Cincinnati is one of many historically important cities in the United States. One of the most distinctive architectural features of Cincinnati is the plethora of Catholic churches scattered throughout the city and its suburbs. For example, the St. Andrew Catholic church in Avondale was built in 1920 and still stands today. In fact, there are at least ten Catholic churches built between 1920 and 1939 that are still standing and in use today as places of worship. Cincinnati is an old and holy city because of its myriad of churches and the city’s reputation as the center for the Restoration Movement.
Jesus and Paul gave Christians a new understanding of what the temple of God looked like. Paul explained to his churches that “we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Cor. 6:16). Christians today are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and therefore and a portable holy place everywhere they go. In light of that, Paul encourages his churches to live as “‘separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Cor. 6:17).
Cincinnati Christians should be reminded that they are the holy place where God chooses to dwell every time they see or enter a church. Church buildings in Cincinnati are places for the Church to gather and worship as communities; however, when followers of Christ leave their churches on Sunday they take with them the presence of God. Cincinnati Christians should be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” and then take that presence to every person they meet. Christians in Cincinnati are holy places, spaces and lives where God meets with people in need of his presence; therefore, carry that presence well Cincinnati Christians.
For a survey of historic churches in Cincinnati visit:
http://queencitysurvey.blogspot.com/2009/05/historic-catholic-churches-o...
Comments