my heart on design
When it comes to church design, my heart immediately travels to the many churches I have known that exist for themselves. I don’t believe they see themselves as that, and they may never recognize it, but if they looked around, they would find that their church has mostly stayed the same. Whether that is by children growing up and marrying within the church, or receiving transplants from other churches, they are lacking something vital: outside growth. They have lined the halls with decorations that only appeal to the ones that decorated them, often outdated and unstylish. They have programs and Bible studies, but only for those that already attend.
What has happened to our churches? Where has the fire gone? Since when did our churches become so unattractive in both style and spirit? Where is the outreach? Where is the discomfort to live so mundanely while thousands surround the doors of our church buildings?
It has disheartened me. The church was not established for this. While it’s definitely a place to encourage each other, it’s not a family reunion center, or sorority. It’s not a place where we all look and act alike. So if it’s not that, then what is it?
The church is people, not a building,
but how did the church start?
With the gospel. That’s it.
And if we choose to make that our motto, we’ll open our doors a little wider, become friends (not just surface level friends, but actual friends) with unbelievers, and be willing to get a little messy as we do so. Because when we tread into the unknown of "fishing for men”, we’ll need an extra dose of the Holy Spirit as He guides us in how to reach these people. We will walk carefully, but act intentionally as we learn to love every soul that passes us by.
It’s the true meaning of “church”.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
I Peter 2:9-10
