Mark's Notebook


	Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. - Albert Einstein

God's Housing Crisis

Thursday 28 April 2005, 1:23 pm
Keywords: Christian Topics , News Articles

by Howard A. Snyder

Interestingly, church history shows an inverse ratio between dynamic church multiplication and preoccupation with buildings. Emphasis on buildings is generally linked with relatively slow growth or even decline.

The earliest church thrived as a network of house churches, without church buildings. None of the New Testament writers complained about this lack.

Some churches have found that the most faithful option is to sell their real estate and invest the money in missions and ministry to the poor, where the long-term dividends are much higher.

It is generally a sign of church renewal when a congregation rediscovers real Christian community and Jesus-like ministry in the world—and as a result, begins either to de-emphasize church buildings or turns "God's house" into a genuine resource for multiplied ministry to those in need.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/005/24.54.html