Church and the Home

"And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door." Exodus 33:10

 

This took place when the children of Israel were in the desert and had only been so for a couple of months. Many starring events had occurred even within this short time frame and I invite you to review these which are found, especially in chapter 32 and chapters 12 through 20, not to mention the first 11 which cover their history in Egypt and the plagues. Not Moses has interceded for them on the mount after they made the golden calf. They have the tabernacle where the holy of holies is located and which is the central point where God meets with them. We read that when Moses went to the tabernacle, the children of Israel stood. Then we see that the presence of God is with Moses in the tabernacle because his cloud is over it. But then we read another interesting thing. "and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door." They worshipped, not at the tabernacle but in their tent door. God is showing us that there are two mportant instructions and places for worship, the church and home. Yes, we can worship him everywhere in prayer as we are told to "Pray without ceasing," in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and that we should do. But the church and home are two places where we should be able to plray without hindrances, albeit Satan will hinder us everywhere but the church and home should be like sanctuaries away from the world.

 

Now, let's get to it. The church cannot be a sanctuary from the world when it brings the world in. Yet, the church is doing all of that and more. Instead of making itself more foreign to the world, it's using the world's tactics, methods, and providing the the amenities that a world class resort or country club would provide to entice membership. Yet, to put a religious ding to it, they still go on mission trips, try to feed the poor when it is convent, and even quote the sinners prayer with folks then baptizing them so they can gleefully boast of their converts and add them to their ever gloating numbers. Yet, for all of this, America's culture and the church's influence in it are less today then it was even ten years ago. Would you say that something is wrong?

 

Then we go into the home. The home cannot be a sanctuary when Hollywood is blaring their goods in your living room from morning 'till night or the satanic rmusic is constantly pounding in your ears. How can that be a place where one can get alone with God and have fellowship with him? Our homes in America are being ravaged by Satan because of what is brought in and is constantly flowing in from outside. Sometimes, we just have to shut these things off or switch our listening. How about listening to some good, challenging preaching at night instead of the sensual programming that is on TV that will damn the soul? Even the talk shows are many times nothing but bickering and arguing with nothing resolved. Don't we have enough of this in our lives without inviting more? If the true believer would turn his attention to the things of God instead of the things that seems to flow into his home, we could see revival in America. Yes, the big churches of this world would still have their retainers, but we would see God change lives and the influence of the church would be felt in this falling nation of ours. May God send revival to my heart and yours!