Q10. Buildings

[Pastor Ralph]

Q10. How do church buildings relate to the central mission of the Church? What is the place of building worship buildings (such as Solomon’s Temple) that express the beauty and glory of God? What is the place of building functional houses of worship that conserve resources for other tasks?

[Krissi]

I find European cathedrals captivating. I have felt His presence when entering a building that soars high into the sky, as my footsteps echo in the empty space between the pews and the ceiling, and my eyes adjust to twilight-like light filtered through stained glass windows. It’s difficult not to imagine the generations of craftsmen who made these beautiful buildings … the masons, carvers, glass-makers, etc. They stand as a testimony to the values of eras past, to the mysteriousness of the gospel, the inaccessibility of God. They also represent a time when people stayed in one place, had a longer sense of history stretching back and forward in time, and were confident that their contribution to a collective building project was both blessed by God and socially significant.

And that’s sorta the problem. We’ve changed. Today, these buildings are empty, or mostly empty, with gawking tourists and only a few worshippers. They point to the past, not the future. They recall a European civilization that was, not is, and, sadly, too, a faith that was, but is no more. Cathedrals feel more like museums than places of worship; though I want to worship God there, I can’t quite settle down enough to focus on Him.

So, I really don’t know how buildings relate to the central missions of the church – evangelism, worship, fellowship, etc. Perhaps, again, there will be a time when communities come together in fellowship to create beautiful buildings in which to worship. These would be buildings worthy of God’s presence. Buildings that represent the best craftmanship that ordinary mortals can make. Buildings that are like offerings of time, effort and perhaps even lives spent creating an object that glorifies God.

I lived in Paris for three months last year, about a mile from an old cathedral that was being renovated. Almost all Parisian cathedrals are in various states of disrepair. This particular church had a huge hole in the ceiling through which decades of water had dripped. Apparently, it had never been repaired. So few Parisians are Christians, now, that cathedrals aren’t supported by parishes. There aren’t enough wealthy Christians to pay to repair their own churches! Thus, the government subsidizes their repair, not because the government gives a rip about faith or God, but to increase tourism. I know this may sound weird, but I feel a heaviness in many cathedrals, a sense of death, not life … of god-denying not God-upholding. I think this is because the repairs are not being done by the faithful, but by the faithless. This may not show, but it “feels.”

This aesthetic malaise, a sense that Christians can no longer create with the Spirit’s inspiration and help is pervasive in contemporary churches. We don’t come together to create over a span of generations. Most of our architecture is local and dull, cookie cutter churches lacking the feeling of mystery which old cathedrals had in spades. Churches don’t look any different than government buildings, for example. Or, schools. Or storefronts. They’re utilitarian not transcendent. Ugly, even.

Pastor Ralph’s question juxtaposes our time/money/creativity going to missions vs. that going into building projects. Yes, there’s a zero-sum quality to our time and money, that what we give here we take from there, but … I don’t know … maybe, just maybe, we can make our churches stand out a bit as places of mystery, beauty, transcendence, color, craftmanship and the giving of our best? For Him?

I come from an “ancient” puritan background that values plain interiors and simple buildings. Admittedly, I find it easiest to worship God in an atmosphere of silence and with my eyes shut. But I do feel that something is missing in my spiritual life, that sense of wonder and awe, beauty and transcendence, pride in what human hands have wrought motivated by a love of God in community.

[Clelie]

Church buildings is to gather the body of Christ for cooperate worship, fellowship , teaching the word of God  and exercising   the gifts of God and mainly to spreading  the gospel of God to bring people to the living  God. 
 

Such a building is not the purpose  of today’s churches but they should rather be functional and use the finances that would have been used  for a more elaborate building for other more needed purposes that will glorify  God.

[Katy]

Q10.I don’t think a church building is central to the mission of the church. Not every group of Christian’s have a church building but the work goes on and people come to know the love of God. However a church building does provide a sense of belonging and security. The Christians in the church may be paying a mortgage on the building but it will eventually belong to the church. If the church group are paying rent it will never belong to the church and there is no guarantee that the premises will be available indefinitely. 
In the past beautiful churches were built to honour God. They can be seen all over Europe. Many are in decline needing much money spent on them. Also we live in a more secular society who have little or no interest in God or the things of God. Many today have no interest in going into a church. 
Things have changed, church's tend to be buildings that are practical and may have multiple uses apart from church services ie children’s outreach clubs, meal preparation for the poor/ homeless, food banks. These ministries are all carried out for the Glory of God. So although churches today may be practical, multifunctional spaces, they can, I think bring much Glory to God. I am sure God would prefer to see money spent on looking after the poor, and teaching children about Him at club than the church building being opulent and ornate. That is as long as all who are involved are giving God all the Glory and spending time in His presence daily.

[mary ann peck]

We are the church.  a building is a building no matter how beautiful.  our mission is to go into the world and tell all the good news of salvation.  what a holy gathering when the people of god can enter into His presence and worship Him. 

[Janzie]

On 3/18/2024 at 7:20 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q10. How do church buildings relate to the central mission of the Church? What is the place of building worship buildings (such as Solomon’s Temple) that express the beauty and glory of God? What is the place of building functional houses of worship that conserve resources for other tasks?

Multiplying church buildings is not the central mission of the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ.  Our mission is to spread the Good News of Jesus that sets men and women free from sin to enjoy God's grace and presence.

The place of building worship buildings such as Solomon's Temple that express the beauty and glory of God, are  beautiful but not what God desires.  We are His Temple and we are to express God's beauty and glory from within.

Building functional houses of worship that conserve resources for other tasks is what should be.  We are the body of Christ gathering for Worship, hearing the Word of God and being built up in the faith, loving one another and using the resources for missions, and those in need.  No need for extravagant spending on things that are not needed.  We could worship anyplace, it doesn't have to be luxurious.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q10.

How do church buildings relate to the central mission of the Church?

Church buildings is stationary and glorified, and is a heavy financial burden. 

The central mission of the church is to be on the move to spread the Good News of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

What is the place of building worship buildings (such as Solomon’s Temple) that express the beauty and glory of God?

Temples are related to Moses Temple, as it was handle with the highest reverence although it was temporary structure. Therefor the brick Temple building have to be glorious because a Glorious GOD is worship in it.      

What is the place of building functional houses of worship that conserve resources for other tasks?

As the building is stationary, the local congregants are bound for other tasks.  

[hanks]

Q10. 
How do church buildings relate to the central mission of the Church? What is the place of building worship buildings (such as Solomon's Temple) that express the beauty and glory of God? What is the place of building functional houses of worship that conserve resources for other tasks? 
I remember the first time I went into a Cathedral I was over overcome by its beauty, size, and the intricate finishes inside, that I hardly heard a word preached. So, as in my case, it can be a distraction. I do feel that such magnificent buildings remind me of how majestic our Lord is. Also, His excellence, His greatness, and His worthiness - they stand as a testimony to the glory of God. Today we are His living temples that make up His church, every individual believer is also a temple of God indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 1 Pet 2:5). I also feel that instead of building these huge/enormous churches we should be concentrating on living a life of obedience, and on the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and not be sidetracked by religious activity that such a huge church would involve.