1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

English has a handicap in that there is no distinction between second person singular and plural, and it makes a big difference in this passage. I have heard this passage used many times in exhorting people to take care of their bodies, but that is a complete misuse of it. Chapter 6 has plenty to say on that subject, but this passage, with a plural “you,” is talking about the Church. Through the centuries many people have sought to destroy individual churches, and some have sought to destroy the Church as a whole. Naturally, the Church cannot be destroyed, but individual churches have been destroyed by the thousands. This passage is very clear as to the fate of those who do so. Local churches have been destroyed through gossip, infighting, immorality, and even simple neglect. All of those are in one way or another manifestations of pride, a failure to see Christ as supremely worthy of worship and obedience, and a failure to see brothers and sisters in Christ as equal heirs of the grace of God. Sometimes church splits happen because of the sins of the pastor, but more often they happen because of the pride of the leader of the splinter group. This does not include church planting in which members of the mother church go to support the new group, so we should be slow to accuse, but when there is a lack of mutual love and respect, correction is called for.

As the pastor of a local church, this matter is close to my heart. I have had people leave this congregation, but they haven’t generally tried to take others with them. Probably I have done far more damage to this church by the last thing I mentioned above: neglect. All too often I have failed to be earnest in building up the church, and that has stunted its growth. As James said, those who teach will be judged by a stricter standard than those who don’t (James 3:1), and that comes from the principle expressed in this passage. I must be very careful that my attitudes, words and actions build up, and not tear down, not just this church but the churches of this area and the Body of Christ as a whole.

Father, I’m being tested in this area right now. Guard my thoughts, words, and actions, so that individual believers and individual churches may be built up and not torn down. May I speak only what You are saying and not let my pride interfere, trying to defend myself or build myself up. May Your kingdom come as the Body of Christ is built up in its various manifestations, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!