Most of us have surely heard that the church building on the corner is referred to as “the house of God.” Have you ever heard the word “Ichabod”? Aside from the first name of the schoolteacher character in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the word “Ichabod” was originally mentioned in scripture. He then he named the child Ichabod, saying: The glory has departed from Israel! “because the ark of God had been taken” (1 Sam. 4:21). The original meaning of Ichabod is this: “the glory is gone.”
Logic tells us that the word “departed” simply denotes that there was glory before, and now there is not. The term originated in reference to what many call “the Shekinah glory (SHE’KEE’NA)”, which is the manifestation of God’s glory in the temple in Jerusalem, the place where God resided. This “Shekinah” was shown in various ways in Scripture, including the burning bush, the bright light when the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, etc. The Shekinah was only present when the Ark of the Covenant was in its proper place, in the Holy of Holies. Historically, whenever the Ark was NOT in the temple, the temple was said to be “Ichabod”. The true substance and meaning of the temple was missing. It was just an empty room at that time because the essence, the glory of God, was gone.
There are many references to the “glory of God” throughout the Scriptures. It is the direct reminder of God’s power and interaction with his people. The word “glory” is one that is often misunderstood. Although most would agree that the word implies praise, honor, and fame, a fuller definition includes the words splendor, magnificence, and radiance. Now, apply that definition to any verse about “the glory of God” and it changes its meaning in a powerful way.
Today, in this Age of Grace, the glory of God is manifested through the lives of those who truly serve him. Notice: through LIVES, NOT buildings. Our lives are meant to form the visible manifestation of God’s splendor, magnificence, and radiance. Until we renew our minds to this truth, it will not happen. When it does, through the ministry of a few, we see them as “holier” or “more spiritual” than the rest of us, as if they set the standard to which the rest of us can aspire. That’s unfortunate because if we’re going to compare ourselves to someone, that person should be Jesus. He alone is our banner.
Scripture refers to us, the followers of Jesus, as “living sacrifices.” This is commonly known as an oxymoron (à la “Jumbo Shrimp”, “Found Missing”, “Microsoft Works”) because a sacrifice is dead and therefore cannot possibly be alive. Note, however, that the phrase is not “tithe sacrifices,” “preach sacrifices,” or any other type of sacrifice. No, the term is LIVING sacrifices, which denotes life, day by day, moment by moment, sacrificial life. In other words, do everything as for the Lord God (1 Cor 10:31).
Do you understand? We the Church, NOT the buildings, but the PEOPLE, are supposed to be the containers of God’s glory. Better yet, the DISPENSERS of God’s glory. Jesus called us “the light of the world” – NOT our buildings and certainly not our man-made denominations. Too often even Protestants have the attitude that God is in the house of the church. Friends, God doesn’t show up anywhere, including church services, until you get there. Bring it with you! Too often, the gatherings that take place within these structures are replete with unbiblical rituals demonstrated nowhere in Scripture, or have become mere social clubs that rarely reveal radically changed lives. The bodies there, going through endless movements, and droning worship songs, all too often offer lip service with hearts far from God. The glory is gone. The individuals and the organization they include have become Ichabod.
So, is your church an Ichabod or is it the house of God?
Neither it is! God does not live in ANY building anywhere on the face of the earth. He lives inside of you. In fact, YOU are the Ark of the New Covenant, carrying with you the very presence and power of God WHEREVER you go. Problem? The vast majority of those who call themselves “Christians” (which literally means “a little Christ”) don’t believe that. Not only that, most of us have never been taught that. Instead, we have been conditioned to believe that God is “out there” somewhere. We listen to songs like Bette Midler’s “God Is Watching Us” and “What If God Were One of Us?” and we base our theology on these things instead of the Word of God.
So is God really within you, wanting to live THROUGH you or not? Does the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead live within you or is God a liar? Will his disciples REALLY do greater things than he did or was Jesus crazy? Does the verse “In Him we live and move and have our being” apply to someone you know? The truth is that God DOES live within us and He does some pretty incredible things through those who have chosen to believe that every Word of Scripture is the absolute truth.
Important problem? As I see it, there are three: (A) Preachers are not preaching this, (B) Christians are so Biblically illiterate that we have no idea what Scripture is and what is Poor Richard’s Almanac, and (C) We are so busy doing things the prescribed way in which we are oblivious to what the Lord wants his Church to do next.
All of this can change, but it begins with a radical, life-changing decision, one that each individual Believer has to make on their own. Do not wait for your pastor or priest to make the decision. Nor should he wait for his denomination to obtain an edict from headquarters. YOU only have to make the decision to raise your head from the crowd. When the lemmings head west, go ahead and head east. But be careful: one man’s obedience is another man’s rebellion. The traditional Church is known to attack anyone who follows the cloud. The things we see as commonplace were once considered radical. From church music to altar calls, many aspects of the church have suffered from “friendly fire” and still do.
It’s okay, you see, because it’s all about you and your personal obedience to what the Father is telling you, spirit to spirit. Too often, we have settled for Religion when what God wants from us is an intimate RELATIONSHIP. How can we be more intimate than allowing the Creator of all things to live THROUGH us in an effort to lead people from darkness into his glorious light?