"Building the Community of God"

Texts: Proverbs 8:22-31, I Peter 2:4-10

Jeanette Mathews

Have you ever read the novel “The Source” by James Michener? I read it many years ago, but I remember parts of it quite clearly. The focus of the book is an archaeological dig somewhere in the Holy land. There are a group of archaeologists digging up a tell. A tell is a mound which is layers of construction, showing that complete communities have been built on top of each other over many centuries. In the book a story is told about each community that is revealed, creating characters that would have lived in that period of the history of the settlement. There are a few stories set in the biblical era, so it is very interesting to read it from the perspective of the Judeo-Christian religion. As long as there are material remains stories can be told of human civilisation.

Much can be inferred from what is found in archaeological remains. Buildings reflect the people who built them. How they are constructed, where they are in a settlement, how many rooms a dwelling contains, what the orientation of the building. Building is, and long has been, an integral part of human culture.

And as you can clearly see, we are doing our part here! Our building project is well under way now. At the Baptist ministers fellowship meeting last Friday there were some clever comments about what is happening at our church while the senior minister is away - walls are being torn down, floors ripped up! I said “he won’t recognise the place when he gets back!” It’s quite exciting coming to work each day in our temporary offices and seeing the progress that is being made. But buildings must always serve people. We are not building just for the sake of building, for the sake of change. We are changing things so that our buildings might better reflect our mission statement - that we want to be “a vibrant and open community, responsive to God’s love in Christ and committed to serving God and people.” While the mission of this church is not limited to what goes on in our buildings, our buildings should nevertheless be a reflection of our mission statement. The tearing down of some of our walls will literally open us up - open up new opportunities as well as ensuring that outsiders feel welcome the moment they step through our doors. Ensuring access for the disabled is also a showing that we want to be open and welcoming to everyone, as well as a way of expressing our commitment to serving people.

There is a fascinating link between architecture and worship. From prehistoric times pillars and towers have been built as altars - attempting to point to the gods who were above and beyond the human world. The spires and vaults of churches and cathedrals also were designed to direct the worshippers to that which was higher than themselves. The theology of God’s transcendence lay behind this architecture. The rows of pews directed towards the altar or the pulpit often reflect a understanding of the minister or priest as the means by which the presence of God is imparted to the people. I grew up in churches where the pulpit was central - this is the case in many Protestant churches which uphold the preaching of the word of God as the most important part of the worship service. It was a surprise to go into cathedrals in Europe where the pulpit was a small chamber high up in the side wall, and the altar where communion was served was central. Has it ever occurred to you that it is our baptistry which is in the middle of the church? But then again in many churches where infants are baptised the font is right at the doorway and people see it as they enter the church, and are reminded of their baptism into the community of faith every time they enter for worship.

Many modern church buildings are built for far greater flexibility than a building such as ours has. Where churches once all had pews many are replacing them with moveable chairs so that groups of different sizes can meet, and chairs can be place in the round to enhance a sense of community and reflect an immanent God who is one of us. Perhaps the transcendent aspect of worship is compromised in this sort of design, but in a multi-functional building there is an important recognition that the life of a church involves far more than a weekly worship service.

So buildings reflect the life and philosophy of those who build them. But buildings can in fact outlast those who build them. This is why we do know something of past societies, particularly of pre-literary societies, because their buildings have outlasted them. As families and as communities we are always growing and changing, but our buildings don’t change with us. That is why buildings become outdated, and need renovation. Permanency is one of the distinctives of buildings.

This is what the books of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs and some of the prophets are celebrating as they speak of God as a builder. The Psalmist says “in the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth” and in another psalm: “he laid the beams of his upper chambers”. As God speaks at the end of the book of Job we hear:

The creation of the earth was the work of a master builder, and the writers of the bible celebrate the stability and permanence of what God has done. The foundations are well laid, and we can rest secure that the earth is in God’s hands. According to the passage we read from Proverbs, God was not alone in this work. Before anything else God made a working companion. The personified figure of wisdom in the Old Testament is linked to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. A passage such as this shows us that the understanding of the Godhead as Trinity, or as a community, was already part of the faith in Old Testament times. God is one, but God has never been alone. And God delighted in his working companion. She says: “I was beside him, like a master worker. I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, and delighting in the human race” (Prov 8:30f). Wisdom was the mediator between God and humans, just as the Holy Spirit was given to the followers of Christ to mediate between us and God. Together the human community and the Spirit of God do the work of God.

There is much attention, also, given to the construction of the temple in the Old Testament. There are precise and detailed instructions given by God who again is portrayed as the master builder behind the work. And in the writings we sense that it was a great privilege to be able to build the temple. The God of the universe, for whom the earth was merely a footstool, chose to make his dwelling place in the temple in Jerusalem. And so there are numerous poems and psalms celebrating the privilege of worship in the temple - “how lovely are thy dwelling places O lord. I was glad when they said to me ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’. A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” And the words that opened our worship today: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving in your hearts."

But God is not only the builder of the world, and the builder of his temple. God is also the builder of community.

God began building this community when the first covenant was made after the flood. And note the architectural term here: “I have set my arch in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant.” God re-established the foundations of the earth after the flood, and began rebuilding the people of the earth under the protective span of his promise.

This promise was given in more detail to Abraham, and then reiterated to King David. In fact, when God promised to build a house for David there was a deliberate play on the word. This language is picked up by the writers in the early church. Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians: “you are God’s building”. He goes on to emphasise that the foundation is Jesus Christ. Peter gives the same idea, using a slightly different metaphor. Jesus is the cornerstone - the critical part which holds the building together and gives the building its strength. But each of us has a part to play also - have a look at one of the walls being constructed as you leave church today - imagine that you are one of the bricks, set in firmly by the master builder amongst the others, playing your part in constructing God’s building here in Kingston. Each of us is a chosen and precious part of that construction - each of us are to be priests, that is to be people through whom God is mediated to each other and to the world around us. Some of us might be a bit rough around the edges, but as Peter reminded his church, God is known for taking what others reject and make it an important part of his work.

As priests for each other we will be concerned also to build up each other, to support each other. Our life together as a community should be constructive, and edifying. These are all great words coming out of the vocabulary of building, and they reflect what the church is to be as the New Testament often reminds us. Let me just read a few phrases from the epistles: “God gifts some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.“ “Strive to excel in building up the church” “Let all things be done for edification” “Encourage one another and build one another up.”

As priests, or mediators of God’s presence, we must also be constructive in the world. God is working to build a society which reflects the values of his kingdom. Since the creation of the world God has been working to restore order and beauty, peace and justice. We are called to share in this work. At the entrance to our church we have a basket for foods to be used for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. It is good to be reminded each time we come to worship that there are many even in our society who rely on charity for their basic needs. In building a just society we will keep providing for these needs, but will we also be working to change the structures that allow for poverty? Will the economic policies we vote for next weekend be a step towards bringing greater justice for all in our country, especially the poor? Will we, in fact, help to break down divisive walls in order to build a society which welcomes and includes all people?

Peter encouraged his readers to consider themselves living stones, being built into a spiritual house. Our church is not just our buildings. We are the living stones. When we come into this church we are making ourselves available to be built into a community. As we are built, we gain strength from each other. Together we can be a presence in our world. Do you know that when Paul says “you are God’s temple” the “you” is plural? Together we are God's temple. It is still a privilege to be able to build God’s temple today, in our community here. To be the place where God dwells. To be the place where people might come and find God.

Let us be encouraged. God is building us into his community. Let us be challenged. When others look at us, they see God at work in the world. Let us be reassured. Our sure and strong foundation is Jesus Christ.