7th February 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is the Church in exile and, if so, why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (This series of articles was written at the beginning of the first lockdown in March\/April 2020)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Previous articles are still available on the Premier Christian radio website – https:\/\/www.premierchristianradio.com\/Blogs2\/Yeshua-Explored \u00a0– (until they finally pull the plug!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the form of Temple worship had become corrupt and was a key reason for the Babylonian exile, its function<\/em> was for God\u2019s people to worship Him in a way prescribed by Him in His Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But you are to seek the place the <\/em>Lord<\/em> your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;<\/em> there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you<\/em>. (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The exile was the judgement from God for neglecting this function. But God\u2019s anger does not burn for ever and His mercy always wins through. He showed this by demonstrating how His people could still continue to worship Him in a \u201cstrange land\u201d. So, the time for exile was drawing to a close and it was time to return and rebuild His Temple and rededicate it as the<\/em> place for worship, according to His Word. Animal sacrifices needed to be made, to guarantee His protection and blessings over His covenanted people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the fact that Haggai was having to remind them of this, demonstrates that not all was well with God\u2019s people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/sup><\/strong>\u201cIs it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?\u201d<\/em> (Haggai 1:4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flockdown<\/em> (the separation of today\u2019s Church from its physical place of worship) has been a true blessing for those who have embraced the unique virtual environment that had opened up. Some have greedily devoured all in their path, become bloated and, in many cases, have poisoned themselves against future use of Zoom-type environments, through over-familiarity and unsavoury associations with a quarantined existence. Others have used it more sparingly, allowing themselves time to breathe and reflect and act upon. These are the people who are most likely to embrace the possibilities that will arise post-Lockdown, with a combined and complementary experience of virtual and personal, Hybrid Church<\/em>. But others will be longing for the way things were, the good old days, the familiar rituals, structures and programmes, the normality before Covid-19 disrupted all. Could these be those living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.<\/em>” (Haggai 1:6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where it gets awkward because, as I said earlier, evidence seems to indicate that the local church model is not always fit for purpose unless it involves enlightened godly leadership who put God firmly at the centre of every endeavour. Where is my evidence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n All will be revealed next week \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n