{"id":3917,"date":"2011-04-15T17:59:50","date_gmt":"2011-04-15T21:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=3917"},"modified":"2011-04-15T19:45:21","modified_gmt":"2011-04-15T23:45:21","slug":"condemned-church-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/condemned-church-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Condemned Church Buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many believe there is no harm in church buildings. In fact, most believe that there is more harm in not having a building because of how they provide convenience for gathering, a social identity for the people, and a position of prominence in the community. While it could easily be argued that these are not truly beneficial, but detrimental, there are two other main problems with church buildings and how they hinder the church\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

First, buildings bind the church with financial burdens. The biggest two expenses in most church budges are pastoral salaries and mortgage payments. Imagine how much money could be freed up for local and global missions if one (or both) of these budget items disappeared? A gathering of believers must ask themselves if a mortgage payment every month\u2014whether it is $500 or $5,000\u2014could accomplish more if put toward helping the poor and sick in the community.<\/p>\n

Second, buildings blind the church to the idea that mission can take place outside of the building. Many churches that own buildings seek to justify the cost of the building by holding every possible meeting and outreach within the building. If the church decides to feed the hungry, they cook the meal in the church kitchen, set tables in the church dining hall, and invite the poor and the hungry to come to the church for a free meal. While feeding the hungry is not bad, it is not best done inside the four walls of a church building. And this is just one example. Look at any church calendar, and you will see that most of the weekly and monthly activities that are done inside the four walls of the church building, could also be done out in the community, and probably with greater impact.<\/p>\n

For these reasons, the church building must be condemned. The construction of a building must no longer be the default position in local churches, where those who do not want to build must defend their position to those who do. Rather, the default position among local churches should not be to spare no expense in their construction, but to avoid church buildings at all costs. A building might be necessary in some extreme cases, but construction should commence only after careful consideration of the missional and theological ramifications.<\/p>\n

What are some reasons you can think of where owning a church building justifies the expense and theological confusion that comes with it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are two main reasons that church buildings hinder, rather than help, the church accomplish her mission. 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