Building Temples

Haggai is a prophet who lived during the reign of King Darius, the same king who had thrown Daniel into the den of lions. Haggai's passion was the building of the temple.

In Chapter 1, vv 7-8, Haggai writes:

Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. (NASB)

Ministers today are also called to be temple builders but the temples being built are spiritual temples rather than the physical one that Haggai built. I believe we have three temples of responsibility:

1. Ourselves and our family
   
2. Our community of faith: this includes both our church and the larger community in which we live and work.
   
3. Body of Christ
   

At the time of Haggai, God told this prophet that his community wasn't blessed because they put the building of their own homes first, before rebuilding the temple:

"You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. "Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. "I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:9-11 NASB).

Because the Israelites had chosen to build their homes first instead of the temple, God had withheld his blessings. The community had been economically impacted because of the choices they made. But they were also politically impacted.
In Chapter 2, verse 3 the Lord spoke through Haggia to the community saying, "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?"

The new temple they built is not even close to the awe inspiring spectacle of the former temple that was destroyed when they were led into captivity. The state of this temple reveals that the community did not hold the same political power it once held in the world.

But that's only the beginning of Chapter 2, because later, God promises that "the glory of this house will be greater than the former... and in this place I will give peace" (Haggai 2:9). God promises that the community will be blessed economically (riches v.7) and politically (peace v. 9).

3 Temples of Responsibilty

Self and Family

Paul writing to the Corinthians states, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Cor 6:19 NASB)." And in Ephesians 5, Paul makes it clear that he believes that a husband and wife are one flesh ... one body. So this area of spritual responsibility described in Corinthians is extended to the family. Church leaders should be caring for their family temple, buiding it with love in Christ.

Community of Faith

A pastor's job is to shepherd his church. Take care to protect it from poor doctrine and provide for the health of the community. I believe this task is also extended to the larger community where the church is located.

Extended Community of Faith

Jesus extended the idea of our faith community when He asked us to "love even our enemies" and when He taught in Matthew 25

`For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? `And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? `When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' (vv 35-40 NASB).

Unfortunately too many churches seemed to have forgotten this teaching. For example, I once asked a pastor if his church had a food pantry or a clothing collection for families in his community who may be in need. He responded, "No, we don't have any lower income families in our church." Rather than waiting for opportunities to help someone, perhaps it is better to go find those who need help and don't know where to turn.

Body of Christ

Just as the responsibility of temple building extends from our selves to our family and from our churches to our communities, it also extends to the Body of Christ. By Body of Christ I mean the larger faith community ... all churches ... all denominations ... all of those who believe that Jesus is the Christ.

One of the things that impressed me about Nicky Gumble and his presentation in the Alpha Course is in the introduction to the course he says that if someone in attendance has questions they can turn to any church in there area to find help with the answers. He says it doesn't have to be an Anglican church, it can be any church.

Contrast this to a para-church leader who once told me he'd never refer someone he in his ministry to ABC denomination or XYZ church because they didn't teach exactly the way he interpreted the Bible.

Paul writes about unity in his first letter to the Corinthians:
But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Cor 12:21-26 NASB).

Looking Inward

Have you ever driven passed a single mom with a flat tire and thought, someone should help her? Next time, consider how you can extend the reach of your church.

Have you ever driven passed a Pentecostal church and thought, they are weird? Next time, sit next to the pentecostal minister at the community ministerial association and get to know him.

Or perhaps you are Pentecostal, have you ever driven passed a church of a different denomination and thought, those people just don't get it. Next time sit next to the pastor of that church at the community ministerial association and get to know him.

You may think these are extreme examples, but I could give you very specific examples of people who have said or thought the same things. There was a time in my life when I said some of them.

Your Vision

As you consider the temples of responsibility, consider how you as a temple builder may be impacted economically and politically by the choice of which house you spend your time on.

Extend this consideration to your denomination, how has your denomination built temples and been impacted by its choices.

Pray for God to lead you to consider your temples of responsibility.

A Prayer

Lord, forgive me for not being responsible in the temple building you have called me to. I have ignored those in my community and those in other denominations that I didn't believe were good enough for me to talk to. I repent of all that I know is wrong and ask that you would guide me to opportunities to build temples in my family, community, and the Body of Christ. -- Amen.