People, Not Buildings

“As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, ‘Teacher, look at these tremendous buildings!  Look at the massive stones in the walls!’  Jesus replied, ‘These magnificent buildings will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another” – Mark 13:1-2 (NLT).

God isn’t very interested in buildings.  He’s interested in human hearts.  He isn’t wowed by our beautiful church campuses, nor is he impressed with stately sanctuaries, nor is he awed by our brick and mortar or wood and stucco.  He is after humble spirits that worship him in deep sincerity.  If this happens to take place in a nice building, then fine.  But it isn’t the building that impresses God.

At one time God lived in a building called the Temple.  But twice that Temple was destroyed because the humans that were supposed to worship him there had turned their backs on him.  In 586 b.c. the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon.  Again, in 70 a.d. it was destroyed by the Roman army as Jesus is about to predict.  In both cases, the people had turned away from God and forgotten the purpose of their buildings was to bring him glory.  And each time, God sent a clear message that he isn’t into buildings, he’s into hearts.  The buildings only matter if they cause hearts to turn to God.

Unfortunately, some Christians haven’t received this message.  They have become proud of their church buildings.  In fact, they have become so proud of them that the buildings are more important to them than their relationship to God.  Further, the buildings are more important to them than reaching lost souls who do not yet know God.  They would rather fight, for instance, than sell their buildings and move to a location that would enable them to reach lost souls more effectively.  The buildings become all-consuming. 

In fact, church buildings have become so important to some Christians that they are willing to argue, squabble, gossip, throw stones, divide, and drag the name of Jesus through the mud over them.  Never mind that the church hasn’t reached a lost soul in years.  Never mind that the baptistery hasn’t been used in so long that there is algae and scum in the water.  Never mind that no hearts are being healed there anymore or new faces entering the doors, after all they have their wonderful buildings and beautiful parking lots.

Now don’t misunderstand.  Buildings can be wonderful and God can certainly use them to bring glory to his name.  Many Christians have sacrificed much to help build campuses and buildings that have become centers for evangelism, healing, hope, and true worship.  Such use of buildings is pleasing to God, I believe.  However, when the buildings become more important than lost souls; when the campus is more valuable than people; when the sanctuary is more significant than hurting hearts, death has visited that church and God is not pleased.  To him, buildings are merely temporary structures that are a means to an end, not the end themselves.  Eventually, every building we build will be burned up when Jesus returns. 

Peter wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” – 2 Peter 3:10 (NASB).  If buildings were important to God, he wouldn’t destroy them when Jesus comes back!  Instead, he would preserve them.  But they aren’t important to him – not even a little.  What is important to God is PEOPLE.

Jesus left the glories of heaven for PEOPLE.  He was born on this earth to save PEOPLE from their sin.  He died a horrible death on a cross to rescue PEOPLE.  He rose from the dead to secure eternal life for PEOPLE.  He sends his Holy Spirit to live in PEOPLE.  He commissioned his disciples to preach the Good News of Jesus to all PEOPLE on the earth.  Not once did he commission them to build buildings!

Now don’t misunderstand.  God has given us the freedom and leeway to build buildings so long as they are effective tools in reaching lost people and healing the broken hearts of this world.  I believe that he will stand behind capitol campaigns and drives to raise money to build buildings if the goal is to use them night and day to reach lost people and reconcile hearts to God.  But the moment our buildings become more important than people, God is not pleased at all.  In fact, look out!  He may just take our buildings away from us altogether until we repent of our idolatry! 

The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem should teach us this!  God destroyed it because the people had become hard-hearted and rejected Jesus as Messiah while simultaneously professing to serve God (See Luke 19:42-44).  We cannot reject Jesus and his agenda and cling to our buildings in God’s name.  When we do this, look out!  Our buildings may soon be lost or taken from us by our God who wants them to be used to save people from their sins. 

So build buildings for Jesus, and enjoy them in his name.  But guard against allowing such things to become more important than the very people for which Christ died.