Because It’s Easier To Just Compartmentalize
Great cathedrals seem to be holy places…
Like God actually lives there.
When you step in, the beauty, size, and magnificence takes your breath away.
Your natural reaction is to move slowly, quietly, and with reverence.
Even the shape of the building pulls your attention heavenward.
Being in a cathedral causes us to be more mindful of God.
I guess that’s a pretty cool thing.
But it also can reinforce a compartmentalized view of God and his presence—that’s not so cool.
I think it’s kinda funny that my church lacks all the cool cathedral qualities.
It’s not beautiful or big or magnificent in any way.
It doesn’t cause people to move slowly or quietly or with reverence.
We have a preschool that operates through the week here. Things get all messy and dirty.
We even had a stray cat sneak in and stay for a few days. We discovered this because of “evidence.”
I don’t think anyone has the impression that God lives in the NWLife Church building.
A cat, maybe. God? No.
And that’s OK. Why? Because of what the Bible says:
God does not live in houses built by human hands. (Acts 7.48)
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you. (1 Cor. 6.19)
Indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17.21)
God doesn’t live in man-made structures, temples, church buildings, or cathedrals.
His Spirit lives in us.
But we often function as if God lives in churches and cathedrals—and not in us.
Why? Because it’s easier to just compartmentalize.
On Sunday, we go to the “God box” and get a spiritual tune-up. We confess and repent for all the bad stuff we participated in since the last time we did church. We get filled up and pumped up—ready for another week or two out in the world without God. Then we say goodbye to the box we have for God until next time…
Extra-credit people have “devotion time” – another box for us to meet with God in.
So, what about all the rest of the time?
Where is God then?
Where is God when we’re road-raging?
Where is God when we’re having too much to drink / too much to eat?
Where is God when we’re mocking and judging another one of his kids?
Where is God when we’re fighting with our spouse?
Where is God when we’re cheating on our taxes?
I know this: He’s not taking a nap on a row of comfy green chairs at NWLife Church, waiting for Sunday to roll around so He can hear about how everyone’s week went.
He’s not in a box. He is in you, He is with you.
Great. This means He’s with me when I’m sinning?
That’s kind of a hard pill to swallow—which is why it’s easier to just compartmentalize and think of God as being in the boxes we have for him.
I’m not criticizing going to church or having devotions (spending time reading your Bible and praying). Those things have significant purpose—and the Bible tells us to never quit doing them (see Hebrews 10.25, 1 Thessalonians 5.17, James 1.22).
Here’s what I am saying:
God is with you every moment, everywhere, all the time, in the good and in the bad, when you’ve got it together and when you’re falling apart, when you haven’t sinned yet since your last confession and when you are sinning…
His Spirit will never leave you (John 14.16).
God doesn’t stay in our boxes because we have the Spirit of God with us constantly.
This means we have life WITH God—not just compartments of life where we keep Him or meet with Him.
