The Problem with Buildings

I just got a Christmas card from a particular denomination that had a picture of the new denominational headquarters on the front. This is symbolic with a lot of the problem with the church in general, and part of the reason so many people have a problem with “organized religion.”

Look at most church websites, and find the “about us” tab and most of the time, you’ll see a brief history of the church. It will include, and might even focus on, the various buildings. Then in 1996, we built an education building.  And in 2001, we moved into the new worship center.

And all the while, the church as a whole is spouting off about how the church isn’t a building and how they aren’t really necessary. But we don’t put our money where our mouth is.

One thing that being a 16-month-old portable church plant has taught me (and I hope I always remember it) is that it really isn’t about the building. We met in a movie theater; now we meet in a high school. We have an office, but that’s the only facility that we can call our own. This may change one day, or it may not. I don’t really care. The way I see it, every movie theater in the country could be a church building. I don’t believe we need a $8 Million “sanctuary” to reach people for Jesus.

I thought about writing into our bylaws that at the end of 30 years, the church would be required to sell all it’s buildings and split up on purpose into smaller churches and, in effect, start over. I don’t know if that’s really practical, but it would keep the focus off building shopping mall sized facilities. It would keep a movement of God from becoming a monument to a facility.

I’m not anti building…it can certainly be a tool.  I love the fact that Perry let people write all over the walls of their new building - that’s a focus on the people.  I love the fact that Francis Chan decided not to build a $30 million building, but instead, have church outside so they could do more for the Gospel around the world. Buildings can be good tools…I just don’t think we’ll put a picture of ours on the front of a Christmas card.

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