Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Why I Don't Like Church Buildings
Most people that know me know that I am not a huge fan of church buildings. But obviously most churches are huge fans. Almost every church I know has just finished, is in the middle of, or is about to start a building campaign. Here are some reasons I worry about our "edifice" complex.
We spend a lot of the Lord's money on bricks and mortar that really cannot be used much for kingdom business. I know we all dedicate our buildings to the Lord... but is it really a smart way to use our resources? Youth complexes that are used just a few hours per week. Children's wings that are used maybe twice per week. Big auditoriums that are used once per week (and rarely more than three times). Any church that has to say no to missions or helping those in need because of building projects and upkeep is sending a strong message about priorities.
And buildings are mainly for us. Selfish ministries and projects seem to contradict the way Jesus did ministry.
Buildings encourage a "come and get it" mentality instead of a "go and share it" passion.
Buildings enable a mindset that sees Sunday morning assembly (and class) as the focus of church life and ministry.
Buildings discourage real fellowship. And our auditoriums make it very difficult to have communion together.
Buildings really lend themselves to an entertainment model of church life.
And buildings don't last. Every church building I know will not survive forever. Church will, buildings won't.
And as much as we say that we know the difference... buildings are often confused with the church. Holy sanctuary instead of holy lives.
Buildings make it easy to show up, shut up, and never grow up.
So am I against any kind of church buildings? Nope. I live in a church building. Except we call it our home. We are church and our living room is a place where our everyday worship is lived out. Kingdom business happens around our kitchen table and in our living room. On our back porch.
And I think the next great wave of church growth will happen in our homes, not in our buildings.
Maybe worth thinking about. And praying about.
Where your treasure is will be where your heart is.
And maybe that is why so many Christians love their church buildings. It is where we have put our treasure.
We spend a lot of the Lord's money on bricks and mortar that really cannot be used much for kingdom business. I know we all dedicate our buildings to the Lord... but is it really a smart way to use our resources? Youth complexes that are used just a few hours per week. Children's wings that are used maybe twice per week. Big auditoriums that are used once per week (and rarely more than three times). Any church that has to say no to missions or helping those in need because of building projects and upkeep is sending a strong message about priorities.
And buildings are mainly for us. Selfish ministries and projects seem to contradict the way Jesus did ministry.
Buildings encourage a "come and get it" mentality instead of a "go and share it" passion.
Buildings enable a mindset that sees Sunday morning assembly (and class) as the focus of church life and ministry.
Buildings discourage real fellowship. And our auditoriums make it very difficult to have communion together.
Buildings really lend themselves to an entertainment model of church life.
And buildings don't last. Every church building I know will not survive forever. Church will, buildings won't.
And as much as we say that we know the difference... buildings are often confused with the church. Holy sanctuary instead of holy lives.
Buildings make it easy to show up, shut up, and never grow up.
So am I against any kind of church buildings? Nope. I live in a church building. Except we call it our home. We are church and our living room is a place where our everyday worship is lived out. Kingdom business happens around our kitchen table and in our living room. On our back porch.
And I think the next great wave of church growth will happen in our homes, not in our buildings.
Maybe worth thinking about. And praying about.
Where your treasure is will be where your heart is.
And maybe that is why so many Christians love their church buildings. It is where we have put our treasure.
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Good comments,I learned the lesson you speak of a long time ago.
Church buildings, et al are great for socialization in a community. We are fortunate to live in a country that allows the freedoms of religious expression, and the grandeur expressed that so often comes with many religions.
How many of us think "what if" I had been born in Pakistan or Iraq what religious choices would be availabe to me? On the news tonight I saw two truckers gunned down because their religious choice was not that of the gunman.
When I see that on the news, I wonder how many of us would die for our religion, and again I think "what if".
You are correct it is not about the building.
Church buildings, et al are great for socialization in a community. We are fortunate to live in a country that allows the freedoms of religious expression, and the grandeur expressed that so often comes with many religions.
How many of us think "what if" I had been born in Pakistan or Iraq what religious choices would be availabe to me? On the news tonight I saw two truckers gunned down because their religious choice was not that of the gunman.
When I see that on the news, I wonder how many of us would die for our religion, and again I think "what if".
You are correct it is not about the building.
Yes, somehow we have let church buildings define the boundaries of what we consider "church". We've limited our definition of church to what happens at the building or is listed in the church bulletin…and it's so much more. Lots of spiritual formation happens in church buildings, but so much more can happen if we expand our '"church" definition beyond those walls. Thanks for sharing, Steve.
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