Answer
Dedicating a house or apartment to the Lord is a practice many Christians follow. In dedicating a house, residents are making a statement to themselves and to the Lord that this is His house and that they are committed to protecting it from evil influences. Dedicating a house is a tangible reminder that God is present; therefore, all activities, entertainments, and conversations within the house should honor Him.
The practice of home dedication has roots in the Old Testament. When Abraham and other patriarchs moved to a new location or had a special encounter with the Lord, they often built an altar in that place and named it after their experience (Genesis 12:7; 13:18). For example, when God provided a ram for a burnt offering instead of Isaac, Abraham built an altar in that place and called it “The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided’” (Genesis 22:13–14). When God called Gideon to be the leader of Israel’s armies, “Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace” (Judges 6:24). In Exodus 17:15, God declared a victory for Israel, so “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.”
The idea of house dedication may also have a foundation in the New Testament, based on the account of Jesus driving the money changers from the temple (Matthew 21:12–13). At that time, the Lord reclaimed a building for the glory of God by first driving out wickedness. He called the temple “my Father’s house.” When a Christian family dedicates their home to the Lord, they are stating that place will be their Father’s house. It is an offering, as they invite God to use their home in any way He chooses.
The Bible gives no instructions on how to perform a house dedication and has no command to perform one. Any ceremonies or procedures put forward for house dedication are man-made. For believers who wish to dedicate their house to the Lord, a simple prayer will suffice. There is no need to call in a priest, sprinkle water, or handle particular objects. There is definitely no reason to resort to smudging or other pagan, superstitious practices. House dedication is simply a choice some Christian homeowners make when they want to partner with the Lord in every avenue of their lives. As Jesus reclaimed the temple, His followers reclaim a house or apartment for the glory of God. In dedicating a house, it is important to make sure that the people living in it are also dedicated to the Lord and are committed to His wisdom: “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” (Proverbs 24:3–4).
