Barna’s ecclesiology is so poorly conceived that anyone who ever read Acts 2 ought to be able to dismantle it, but when he teams up with enthusiasts like Viola (or, as he did in a previous outing, with James Rutz), he’s simply dangerous spiritually to other people.

This book slipped under my radar, and I’m glad you’re giving it the full treatment. Nice work.

I think there is something about the “church building” that often gets overlooked in the discussion. In our culture, a building speaks of stability, value, and legitimacy. When you can point to a builiding within the community it means something to the community.

In Ethiopia, for example, they do not take the church seriously at all without a building. In that culture a building says something positive about an organization.

I’m not saying you can’t have a church without a building. Rick Warren did not have a building for the first 10 years or so of their church. You can have schools that meet in homes, clubs that meet in homes, and churches that meet in homes. But the physical structure in the community can make a positive and powerful statement to the community.

Just my 2 cents worth,

Scott

By way of example, I wanted to make mention of how our church uses its buildings in a way that, I feel, is God glorifying and not wasteful. We currently own 6 buildings, all of which have been built within the last 10 years on the same property. About 4 years ago (before I was a pastor here), several of the pastors came to the conclusion that we were being wasteful and needed to better utilize the facilities that were built in a way that was serving the community. Thus began the beginning of Effingham Christian School. Now, my office is on the top floor of a building that is used to house a classical Christian school that educates 100 students grades Pre-K through 8th. Next year we will begin High school as our 8th graders move up and will expand into some of the other building spaces that we have. In fact, we are beginning now to run out of room for all that they are doing, thus leading us to question whether or not we need additions. The church pays for the buildings (utilities, maintenance, janitorial services, etc.) and the school is able to focus on solid, classical, reformed Christian education. It’s a beautiful thing — and I have the great privilege of teaching from time to time!

The other side of the coin is that I’ve been in a church as a former pastor, that is now as we speak spending nearly $1 million to renovate old buildings. The facilities are functioning AND very large as they stand right now. The congregation has been declining for several years. The church itself is in an area of town that has not experienced any great turnover or growth in the last 20 years. They do not, nor have they ever had any vision or desire to be missional in any sense of the word. Why then should they presume upon God’s grace and borrow such a large amount of money for renovations? They say it is to provide better ministry — I say it’s to appease themselves in order that they feel as though they are doing more than going through the everyday motions. 60% of their budget goes toward facilities and staff. It is self serving and shameful.

These two examples in my life are a testament to both sides of the argument. I think it all depends on the people’s attachment to the facilities and what they are being used for.

Sorry this was so long!