The church has nothing to do with buildings or land, but it has everything to do with the people. The Old Testament does teach about a meeting place for the people of God. While the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God instructed them to build something that could be taken down and moved (i.e., the Tabernacle). Once they reached the land of promise God lead them to build a permanent structure (i.e., the Temple). Both the Tabernacle and Temple symbolized God's presence with His people.

This symbolic presence ended with the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. God came to live with humanity. But the world's reception of the Son of God was less than accepting. In fact, at the end of His time on the earth He had 11 trained apostles and 120 disciples (Acts 1:15). In human terms this would be considered a failure, but we know differently.

Before Jesus' ascension to heaven He promised the presence of the Holy Spirit who would indwell His followers (true believers) in a new way. His presence would no longer be located in a place, it would now be found in His people. It is interesting that the New Testament writers considered the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). All believers are now priests to God (1 Peter 2:9). Every Christian can go to the throne of grace with confidence because of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 4:16).

By default some of the first century Christians would continue to meet in the local Temple, but most just met in homes for practical reasons. Generous believers opened their homes to these small band of believers all over Asia. Most of the letters written in the New Testament we meant to be passed along from one congregation to another. In this way all the church would receive the proper grounding on spiritual issues.

The early church didn't have buildings to pay for or budgets to consider or insurance to buy. However, this is where we are today. I just want to stress that our devotion should not be to buildings whether they are old or new, our devotion must be to people. As we come to vote in a week let's all keep in mind this vision of the New Testament church. When I think in terms like this I am encouraged. I get excited to think of God's Church in terms of God's presence through His people. Church is not where we go, it is who we are!