Sacred Spaces





"Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs."

Psalms 66:4 (NLT)



The contrast could not have been more vivid.



As I walked through the church's fellowship hall, the gleaming chrome of the kitchen, sparkling tile floors, and long tables told of meals shared. In the same space was a fan of a hundred chairs, facing a stage where speakers, microphones, and percussion instruments said contemporary worship.



Coming out of there into the chapel was a shock to my soul.



While everything I left immediately behind me had the feeling it was interchangable - replaceable, what surrounded me now was timeless.



The vaulted ceiling's arches lifted spirits to the heavenlies. Echoes shouted from every window, every door. Old walnut paneling and pews were carved by craftsmen and worn smooth by generations. Coloring everything within the space was the stained glass window of Christ the Shepherd.



Of interest to preachers, there were two pulpits. But the space needed no words.



I could feel the need of the artist in stained glass to speak to a little girl, scared that her family was never going to be the same, to have Christ say to her, "I'll hold you like this lamb."



I could hear the passion of the craftsmen who constructed the mighty pipe organ resting in the loft to shout to all that would hear - "He is risen!"



I could see through the woodcarver's skill in his shaping of symbols of the faith surrounding the altar, his desire to show that the faith would endure forever.



Everything in this space seemed set apart for one purpose - to glorify God.



Friends, I am thrilled by modern expressions in music, in the arts, that bring glory to God and people closer to His arms. But is it only the preacher, the singer, the musician who can speak? Where are those who would praise God with the works of their hands and create such sacred spaces?



As we move forward into the future, let's not forget those places built to express an assurance that God has spoken and will speak to those who sincerely seek to hear His voice. We need more sanctuaries and less McChurches.





Grace!



David



This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.