Acts 29 Today

Hello and welcome to another edition of ACTS 29 TODAY.

It seems we could go on forever with the history of the CHURCH BUILDING but I really want to get this part wrapped up.

So just a few finishing thoughts, Gothic architecture also was introduced way back then and the main message of this was…GOD IS TRANSCENDENT AND UNREACHABLE…SO…BE AWED BY HIS MAJESTY. Of course that message defies the very truth of the gospel as GOD has made Himself so accessible as to take up residence within his people.

THE PROTESTANT CHURCH BUILDING

In the sixteenth century the Reformers inherited the church building, and Luther made it very plain that the BUILDING WAS NOT THE CHURCH, but it was impossible for him to overturn more than a millennium of confusion on the subject.

The biggest change the Reformers made architecturally was they made the PULPIT the center of attention rather than the alter table. The Reformation was built on the idea that people could not know GOD nor grow spiritually UNLESS THEY HEAD PREACHING.

THE STEEPLE

The message of the steeple also contradicts the message of the gospel, saying people have to reach into the heavens to find GOD. But NO…HE IS HERE, WITH US, IN US.

THE PLATFORM

The pulpit was so important that it soon was raised up on a platform, and clearly elevates the clergy to a position of prominence, and true to its meaning it puts the preacher AT CENTER STAGE…..separating and placing him/her high above GODS people.

THE PEW AND BALCONY

I cant even get into this one but just to say it was brought in to get the people closer the the preacher so they would not miss anything that he said and also it would not be so easy for the people to go to sleep.

is it over yet

THE INCREDIBLE HIGH COST

Most Christians just take for granted that the church building is a part of what is needed to do church…THEREFORE THEY…NEVER….QUESTION THE NEED TO FINANCIAL SUPPORT THIS DINOSAUR THAT HAS O, NADA, AND NO BIBLICAL BASIS WHATSOEVER TO EVEN PUT ONE PENNY INTO.

In the US alone real estate owned by the institutional churches today is worth over 230 BILLION $$…church building debt, service, and maintenance consumes about 18 % of the 50-60 billion tithed to churches annual.

THE POINT….CHRISTIANS ARE SPENDING AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THEIR BUILDINGS. (and their PROFESSIONAL CLERGY)

All the traditional reasons put forth for ” needing a building ” collapse under careful scrutiny…..we so easily forget that the early church….TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN…WITHOUT THEM. (Acts 17:6) .

They grew rapidly for three hundred years WITHOUT THE HELP….OR….HINDRANCE OF CHURCH BUILDINGS.

Contrast the overhead of the traditional church, which includes….salaried staff and church buildings, with the overhead of a HOUSE CHURCH. Rather than such overhead costing 50 to 85 % of the house churches monetary giving, its operating cost amount to a small percentage of the budget.

FREEING MORE THAN 95% OF ITS SHARED MONEY FOR REAL SERVICES LIKE HELPING PEOPLE, MISSIONS, AND EXPANDING THE KINGDOM AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Just listen to what people say about the church building.

they refer to it…AS CHURCH.

GODS HOUSE.

THE PLACE OF WORSHIP.

DID YOU GO TO CHURCH TODAY.

WHAT CHURCH DO YOU GO TO…(this is my favorite)

WE GO TO (PASTORS NAME) HIS CHURCH.

THEY QUIT GOING TO CHURCH.

And we could go on and on and on.

Next time CAN WE DEFY THIS TRADITION.

Thanks for being a part of ACTS 29 TODAY.

Larry