Paul has been reminding us for the past couple-thousand years of how the Lord takes divided people and weaves us into one Body, His Church.  He uses the term “the household of God” to describe us in the final verses of Ephesians 2, and it is His description of that household that captures my attention….

The ancient Apostle says we are “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  in Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:20-22).

It is the first part that initially captures my attention.  “The apostles and prophets”.  That’s basically the canon of Scripture.  Almost all the Bible (if not all of it) was written by prophets and apostles.  I muse on.  “Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”  He is showing us a structure from the ground up: Foundation.  Cornerstone.  I keep reading.  “Being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Suddenly, it hits like a brick between the eyes, and I want to weep.  How many people are calling themselves a Christian, yet not being formed into this building… this temple… this household of God?  They are deceived into thinking they are part of something, when they are like amoebas flying in outer space.  But I don’t think amoebas belong in outer space.

The next verse says we are “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit”.  So many “christians” are neglecting one of these massive, structural necessities.  Either, they don’t want to build their life upon the Word of God, or follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God (who sometimes points out our sin), or confess Jesus as the one and only Cornerstone worth building a spiritual house upon (because that might put them at odds with the apathetic “All ways lead to heaven” heresy plaguing our world these days), or they are not synchronizing with rest of the Church of God into this one holy Temple.

The world is riddled with these so-called christians, who fly solo and reject truth and community.  They reject the Word, the Spirit, the authority of Jesus, or the Church.  They believe their walk with God is only a personal thing, and get defensive when anyone tries to involve themselves in their relationship with God, and encourages them towards growing in unity with other believers or getting grounded in the Bible (the foundation of our faith).  If anyone happens to point out their sin (regardless of how loving and caring the person pointing it out may be), they defensively accuse the concerned friend of being a hypocrite and a hater.  They reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit when He points out sin, and refuse to read the Bible, siting countless excuses (“I’m not a good reader”, “It doesn’t make sense”, “It was written by men”, etc.) but at the core of their excuse-pile is the truest reason… the Bible sometimes convicts us and shows us our need for change, and we like to hang out in the dark and dungy corners and do whatever our sinful flesh pleases.

What terrifies me is the thought of the many who believe themselves to be christians, yet are not a part of the actual Church, and it is evidenced by their lack of submission to all the glorious elements God gives us to grow us into a household suitable for His glory to dwell.  If this is you, I am not writing this to condemn you, but to call you to repentance.  You were created to have fulness of joy, which comes through walking in the Truth and in righteous community.  Be free, friend!  Be free!

Space 12/28/21