Adam McLane

The Mission of Less

Planet Wisdom Chicago was great. 2000 kids slammed into a building to be challenged by the word of God is always awesome. Going into it I knew that the team was passionate about the conference and I saw first hand why. It’s really cool! Lives were changed. It doesn’t get any better than that.

At the same time I felt really challenged by the church that hosted. It was one of those brand new megachurch $10 million deals. I don’t know how long it has been open but it was massive and it was gorgeous. It had that new church smell. And I thought to myself, “I’m glad I am not on the leadership team of this church.” I would never question the integrity of a church leadership team and I am certainly not doing so now. Yet, I wondered how I would process the excess as it correlates to the excessive need of the gospel in their community. Would I have stood behind the decision to build? This is more a reflection of where I am in my walk with the Lord than it is an indictment on a church. In fact, I want to fully acknowledge that I am positive that it’s a great building for them. And I want to make it clear that I am positive the gospel is advanced as a result of that church. And this post has way more to do with big church buildings generally than it does the particular church who hosted us. Moreover, driving around the Chicago suburbs that particular church merely did what dozens of others did… build a bigger building to better suit their needs. OK, enough apologizing for what I’m about to say!

Here’s what I was left thinking about. For $10 million how many churches could they have planted in their community? For $10 million how many kids could they mentor at the local schools? For $10 million how many homeless people could they feed? How many families could they help? Assuming they paid cash for the building, for the $10,000-$20,000 per month it likely costs to heat, cool, and light the building how much kingdom work are they prevented from doing with those same dollars?

Now that we go to a church with no building, my perspective has changed. All of my life I’ve said “the church is the people and not the building.” And yet fiscally, the churches finances reflect that the church is the building and the staff. (90% of spending, more or less.) When a person diverts giving to advance the kingdom, a building based church says “No, that money needs to pay our light bill! We have staff to pay!” And as a result the kingdom work the Holy Spirit has compelled a giver to give towards is thwarted by a churches building needs. Now that we go to a church with no building, we can worry about building the kingdom of God in our community and not a building. It’s freeing and wonderful and we are thankful for this time that God has placed us here.

As I’ve shared before, my perspective on big fancy churches always makes me think of my time in Europe. Congregations spent generations building trillion dollar cathedrals that are largely empty today. They were so busy showing their community that they were the city on a hill that they forgot to be the city on the hill!

What do you think? Is a big, nice building needed to advance the gospel? Or is it preventing the people from being the church?

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34 responses to “The Mission of Less”

  1. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Don’t know. It is almost a catch!! Darned if you do, darned if you don’t! I recently read a report

    It states:

    http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/19/half-of-americans-believe-in-angels/

    The survey spoke highly of the American megachurch, congregations of more than 1,000 that are often criticized for their impersonal nature. People who attend megachurches are far more conservative in their theology than are attendees of smaller churches, it said.

    Their members are also younger, they share their faith more with strangers, and they perform more volunteer work than do members of small churches.

    “There are many critics who think the megachurches thrive on people who enjoy dramatic Sunday services with fine music but don’t wish to become very ‘religious’ on a day-to-day basis – that the megachurch appeal is a mile wide and an inch deep,” said “What Americans Really Believe,” a companion book to the survey.

    “But it is not true. Those who belong to megachurches display as high a level of personal commitment as do those who attend small congregations.”

    Mr. Stark added, “Apparently they are preaching Jesus and that’s why they get so big.”

    Reply
  2. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Wow, interesting. I’ve shared stuff like this on my personal blog – with lots of pushback. I think it’s a shame if the Church is spending 90% of it’s resources on maintaining buildings and staff – especially when homes are free, and we’re all supposed to be doing the work as a body together (don’t think Jesus envisioned a huge paid staff).

    Adam – how do you go to a church with no building? does it meet in homes? Or rent a school or something? I would pay money to hear more about this. thanks for the blog post!!! Would that the Church would better steward Kingdom resources!

    Reply
  3. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Oops, didn’t answer the question. I feel it’s preventing people, IMHO. I’ve been a Xn a long time, gone to megachurches a long time. Don’t think what we’re doing is working – and the misuse of resources is … actually quite ridiculous and … infuriating really, b/c there’s not much can be done about it – it’s our tradition to give 10% and waste the money – and no one seems to care or listen to reason.

    Reply
  4. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Jesse- the church we attend rents space at a local high school for worship services. http://www.harbomidcity.com

    Additionally, and I love this, they share a central office for all the church plants under the Harbor umbrella. Both of those are huge cost savers for both money and eliminating the duplication of efforts.

    I’m with you man. I think if you really audited most churches spending you’d see a mongo percentage going towards building and staff and a tiny percentage going towards accomplishing the mission. Of course, the same is true across many industries… schools being quite similar.

    Reply
  5. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Interesting. But the Church is not an industry as much as it is a mission. Al-Queda cells come to mind – and grass roots political campaigns. They meet in homes, work together through ad-hoc networks, use resources efficiently. All the members are working together and united in a common goal, using personal resources. Reminds me of Acts 2.

    This is not how it is today. We’re more like a concert, where lots of money is spent on the weekly production, and members are merely spectators.

    Reply
  6. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    That is probably an unfair assessment of mega-churches. There is a book out there called mega-church myths. Somehow I think you’ve been reading Pagan Christianity.

    Reply
  7. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    No, that’s true. I’ve read Pagan Christianity (which I found to be unfair and poorly written, although I did agree with some of what I read). and I’m probably being unfair as well.

    Gman, I’m glad you disagree. Thank you so much for your pushback! Can we talk about this more?

    I’ll read mega-church myths. But, Gman, I have somewhat of a difficulty buying into books based on research, b/c research results are so twistable – if the methodolgy of the research is not explicitly made clear, it’s hard to trust the results. Example: did you see the recent church building research that showed that Gothic buildings are appealing to 48% of the unchurched, while contemporary buildings are only appealing to 16%. How was the study done? Did they ask, which is most aesthetically pleasing. If so, does that imply that I should build a gothic church? does that mean the unchurched will come? Gothic churches also imply tradition, frumpiness, rules, etc – stuff that repels the unchurched, right? … I’m just saying that research and data can be misleading and confusing.

    But, my arguments are based on the reality that we’re wasting money on buildings and staff. And the reality that 90% of the body of Christ is docile and un-involved. We’re not at all operating like a body in the way the bible describes we should. Also, I don’t think we’re portraying God or Jesus well to our culture. (this is a larger and more complicated argument). if that’s true, I would argue it’s b/c we’re not putting effort (money) toward loving and showing love to our neighbors. Where is our money going? 90% toward buildings and staff.

    do you trust Francis Chan? Look what he’s doing.

    Gman, sorry for all the words here. Would love to have a conversation and listen to everything you have to say! =D

    Reply
  8. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    oh, woops. You were probably talking to Adam and not me.

    Reply
  9. Jason Raitz Avatar
    Jason Raitz

    Fascinating post and something I think about a lot. I have worked for the “church” for a bunch of years and have been at churches of all shapes and sizes. To answer your question…I don’t think a nice, big building is needed. The church I am at it did a pretty good size building project a few years and as I walk around the building I often ask myself if all of it is needed. I balance that with that with the knowledge that it is the most giving church I have ever worked at and at the end of the day I trust the leadership.

    These are two pretty fascinating tools that could help. They have been enlightening for me and my journey.

    http://www.revealnow.com/storyPage.asp?pageID=6

    Reply
  10. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Jason- not that you are looking for it. But I think there is a difference between what I am talking about and things where you work. Everything I’ve seen there is utilitarian. If anything I am always left with this feeling of “they do all of that with this?” It’s not a fancy building at all.

    At the same time, if I were leading a church today that was super-sizing, I wonder if the excess of the 80-90s would call for a large building or if a 2008 approach would be to split it up and keep it neighborhood based. Would Willow do it again? Would Saddleback? Would North Point? Etc… today is a new day.

    Reply
  11. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I hear what you are saying but it kinda sounds like you contradict yourself.
    On one hand: “In fact, I want to fully acknowledge that I am positive that it’s a great building for them. And I want to make it clear that I am positive the gospel is advanced as a result of that church.”

    Then you go on to talk about how could that money be used better.
    If the Gospel is being advanced as a result of that church, how could the money be used better?
    I hear what you are trying to say, but it almost sounds politically correct- like you don’t want to criticize that specific church but you really do…

    Reply
  12. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Mike, that’s exactly correct. Let’s admit that it’s a bit of dualism. Who am I to judge that church? For all I know they reach thousands of people with the gospel per year.

    But being there made me put myself in their shoes. Could I have said “yes” to supporting the construction? I don’t think so. Or, better stated, not without knowing that the expenditure of the building was better for the Kingdom than decentralizing would have been there’s no way I could have stood by in agreement.

    My general hypothesis is that being mission driven will not likely lead you to build a 20,000 square foot church.

    Totally loving the discussion. I’m not positive I am right. But I do like the discussion.

    Reply
  13. jared dilley Avatar
    jared dilley

    Adam,
    good to see things are going well for you at YS.
    I think to reach moderns buildings are extremly important, to reach pomos i think they can become a hinderance.

    Reply
  14. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Jared- that’s an interesting observation. What is it in modernism that makes that true.

    Also, according to Christian Smith (ND prof of sociology, emphasis on adolescence) today’s adolescents are more modernistic than ever. How does this correlate to what we’re seeing in YM across the country? Even the “biggest and best” YM programs out there are decentralizing to small, more community-driven and missional contexts.

    Sidenote: Marko’s talk at NYWC really nails this. Can’t wait for you guys to hear what he has to say.

    Reply
  15. jared dilley Avatar
    jared dilley

    Adam-i think in modernism their is a sense that people want their religion to be institutional. Look at the heyday of the modern church and all the programs that were run. In the pomo church this is a greater drive for authentic living.

    Reply
  16. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Jared- interesting point. I find myself drawn more to the pomo idea. It seems to me that this whole institutional thing I’ve been a part of my whole life isn’t working. I need real life change, I need real relationships, I need real, practical help, one-on-one perhaps, I need authentic community.

    I don’t get why anyone would still want the institutional modern thing. I mean, I get it – it’s easier, it’s anonymous, it’s more entertaining, less painful.

    Jared, doesn’t it seem to you like the pomo thing is more real, closer to what the bible is talking about?

    I mean, I choose pomo, but b/c I think it’s more biblical and effective. Do you think modern vs. pomo are equally “biblical” or effective or whatever? (that it’s just preference?)

    Reply
  17. jared dilley Avatar
    jared dilley

    adam- for the most part i agree that the pomo idea seems like the new testament ideal, but i will say that in the Old Testament their is def a instituional model explained.

    Reply
  18. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    I get what you are saying. I just don’t know how it fits into what is happening as well. Such as, there is a church of 800,000 in South Korea… most of that is in small community groups. The point isn’t that big is bad. The point is that big building is inefficient.

    I think our nation is going to learn the problem of excess the hard way. just looking around the Detroit area is the perfect example. Heating a 4000 SF house for 3 people is stupid. It seemed like a good idea when people were prospecting and having fun going “house rich.” I wonder how much fun it’ll be this year?

    Same goes for some of these big churches. What will happen when they decline… and they always do eventually. (just look around the Detroit area for some empty megachurches!)

    I just hope we don’t end up with a bunch of empty churches and some small core group just trying to keep the building open.

    Reply
  19. Jesse Avatar
    Jesse

    Amen, amen, amen, amen! I agree, Adam. I would go a step further. Not only is the big vacant building in-efficient, it’s a big anonymous show – maintaining the idea of anonymity. Christians need community and opportunity to excercise their gifts to build up the body, which is difficult and down-right ignored in the large anonymous setting.

    Honestly, we use Heb 10:25 to require people to go to church, but I don’t think a lot of us are actually fulfilling the spirit of Heb 10:25 by going to churches we’re attending, ironically! wow, that just came to me, so ironic.

    Reply
  20. Mike Paschal Avatar
    Mike Paschal

    this whole idea of a “mega churchs” unfortunatly i get tired of reading each day. i work at a church how just finished our first building after being mobile in a middle school for 9 years where we had over 3,500 people attedning each week in a middle school and a movie theatre across town at the same time. This building helps bring us all under one roof to help people take the next steps in their walks with God.

    last year there were over 100,000 people just in the city limits of wilmington, nc and there are only 5,500 people going to PC3. That does not seam like much of a mega-church compared to the unchurched.

    I hope I am not being rude here, it just hurts to read comments on blogs about hating churchs because they build a building that actually fits eveyrone who is attedning in it.

    And one more comment on the concert idea of things.. some may just observe (they do this in churchs with 50 people there). We have almost 3,000 people in small groups meeting in coffee shops and homes 7 days a week every week to walk together closer to God. That is more than observing. That is the church!

    once again i apologize for any type of rudeness, I just believe so much in our mission to reach people and help them walk with God this sometimes hurts.

    great blog by the way bro

    Reply
  21. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Mike, first off… welcome to my blog. Second off, if you read the post I am not really talking about the size of a church. I’m talking about dropping a massive chunk of change on a building and saying it’s for the Kingdom. Actually, I just said I don’t know if I could sign onto it being good stewardship.

    I’m perfectly fine with people going to big churches. All I’m really wrestling with is… is it a good use of God’s money to have a massive building when you may be able to do more Kingdom work with no building at all.

    I’d be interested in hearing how the building transforms your church as the year’s go on.

    Reply
  22. Mike Paschal Avatar
    Mike Paschal

    thanks bro… i like what you said, and i agree with the money issue. It was hard to hear the amount of money that we used for our building, but for the first three months now we have seen a huge growth in our small group numbers and community service from our attenders.

    So far it is providing a home base for thousands of people to help train each other, have small group together, worship together, and now we are seeing hundreds of people going out to our local community and overseas to be the change themselves. That is they key

    Reply
  23. MB Avatar
    MB

    Hey Adam –

    Having served churches with old buildings, no buildings and having walked through the process of building a new building for a church that had met in schools and an event center – I’ve lived this tension. I do not think there is a one-size-fits-all perspective for ‘the Godly use of resources for the Church of today’. I think every local congregation (within it’s tradition or ‘non-tradition’) must challenge themselves to hear God’s voice in their particular context. The local community; the church’s history or lack of history; the demographic of the particular congregation; the tolerance level for ‘risk’ within that congregation…so many things that make each congregation unique.

    Love God, love others. “How” will depend on God’s particular call in a particular situation.

    Mike P. I totally understand the point at which ministry without a building – a home base – sort of stalls. We tried to find many different solutions at that stage in our development, but ultimately the sound financial decision was to own space 24/7 rather than to rent by the hour. No easy answers.

    Adam – most vital, growing churches I know of who have perceived and filled the need for larger space by building a bigger building have experienced amazing growth, have been able to retire debt at a rapid pace and have been able to give exponentially larger amounts of money (and people resources) to missions outside of themselves (I’m sort of disgusted with the mega- and meta- terminology as it seems to imply that is the ‘goal’). That is an interesting reality. But it only takes a few examples of ‘excess’ that doesn’t result in Kingdom growth to put a person off…

    Complicated topic!

    Reply
  24. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Mike Paschal – sorry if my words have been offensive or derogatory toward large churches. I feel strongly about the issue, I suppose you do too. I feel this is a question of morality and biblicalness – so I would like to discuss it further.

    Mike, I’m STOKED that 3,000 of your members are meeting in small groups! Your situation is much more the exception than the rule, brother.

    What percent of your tithes do you spend on maintaining your building and supporting the staff? I’m curious.

    What if you had no building and staff and just had 3,000 in small groups, using all that money (hundreds of thousands?) to love and bless the community? Helping the poor (“the very thing I was eager to do” Paul says).

    Could that work? Maybe not. Maybe you wouldn’t be able to get 3,000 in groups without a building? If you could make it work, wouldn’t it be a better expression of God’s love than just having a building? maybe not?

    What do you think?

    Reply
  25. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Jesse, Thanks for the kind words. It isn’t as easy saying Big buildings = waste. Since alot of ministry happens 24-7. I’ve know some ministries that a lot of their buildings are in use more than just Sundays and Wednesdays. Each has to examine and see why and how they are using the other resources they are using as well. I know churches that done a building project but also set aside a bigger portion to go towards missions etc. Sometimes we “generalize” and say all megachurches and buildings = bad without knowing the full story or history.

    Reply
  26. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    gman, you’re right. Big building does not = waste. The question I think we have to ask is: how much ministry are we doing for the money? I don’t think many people are really asking that question.

    If we have 20 – 300 people meeting in our building 5 nights a week, in groups of 10 or more is that worth the cost of the building? Can any of these meetings be shifted to homes, or less expensive venues? Is there anyway we can down-size to spend more on loving our neighbors? – I don’t see these questions being asked, most places.

    Gman, do you think there are any parameters on waste? Is there any moral problem with waste? How much money should you spend to hold a weekly Sunday meeting, and how much should you spend outwardly focused? (obviously there are no rules and this depends on size, so it’s complicated). Would $50,000/week be a fair price to pay to hold weekly church services for 5,000 people?

    Reply
  27. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    I think the question is big and I think that the bigger issue is waste. Jesse brings up some great points.

    I’d also like to think about the reach of these big churches and the negative impact on local communities. It’s nothing for a megachurch to draw people from 45 minutes away! How can you expect someone who doesn’t know Christ to drive 45 minutes each way? What I love about Harbor is that they assume that “a seeker” will not drive that far. But they may go somewhere in their neighborhood.

    In that paradigm, I think a church should be limited in size to its walking distance or short drive distance. (5 minutes?)

    Thoughts?

    Reply
  28. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Waste is an issue. And funny thing is some of these “Megachurches” are not saying their building is the church but they are the church. (Think of how they serve their community and support missions abroad)

    I don’t know what the answer is. I do see several ministries instead of planting a Bigger building – planting churches, going multi-site, and planting churches all over. Good example I’ve seen is Southeast in Louisville planting churches in KY and now Indiana. East 91st in Indy. Planting 20 churches over the next 20 yrs. Lifepointe in North Raleigh instead of another building going multi-site. Some of this is like a paradigm shift. In Gordan MacDonald’s book: Who Stole my Church, it is going from the traditional to that of change.

    I’d like what some of what Viola said in his book, Pagan Christianity. The interesting thing is it is the tool (Buildings) and shouldn’t be the goal. So how much do we invest in tools for ministry? And what is too much?

    Reply
  29. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    That’s great stuff. I tend to think Christianity spreads best like a virus. I could be wrong, I’m loving the discussion!

    Reply
  30. Mike Paschal Avatar
    Mike Paschal

    To just touch on the what are these big churches doing over sees…

    we built a pastor’s training facility in Costa Rica to give homes to pastor’s in training that live in countries where speaking of Jesus is illegal. We then partnered with a church in Kenya (Pastor Jackson) and began our very own home for street children where we have now built a school for them as well. From that we created an organization called Hope 127 where people here at PC3 have chosen children to sponsor like Compassion International where we give cards, cows, goats, food, toys, school supplies. Then the sponsor actually goes to Kenya to see their child. We have created a documentary called CongoCast.org about the rape victims in the Congo where we are bringing national attention to that war affected area. And working with Answering the Call to help with the Julie Project to build a hospital closer to the victims.

    All that was done before we moved into our building. Now we have more people coming with Mission Trips leaving every single month which provides so many more people to go. And more money given to Mission’s and local community.

    So yes there are large church’s that are all about the size and possible themselves. But please, a stereo type is not needed here.

    And about the multiple church’s within 5 miles…. there are enough empty church’s in each town, maybe some should start partnering with the mobile church’s in middle schools who have “IT” and let them begin filling up some empty seats? Just a thought from mr. Andy Stanley at Catalyst Conference

    Reply
  31. adam mclane Avatar
    adam mclane

    Mike- I’m not sure if I defined “mission” in this post. But mission I mean our mission in our community. Foreign missions is great. But we are also called to reach Jerusalem… ultimately I believe “the church” of your community will be judged as a whole. (Ala the book of Revelation) And I can’t see Jesus giving any community a pass for simply having a big building. Ultimately, he wants to know what you (as a church in that community) did.

    I am not biased against big buildings. All I am questioning is that if it is the best stewardship decision all the time?

    Reply
  32. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Can we look at a mega church budget?

    I’m reading an article in Leadership Journal from Dave Gibbons. He’s addressing approximately this question: “We were about to buy more than ten acres of land in Orange County … it was going to cost $20 mill just for the land, then over $30 mill for the different phases … Am I just building a bigger shoebox for people to sit and listen and leave?”

    … later in the article …

    “then we did a cost analysis. How much did we spend each month for this building? I think it was $70,000 a month. And how much space did we use? About 30 percent of the space in a given month. … I realized I wasn’t being a good steward of space.”

    I feel like we can’t get anywhere unless we look at a budget and talk about this.

    Reply
  33. Mike Paschal Avatar
    Mike Paschal

    Jesse… sorry i missed your post earlier, i just read it… im about to eat dinner with the beautiful wife… but i can respond to some of those questions later tonight or tomorrow…

    also, i did not mean to come across harsh (i most likely did). No one offended me on here, I used to think the same thing about the large budget and building due to previous experience. But now working for one and seeing what can happen in a community when everyone is own board with the Mission “To reach people and help them walk with God” things are very different.

    Sorry gotta run now… great conversation going on here!

    Reply
  34. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    Good thoughts. Here is one. I’ve seen a church do a $40M building but they also host the homeless and have a campus ministry and the building is open all days of the week. Showers and ministry for a local college campus. Was it good stewardship? I’d like to think so but they have been growing like gang busters and also being a beacon!!

    Reply
  35. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Mike-you’re so sweet
    Gman-can we look at a budget? Anecdotal evidence doesn’t tell the full story. I imagine it’s important to look at the ministry ROI (not $, there’s probably a better term). Say Church of 5,000, they host a meal for the homeless – 100 homeless people, once a week, and 200 college students once a week. say they spend $70,000/month on the building 0r $17,500/week. Is that worth it? Again, this is complicated and there are a lot of factors. I think the question is can we accomplish the same things for less money, (like meeting in free venues – homes) relying more on the members of the body to use their gifts (volunteers) or open their personal church building (their home).

    Also, something that concerns me (I may be wrong about this), I feel it’s harder to get connected in the large group – to experience true community.

    A third thing that concerns me is that I don’t think sermons are tremendously helpful for life change. I know many will disagree. I’ve been the worker in the back who’s doing the slides and can’t focus on the message, and it feels all for naught. Messages barely seem to affect me anymore, does anyone even remember the message the next day? Or often they are little more than platitudes (“that was so good!”), or a motivational pep talk. I think I (and others like me) need more of a discipleship, truth from a gifted discipler, in close community where he knows me and can speak into my life specifically.

    fourthly, I’m concerned that many members of the body don’t participate (at large and small churches). We’ve encouraged this with our anonymity default policy. Yeah I can volunteer for parking ministry or children’s ministry, but I don’t think that’s what the bible is talking about when it describes us using our gifts, working together, building up the body in love. To me, that seems like it would take the shape of greater participation, talking, sharing from more members at a gathering (church service), practicing hospitality in homes, letting more people exhort, teach, prophesy (what’s that?), and more community among the members such that they work together during the week to use their gifts to do ministry or serve or whatever.

    Perhaps mega churches are good at this already? Perhaps my hopes are misguided? Perhaps smaller gatherings are too limited in the number of people so what I envision is actually impossible?

    The thing we’re discussing, though, is stewardship and waste.

    Reply
  36. Gman Avatar
    Gman

    And interesting is some “Megachurches” do have small groups in home, have a variety of ways to host community meetings like AA, and other meetings, host school meetings etc that a small church might not be able to. Now does it mean that a huger building = waste? Maybe not. Do we say the same thing about stadiums, hockey arenas etc and what a waste they are? I would think church buildings are being used more than those (Maybe, maybe not)

    Stewardship and waste – it all starts with us. How about our homes? Do we have things that we own that would some consider waste or a convenience? I mean simple living means we don’t have to have everything but we should have an opportunity to share what God has blessed us with.

    Reply
  37. Alex Blankenship Avatar
    Alex Blankenship

    Great post Adam and comments Brothers. I just read all of them (unusual considering my attention span) but points to the depth of this issue.

    I’m pastor of a future church plant (pre-launch phase) and I often get so many people asking questions about building plans. This always strikes me as odd, but reflects how church culture places so much emphasis on the “buliding” or “going to church”.

    To me, we “are” the church. We don’t “go” to church. Play on words I know, but true nonetheless.

    I can drive down the street on any weekday in my community and see tens of thousands of square feet sitting idly. It makes me wonder how many people could we help if all the different churches with their denominational/doctrinal differences combined resources to “BE” the one church that Jesus died to establish?

    I get pretty worked up just thinking about what we have made church out to be. No offense, judgement or condemnation towards anyone, but it sometimes reminds me of what the OT prophets wrote about and conjures up images of prostitution in my mind.

    The central issue IMHO is that the Kingdom order God established as Christ as the head of the church has been turned upside down. The church many times takes the head role and Jesus forms the body. Messed up.

    Have we made a golden calf? If Jesus is the head, I believe it changes the orientation of how we utilize our resources to help others.

    Reply
  38. Jesse Phillips Avatar
    Jesse Phillips

    Gman, interesting point. Larger meeting places are helpful for those kinds of meetings.

    The thing with stadiums, it’s a whole different thing – I consider the two in entirely different categories, worlds apart really. Sports are an institution in our culture. The purpose of the teams is to make money. They are enabled to do this by the NFL, MLB, etc. Cities build stadiums to make money, to support their sports teams, to raise interest in the city, to have venues available for large gatherings (concerts, etc). It’s all about money.

    The church is nothing like this, brother Gman. We’re all about (we’re supposed to be all about) winning and discipling people. If the city wants to invest in a stadium that makes money b/c hundreds of thousands of people come to watch events and concerts, that’s fine what they do with their money. But the Church has a responsibility to reach the world, using it’s money to love others, help the poor, win and disciple people.

    Good point, Gman, good stewardship starts with us. I need to be generous with God’s stuff, it’s all his. Also, I shouldn’t waste it on stuff.

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  39. adammclane.com » » An offering of fish and loaves

    […] can tell, the last few posts have been openly questioning the paradigm of American Evangelicalism. Does the Gospel need buildings? Does the Gospel need money? And today I want to ask if the Gospel requires a tithe of […]

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