Why I hate church buildings

The first thing on my list is “church X building.” That was shorthand for “church doesn’t need a building.” I get angry – and this is going to be a lot of angry writing – when…well, a lot actually. I get angry when I see big, new church buildings. I get angry when they ask for money to build them or to add on to them. I get angry when they ask us to give more money because the budget hasn’t been met yet and the year’s almost over. I get angry that money is spent on all that stuff. There are things money could go to that are worth it. Paying for peoples’ rent. Medical bills. Lots of things. Actual needs that real people have. Stop paying for more stuff to fill our bellies: church buildings, add-ons, upgrades, events for church people. And also – honestly there are enough big church buildings to go around. We really don’t need more. 

I don’t think I’m supposed to feel this way if I’m a Christian. In the evangelical world I’ve been in, I think the church building is smuggled in as part of how we act out the verses about not giving up meeting with each other…something. Basically we’re supposed to be meeting together so we need a building. I asked recently why we need to meet every week. I still don’t get it. Maybe it’s a hold over from the Jewish Sabbath being celebrated every week. I really don’t know. It’s always seemed excessive to me. But leaving that aside, I see no justification in the Bible for church buildings. I DO see a lot of warnings about not taking care of the poor. When we put money toward a church building that money doesn’t go toward someone in need. And there are endlessly people in need. Like right around us. Like even in our churches. It makes me angry that we gather in nice buildings and wear nice clothes and have services with all sorts of technical equipment and there are people who are in debt, who are homeless, etc., etc., etc. 

It’s also ridiculous because we seriously do not need buildings to have church. Have them in peoples’ houses or yards. Have them in parks. I guess we couldn’t have as many people in one place if we do that, but is that really important? More important that taking care of someone who doesn’t have heat because they can’t afford it? More important than paying off someone’s college debt? What’s the big deal anyway about having so many people in one place? Like why do we think that’s important? Is it because we all want to hear a particular pastor speak? Or a particular worship band play? Are those people so special? I guess if they are we can still watch them online as we all gather in homes. We can still all sing to that worship band in someone’s living room. Seriously – am I missing something? 

Anyway. I’m angry. All that money that goes toward church buildings, sound equipment, lighting, paying admin assistants and pastors, and so on…that could go toward people who actually need help. I guess church buildings, pastors in nice clothes with nice houses, sound equipment…all that stuff…I guess it makes me sick to my stomach. If there’s anything that seems biblical to me about it it’s that we’re on the wrong side – that God throws down the mighty and gets angry at the people who eat their fill when others are hungry. That’s what spending money on a church building looks like to me. 

And for real, there are tons of big buildings not being used a whole lot. So if ya’ll still all want to meet together, just use one of those.