Buildings
The Government is concerned that the country’s churches are under threat of closure. They are worried that the dwindling congregations can no longer support the ageing and often ‘listed’ buildings. So what are they going to do? Despite what you might assume, there are no plans for Christian revivals, none for increased Bible teaching, not even calls to prayer. No, rather there is to be a top-level summit to investigate funding for these crumbling buildings and to plan creation of schemes for their wider use by the community.
Church buildings it seems, not Christians, are central to community life. Can you imagine the outcry if a similar proposal were made to Muslim or Jew? How would they react if the local council dictated they use their mosque or synagogue for line-dancing lessons or slimming club sessions, or even insisted they be used for events contrary to the beliefs of the worshippers, such as a hog roast or wine tasting classes?
I am in a dilemma, whilst enraged by the way our churches may be secularised, I am also aware that the building is irrelevant to the worship. Biblically Christ taught in His followers’ houses, by the wayside or even from a boat. He did, however, continue to uphold His own religion, participating in Jewish ceremonies in the Temple and respecting its traditions. He, famously, cleared the courtyard of the moneychangers and other traders who were disrespectful, demeaning the place, making it less special, less awesome as the House of God (Luke 19:45-6).
Our building is not impressive or important architecturally but it is ours and we use it several times a week for services and meetings to the honour and glory of our Lord. Recently we have been cleaning, tidying and painting, making sure that the building will be fit for use for years to come, making it special for God. We want Him to have the best; we do not want Him to think that we treat His house like an old shed or scout hut. We also know that we have to go out into the surrounding area if we are to do what He requires of us. Bob M constantly repeats the prophesy that what God is doing, cannot and will not be contained within the four walls – as we go out of the door we are His emissaries and we need to behave as He would wish at all times.
It will soon be the time of year when non-church goers make their annual pilgrimage to hear again the story they remember from their youth, to sing their favourite carols and get the fuzzy warm feeling of having been “good”. What they do not realise is that by entering God’s presence they risk His entering their lives and changing them for ever. Let us invite our friends and those yet to become friends to join our Christmas services and let them see that being a Christian is not boring or restrictive but awesome and a great joy.
