I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your festive assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened oxen. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.But let justice roll out like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:21)

Woe to those who are carefree in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the dignitaries of the foremost of nations, to whom the house of Israel comes. (Amos 6:1)

I went to many different churches in my youth. And I heard people saying that the church building is a holy place, a sanctuary, etc. To many Christians, a church building or a place of worship is considered as a sanctuary or a holy place. People donate a lot of money when they build a church building or a place for worship. They encourage one another to donate more by saying that God should have a magnificent place to receive worship from many people. However, what they build is another tower of Babel.

The Reformation in the 16^th century helped us to separate from the Roman Catholic church. The Reformation taught us the basic knowledge of God including how we are saved and the way we should worship God in public. However, what I now see is that the Protestant churches are similar to the OT churches as if we are re-living the OT era. I feel that many people quote the OT wrongly and fail to connect the OT and the NT. The OT is a shadow of the NT. However, many ministers and theologians consider the OT as reality, not shadow. I heard the Reformers in the 16^th century grew their hair and beard long to look like the OT patriarchs. Churches, especially those who call themselves orthodox, focus on the Law, sins, and civil order, rather than the kingdom of God, which is the sole purpose of all creation. About this kingdom, God revealed it clearly through the works of Christ, who taught us the truths of God. The Son has revealed the reality of the kingdom where God dwells with His people forever. Now I see that some things did not go well since the Reformation.

Does God dwell in a certain place on the earth? The answer is no. God continuously communicates with His people through the Holy Spirit even when we do not realize His presence. God is not present only in a worship place or during worship ceremonies. God is always with His people even now.

… behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

We worship God on Sundays as the Reformers have taught us. And there are certain things that we include in a public worship such as reading the Bible verses, prayers, and listening to sermons. But we cannot say God is satisfied with our worship of Him just because we keep the forms of a public worship. God sees the hearts of all members of a church. God can reject and does reject worships from men regardless of the forms of worship.

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:16-17)

He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Even in the Reformed churches, people call a church building or a place of worship as “a holy place”. A church building or a worship place is not God’s dwelling place.

Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’ (Acts 7:48-50)

Amos 5 and 6 warn those who are at ease. Those who think they possess God’s blessings are about to receive God’s wrath.

The Lord God has sworn by Himself, the Lord God of armies has declared: “I loathe the arrogance of Jacob, and detest his citadels; therefore I will give up the city and all it contains.” (Amos 6:8)

Although the kingdom of Judah boasted of lawful worships and sacrifices to God, they could not escape His wrath. When everything is destroyed, God’s people will eagerly seek the real kingdom found in the Bible.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)