We put so much money into buildings these days. We seem to have this philosophy that says, "If we build it, they will come." And boy, not only do we build it, but we build it big and spend lots of money on it.
Just a reminder...
- Jesus doesn't care what the color of the carpet is in your building.
- Jesus doesn't care if the pews are padded or not.
- Jesus isn't concerned about paint colors or stained glass windows.
- Jesus IS concerned about people.
I don't know what Jesus would think about our multimillion dollar buildings, but I have my ideas. I think he might just be more comfortable worshipping out in the church parking lot or in a field across the street. Who knows what would happen if Jesus visited our big fancy buildings today. I can see him chasing kids though the auditorium, washing dirty feet in water fountains, tearing holes in the roofs to get the crippled people in, feeding the homeless out of the refrigerator in the fellowship hall, inviting kids to swim in baptisteries and flipping over cash registers in the bookstores. At this point I can see a deacon running up to Jesus scolding him, "Jesus! What are you doing? Were you born in a barn?" And Jesus would say, "Yes, actually I was!"
I pray that our churches would not be defined by their locations, buildings or budgets, but by their love for lost people.
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21 Comments:
Wow. That's just sad.
DUDE! No link???
I was about to make a trip to Childress for a minute there...
i agree, but the only thing to possibly consider, is something i am not sure how to relate to today and our circumstances...
Matt 26:6-13
I can't help but wonder what Paul would think if he walked into one of our buildings. "I see that you are very religious..." He'd probably think he was in a pagan temple.
Grace and peace,
Tim
I remember at the Tulsa Workshop this year, one of the keynote tagteams said that the eldership of their congregation said "NO more money into the ground" that money needed to go towards ministering to their very large community and they had some crazy ministries (including a tattoo parlor). . . . "no more money into the ground" is the right attitude!!!
True Religion cannot be true unless it is all about outreach to those who are lost and helping the unfortunate...see James 1:27.
Great post Trey as usual.
Amen Trey! You said it perfectly!
Brogprophet - It is tough to wonder how to relate today's circumstances and changes. Different time and different century.
Tim - Exactly the verse I thought of.
Timbra - I heard that lesson too.
One more thought, and I know this is a different topic, but just think of how many missionaries that would love to go in to all the world, but can't because we have our money wrapped up in repaving the parking lot.
Trey, when I was at Sunset (fall of 1975) I had a roommate in the missions program and going out looking for support during the evenings and weekends. He discovered a church that had over $40,000.00 just sitting in the bank. He came back and told me that the congregation told him that they were saving that money to repave their parking lot. Didn't know that repaving was so expensive.
I linked over from Changing Tides, glad I found your blog! Very encouraging and thoughtful.
Grace and Peace...
Read the following in a book last night:
"Most of the goals of the modern church can be accomplished without God. All we need is people, money, and a common objective. Determination can achieve great things. But success is not necessarily a sign that the goal was from God. Little exists in church life to ensure that we are being directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit." Johnson
Sounds very much like the Crystal Cathedral out here in Anaheim, CA. I've often wondered how much more good we would (could?) do if we'd just get rid of the buildings and properties that cost us fortunes each year and eat up, by far, the largest percentage of our budgets and spend that money to help people. I suppose we'll never know, will we?
I know a church that just spent about $12k to refurbish the kitchen while the building itself is slowly falling down around them due to termite damage! Doesn't make sense to me.
My thoughts on spending money on church buildings can be summed up in one word: blah.
I like your blog and have added it to my favs.
-Wes
Pastor David's comment reminds me of a statement made in class last night at church:
"I wouldn't want to live a life that could be duplicated by someone else that doesn't know Jesus. I want my life to be such that it must have Jesus in it to live it."
Amen Brother, Amen! And look at the kidos at SIBI and AIM struggling to get their support together, and we worry about getting hot water in the baptistry. Although, I was proud of our hot water! LOL!
All of this "building" is based on the misconception that "If we build it they will come".
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Thanks for the prayers and stopping by.
Trey,
It doesn't shock me in the way this building was made. It is a sad reflection of Christianity and commitment that people want to make. A drive inn. We are living in a society now that have lost what the purpose of worship is about and who it is for. We must take out the I. It is no longer I but Christ. We need to be making committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Disciples that aren't pressed for time when it comes to worship or church.
I know those who are seeking the truth or searching for God and have never been in a church building aren't just going to wake up and say, "I'll go to that multimillion dallar building this morning." We need to be people, disciples are committed to getting out of our buildings and into our neighborhoods. Spend money on children homes, widows, orphans, helping those in need (paying bills, feeding the hungry, clothing those in need). I look at the way Jesus did ministry and he always took care of the physical need first. He fed the 3,000 and 5,000 and then taught. He healed people and then made it a point to offer forgivness and hope. He saved people physically (the woman caught in the act of adultry) then he offers spiritual forgiveness and challenges her to leave her life of sin. Do we do ministry the way Jesus did it? What would happen if we did? What would happen if we made it an effort to spend money, time, attention on those in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and streets who are lost? Wonderful post brother! Keep up the great job that you do with this blog! God bless you, your family and ministry in Childress. I hear nothing but great things. Praise God! Praise God!
Wow this one hits home. I can AMEN it. But I can add one more thing to pray for... that the "unchurched" or those seeking a church home, can look beyond the less then stellar building and see the love of the people inside. In today's world, I think the book is often judged by the cover. What would Jesus say to that?
Sadly, buildings and ego's have become a mark of our Christian culture.
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