A Voice of Hope

For Whom Do We Build?

A recent Baptist Press article headline declares: "Unchurched Prefer Traditional Styling for Churches Outside, In"

The three-page article states,

When given an assortment of four photos of church exteriors and given 100 "preference points" to allocate between them, the unchurched [surveyed] used an average of 47.7 points on the most traditional and Gothic options. The three other options ranged from an average of 18.5 points to 15.9 points.

"We may have been designing buildings based on what we think the unchurched would prefer," [Jim] Couchenour concluded. "While multi-use space is the most efficient, we need to ask, 'Are there ways to dress up that big rectangular box in ways that would be more appealing to the unchurched?'"

It goes on to say that many prefer it because these churches seem to appeal to all the senses, both with the appealing architecture, and the appeal to the senses through sound, and smell (incense) as well provide a sense of connection to the past. The article continues:

[Ed] Stetzer noted that despite these survey results, most of the churches that look like a cathedral are in decline. Just because someone has a preference for the aesthetically pleasing Gothic churches doesn't mean they'll visit the church if that's the only connection point they have to the congregation.

This survey and the conclusions drawn by LifeWay Research intrigued me for a couple of reasons.

First, it intrigued me because I've recently written how I sometimes struggle with maintaining a sense of awe and wonder in a corporate worship experience in the movie theater in which we meet. As a highly aesthetic person I am deeply impacted by my surroundings, and even though I could not be counted among the "unchurched" surveyed, the results in this article speak what I have felt for some time. I long for the old, for the sense of being on sacred ground, for the combination of majesty and simplicity of the ancient cathedrals and chapels; and for the quiet reverence and sense of "transcendent intimacy" (as one respondent of the survey put it) that oldness represents.

But it also intrigued me because last year my church stepped into the whole building-a-building-and-envisioning-our-"wildest dreams"-for-that-space ordeal. Despite what I just said about my struggle with meeting in a theatre, the idea of building a building rather freaked me out. There is a laundry list of reasons for my freakout, and lessons I'm learning from this new experience, which I will not bore you with here. Rather, I'd like to speak about two opinions I've previously held that I seem no longer to have. I don't know when I changed my mind, exactly, but change it I have.

First, I no longer believe it is absurd for a 21st century church to build a building. I've held this opinion for a long time; nearly a decade. I started by thinking just that it was not wise in today's economy and environment; that there was no need to own when a church could rent existing facilities and spend the money saved on mortgage interest and upkeep on the more important ministry of people -- feeding the poor, housing AIDS hospice patients, building and supporting ministries overseas, among other ministries. This conviction came about, I believe now, as a response to all the times I got my hopes up and dreamed about what it would be like to be in whatever facility Mosaic was looking to buy, back in the day we were looking for property, only to be let down when negotiations fell through. When Erwin finally announced that we would shelve the property search indefinitely and just be a mobile church, I celebrated heartily. I was very tired of disappointment.

I realize now that I took what was good and right for one community and decided to apply it to all communities. That is not right. What is good for one, may not be good or right for another. Each community must follow where God leads them specifically, not follow others because a path has already been cleared. Whether building a building or owning a building is right and good for my church at this time is not clear to me. I honestly don't know. I only know that I was wrong to try to lay on the whole church the constraints of what worked for me in the past.

Second, Jim Couchenour's above comment really struck me: We may have been designing buildings based on what we think the unchurched would prefer.... we need to ask, 'Are there ways to dress up that big rectangular box in ways that would be more appealing to the unchurched?'"

I'm wondering, should we really be designing buildings based on what the unchurched would prefer (whether that is only just what we think or what we know they'd prefer)? Or should a building instead reflect the heart of the people who will inhabit it; that is, their heart toward God? Should it be their offering of worship to God, or an offering of invitation to the community around them? Or can it be both, should it be both, with perhaps one more dominant than the other?

I ask because I don't know, and I'd like to know what others think

I will say, however, that it seems to me, as I consider this issue, that we need to learn from Willow Creek's recent admission of wrong-focus. They realized, and admitted, recently that their seeker-focused services produced Christians who expected to be hand-fed and entertained, rather than true followers of Christ willing to surrender themselves fully and completely to the love, grace, and will of the Living God and ready to follow Jesus wherever He led no matter the cost no turning back. Isn't it possible that focusing more on what might bring in the unchurched rather than on expressing our own communal heart, love, adoration, praise, joy... whatever...toward God is also wrong-focused, and perhaps even denies the unchurched the opportunity to comprehend that it is not all about them; but rather all about God?

Covenant Presbyterian Church in Green Hills is building a beautiful cathedral on a hill just off Hillsboro Pike. I see it every day as I drive home. It juts up and stands tall, with its high stone walls, and towering spire boldly holding the cross high, declaring to all the world "He is Holy! See His majesty!" I love that. At first I was upset that someone was building another church building -- in a city with literally a church on every corner -- and messing up the beautiful landscape. But the thing about this place is that it doesn't mess up the landscape. It adds to it. It creates a sense of majesty, and of awe and wonder... one doesn't even have to walk in the doors of that building to be impacted by it. Every evening as I pass that hill I am reminded of the majesty and glory of God; of how much bigger and more powerful than I is He. I would very much like to attend church in a building like that, I think.

It is true that buildings do not make the church. And Ed Stetzer rightly speaks to this issue by pointing out that most of the cathedral-like churches are in decline. I think this is because their mind-set is as old as their building; with all the draftiness but none of the majesty or intimacy. They are able to attract those seeking God, but they cannot keep them because God seems to no longer reside there. Perhaps what is needed is to combine the old architecture with the "new" understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus so that God can be found both in the majesty and awe of the building and also in the humble, loving, gracious, accepting followers of Jesus who passionately worship God under its roof.

What do you think?

Worldview Quiz

Surprisingly accurate. I agree almost 100% with the description. Only thing different is that I think the "modern" (as opposed to postmodern) church is the one that does not connect to today's culture. I see many in our culture connecting with older models like Episcopalian (spelling??), Anglican and even Catholic, because they are heavy on icons, stress spirituality over theology and draw in the individual through their constant observances of church ordinances such as the Eucharist and liturgical readings. But the rest is all me. HT: Reflections over at Voxtropolis.

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 82% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Charismatic/Pentecostal 54% Reformed Evangelical 54% Neo orthodox 46% Classical Liberal 32% Roman Catholic 32% Fundamentalist 18% Modern Liberal 18% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

The Revolution is Over... The Tragedy is: We Won

Nothing is more dangerous to a revolution than winning. When a revolution wins, it must face the prospect of becoming an institution. No better example of this exists than when Constantine began mandating national baptisms. Christianity changed from a movement to an institution, from a global revolution to a world religion. You could now become a Christian without ever having met Jesus Christ personally. This was a bad thing-like keeping the shell and tossing the egg.

The irony in this is that the force of Christianity first changed the Roman world and then relinquished its power in the name of accommodation. It's easy to see the difference between Christianity as a religion and Christianity as a revolution when we look back to the days of Constantine and the Dark Ages that followed. It's more difficult to see that difference in our contemporary environment because we are standing in the middle of it. Our great awakenings were born through men and women who could see that the church had lost her way. They led the church back to the third day: from death to resurrection. They called God's people out of the apathetic to the passionate.

Real, sustainable change occurs when actions are in response to values. For too long we have focused on making sure people believe the right things and have left their concerns alone. I know it may sound like heresy, but it is more important to change what people care about than to change what they believe! You can believe without caring, but you can't care without believing. We cannot afford to fill our churches with members who have biblical beliefs and worldly concerns. When we awaken the apostolic ethos, the heart of God begins to pulsate throughout the church of Jesus Christ. The Christian faith is to be a moving experience! -- Erwin McManus

He makes my point, and says it so much better.

The Enemy Within... It's Not Who You Think

I'm taking my lunch break and thought I'd surf the net while I ate (I often bring my laptop in with me). I came across this while visiting another blog I read pretty regularly.

THE ENEMY WITHIN: Saving America From the Liberal Assault on Our Schools, Faith and Military, by Michael Savage

PREFACE
Who is the Enemy Within?
Are there names to be named? Yes.
There are enough names to fill this entire book. Perhaps we should put our own names in this book. Why do I say that? Because most of us have failed our own democratic system by not being vigilant. Most of us have looked the other way while our borders, language, and culture have been diluted.
There is also an ideological divide as to an "enemies list." Both Left and Right have created operatives who are enemies of our own way of life; enemies of firm borders, English as a national language, and a common cultural glue. The question really becomes whom do you fear most? The vast "right-wing conspiracy" or the vast "left-wing conspiracy"?
Analyzing both sides of this equation, you will come to see the right-wing supports God, country, family, the military, and has far higher moral standards than the Left. The Left operates specifically to undermine God, country, family, and the military. They use the courts to undermine the popular will. What they cannot gain through the ballot box they gain through the gavel. In California we recently saw how the ACLU with three leftist judges tried to stop an election to recall a failed, corrupt governor.
Analyzing recent Supreme Court decisions on sodomy and affirmative action, you will see the vast left-wing conspiracy as its worst, legitimizing the use of race as opposed to achievement and destabilizing family values. Left-wing operatives have come very far in their plans.
It is clear to me if God could vote, He would be a member of the vast right-wing conspiracy. In fact, to the mad dog leftists in the ACLU, The National Lawyers Guild, and the Democratic party, God is the enemy.

Oh. My. God.

What kind of moron would ever, and I mean eh-ver, dare to declare that he has any notion whatsoever how God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, Great God Most High would vote?!?!?!?

As if HE would even bother with a vote. He doesn't add His voice to the din, He acts. And as He says Himself, "When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isa. 43:13)

I would dare say, hope to say!, that no one I know would ever make such an arrogant presumption.

However, this brings up something has greatly disturbed me for quite a while. A trap I believe the American/Western Church fell prey to, and now inhabits as if it were our home.

It isn't. And it angers me every time I think of it. I don't have enough time at the moment to delve as deeply as I want to -- especially with my emotions all stirred up again after reading this! But I need to say this:

To The American Church -- regardless of denomination:

While I hold in the highest regard our ability to speak our minds, vote our consciences, and live according to our beliefs in our nation, I am convinced we have confused voting our consciences with advancing the Kingdom of God.

We, as followers of Christ, are charged with being agents of change. Change not of the political or ideological landscape, but of the spiritual landscape. There is a difference.

One impacts only the laws, courts and systems of our nation.

The other impacts the hearts, minds and souls of every person walking this planet.

It is not our job to ensure that no gay marriages are recognized by the courts or governments or institutions of this country.

It is our command to love every single person we come in contact with in our lives. To care for them as if they were our own flesh and blood. To watch over them, feed and clothe them, educate them... In short, to "provide for their general welfare," as our Constitution states.

We've been charged by Jesus Himself to make disciples. Tell me, would you become a disciple of someone who voted your rights away, or would you become a disciple of one who loved you faithfully and stood beside you in the storms of your life?

You say, "but this country is a mess! The institutions of marriage and family teeters on the brink of a dark cliff. Violence not only fills our streets, but our homes through television, video games and music. Schools teach about evolution and how to use a condom, but refuse prayer and creationism. Liberalism is encroaching at every point of our society and threatens to take over every aspect of our lives, including our churches! What else are we to do but fight back with whatever weapons we have."

I say, you are right. This country is a mess. But you place the blame on the wrong shoulders. You claim that the liberals have done this, that we are not responsible for the mess our country is in.

I say, you are wrong. WE ARE. WE are responsible.

We walked away from our charge as followers of Christ to make disciples.

We locked ourselves away in our churches and our small communities, created "safe havens", Christian music, Christian bookstores, Christian magazines, Christian television, Christian schools... even Christian electricians and mechanics... blah, blah, blah ad nuseum.

We walked away from our responsibility to our artists and artisans, by turning our back and shunning Hollywood and all it's "evils". And now we seek to "reclaim it" with the same ignorance and arrogance in which we shunned it.

We abandoned the world because we bought into the lie that to be "in" the world but not of it meant that we only passed through it on our way from one Christian safe haven to another. Is it any wonder we live in fear that our "family friendly" cocoon's will be stripped away by "the world" outside.

And now we've declared war on the very culture that's grown out of our wanton negligence. Instead of entering into it and discovering avenues to build bridges and breech the gaps our absence created so we may share the love of Christ with them, we look for laws we can impose and leaders we can appoint so we may gain control over that which we fear.

We have become like the Pharisees in Jesus' day. We market our goods in the church and sell ourselves to the world. We think that by gaining power and authority, we will gain respect and influence.

We are fools.

All we have done, all that we dare to do in the name of Jesus, will be lost if we don't turn back now.