What does it take to build God’s Church? (Ezra 4:1-3)

From our modern context, the returnees’ categorical refusal of help from local people feels harsh. Some commentators condemn the exiles and blame them for the subsequent retaliation that comes on them. Is this a fair assessment though? Interpreting Scripture involves understanding the priorities in biblical times as well as being aware of our modern sensitivities. We are troubled by the exiles’ actions because inclusion is so highly valued in Western culture, whereas exclusion, especially on religious grounds, is largely unacceptable. Further, the context of a church is very different in that our services are more like a ‘marketplace’ where not everyone is necessarily a committed believer or even a Christian in the first place. Thus, we would need to think carefully about how we can draw any application from what we read.

Who were these people?

It is important at the outset to seek out the Bible’s perspective on the matter. Not every action reported in Scripture is to be approved, so we must take our cue from how biblical writers portray an issue. In this case, it is made clear that those who have approached the Jewish leadership were enemies (Ezra 4:1). Thus, we cannot take their offers of help at face value. By their own admission, their worship of Yahweh dates to their settlement in the land by the Assyrian king, Esarhaddon (Ezra 4:2). We know from 2 Kings 17 that after the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity (722 BC), foreign people groups were settled in the land, and they ended up with a syncretistic religion that mixed the worship of Israel’s God with that of idols (2 Kings 17:41). Esarhaddon would have come to the Assyrian throne some twenty years or so after the events in 2 Kings 17, but the reference to him in Ezra suggests that this re-settlement programme was continued for a while after the initial efforts.

What is at stake in building God’s temple with idolaters?

Imagine then the returned Jews, who were deeply conscious that the exile happened because of their sin, because they failed to worship the true God and Him alone. How could they allow this group that very likely practised a syncretistic faith to get involved in building God’s holy temple? What if they had joined the project and suggested added features such as decorations of animals or humans that represented God or an extra altar for another god or two (all common features in the pre-exilic worship of Israel-Judah)? The leadership rightly sense that building God’s temple with idolaters would jeopardise the whole enterprise and categorically refuse the offer (Ezra 4:3).[1]

The leadership here takes responsibility for the long-term spiritual well-being of the people. They simply cannot afford to repeat the sins of the past – there is too much at stake. To give a comparable example from the sphere of physical healing, we are all grateful that individuals who have not qualified as doctors cannot become GPs and surgeons.

Safeguarding the worship of God

As I mentioned in my post on reconnecting with God, a physical building is no longer the centre of our worship in the Christian faith. Rather, the aim is to build up the Church, the people of God. The exiles wanted to preserve the faithful worship of God, so should we as Christians. For healthy spiritual growth, people need to be fed wholesome ‘food’ and it is the leaders’ responsibility to check that the flock is not poisoned with anything rotten. In other words, church leaders must ensure that preachers, youth and children’s workers, for instance, teach and preach God’s Word faithfully. Those in upfront teaching roles may disagree about some questions, but in the central doctrines as summarised by the Church’s creeds, they need to be in agreement.[2]

While this is primarily a responsibility of leaders, the challenge of what we contribute to the building up of the church is for all of us. No one is to be excluded because they are sinful and fallible people, but we are called to speak, act, and engage with church members in ways to help each other grow in the faith. May we set an example with healthy practices and an attitude that demonstrates God’s love, forgiveness and truth so that we may all draw closer to God.

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[1] We must bear in mind that the Jews at this stage had no other option. Conversion would be the obvious answer for us to their dilemma, but this was simply not recognised as a concept or pathway to join the people of God, despite the odd exception like Ruth in Israel’s earlier history. The leadership could also have corrected these people and taught them the right way of worshipping God, but possibly the Jews recognised a false spirit in them that wanted to disrupt rather than help the work.

[2] One such creed would be The Apostles’ Creed, another The Nicene Creed. The point is not the policing of people’s thoughts in minute detail or expelling congregation members but in creating a framework for faithful biblical teaching done in an official capacity in the church. It is like setting certain hygiene guidelines for the preparation of food in restaurants.

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