Jer 7:4-8 (NIV) Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!" (emphasis mine) 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
NOTE: What was the people's problem? They were trusting in religion. The put their hope on a building or activities or attendance to forestall God's discipline. The biggest hindrance to a relationship with God is a church building. Because we think that we meet with God in the church building. And there is some truth to that since Jesus says that where two or three are gathered in his name, there he is. But a church building is primarily for collective worship of the body. Individual worship does not require a building or a special place. People substitute church for a walk with God to their detriment. And as a result become religious, but never become Christians. They carry around the name, but not as ambassadors of Christ, but as self-proclaimed. The real family of God have individual personal relationships with the Godhead, and the Spirit of God living within them. Church buildings are nice but far, far from necessary.
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