Jesus was clear about God's heart related to the purpose of the corporate gathering of His people in Mark 11. "My House is to be a House of Prayer for all the nations." This statement was made in the context of Jesus clearing out the money changers in the temple courts. At first glance it might seem that Jesus was bothered about the selling of animals for sacrificial purposes. However, a closer look sheds light on the real issue, the lack of prayer which always manifest itself when relationship is replaced by religion. Israel had the religion thing down but at the cost of the relational aspect of true religion. In this context two things are clear to be. First, prayer must be primary to our church gathering times. In my observation of most church meetings, prayer is nothing More than a pause between songs, in which someone "prays over the offering." Again, a money changer mentality has crept its way into the meeting.
At Bound Grace Church we are trying our best to make prayer a major part of our worship gatherings. We pray scripture together, pray over people, and pray for one another on Sundays and also meet during the week for prayer in our Home Group Ministry. (By the way, if you need prayer email me and you request will be prayed over at our Prayer House meeting).
The second thing about this passage on the house of prayer is very interesting. Jesus said that God's house is to be a house of prayer for "all the nations." God is into worship gatherings were diversity is celebrated not just tolerated. It must be noted that Israel was, stand off-ish towards the non Jew, therefore the pagan cultures of the day were not welcomed guest into the temple courts.
Are the non chosen welcomed guest in our houses of worship?
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