Pele's Corner by Rev. Pamela Hanson Let's Talk About God's House First of all: I don’t think that God has any preferences if it comes to the shape of God’s house. I am pretty sure that God doesn’t really care whether God’s house is big or small, whether it has stain glass windows or not, whether it is beautifully furnished or not. Where two or three (or more) are gathered in Jesus’ name he is there among them (Mt. 18:20). Where two or three (or more) are gathered in Jesus’ name, there is church – there is God’s house. This can happen in a cathedral, in a small church building, in a hut, in a basement, in a storefront, in a coffee shop, in a nightclub, at the lakeshore or in the woods.

Church is not the building. Church is where people gather for worship. Church is where people lead a life as disciples of Jesus Christ. Church is where people help each other. Church is where people experience God’s love through others. Church is where people tell others about God. Church is where people love each other. So church – or God’s house - can be everywhere.

It is nice that God’s house can be everywhere - and now as I think of it: even on top of Mount Everest if people gather there in the name of Jesus Christ.

There is one thing about church that bothers me though. God’s house isn’t always being treated as God’s house. But God’s house SHOULD be treated as God’s house no matter what place becomes a house of God. It doesn’t matter if it is a nightclub, a church building, a lake shore, a hut, a mountain, or a family room. All these places are meant to be treated with respect, they are meant to be taken care of. These places are NOT meant to be waste disposals. They are also not meant to be our hobby rooms where we just leave everything the way it is after we are done. When we are at church it helps to remember that church is the house of God. And in God’s house it is just appropriate to be careful with the things we use, and to pick up after ourselves before we leave (it’s a good thing that I have Pr. Pamela picking up after me ☺ ).

Cleaning up with you,

Yours,
Pele