The place where I worship is the wide open places - so goes a popular song of some years ago.
In recent times mentioned in the Otago Daily Times is the topic of the chapel of Teschemakers (Oamaru), and particularly the marble altar therein, proposed to be moved to Holy Name Catholic Church in Dunedin.
I do not wish to dwell on that particular topic of the Teschemakers altar; the publicity on that issue does, however, pose some interesting points on where God is worshipped, the manner of worship and "aids" to such worship.
In the first few hundred years of Christianity I can well imagine there were few (if any) buildings dedicated to God worship, the faithful met in their homes and I can well imagine that the community leaders, bishops, priests and their congregation did not dress up in elaborate clothing, wearing instead their simple ordinary clothes.
I can further imagine a complete absence of elaborate altars (eating tables were more likely used) nor can I imagine statues of saints and angels at those worshipping assemblies. Despite the absences of such "worship aids", the early Christian religion spread like wildfire in the then known world; bibles were not readily available and most people couldn't have read them even if such scriptures were on hand.
Things changed, however, when the Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian and virtually ordered people to convert to that new religion . He enthusiastically encouraged constructing buildings to "the glory and honour of God".
Perhaps I oversimplify the developing situation when I suggest that following on from Constantine's time, the "faithful" swayed from one of their initial objectives of caring for the "poor and such" and directed much of their usage of money to the constructing of churches and adorning those new churches with elaborate altars and statues of saints and the wearing of dedicated priestly clothing. I can scarcely imagine the very early church leaders wearing mitres and expensive robes.
The ministry which Jesus exercised in his life was not concerned with religious practice but was about bringing help, comfort, healing and salvation to people. "People were the objective of Jesus", and in Matthew 25 he certainly directs us to follow that, namely: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting prisoners etc.
I'm not suggesting we destroy churches, the beauty of architecture and decorative art which can be helpful to direct our minds and hearts to worship. Music in churches also assists in God worship, but we need to refocus on the mission Jesus has given to us (to be found in Matthew 25).
Perhaps the Prophet Micah sums up what God wants of his children: "Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God". Jesus in Luke 4 certainly expands on that - "the spirit of the Lord is upon me", "He has appointed me to preach good news to the poor", "He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted and to announce that captives shall be released, the blind to see, the downtrodden shall be freed, and that God's blessings are on those who come to him!"
Focusing on the mission of Jesus must be our mission also. We need to carefully avoid distractions from our tasks. Alcoholics Anonymous is perhaps a good example of focusing on the organisation's objective - helping the suffering alcoholics. AA does not own any property.
Sadly, many Christian communities are often focused on building beautiful churches. I doubt that Jesus would be going to any court over the matter of an elaborate altar.
• Lance Bardwell describes himself as a boat-rocking Ecumenical Christian.
