Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church …” We think He meant organically, communally, ideologically, theologically. Understandable. Notice, He did not use the word “ktizo,” or “create.” (“Creature” is a New Testament word, but not “create” which implies bringing something out of nothing.) Jesus’ actual intent was something far more pragmatic. The word “build” is translated from “oikodomeo,” or “house-builder.” He also said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24 (KJV). Again, Jesus uses a form of the word “build.” Therefore, we must view His words through the lens of a contractor who is commissioned to build a dwelling place. This kind of thinking opens a wide range of contractor-type of activities to us.
I built my present house in 2004, so I am intimately familiar with the process of building, at least from the owner’s perspective. The contractor’s questions were interminable. How many square feet? What style and floor plan? What neighborhood? What type of soil? What is the water table, the frost line, the proximity to a flood plain? Exterior treatment? HVAC brand and capacity? Fixtures? The zoning requirements? You get the picture. From my simple perspective, I just wanted a nice house to keep me warm and dry. The contractor saw a complicated project that demanded planning, coordination among sub-contractors, attention to detail and conformity to zoning and construction codes. A shed, lean-to, barn, cave or tent would not do. No housebuilder worth his salt would settle for less than his best.
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The Owner-Contractor Jesus continues to build His church to be something much greater than a simplistic shelter from the storm. He leaves no void or shortcoming to the plan. The church of Jesus Christ bears the imprimatur of a master designer, a structure built to meet the diverse and complex needs of those who occupy it. His family room houses family togetherness where love abounds. His gourmet kitchen provides a place where nourishing meals can be prepared. His sleeping quarters give restorative rest for the weary as well as a place to nurse the sick back to health. His accoutrements bring delight to the tired and stressed of the world. I can’t imagine that Jesus would build a house inferior to anything that exists in our world. Let’s look at one such house. |
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“The world’s richest man, Bill Gates family lives in the exclusive suburb of Medina,Washington, in a huge earth-sheltered house in the side of a hill overlooking Lake Washington. The house encompasses more than 66,000 square feet which is equal to 1.5 acres. The major rooms include 7 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, six kitchens, and six fireplaces. The house is an ultra-modern, 21st century house in the “Pacific lodge” style, with advanced electronic systems everywhere and great interior design. In one respect though it is more like an 18th or 19th century mansion. It has a large private library with a domed reading room.
“While it does have a classic flavor, it has many unique qualities. Among the many genius marvels that are integrated into the home for the latest in modern conveniences are revolving works of art. Floors are pressure sensitive, at any given time family members or security can know who is in the residence by the weight of their footsteps in the home. Lights automatically come on when someone enters.
“Speakers hidden beneath the wallpaper allow music to follow occupants from room to room. Portable touch pads control everything from the TV sets to the temperature and the lights, which brighten or dim to fit the occasion or to match the outdoor light. The ornate, paneled library has a domed reading room with oculus (light well), fireplace, and two secret pivoting bookcases, one containing a bar. It’s the fitting home for Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th-century notebook, the Codex Leicester, which Bill Gates bought for $30.8 million. Partly below ground, the reception hall can seat 150 people for a sit-down dinner or hold 200 for a cocktail party. A 6-foot-wide fireplace, faced in limestone, commands one wall. Another wall is dominated by a 22-foot-wide video display made up of 24 rear-projection television monitors, each with a 40-inch screen.
“The 2500 square foot recreation room includes a sauna, steam room, separate men’s and women’s lockers, and a trampoline room with a 20-foot ceiling. Conference facilities, offices, Outdoor sports, courts, and of course loads of technology. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the median American residence size is slightly more than 2,000 square feet. Microsoft founder Bill Gates house is more than 30 times that size.” http://www.billgatesmicrosoft.com/billhouse.htm. If the world’s richest man can conceive and build a structure as opulent and massive as this for carnal creature comforts, what do you think the Eternal God can build for his beloved church?
Warning: the gates of Hell will prevail against the Bill Gates of this world. Not so with Christ’s church! In addition to all its dazzling features, the mansion that Jesus is building will resist all invasions, repel all invaders and will last for an eternity. The safest place anyone can find in this world is the church. Jesus has built in a security system, a hospital, a fortress and a command station that affords protection for all who enter. Let no one disparage the church as inadequate, obsolete or substandard. Let no sub-contractor cut corners, pinch pennies or superimpose a miserly design on the church. Anyone who tries to reduce the church to fit a Section 8 plan on the church has no clue about the true intent of the General-Contractor.
“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27 (KJV)