God's Housing Crisis
Why should church buildings get so much of the financial, physical, and
social attention that is rightly due to the needs of Christians and
others?
Asked by Kofo Olomu, Cotonou, Benin
Answered by Howard A. Snyder |posted 04/28/2005 09:30 a.m.
Interestingly, church history shows an inverse ratio between dynamic
church
multiplication and preoccupation with buildings. Emphasis on buildings is
generally linked with relatively slow growth or even decline.
Rapidly growing movements generally put little stress on buildings,
tending
toward pragmatism and flexibility, meeting wherever they can. The
exception:
If large subsidies are available, rapid church growth and focus on
buildings
may go together for a generation or two before the building-centeredness
begins to sap church vitality.
Jesus showed a radical attitude toward the Jerusalem temple. He claimed
that
he himself fulfilled the temple's meaning and function.
Through Jesus true wor****p can occur any time, any place. Jesus says in
Matthew 18:20 , "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there
among
them." The physical temple is now theologically unnecessary.
an excerpt from: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/005/24.54.html
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