In Scripture, we see that the people of God are called the Church. In our culture, we’ve allowed the building to become the Church. Have you ever consideredwhat that means? That means that we have created a mentality where we can leave God behind. We can shove Him into a box, this building, and leave Him there until the next time we go “to Church.”

It’s a trick of the world to consider the building the Church instead of the people. It allows the world to convince many of us that we are free to worship on Sundays however we choose, but that we should never allow our convictions to shape our life. The true measure of your faith is not in your attendance of this service or that one on Sundays, but rather your steadfastness in living your faith outside of the body of believers. Surrounded by the Body of Christ, it’s easy to avoid temptation, but we must evaluate how strongly we rely on the Holy Spirit to resist the temptations that the world, the enemy, and even our very hearts throw against us when we are amongst the world.

I would never say anything against the necessity of being around the people of God, it is through our fellowship with one another that we grow and mature in our faith. However, we should never consider ourselves to be growing in holiness until we consider this fact; are we resisting temptation or merely avoiding it? Sadly, we tend to trap ourselves in this same box, never allowing our might to shine amongst those who do not walk in the faith.

Our “freedom of religion” has become our largest impedance. In allowing us to worship however we want, the world has actually been allowed to force or faith into a box. A neatly sealed, rarely opened, box. And our faith, much like our best closeted clothing, only sees use once a week.

Hollywood celebrities can feign sexual acts and use profanity before our children on public television, sin can be openly promoted, and yet a young child can’t give thanks to God before they eat their lunch in a public school, for fear that someone may be offended. This is the freedom that we celebrate.

We must remove God from this box and allow the Holy Spirit to move in us with boldness, never quenching the Spirit by submitting to the world.

“‘Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31).

Remember, my beloved family, wherever we are, whatever building we are in, we are the Church. Never allow the world to convince you that the teachings of the Church are to be limited to a single day, to a single location. We are the Church on Saturday night, Wednesday afternoon; at work, at home, or during the liturgy.

May God go with you, strengthening you and filling you with His boldness, to live according to His will at all times, my beloved family.