“For Israel hath forgotten his maker and buildeth temples.”
(Hosea 8:14)

The house of God has nothing to do with brick and mortar stacked together in ornate edifices or stately buildings. The house of God is where God meets with His people. The “ekklesia” of the living God, which is the assembly of the living God, is the assembly of Christ with His people. Our Lord Jesus prayed and preached in private dwellings, and in open air, on the mountainside and in a fishing boat, as well as in the temple or synagogues.

It was not till the end of the third century that men had edifices expressly reared for their religious gatherings under the name of “church”. They called these buildings “churches”. Nothing makes any place sacred but the divine presence. There is far too much emphasis put on buildings today and not enough upon the divine presence. This came to be the sad case with the nation of Israel in the days of their apostasy. And the prophet Hosea declared this indictment by the word of the LORD, saying, “For Israel hath forgotten his maker and buildeth temples.” (Hosea 8:14)

Our blessed Lord Jesus assures His own that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there. How sad that the ‘church’ system are more concerned about crowds, membership numbers, money, and elaborate buildings than they are for the presence and teachings of our blessed Christ. For this end many unscriptural methods have been adopted for the promotion of man-made lutergies, sacramentalism, programmes and fleshly entertainment, until the state of the Laodicean congregation has developed. Therefore apostasy is fast taking over, or rather has taken over, and judgment is at hand (2nd Thessalonians 2; Revelation 18).

Adapted