You're going to do that in church?!

              I can’t tell how many times I have heard an exclamation like this: “You’re going to do that in church?!” It is often times said in a joking manner, but it seems to stem from a certain way of thinking. The basic logic is usually something like this:

Church is a place set apart to worship God.

What you are doing does not worshipping God.

Therefore, what you are doing is not good.

I would argue that the first premise is not necessary to the conclusion.

                In the New Testament, Paul often refers to Christians as “saints.” The word “saint” is from the Greek word hagios. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, hagios is often a translation from the Hebrew word kadosh. In the Old Testament, kadosh can be used of God, but it is often used for things or people set apart for temple worship or set apart for God. In the New Testament, there is no temple. Paul uses the adjective hagios and uses it like a noun to describe Christians. In Ephesians 2:21-22, Christians are referred to as the temple of God. Christians are declared forensically holy and called to be holy in lifestyle.

                So, a better way to phrase the question above would may be, “You’re going to do that and you’re a Christian?!”