Recently, dignitaries and world leaders gathered in Paris to attend the opening ceremony of the restored Notre Dame cathedral. Since the fire in 2019, the works of art, relics, icons, and artifacts have been restored, and the famous steeple rebuilt—costing over 800 million dollars. It is an architectural masterpiece but a religious facade.
While watching some of the televised coverage, I could not help but think of Paul’s words on Marrs Hill; “God does not dwell in temples made with hands.” He warned us, “not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man” (Ac. 17:24, 29).
While world leaders came to see and be seen, few will faithfully worship God once back home. Notre Dame will return to being nothing more than a tourist attraction (15-20 million a year), and a shrine to man’s distortion and ignorance of true worship of God. “Thus says the Lord, Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool, where then is a house you could build for me?” (Isa. 66: 1). Christ did not die to provide a place where famous sculptures could be displayed or where tourists could admire the work of great architects. He died to save people, not a steeple.
-Dennis Doughty
