Where is Holy Ground?

          In 1979, a young man named Geron Davis was asked to write a song for the dedication of a new building at his father’s church. The song he wrote, entitled “Holy Ground,” has since become immensely popular, even a favorite of Pres. Bill Clinton and singer, Barbra Streisand, who does not even profess to be a Christian. Streisand’s comments about the song are revealing. “The lyric says that when we are in God’s presence, we are on holy ground. But since God is everywhere, that would make every square inch of this planet holy ground.” People have differing views about what the song means, but my goal is to know how it does or does not line up with what God has revealed to us in the scriptures about His presence.

            To begin with, the song lyrics say, “As I walked through the door, I sensed His presence, and I knew this was a place where love abounds, for this is the temple, Jehovah God abides here, and we are standing in His presence on holy ground.” I have searched the scriptures in vain for some evidence to support what these lyrics say. First of all, the song says that he sensed the presence of the Lord when he walked into the door of the church building. In what way did he sense the presence of the Lord? Was it a goosebump, a temperature change, a feeling of awe, …..?  How much importance should we place on our feelings? Christians today seem to be seeking some tangible manifestation of the presence of God rather than seeking the truth. This is disconcerting in light of scriptures like II Thess. 2:9-12. A deception is coming about which Jesus said, “False Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Matt. 24:24 If we are following subjective signs or feelings, there is a good chance we could be led astray. I understand and have experienced the emotions that are possible in worship, but I can find no scriptural references that speak of sensing the presence of the Lord?

            The next thing I question in the song is the phrase, “this is the temple.” Is this scriptural? Is the church building the temple or are the believers in Christ the temple? We can’t have it both ways. I Cor. 3:16-17 says, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” I Cor. 6:19 states, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” In the Old Testament God’s presence dwelt in the temple in the Holy of Holies, or at least that was the Israelites point of contact with Him, where He allowed them to come into His presence once a year only, and then it was only the High Priest who was allowed to enter. With the institution of the New Covenant, our access to God changed. When the curtain in the temple was torn all believers gained access to the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to go to a particular building to connect with Him. Why should we “sense” God’s presence in a building when we should be walking in His presence all day, every day.  In fact, the Holy Spirit now dwells in all believers, and we have access to constant communion with Him whether we realize that and avail ourselves of its benefits or not.

            This brings me to another question that has been bothering me for some time. Why do we call the church building God’s house? The scriptures say that we, the believers in Christ Jesus, are God’s house. Hebrews 3:6 says, “but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” If we believe that the church building is God’s house, then how does that reconcile with the scriptures that tell us that we, His believers, are God’s house? Ephesians 2:19-22 also speaks of where God dwells. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Clearly, the Body of Christ, composed of all believers, is God’s house.

             If the scriptures teach that the believers in Christ Jesus are the temple and God’s house, then why do we contradict the teachings of the Bible by calling the church building the temple or God’s house? Also, since Jesus, our High Priest, has already made the only sacrifice that is necessary for our salvation (Hebrews 10), why do we still say there is an altar that we must come to when we worship God? An altar implies that there is a sacrifice to be made on it, but the scriptures tell us, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10  “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)  Are we demeaning the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross by insisting on another altar and another sacrifice? There is no need for an altar or another sacrifice. Christ has already accomplished all.

            The song goes on to say, “Jehovah God abides here,” speaking of the church building. How can this be? Does God live in a building? Does he dwell in all church buildings? To abide means to stay, so does God remain there during the week after everyone goes home? It seems to me that this would tend to give people the impression that when they leave the church building, they are no longer in God’s presence which would tend to make someone feel that they are no longer under His watchful eye. They only need to act holy when they are “at church.”  I know that sounds a little silly, but I have heard stranger things from people who attend “church.”

            The last part of the verse says, “we are standing in His presence on holy ground.” Where is His presence? Doesn’t scripture tell us that where two or more are gathered together in His name He is in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20), but scripture also teaches that His presence is in every believer. He indwells us! So, if the church building is holy ground, it is so only because of the believers’ presence there; however, the New Testament scriptures make no mention of “holy ground” in this regard. The only references to holy ground in scripture are Exodus 3:5 and Acts 7:33 which are both speaking of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush.  If we are seeking to “feel” His presence in a church building, then we are not recognizing His presence in us. Perhaps then, we have not been filled with the Holy Spirit as the scriptures command.  (Ephesians 5:18)

            To sum up, the scriptures teach that believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are God’s house. There is no need for an altar or a sacrifice. God dwells in us, and His Spirit goes with us wherever we go. Acts 7:48-50 states, “….the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, and Earth is the footstool of My feet; what kind of house will you build for Me?’ Says the Lord; ‘Or what place is there for My repose? Was it not My hand which made all these things?’” When we sing songs to praise the Lord, shouldn’t we sing songs that are truthful and honor Him for who He really is?  All believers should seek to be filled with His Holy Spirit so that His presence is with us every moment of the day. In my next post I will have more information on this topic of being filled with the Holy Spirit.