Church Buildings
Introduction. History is clear that the early church did not own or build meeting places. The first documented church building was used near 250 A.D. Unlike the tabernacle and temple, the NT has no commands about where to meet. The church in Jerusalem met in one of the public areas of the temple (Solomon’s Porch — Acts 5:12). The church in Troas met in an upper room (Acts 18:8) and other churches in one of the homes of a disciple (Rom. 16:5; 1Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Philemon 2).
Yet even without specific commands, the cathedrals in Europe and beautiful church buildings all over the world manifest that man has placed high standards on his place of worship. The use of marble, gold and silver, along with intricate stained glass windows attest to it. In addition, the architectural grandeur, and massive nature of many of the structures dedicated to worship rival those of the capitals of most countries in the world.
Since there are no commands from God to build them, and no examples of the early church having a building, it is fair to ask why so much money contributed to the Lord is allocated to them. Since they are traditions of men, we won’t find answers in the Bible, so we have to consider it from a human perspective. First and foremost, as an act of respect and reverence to God, they are designed to reflect man's love and devotion to God. Second, they are made to create awe and spirituality among those who attend. I remember my mother comparing our modest church building with the glorious Episcopal Church buildings in England where she grew up. She did not think she could be as reverent in her worship in such a place. Third, over time, there is the need to follow the example of tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation.
Yet all of this is simply human wisdom and human tradition. There is no command or even an example that would give any credence to any of these things. The only authority God has given to the disciples to purchase or own a building is found in the command “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25) and Paul’s words to the Corinthians regarding the Lord’s Supper: “when you come together as a church,” and “come together in one place” and “when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1Cor. 11:18-20; 33-34). Since we are required to come together, we must have a place to come. Yet God has left it to our discretion. We can meet in our own homes, we can use or rent a public building, or we can purchase a place where we can meet to worship God and to study His word. Not once is an elaborate building commanded or inferred and there is not one example of a church that owned one.
Before deciding on the resources a church will allocate to their building, it is fair to ask some pertinent questions regarding the reasons for the building. Perhaps the most powerful argument that can be made for them is the example of the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. Some affirm this is all the proof necessary to reveal God wants massive structures and costly materials to manifest respect and strengthen the resolve of His people to serve Him.
But did they really accomplish that and was that God’s purpose? God initially revealed that they were to build Him a sanctuary and a place to abide with His people. In Hebrews God revealed that the inspired pattern of the tabernacle was given to Moses so a shadow of what was in heaven could be seen on earth (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:1-28). The tabernacle was designed by God’s inspiration and created exactly as God specified. “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it” (Ex. 25:8-9).
If any structure would have enhanced the spirituality of God’s people this tabernacle was it. The gold, silver, precious stones and spiritual symmetry could never be matched by man since God Himself gave the blueprints. From the moment this tabernacle was built until it was replaced by Solomon’s temple, it was the heart of Jewish worship. God’s presence between the cherubim, the daily sacrifices, weekly Sabbaths, annual feasts, incense and showbread were designed to remind Israel of their relationship to God. Surely all this would move Israel to zeal and great faithfulness. With such a monument to God’s glory and power the tabernacle must have produced amazing results!
Yet it never happened! The tabernacle did nothing to create or enhance awe and reverence toward God among Israel. It did not even help those who donated the materials to build it. Hear what God said: “I was angry with that generation, and said, They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest” (Heb. 3:10-11). So much for a beautiful structure having any impact! It certainly did not from Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan.
What happened next? “The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting” (Josh. 18:1). But soon after it was set up, “another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD... did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals... followed other gods ..., bowed down to them; and provoked the LORD to anger” (Judges 2:10-13). Not only did Israel leave the tabernacle, so did God. “They provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their carved images... He was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh” (Ps. 78:57-60). Most of the time the tabernacle existed it stood empty and forgotten both by God and Israel.
What about the temple? It was even more magnificent and was also inspired by the Holy Spirit. “The vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit... All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans” (1Chr. 28:11-12; 19). God “hallowed this house, which you have built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually” (1Kings 9:3).
But it too had little influence. Even Solomon himself was not helped by its presence, for he “built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of Ammon.” (1Kings 11:7-8). The temple had little affect on Solomon’s spirituality. But what of the rest of Israel? Surely their annual visits to the temple would protect and strengthen them. Yet as soon as Solomon died the ten tribes rebelled and under Jeroboam’s direction never returned to the temple in Jerusalem. Those who remained with Rehoboam also forsook it. “Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree” (1Kings 12:26-33 14:21-29). A careful study of the temple from the time it was built until it was destroyed by Babylon shows it too was forsaken far more than it was used.
Ultimately, God forsook it just as He had the tabernacle. “Go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works... therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh” (Jer. 7:11-12).
Though the tabernacle and temple rose far above the cathedrals or elaborate buildings of today, they never accomplished anything for spirituality or to impress others. It just doesn’t work that way.
Conclusion. What does God want today? No matter where Christians meet, they, “as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices” (1Pet. 2:5). Only God’s sanctified people “are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1Cor. 3:16). Those in the church are “joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22). Today material things mean nothing and prove nothing. “For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1Cor. 3:17). It is the personal consecration of the people and not the outward trimmings that reveal the gold, silver and precious stones (1Cor. 3:10-17). Since God meant for this to be, those who need more to feel spiritual are those whose wisdom God sought to destroy (1Cor. 1:18-31).
Yet even without specific commands, the cathedrals in Europe and beautiful church buildings all over the world manifest that man has placed high standards on his place of worship. The use of marble, gold and silver, along with intricate stained glass windows attest to it. In addition, the architectural grandeur, and massive nature of many of the structures dedicated to worship rival those of the capitals of most countries in the world.
Since there are no commands from God to build them, and no examples of the early church having a building, it is fair to ask why so much money contributed to the Lord is allocated to them. Since they are traditions of men, we won’t find answers in the Bible, so we have to consider it from a human perspective. First and foremost, as an act of respect and reverence to God, they are designed to reflect man's love and devotion to God. Second, they are made to create awe and spirituality among those who attend. I remember my mother comparing our modest church building with the glorious Episcopal Church buildings in England where she grew up. She did not think she could be as reverent in her worship in such a place. Third, over time, there is the need to follow the example of tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation.
Yet all of this is simply human wisdom and human tradition. There is no command or even an example that would give any credence to any of these things. The only authority God has given to the disciples to purchase or own a building is found in the command “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25) and Paul’s words to the Corinthians regarding the Lord’s Supper: “when you come together as a church,” and “come together in one place” and “when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1Cor. 11:18-20; 33-34). Since we are required to come together, we must have a place to come. Yet God has left it to our discretion. We can meet in our own homes, we can use or rent a public building, or we can purchase a place where we can meet to worship God and to study His word. Not once is an elaborate building commanded or inferred and there is not one example of a church that owned one.
Before deciding on the resources a church will allocate to their building, it is fair to ask some pertinent questions regarding the reasons for the building. Perhaps the most powerful argument that can be made for them is the example of the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. Some affirm this is all the proof necessary to reveal God wants massive structures and costly materials to manifest respect and strengthen the resolve of His people to serve Him.
But did they really accomplish that and was that God’s purpose? God initially revealed that they were to build Him a sanctuary and a place to abide with His people. In Hebrews God revealed that the inspired pattern of the tabernacle was given to Moses so a shadow of what was in heaven could be seen on earth (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:1-28). The tabernacle was designed by God’s inspiration and created exactly as God specified. “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it” (Ex. 25:8-9).
If any structure would have enhanced the spirituality of God’s people this tabernacle was it. The gold, silver, precious stones and spiritual symmetry could never be matched by man since God Himself gave the blueprints. From the moment this tabernacle was built until it was replaced by Solomon’s temple, it was the heart of Jewish worship. God’s presence between the cherubim, the daily sacrifices, weekly Sabbaths, annual feasts, incense and showbread were designed to remind Israel of their relationship to God. Surely all this would move Israel to zeal and great faithfulness. With such a monument to God’s glory and power the tabernacle must have produced amazing results!
Yet it never happened! The tabernacle did nothing to create or enhance awe and reverence toward God among Israel. It did not even help those who donated the materials to build it. Hear what God said: “I was angry with that generation, and said, They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest” (Heb. 3:10-11). So much for a beautiful structure having any impact! It certainly did not from Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan.
What happened next? “The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting” (Josh. 18:1). But soon after it was set up, “another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD... did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals... followed other gods ..., bowed down to them; and provoked the LORD to anger” (Judges 2:10-13). Not only did Israel leave the tabernacle, so did God. “They provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their carved images... He was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh” (Ps. 78:57-60). Most of the time the tabernacle existed it stood empty and forgotten both by God and Israel.
What about the temple? It was even more magnificent and was also inspired by the Holy Spirit. “The vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit... All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans” (1Chr. 28:11-12; 19). God “hallowed this house, which you have built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually” (1Kings 9:3).
But it too had little influence. Even Solomon himself was not helped by its presence, for he “built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of Ammon.” (1Kings 11:7-8). The temple had little affect on Solomon’s spirituality. But what of the rest of Israel? Surely their annual visits to the temple would protect and strengthen them. Yet as soon as Solomon died the ten tribes rebelled and under Jeroboam’s direction never returned to the temple in Jerusalem. Those who remained with Rehoboam also forsook it. “Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree” (1Kings 12:26-33 14:21-29). A careful study of the temple from the time it was built until it was destroyed by Babylon shows it too was forsaken far more than it was used.
Ultimately, God forsook it just as He had the tabernacle. “Go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works... therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh” (Jer. 7:11-12).
Though the tabernacle and temple rose far above the cathedrals or elaborate buildings of today, they never accomplished anything for spirituality or to impress others. It just doesn’t work that way.
Conclusion. What does God want today? No matter where Christians meet, they, “as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices” (1Pet. 2:5). Only God’s sanctified people “are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1Cor. 3:16). Those in the church are “joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22). Today material things mean nothing and prove nothing. “For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1Cor. 3:17). It is the personal consecration of the people and not the outward trimmings that reveal the gold, silver and precious stones (1Cor. 3:10-17). Since God meant for this to be, those who need more to feel spiritual are those whose wisdom God sought to destroy (1Cor. 1:18-31).