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.

There are several things in these two verses that are overlooked or misunderstood by a lot of people. The first is that all of the 2nd person pronouns here are plural; Paul is not just talking about individuals. American culture is so fiercely individualistic that we tend to read such passages wrong, and that leads to assorted distortions. It’s not that each individual isn’t important, it’s that the individual isn’t more important than the group, or the whole. The second is that surprising­ly many churches really don’t know that the Holy Spirit dwells in them, or at least that’s how they act. Just as each individual receives the Holy Spirit to some degree when they believe, but might later open up to be immersed in the Spirit, (though ideally those should be simultaneous) in the same way churches, though residences for the Holy Spirit, might keep Him boxed up in one way or another. That is why Paul had to write about not quenching (1 Thessalonians 5:19) or grieving (Ephesians 4:30) the Holy Spirit. I have read a very interest­ing analysis of the difference between doves and pigeons. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is compared to a dove, not a pigeon, and check­ing out the differences can be a very worthwhile study. The third thing to remember about these two verses is that Paul isn’t speaking of the Church, or even individual churches, as physical buildings. He is in the middle of the construction metaphor, but it doesn’t take much insight to realize it is just a metaphor. When Paul was writing, churches didn’t have buildings! People today think that if they aren’t arsonists, they aren’t damaging the church. That’s not the case! Ru­mors, jealousy, back-biting, complaining – these are the things that destroy a church. Of course, gross sin on the part of leadership also comes into this category, but that’s not what Paul is talking about here. We are called to be Christ’s instruments, not get in His way, as He builds His Church. (Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 14:12)

As a pastor, this is obviously a matter of great concern for me. I have had to deal with divisive people, jealous people, complainers, whiners, and more, but God is faithful, and the church has survived. I need to be firm with people who are being destructive toward the church, but always speak and act in love. It will help me stay in focus to remember that the first commandment is to love God, and then to love my neighbor. Otherwise, my love for my neighbor can get pol­luted by my desire for them to like me, and that can really mess things up. Even as I am vigilant for the church, I must remember that it is Christ who builds His Church, and I am no more than a minor workman.

Father, thank You for all that You are doing among us by Your Spirit in these days. Everywhere I look I see evidence of that, and I am grateful. Help us individually and as a body to welcome all You are doing, not simply for our blessing but so that we may be transformed into a powerful unit of Your kingdom, bringing many from darkness to light, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!