A New Sanctuary Dedication.

So I saw this "New Sanctuary Dedication" poster for a local "Baptist Temple" and got thinking ... Umm why do we call the facility in which the Church meets in the Sanctuary?

Afterall, aren't our bodies a living sanctuary - where the Holy Spirit dwells in?

In the Old Testament it was the tabernacle, then the Temple  .... And then Jesus dwelled among us.

1 Corinthians 6 talks about our bodies being a temple of the Holy Spirit. (19-20)

In Hebrews 9 it talks about Christ did not come to enter a man-made sanctuary. Christ lives in us.

So in reality this church isn't dedicating a "New Sanctuary" - they are dedicating a new facility in which they meet in and gather to worship.

A new Sanctuary dedication is one of 2 things.

1. Where Parents Dedicate to Raise their new infant in the Lord.

2. Where a person has just accepted Christ, and been baptized into Him.

Thus Parents trying to raise their child so he or she can follow Jesus or when finally decided to follow Jesus - receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and is indwelled with it.

We, as the Church, are a living Sanctaury for Jesus. Why? Because He dwells in us.

The Church isn't some building or brick or drywall. The Church is the people. Buildings and facilities are just tools to use.

Webster's defines Sanctuary as a Holy place. (Though they later say as part of a church, where services are held - thuus though they equate church = building rather than people) Christ died for a Holy place - you. Let's not forget that.