{"id":5011,"date":"2009-12-11T05:28:41","date_gmt":"2009-12-11T05:28:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2009\/12\/church-is-not-a-building-but.html"},"modified":"2009-12-11T05:28:41","modified_gmt":"2009-12-11T05:28:41","slug":"church-is-not-a-building-but","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2009\/12\/church-is-not-a-building-but.html","title":{"rendered":"Church is not a building, but…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MonteriggioniChurch.jpg\"<\/span>Indeed, a church is not a building, but a church being “more” than the building may not tell the whole story. What is ministry like without a building? Dan Kimball, in a recent article<\/a> explores this question. I clip a few of his lines and ask you to respond:<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

I<\/strong>f you had asked me eight years ago what I thought about church buildings, I would have said, “Who needs a building? The early\tchurch didn’t have buildings, and we don’t need them either!” But I was wrong.<\/p>\n

My anti-building phase was a reaction to having seen so much money spent on church facilities, often for non-essential, luxury items. I was also reacting to a philosophy of ministry that treated church buildings like Disneyland; a place consumers gather for entertainment. But these abuses had caused me to unfairly dismiss the potential blessing of buildings as well.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Just yesterday I was in The Abbey and saw about 20 people, not part of our congregation, studying and hanging out. (During finals week I counted 90 students packed into the place.) While there I talked to a brand new Christian who has been coming to our gatherings. He found out about our church from a Buddhist friend. His friend loves coming to The Abbey and recommended our church because he trusted us.<\/p>\n

We’ve also used our building to serve our community in times of crisis. When wildfires forced nearby residents to flee their homes, our building became an overnight refuge for those without a place to stay.<\/p>\n

These missional opportunities would not be possible without a building….<\/p>\n

So, I have recanted from my earlier belief that buildings drain resources and create consumer Christians. I was wrong. Now I see them as missionary centers to impact lives for the gospel.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Indeed, a church is not a building, but a church being “more” than the building may not tell the whole story. What is ministry like without a building? Dan Kimball, in a recent article explores this question. 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