Unfortunately, due to the institutionalization of the church and the accompanying societal constructs, churches tend to collect money in unbiblical ways and then spend it on non-biblical things.
As a result, some local churches tend to have more money than they will ever need and use it for frivolous things, while other churches do not seem to collect enough money because they spend it on extra-biblical things.
The main culprit?
Most of the time, the church building.
Or, in the vernacular of the last several centuries, “the church” (because we equate the building with the church).
Remember Martin Luther? That one guy who nailed a list of grievances to the door of a church building over 500 years ago?
His “95 Theses” were inspired in part by his dissatisfaction with how the Roman Catholic Church used indulgences to raise funds for its stately buildings.
Indulgences were certificates sold by the church, purportedly granting forgiveness of sins and reducing time spent in purgatory for the purchaser or their deceased loved ones. People were so deceived that they actually believed the church and bought these indulgences en masse.
If you do any traveling, you know that church buildings are some of the most beautiful, expensive structures in the world. They sport some of the finest architecture.
But like the Pharisees described in Matthew 23:27-28, they are often beautiful on the exterior but empty and dead on the inside (and sometimes literally filled with dead men’s bones).
Admittedly, many local churches do not have these grand displays in which to worship, and they scoff at those who do.
Yet we still like to have our own buildings, and we call them “churches,” and we insist on filling them and eventually expanding them.
In my opinion, the church building is a tradition that we need to rethink.
Church Traditions Series:
1. Your Church Might Be Like the Pharisees
2. Easter Costumes: An Expensive Church Tradition
3. Should We Keep Printing Church Bulletins?
4. Let’s Talk about Money: Tithes and Offerings
5. Flags in the Church Building: Good or Bad?
6. The Vacuum We Call the “Church” (this article)
The Origin of the Church Building
How did church buildings become synonymous with the church? Let’s take a little step back in time for just a few brief moments.
Early Christian Worship (1st-3rd Centuries)
In the earliest days of Christianity, believers met in private homes, and today we refer to those as house churches. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that they used this terminology.
These gatherings were intimate, focusing on communal worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching. Examples include the house of Aquila and Priscilla in Rome (Romans 16:5) and the home of Nymphas in Laodicea (Colossians 4:15).
During periods of persecution, particularly under Roman rule, Christians sometimes used catacombs (underground burial places) for worship and to bury their dead. The catacombs offered a hidden and safe place for their gatherings.
Transition to Dedicated Buildings (4th-6th Centuries)
The Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity and the subsequent Edict of Milan in 313 AD marked a turning point. The edict granted religious tolerance throughout the empire, allowing Christians to practice their faith openly.
With newfound freedom, Christians began constructing dedicated buildings for worship. Many of these early church buildings were modeled after Roman basilicas, large public buildings used for meetings and legal matters. Basilicas provided a spacious and adaptable layout for Christian worship.
Constantine himself sponsored the construction of several significant basilicas, including the original St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Early church buildings incorporated features such as the nave (central hall), aisles, apse (semi-circular recess at the end of the nave), and atrium (courtyard). The layout facilitated large gatherings and processional worship.
Interestingly, because the church building is not found in Scripture, none of these architectural designs or features are found in Scripture. They were modeled after secular buildings already in existence, and, the larger they were, the more expensive they were to construct.
Medieval Church Buildings (6th-15th Centuries)
From the 9th to the 12th centuries, Romanesque architecture emerged, characterized by thick walls, rounded arches, and small windows. Churches were often built in a cruciform (cross-shaped) layout.
From the 12th to the 16th centuries, Gothic architecture became prominent, featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and large stained-glass windows. Notable examples include the newly reconstructed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the nearby Chartres Cathedral.
It was during this time, of course, that Martin Luther started to question the activities of churches as they raised money for their buildings.
Reformation and Post-Reformation (16th-18th Centuries)
The Protestant Reformation led to a simplification of church interiors, especially among Reformed and Puritan congregations. The focus shifted to preaching and the Word, often removing elaborate decorations and icons.
The layouts of the buildings remained mostly unchanged, however, despite having no biblical foundation for their design.
Some Protestant denominations maintained more elaborate church building designs (e.g., Lutheran and Anglican), but they emphasized the pulpit as the central feature, reflecting the importance of preaching and minimizing the importance of interaction and dialogue during services.
Modern Church Buildings (19th-21st Centuries)
The 19th and 20th centuries saw a variety of architectural styles, from neoclassical to modernist, reflecting broader architectural trends. Church buildings were designed to meet the needs of their congregations and communities.
In recent decades, many churches have embraced multi-purpose designs, creating spaces that serve both worship and community functions. This approach reflects a desire to engage more actively with local communities.
That brings us to today, where we have church buildings that reflect all of these different eras. As elements of the building were added and subtracted over time, almost everything is still based on some sort of tradition.
The Bible gives us exact directions for the Ark built by Noah and the tabernacle built by Moses. But no exact directions are given for church buildings, nor is there any command to build physical church buildings.
They are purely based on our interests and imaginations, and sometimes we call on culture for some direction.
Summary
The evolution of the church building reflects the changing social, political, and theological contexts of Christianity. From house churches to grand cathedrals, and from hidden catacombs to modern multi-purpose facilities, church buildings have adapted to meet the needs and desires of the churches that gather there.
But with that background in mind, I pose three questions to you:
- What purposes do church buildings serve today?
- Are buildings necessary to the life of the church, or are they a mere money-sucking convenience?
- Are there any unintended consequences that arise from using a dedicated church building?
I will explore these questions in upcoming posts, but I would love to hear your thoughts!
