very real presence for his people is where he says it will be and is available when he says it will be available. Therefore, in the New Testament, it seems that the Lord has said his presence is there for his people in baptism and teaching from Scripture (Matthew 28) and in communion (1 Corinthians 11). Is he present in all creation? Is God present in the shade tree outside my window? Yes, he is present there, as he is everywhere. But it is not there that he is working forgiveness and reconciliation of sinners to himself. We look for God's presence for us where he has promised it will be for us.
That's enough for today!
--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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