SCRIPTURE: Amos 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” [Amos 7:12-13]
Amos is accused of speaking against the holy structures (the throne, the city, the temple, the nation) and warned to speak no more.
It’s a sad day when the symbols of God replace God Himself in importance.
When God’s people forget what really matters, and are only concerned about their religious symbols and structures and systems.
To them, the temple was holy, and yet they did not treat God as holy.
How dare Amos speak against the temple, how dare he say that the king and the nation were going to fall.

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” [Matthew 24:1-2]
Deja vu, the prophet speaking against the structures… there’s going to be trouble!
Finally two (witnesses) came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” [Matthew 26:60-62]
Speaking against the temple, against the holy symbols and structures.
This accusation is repeated again against Stephen, the first christian martyr.
They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” [Acts 6:12-14]

What are the symbols, structures and systems that we honour (or worship) today.
Prophets today warn about our attachment to church buildings, denominational loyalties, hymnbooks, versions of the bible, orders or styles of worship.
Is it possible that the church today as we know it (look at all it’s buildings) is heading for a major upheaval?
There are rumblings in the church in the west, whispers of it’s demise.
No, the Church of Jesus Christ will endure forever, for the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church – but the church as we know it, the dominance of the western church and the clergy and the denominations we know and love?
I see signs of the crumbling structures within my own denomination, and the desperate attempt the repair the damage – but maybe these walls need to come down.
I am not calling for the walls to come down, but neither can I deny the possibility.
Our focus needs to be on renewing our calling and purpose, not on rebuilding our walls and structures.

PRAYER:
Lord, help me not to be distracted by the impressiveness of our buildings and programs and policies and systems – help me to stay focused on You and Your kingdom!