Church and church buildings seem to go together. When we think of one, we often think of the other. But there is a distinction to be made between the two. Church, as a work of God, is spiritual. It lasts forever. Buildings come and go. As a good story outlives its storybook, so does Church outlive the buildings it is associated with over the ages. For a proper understanding of the enduring nature of Church, it's important that we discover and hold to the spiritual idea that edifices stand for and not become preoccupied by the edifices themselves.
We can learn from the recent experience of a congregation in my neighborhood.
A few years ago, they purchased a commercial building and set to work remodeling the structure. They spent considerable sums of money and man-hours preparing it for services. Soon after they finished, though, the building caught on fire and burned to the ground.
