The State of our Temples

Temples are places where people meet with their god(s). There are temples of all sorts, through the ages and all over the world. I am suggesting that in America, we should look where people have congregated, and notice what is happening.

One of the most remarkable of our secular temples is the shopping mall. People come from all over to see what is offered; to get what they want. The god? Materialism. We leave with our shopping bags, and we are fulfilled.

Now, caveats. Not everyone who goes to a mall is involved in idolatrous worship. But many are, though they don’t know it. Hear what they say: “It’s been so long since I’ve been to a mall;” or, “I just feel refreshed when I shop at the mall.”

But as we know, the mall is in decline. And if I am right, that this is one facet of our society’s secular worship, we should have expected its decline, since only God can truly satisfy.

Our stadiums also serve as places of secular worship. Fans are extremely passionate about their “god,” their local team in this form of entertainment. They spend a lot of time thinking about what they worship (e.g., all day sports radio). And the amount of money spent for tickets and paid to players and coaches shows that there is something more than “market forces” going on here. People sacrifice a great deal to be a part of the “team.” And while malls may be in decline, sports are getting on just fine. Their religion is growing.

It is interesting that churches have looked to shopping mall and sports stadiums to find “what works” for church growth. If they can get that many people, perhaps we can do the same. Fly a drone overhead, and you might have a hard time telling the difference between Twelve Oaks and Kensington Church. Or how about renting out a sports stadium, as Lakewood Church in Texas has done? And, one could wonder if there isn’t elements of materialism and entertainment that draws people, who should be gathering to worship, not out of hunger for those things, but rather, hunger for God.

But we know our Temple, right? Jesus is the cornerstone; believers as the “living stones.” It is not church buildings, and it is not what churches have to offer. It’s not the Place (or Program); it’s the Person, along with those related to Him by faith in who He is and what He has done.