Biggering and biggering and biggering

If you were to ask me what I believe is the most appropriate form of a church building I would tell you the cruciform. I suppose you could argue for just a simple cube building that resembles what is pictured in Revelation but such is my bias. When we discuss worship space we must allow varying opinions to be weighed. We must also remember that money really does have an influence. We should have a few things in common though and there is one main point I want you to consider. Worship space does actually matter. I know, I know, I might as well of just said we need to worship false gods but hear me out. This is an 'all things considered' discussion. Answer honestly, if you had the choice to gather in the sewers of your city or in your house which would you choose? Why? Because aesthetics actually do communicate something. If you were a member of a congregation that was healthy but your meeting place was outside next to a landfill would that have any bearing at all on your church? Now consider having the freedom to choose your structure, would you rather communicate through your building an atmosphere of industrial pragmatism, or a spiritually motivated attention to detail from the overall outer structure of the building to its high arched ceiling? There is no escaping aesthetics. There is no neutrality, something is being communicated and it is up to us what we want to communicate.

Cottages and Cathedrals

Puritanism sought to strip away from the high church standards of the day and simplicity was esteemed. I agree with the move they made. It was necessary. The taxes and conniving to create cathedrals had become motivated by greed and grandeur. In a demonstration of separating from this the Puritans esteemed a simpler meeting place. Their decision was not like that of many today, however. We have mega churches today and some of them are former sporting arenas. It doesn’t take an art major to tell you that there is just a different ‘feel’ in an arena compared to a cathedral. Artistry needs its place again. Even the Puritans recognized this by the design of their pulpits. If the word of God is the central focus of our gathering it is proper to communicate that. The pulpit, therefore, is elevated and immovable like the word of God itself. Pretty simple really. The vaulted ceilings of large churches communicate that you are entering into something greater than yourself. The pillars throughout represent the apostolic foundation, the stain glass windows, facing the east, are found behind the pulpit to let in the light to communicate that it is the illumination from God upon his word to his people that prepares them for every good work. We have pews instead of chairs because the church is a body made of connected individuals. But today our thoughts are less spiritually motivated artistry and more likened to pragmatism.

Steel or Stone

Spiritually, the church is compared to being a stone structure being built up. The stones that make up a physical church building, when considered, teach us of the spiritual reality. Sadly, more and more we are in a day where we esteem steel beams and structures that look more like they are preparing for a rock concert than for worshiping the God of creation and redemption. They are often dark rooms with artificial lights that put the light on individuals and not the Scriptures. This truly does transpire. Our view of End Times has much to play in this discussion. If you believe that the end is at hand you will be happy to throw up a nice building quickly as time is short. If you believe all is going downhill you will be happy to call an old bus the most spiritual of meeting places. If you are more optimistic you just might be crazy enough to start construction of a building that will take more than a couple hundred years and will depend upon faithful believers to voluntarily finish it, not by slavery or taxes, long after you are gone. People really did this. The Church, speaking spiritually, truly demonstrates this reality. We are being built up a spiritual building and this over much time. So, if you disagree with me on this that is fine and I welcome the friendly discussion. But one thing you cannot avoid is that your worship space is communicating something.



 

Image: Saint Albans Cathedral, (https://www.britannica.com/media/full/516708/148944)