The Idol of Space

Sacred spaces are amazing.

Walk into a number of churches and look up. Do you see "ribs" lining the ceiling? Those may not just be decorative, but communicating that the church is an ark, a container for the redeemed. Much as Noah and his family was rescued by God, worshipers have been rescued by Jesus.

I remember walking into the former national cathedral of Canada when I was in my early 20s. I was overcome with awe. The colors. The smells. There was no doubt that it was a sacred space.

I also remember standing in a charismatic church in Cincinnati, Ohio, best described as a modern, plain, giant theater complete with cup holders attached to the chairs. There was a rock band on stage and not a stained glass window in sight. But I was undone with the presence of God in that simple room.

And it was a long time ago, more than a decade, that I was sitting in a gathering of church musicians. We were singing one of those amazing choral anthems that seem to transcend time. It was a beautiful piece of music in very sacred feeling space--a single massive stained glass window, a grand pipe organ, and more.

It, too, was a holy moment.

That is until after the cut off of the last note, the guy next to me--a colleague from another state whom I'd just met--said something like, "Moments like that don't happen in those metal-building churches that are popping up everywhere." And yes, there was disdain in his voice.

I believe that dear brother had an issue with idolatry.

Now before we shake our heads with disdain of our own, you and I could probably share the same kind of story. Maybe you were worshipping in a building that looks more like a shopping center, or one that is cathedral-esque. And you may have thought, "Finally, THIS is what sacred space is supposed to be."

Idols. 

They're everywhere.

And they are hard to see, especially when we are surrounded by them.

So look around. What is it that tempts your affections away from Jesus and toward itself? The kind of seating--pews or chairs? A beloved window? The color of the carpet or the paint on the walls? It can be just about anything. All of us deal with the temptation Paul mentions in Romans 1:25. We are inclined to worship created things rather than the Creator.

What makes a space sacred is the Presence of a holy God. It can be a barn or a forest, a meetinghouse or a basilica. Friends, let's remember where to place our eyes--on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Next week it's gonna get real! We'll talk about the idol of music. Gulp.

Any thoughts y'all have about the idol of space?