For the first 250 years of their existence, Christians did not build buildings. They met in homes and other places where they would be safe from disapproving authorities.
The first church buildings began to appear in the 3rd century, and by the Middle Ages, a system of cathedrals and parish churches had developed throughout Europe. This system was more or less replicated by Christians in the New World, and continued on through the latter part of the 20th century.
Watching the Tour de France, one can see the remnants of this “Christendom” practice of church building. In each of the small towns that the cyclists ride through, a church with a steeple is the central and most prominent structure. It is the same in most small towns in the United States.
The grand cathedrals can also still be seen in the cities of Europe, but now function more as museums than as houses of worship. In the US, the big steeple churches are faring better, but are nonetheless struggling to maintain their prominence in a culture that increasingly does not participate.
As the post-Christian wave rolls from Europe through the United States, many Christians are rethinking this assumption that dates back to the 17th century - namely, that church buildings are essential to the practice of Christian faith.
Today, many of the most vibrant new churches are deciding not to own property and a building. Some established churches are selling their buildings or giving them away for non-profit work. These congregations are deciding that the resources they have been entrusted with have better uses than maintenance bills, mortgages, and construction contracts.
These “homeless” churches share the Gospel in private homes, restaurants, rental spaces, parks, or sometimes just right out on the sidewalk. I happen to pastor such a church, even though many in our congregation do want a building eventually. Wrestling with whether we really need “a place of our own” is a central question for us, and for the 21st century church as a whole.
In your current church, do you think your ministry could be enhanced if you no longer had the responsibility of a building? If going completely “homeless” isn’t possible, what are some ways you could move toward less dependence on buildings?
(In the next installment of “Building Up The Kingdom, or Just Building?”, I will take a step back and examine some of the assumptions and underlying issues behind the question of church buildings. Is there something about “a place of our own” that is essential to Christian witness? What Biblical and theological evidence points us toward being a “homeless church?”)
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