The Scripture refers to us, the followers of Jesus, as "living sacrifices." This is commonly referred to as an oxymoron (a la "Jumbo Shrimp", "Found Missing", "Microsoft Works") for a sacrifice is dead and, therefore, cannot possibly be living. Notice, however, that the phrase is not "tithing sacrifices", "preaching sacrifices" or any other kind of sacrifices. No, the term is LIVING sacrifices, denoting life, day to day, moment to moment sacrificial living. In other words, doing everything as unto the Lord God (1 Cor 10:31).

Do you get it? We, the Church - NOT the edifices, but the PEOPLE - are supposed to be the containers of the glory of God. Better yet, the DISPENSERS of the glory of God. Jesus called us "the light of the world" – NOT our buildings and certainly Not our manmade denominations. Too often, even Protestants have the attitude that God is in the church house. Friends, God doesn't show up anywhere, including church services, until you get there. You bring Him WITH you! Too often, the gatherings taking place within these structures are replete with unscriptural ritualism demonstrated nowhere in Scripture, or they've become mere social clubs that rarely reveal lives that have been radically changed. The bodies in there, going through endless motions, and droning worship songs, too often offer lip service with hearts far from God. The glory has gone. The individuals, and the organization which they comprise, have become Ichabod.

So, is your church an Ichabod or is it the house of God?

It's NEITHER! God doesn't live in ANY building anywhere on the face of the earth. He lives within YOU. In fact YOU are the Ark of the New Covenant, carrying with you the very presence and power of God EVERYWHERE you go. Problem? The vast majority of those who call themselves "Christian" (literally meaning, "a little Christ") don't believe that. Not only that, most of us have never been taught that. Instead, we've been conditioned to believe God is "out there" somewhere. We hear songs like "God is watching us" by Bette Midler and "What if God were one of us?" and we base our theology on this stuff rather than the Word of God.

So, is God really within you, desiring to live THROUGH you or isn't He? Does the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead live within you or is God a liar? Will His disciples REALLY do greater things than He did or was Jesus out of His mind? Does the verse “In Him we live and move and have our being” apply to anyone you know? The truth is, God DOES live within us and He does some pretty incredible things through those who have decided to believe that every Word of Scripture is absolute truth.