Fancy Churches Just Don’t Cut It

This is a really easy one to explain.

As Cannibals mature, we should become more and more like our parent (God) in thought and in action. So, when it comes to fancy houses of worship, God is really not that impressed - so, neither are Cannibals.

How do I know God isn't impressed with fancy churches?  Here's how...

One day, the great king David was sitting around in his fancy house, surrounded by wealth and splendor, and he began feeling sorry for God. So he says to his prophet:

“Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.” 1Chr 17:1

David is all upset that the “tabernacle”, which has housed the Ark of the Covenant for hundreds of years, just isn’t good enough. It deserves something more… something grand and spectacular… like his own palace of splendor.

And Nathan, the prophet who counsels David, responds,

“Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 1Chr 17:2

Because, of course, building a new “house” for the Ark must be exactly what God wants.

But, it turns out God has a entirely different idea. In one of the most spectacular (and beautiful) sections of scripture, God calls out David by way of Nathan:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling.

“In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’” 1Chr 17:4-5

WOW! “Look, David. Since the days when I brought the Israelites out of Egypt, I’ve been traveling around with them, living with them from place to place. And in all that time, did you ever hear me ask anyone to build me a house?”

God didn’t want a fancy “house” with trappings of gold and pillars of cedar - a house that the people had to travel to get to. And even though this passage continues with God  . . .