Church building turned into.....

[Cindi Hammons]

MSNBC Article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16959621/site/newsweek/)

This is a very interesting article regarding the disposition of church buildings in Europe. It is well worth following the link and reading. I think many of the uses seem okay, but others...I just can't appreciate...but I don't know the answer to the problem other than mass converstion and devotion.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Cindi,

When we pastored in Danville, IL, in the mid 70's there were 3 former church buildings that had bell towers and stained glass windows but had been sold and become:

1. Furniture store
2. Little Theatre
3. Car repair shop

Every time I went passed these former churches I felt sad. I did not know the history of those churches to know if they had grown out of those buildings or just closed down. Either way, I did not like seeing those buildings used for anything that was not worship. The car repair shop really bothered me. I do not know what they did with the sanctuary, but had made a large garage door on the side, below the sanctuary. Maybe the shop owner had turned the church part into living quarters.

About this article. It breaks my heart to read: "a large pizza oven where the altar used to be" and a church-turned-restaurant called "The Sacred and Profane." That beautiful beatiful Anglican church now serving pizza. And only 5% of Catholics attend church. Declining attendence and declining faith...what an awful feeling it gives me.

Barb

[Jim Franklin]

The article brings to mind the thought, " would Jesus have driven Muslems out of the temple dedicated to the worship of He and His Father?" To me it sounds like desecration of Holy Ground. It behooves the Methodists to get busy with evangelizing and not let their influence in the community slide.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

MSNBC Article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16959621/site/newsweek/)

This is a very interesting article regarding the disposition of church buildings in Europe. It is well worth following the link and reading. I think many of the uses seem okay, but others...I just can't appreciate...but I don't know the answer to the problem other than mass converstion and devotion.

I don't like the idea of a local congregation shrinking and dying to the point of not needing its building anymore. However, we must remember that the building itself is just a tool of the local congregation. A Christian era church building must never be confused with a temple. Beginning with the crucifixion God's people are now the "temple."

Thus, while it's sad and horrendous that Christians need fewer buildings instead of more buildings, I don't think issues of "desecration," etc., really apply. I do acknowledge that there is a valid emotional attachment that makes it seem worse but I don't think it is a theological issue.

Do I want a strip club, casino, or bar in a former church building? I don't want a strip club, casino, or bar in any building!

Wilson

[Barb Bouldrey]

There is nothing "Sacred" about an old church building that is no longer a church. No congregation needs to hold on to an old building that is in bad need of repairs or is way more than they need.

I know that most new church buildings are being designed so that they no longer have steeples, stained glass, or give the appearance of the old church building styles. I know that many new churches have a multi-purpose room that is used for worship and fellowship and sports.

But seeing that beautiful building in England with all that ornate design inside saddens my heart that churches everywhere are turning away from worship...anywhere.

I wish that the churches I saw in Danville, IL had removed the stained glass and the steeples...some of the evidence of what the building once was. I would rather it be torn down than used as a car repair shop.

But then, maybe these building should remind us of our obligation to make disciples and win the lost. If we who are the temple of God did our jobs as effective witness I believe we would see more growth in our existing churches.

When we visited Germany we saw many cold, empty beautiful churches. We saw very few active Christian churches...of any denomination. I studied the history of Germany and understand what happened to drive the common people away from church.

Then, of course, I know the history of my own church and the "glory days" when they ran 300...and understand the decline here, too.

It is all a sign of failure for the Church universal.

Barb

[Cindi Hammons]

Beginning with the crucifixion God's people are now the "temple."

I don't think issues of "desecration," etc., really apply.

I agree...as I said, some of the uses didn't bother me as much as some of the other uses. I also didn't say it was wrong...just that I can't appreciate some of the current uses. It's just sad, that's all.

[Regena Torres]

I think it is sad that buildings that have been dedicated to God are used for other purposes.