Don’t you realize that all of you TOGETHER are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys THIS temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you [together] are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
I believe this verse is powerful. It really could change a lot of Christians…even myself at times.
I wonder if you’ve ever allowed these verses to speak for itself without trying to apply it in a way you’ve heard it taught or presented. The verse really does speak for itself, no commentary is needed, however I’ll inject a few notes of my own.
It’s real easy for us to speak poorly of and act against those who we don’t agree with, however, this is our way of “destroying” those people who along with us make up the temple of God. Yes, I believe we can have different opinions and we can debate those opinions, however there is a fine line in debating opinions and attacking and destroying another person, whether publicly or privately (gossip).
The word TOGETHER means this…Anyone who places their faith in Jesus for salvation and shares the same Spirit that lives within you (us). This means, whether you like it or not, the temple is made up of…
- Those people who prefer a more traditional form of worship
- Those people who prefer a more modern form of worship
- Those pastors who have fallen in moral sin, yet have repented.
- Those who are legalistic
- Those who you think are more Conservative Christians
- Those who you think are more Liberal Christians
- Those Christians who are divorced
- Those Christians who drink alcohol
- Those Christians who smoke
- Those Christians who don’t read your preferred version of the Bible
- Those Christians who don’t listen to your preferred style of music
- Those Christians who _____________ (fill in the blank with the thing that drives you crazy when you see it coming from a Christian or the person you would put quotations around when referring to them as a “Christian”)
Christianity does not come from putting your faith in Jesus and being a Republican. Christianity does not come from putting your faith in Jesus and going green. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), not through some religious mathematics.
We like to label people and it drives us crazy when Scripture erases those labels. Paul said TOGETHER (all those who have placed their faith in Jesus alone for salvation) we make up the Temple of God.
I think the warning is just as strong. Those of us who attempt to destroy (corrupt or defile) another believer who makes up the Temple of God runs the risk of being destroyed (corrupted or defiled) ourselves. I don’t find it strange that many Christians have been caught in the same sins they attack other Christians for falling into. It only proves the truth of these verses.
I love what Colossians 3:13 says and wish I could master it:
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
What if we we’re for each other rather than against each other? What if we saw each other as brother and sister rather than the label we’ve chosen? What could the Temple of God do if we were united rather than divided?