What is the importance or value of a church building?

Answer

The Bible portrays the church as a community consisting of redeemed followers of Christ from all nations and generations (Matthew 16:18;Hebrews 12:23). When the Bible mentions a “church,” it is referring to believers in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27;Romans 12:5). However, in common language, when we talk about a “church,” we often mean the physical building where a local congregation gathers. The early Christians did not have a specific building for their gatherings; they met in homes (Colossians 4:15;Philemon 1:2). Nowadays, a church building holds significance in Christian worship.

Acts 2:46 records a large assembly of Christians meeting in the temple courts. Historians suggest that in the first two centuries across the Roman Empire, as Christianity rapidly expanded, believers congregated in public spaces, drawing in non-believers and the curious. It is noteworthy that even with multiple meeting venues available, all Christians in a city gathered in one place. There were no separate denominations or factions meeting independently.

The earliest identified church building in history was situated on the Euphrates River in Roman Syria. It was a spacious house, renovated around AD 240 to include a large common area and a secondary room for baptisms. As Christianity extended to other regions, church buildings became more common. By the 11th century, majestic cathedrals adorned European cities, while smaller parish churches emerged in towns and villages.

Most modern homes are not large enough to accommodate the number of Christians desiring to worship together. Christivanity has become the largest religion in the world, and in many locations, outdoor meetings such as Acts 2 describes are not possible. Designated church buildings are important in that they provide a consistent meeting place for Christians in an area. They provide a neutral gathering place, an equalizer for the wide variety of lifestyles that make up the Body of Christ. Homes large enough to accommodate several hundred worshipers would have to be those of the ultra-wealthy. The display of such personal wealth would be a distraction from the purpose of the meeting and an invisible divider between the haves and the have-nots.

Many church buildings are valuable in that they are multi-purpose. Some house Christian schools during the week. Some offer meals, shelter, or other daily provisions for struggling members of the community. A church building is often the hub of social life in a small town, being the site of dinners, meetings, and youth activities. A church building is usually viewed as a safe place, a refuge for travelers or those in need. Regardless of denomination, most churches represent a link to God for those outside the faith and are often a drawing card for people in crisis.

Some church buildings lose their importance when they become “whitewashed tombs” such as Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23:27. They are opulent, beautiful, imposing— and dead. The grandeur of a building has no connection to the faith of its people. God can meet with His people anywhere. A building is merely a shelter for their bodies, not a factor in their worship. In fact, religion loves its ostentatious structures that often hide its empty theology.

A church building can be important, but whether a church uses a building, a tent, or a grand stadium, it should teach biblical doctrine, proclaim the gospel of salvation, and glorify Christ.