When God told Israel to make Him a sanctuary, they followed His plan, and it was by far the most beautiful of all the tents of that people. The temple which Solomon built was a most magnificent structure; yet he did not feel that he had gone too far in his expenditures to make God's house attractive.
As a denomination we hold the second coming of Christ as one of our leading doctrines. Doubtless this conviction has led us to dispense with unnecessary expenditures, both in our manner of living and in our houses of worship. This, of course, is the right course to pursue when not pressed to extremes. Yet this has led to neglect of God's house to the place where, in some instances, it has been a disgrace.
Men and women are about the same wherever we find them, and they are greatly affected by their surroundings. There has come in among most of our churches a spirit of irreverence which is most distracting and distressing, especially to those who come in from other churches in which decorum is looked upon as the first essential to prayerful supplication. Has this not been brought about, or greatly increased, because of the condition of our houses of worship ? They are all too often dirty and unkempt, and in some cases unfit for public assembly.
It is my conviction that if we are to attract the masses by our message, and hold their interest, we should have representative places of worship. Should the church not be repaired and made ready before we endeavor to evangelize the community? If new believers find a clean, neat, well-decorated church, are they not more apt to be impressed with their newfound faith ?
In many cases we wait until the new converts become members before we get the burden to repair the house of God. We have always been a missionary people, and the needs of the mission fields are continually held before our believers, which is as God would have it. But let us not add to the danger of leading new members to think they are being exploited, by immediately asking them for their help for something that should have been cared for before. It takes time to educate and build up systematic and generous giving. Therefore, let us have an attractive, well-kept church in which to receive these babes in Christ, and give them the impression that God makes His abode in the church of which they have become a part.
We are all aware of the fact that Seventh-day Adventists are not a wealthy people. They are in most cases poor, or have a limited supply of this world's goods. Yet it is surprising how much money we are able to secure when we talk about repairing God's house. One may find that the people are like the children of Israel in the days when Moses asked them for their gifts.
You will recall how God blessed His people after they built or repaired His house. Should we not look for the same results today ? The same spirit of worship will prevail, and the world will be impressed not only by our faith, but by our works.
It would be inspiring indeed to see how those who have been long in the way, and possibly catalogued among the chief offenders of reverence, change their attitude and become reverent and prayerful participants in the worship hour, if provided with a suitable house of worship.
Let us as workers foster and keep alive in our own hearts, and in the hearts of those who attend our church services, a realization that the church of Christ is to be a model of order, reverence, neatness, and cleanliness. This cannot be done in a run-down, dilapidated, poorly equipped church building. Evangelism, to my mind, should be preceded by a systematized remodeling program to prepare a well-ordered home for those new in the way.
