Exhortation, August 21

According to Paul, the church is being built into a holy dwelling, a temple in which the Spirit dwells. This has many implications, but let me highlight one. According to the Old Testament, temples were holy places whose holiness had to be guarded and defended. Levites guarded the tabernacle and temple armed with swords to prevent any unauthorized person, any stranger, from drawing near.

By protecting the holy place, the Levites were protecting all Israel. If a stranger, got into the holy place, Yahweh would break out in wrath would break out against Israel. If the house of God became defiled, He would abandon His house, as He does in Ezekiel, and leave the house to be destroyed by Gentiles.

If the church is a holy temple, the church must be guarded from defilement. But who does the guarding? Certainly pastors and elders have a special duty in this area, but pastors and elders are not the only temple guards. We believe in “the priesthood of all believers,” and that means we are all charged with guarding the holiness of God’s house.

If you discover your friend is indulging pornography or drinking too much, what should you do? You are a priest; confront him and guard the holiness of the house of God. If you know your neighbor screams at his wife and kids, what do you do? You are a priest: Guard the holiness of God’s house. What if you learn that your friend has cheated on a math test? You are a priest; guard the holiness of God’s house. What if you hear your brother or sister complaining about your parents: You are a priest. Guard the holiness of God’s house.

Don’t wait for someone else to act. You are a member of the royal priesthood. Guard the holiness of God’s house.