God's House

[Witness]

In the JW October Broadcast, an assembly hall in the United States is referenced as “Jehovah’s House”. They make the comparison of the early temple maintenance, to the care of the “773 assembly halls worldwide”. It goes into detail how this is accomplished, and John 2:17 is used to support it, which says “Zeal for your house will consume me.” These words were consistently used during the segment, convincing JWs of the obligation to maintain “Jehovah’s house”. Such blasphemy and irony. Jesus was incensed that the early temple had become a “house of merchandise”, which is no different than any convention or assembly by the Watchtower, by setting the goal for donations ahead of time. What a strange twist of a lie.

But, the grave sin resulting from this Watchtower lie is that we see again, God’s Temple/dwelling/house has been abused through a corrupt source of spiritual commodity. The anointed priesthood has been forced to “buy and sell” "spiritual food" only what a wicked slave has determined. Yet, also God’s Word has been deliberately bypassed by the false prophet/beast of the earth, which gives proof there is NO OTHER TEMPLE OR “HOUSE” than the anointed Body of Christ. 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22; Rev 13:11,15-17 The Watchtower has convinced the anointed and their brethren to worship a composite idol – the organization and all of its material holdings. 

“And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.
18 So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?”
19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.”
20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?”
21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made. John 2:17-22

I am so amazed how the Watchtower can cherry-pick one scripture, and twist it so tightly into a shiny new lie. Can Jesus’ words to the woman at the well be dismissed, when he said God is seeking for such ones to worship only in “spirit and truth”?  1 Pet 1:25; Isa 40:3-8

Keeping in mind that the broadcast is comparing meeting buildings to the early temple where God’s spirit once dwelled (God’s house) and where worship to God was given, notice what the Watchtower says,

wp 16  No. 2 pp. 8-10 - “The Jewish temple was a tangible structure at a specific geographic location. But spirit and truth are not material, nor are they limited to any physical place. Thus, Jesus was explaining that true Christian worship would not be centered in or dependent on any material structure or physical location, whether Mount Gerizim, the temple in Jerusalem, or any other sacred place.

How, then, should Christians view pilgrimages to and worship at shrines? Taking into account Jesus’ command that true worshippers worship God with spirit and truth, it is clear that worship rendered at any shrine or sacred place has no special value to our heavenly Father. Additionally, the Bible tells us how God views the veneration of idols in worship. It says: “Flee from idolatry” and “guard yourselves from idols.” (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21) Therefore, a true Christian would not worship at any place that is viewed as holy in itself or one that encourages idolatry. Thus, on account of the very nature of shrines, true Christians refrain from worshipping at them.”

SHRINE – “any structure or place consecrated or devoted to some saint, holy person, or deity, as an altar, chapel, church, or temple.”

Watchtower’s definition of “God’s House”/Temple are meeting places - shrines.  God’s definition is the Body of Christ.

Pearl Doxsey 4womaninthewilderness:

“It was asserted to me, that it is important for Christians to gather in some sort of church structure. I offer some scriptural considerations, about that thought.... Regarding buildings, Jesus' own apostles commented on the buildings that were at the center of the true God's worship. Just after Jesus proclaimed his breaking ties with the organization of his day (Matt.23:38-39), his apostles appealed to him to reconsider, by saying..., "Look Lord. what wonderful stones and buildings, and offerings dedicated to God! He said, 6 “Do you see these things? The days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Matt.24:1-2; Mark13:1; Luke21:5-6). What building could exist, more fitting for worship, than the Temple in Jerusalem, while God's covenant with the Jews was still in force? Of it, Jesus also said; "Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John2:19). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…

Would God's new place of dwelling with the people, be physical? Acts7:48 reads; ""However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands". The new Temple dwelling of God, that would be raised up in the Body of Christ, would not be physical. The new Temple for worship, and "place of prayer for all nations", would be his "Body". Please consider how the next two scriptures, impact that concept... "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1Cor.12:27) -- "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1Cor.3:16).

Connected to God's presence and dwelling among mankind, Rev.21:3 reads; "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.". If we consider ourselves "God's people", and ascribe import to the existence of His genuine dwelling... would we not want to give it more significance than a literal building of mortar and wood? Of such things, Jesus said they were all due to pass away. But the Temple OF HEAVEN (Acts7:44; Heb.8:5; 12:22-24), provides treasure for us that will never pass away, if we store up in our heart, what is genuine.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…

Just previous to Rev.21:3 (which speaks of the presence of God's genuine Temple with men), verse 2 reads; "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man." "NEW JERUSALEM" contains the New Temple, referred to by Christ. Just as a husband and wife become one flesh... "so that they are no longer two, but one"... New Jerusalem (the "bride prepared for her husband"), has become "one spirit with Christ" (1Cor.6:17) and one Spiritual body with him (1Cor.12:27), as God's Temple, with mankind.  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…

If we believe that a physical building has any significance or impact, regarding our salvation and connection to God and Christ... are we really perceiving the significance of what these foregoing scriptures, reveal? It can be summed up by a conversation Jesus had, in John, chapter 4:

"The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John4:19-21,23-24).

So... no mention of a location, a particular religion, or any sort of physical building. 
"Spirit and Truth". From where can spirit and truth be found? God's spirit and truth, are put inside the "living stones" of His Temple (1Pet.2:5,9-10; Eph.2:20-22) 
- "built upon 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. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." (Eph 2:20-22)

"He set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2Cor.1:22)

"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth." (1John2:20)

"the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John14:17).

Rev.5:9-10 speaks of those who are God's Temple priesthood, bought by the blood of Christ. As Heb.8:5 stated, the original physical tabernacle which Moses erected under God's direction, was built and patterned according to the heavenly one to come. It was to be a perfect reflection of the spiritual reality, expressed in physical terms. Of the original priesthood, Mal.2:7 reads; "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." As brought out by Rev.5:9-10... Christ has a priesthood over which he is high priest.   https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…

Should we not seek out that Genuine Temple of God, rather than give value to a building made by human hands, where "moth and rust, consume"?

"Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man." (Heb.8:1-2)

 

[Srecko Sostar]

fine article. people need roof for shelter and for growing up family and to meet together for this or that.

But to making "consecration", "dedication"  of breaks and walls and parking lots is crazy idea. 

People need some reason to socialize, to meet together, to eat and drink, to talk. And if that reason must be finished buildings works, let be. But what is the benefit from that if doctrines  making people spiritually stupid and manipulated and departs from main Jesus teachings.