October 13, 2008

Sanctuary

Any place of refuge; asylum. Immunity afforded by refuge in a place.

I was struck by this word the other day. Sanctuary. A place of peace and safety. Such an interesting word to use for the main congrating area of a church.

8 comments:

Erin said...

Interesting indeed.

findservelove said...

Excellent. When the church becomes a place of safety and serenity, it starts to look just like a funeral home. Just add the soft organ music and lots of flowers. Wait...that was the church I grew up in!

KariBryant said...

I thought they'd changed that to "auditorium"!!! That is what I hear it called now ;)

Delirious said...

I think the best sanctuary is prayer

Valorosa said...

"In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation.
.............
"You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,
The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
"The LORD shall reign forever and ever."

First time as far as I can see that sanctuary is mentioned in the Bible

Valorosa said...

oops
Exodus 15 in The Song of Moses after the Red Sea crossing

Valorosa said...

"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.
"This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze,blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, rams' skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece.
"Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25

Valorosa said...

No physical sanctuary needed now

He dwells in our praises, good deeds and worship.

We are the sanctuary now ... the bride

The light on the hill ... and there used to be a teaching about a fire ember burning out if it wasn't going to church and joining with other fire embers there in a fake sanctuary.

I've found this not to be the case.

;-)