A Growing Temple

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We feed our children so that they might grow up. God feeds us for the same reason—we are His children, and He is growing us up into maturity.

This Table is therefore one of the central instruments to help us resist one of the great idols of our age—that of calculated immaturity. In fashion, in music, in manners, in desires, our culture represents a long, sustained revolt against the very idea of maturity.

The Church is not placed in the world in order to fight a rearguard action against the desire for immaturity. We are not here as simply a conservative force, to resist the general degradation. We are here to offer food to the world, for the life of the world.

We are God’s children, and He summons us to His Table so that we might eat. But the intention that lies at the end of this process is God’s holy intention for the Church to grow up into a perfect humanity.

We are the new humanity. We are the new human race. But we are not the complete or mature new humanity. That is the point toward which we grow. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It is a wonderful question, and one which the Church ought to be asking herself more often.

But the old humanity, those outside the Church, are not simply discarded. We are building a new Temple to the Lord, but they are the quarry from which we are commanded to gather dead stones. God by His grace transforms them into living stones, just as He did with us, and the Temple is built, or rather, grows.

This is not a mixed metaphor. God’s Temple is alive—you are that Temple—and because it is alive, it needs food. And here is your food. Take, and eat. Take, and drink. Take, and grow.

So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.

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Evan
Evan
7 years ago

So good. I wish our church would serve the supper weekly, but alas, we have to wait another 3 months to enjoy it. :(

Bdgrrll
Bdgrrll
7 years ago
Reply to  Evan

No offense meant, but have you considered joining another church? The Eucharist (or its other names, Holy Communion or Lord’s Supper) is a means of grace. Why would you deny yourself and your family, if applicable, of this sacrament?

Evan
Evan
7 years ago
Reply to  Bdgrrll

Sure, but I love the saints there and I personally don’t think frequency of the Lord’s Supper (though obviously very important) is grounds for breaking away from a local body of believers. They are Reformed Baptists and I lean much more towards Presbyterianism, but again, if the elders will accept some of my differing views (which they do so far), then my family and I will be honored to serve and be served by the saints there.