The Christchurch Cathedral

Not One Stone Left Atop Another

God has told us in no uncertain terms that He is a jealous God.  He will brook no rival, no other "god" in His presence.  To tolerate idolatry is to kiss lies, and offer respect to the demons behind it. 

When His people elevate themselves or their accomplishments to the status of de facto idols we are warned that the wrath of God is kindled against us.  One modern manifestation of idolatry in the Church is the elevation of buildings to the status of demi-gods.  The brouhaha over the Anglican Christchurch Cathedral is just such a deformed imbroglio.


The Cathedral--a wonderful example of Gothic architecture--was effectively destroyed in successive Christchurch earthquakes.  Built in the centre of the city in the nineteenth century it symbolised the Christian foundations of the settlement of that city.  Now the people--mainly pagans--want the cathedral restored because it is such an icon of the city.  The Anglican Church, citing expert advice, has decided to dismember it and save whatever bits and pieces it can.  The public uproar is cacophanous--from non-Christians and Christians alike.

Now, we wish to state flatly that we are not neo-platonists.  We are not amongst those who wrongly believe that true religion consists only of the invisible, and that whatever is tangible and earthly is incongruent with the Kingdom of God.  We believe strongly in places of worship.  When resources allow they could and should be places of beauty and grandeur.  But this ought never obscure the fact that God is to be worshipped firstly and always in the beauty of holiness, not the grandeur of buildings.  Lest we overlook this obvious reality, God three times tore down the temple of our fathers as a judgement for idolatry. Shelley's words with respect to Ozymandius aptly apply to that monster, Herod the Great and the magnificence of the third Temple: "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair."  It remains broken to this day.  When His people elevate a building to the place of a god its doom is sealed.  The Anglican Christchurch Cathedral is no exception.   

The Anglican Church long ago decided that it had the right to elevate itself above the Word of the Living God.  Whilst sections and pockets within the Anglican Church remain ardently faithful to the undoubted Christian faith, the denomination as such long ago decided that the offence of the Gospel and the Scriptures was too much to bear.  The fact that the future of the Cathedral is being argued by a female bishop in Christchurch ironically betrays this to the world.  Long ago Anglicanism decided that the Word of God was in error when it prescribed the ruling and teaching offices of the Church were open to men only.  The "faith of our fathers" had to be made to move with the times, don't you know. 

To those Christians in Christchurch lamenting the loss of the Cathedral, we acknowledge your sadness, but you can live in sackcloth and ashes only so long.  Your God is far greater than any building.  Can you contain the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth in a building?  He will meet with you in taverns, school halls, and civic centres--as many of you now know and experience.  We have heard of faithful Anglican clergy declaring such fundamental truths to their flocks.  They have seen the blessing in the adversity--a clarion call from the God of our fathers that the mission of the Church is not to lament over fallen buildings as if they were semi-divine, but to preach the Gospel to every creature.

To the extent that the Anglican communion found more pleasure in a beautiful building than in the beauties of the Living God it is a boon that the idols of the heart have been literally broken.   

We understand that on Sabbath days, the Cathedral was largely empty.  Gone were the great congregations of suppliant worshippers of old.  The ruin of the cathedral was already evident, long before God's voice shook it to the ground.  Let us humble ourselves and learn the lessons before it is too late for us all. 

To the pagans who lament the passing of the Cathedral and have found occasion to criticise the decision to dismember it we say, "man up".  If it means so much to you, buy the thing and rebuild there what you like--a centre for the adulation of Man would be appropriate to, and congruent with, your idolatrous hearts.

But as for us, and our houses, we will serve the Living God.