Let’s deal with the forever, folks

“When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he (Jesus) said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another ...’” (Luke 21:5-7a). What an interesting statement from Jesus.

Of course, the people that were talking were making the same mistake we often make today. They were equating their building to their religion. When many people think of church, we don’t always think about what makes a church; we think about the physical aspects of church. We get impressed by buildings. I know a pastor who regularly brags about his multi-million-dollar window. We consider the age of the building, (my bad) and the amount of the seating. We often think about the cost to heat, and the staffing of said building. In short when we mention church, our minds go to the building.

As one who came from the tradition of the circuit rider, I am grateful for a place to worship. Those pastors who preceded me often did not have a dedicated place to worship. Many Methodist sermons were preached in a barn, or a bar, or even in a graveyard using a headstone as a pulpit. (Methodists weren’t the only ones; there are many other denominations that rode circuits.) In fact, the Doniphan church started in 1851, but did not have its own place until 1888.

We often forget to talk about what makes up a church. A church is not a building. Christ was pointing out to the followers that the building is of little consequence. That building was completely destroyed in 70 A.D. There are many churches that have been built and destroyed over the past 2,000 years, give or take a few. It isn’t wood and stone that makes a church, it is people and ministry.

Churches are not buildings. Buildings are tools for churches to do the work of making disciples. We must remember this, because I can guarantee you in the last days Christ is not going to ask how comfortable your building was. He’s probably going to be more concerned with how successful your church was in making disciples.

Church buildings are implements of evangelism. We build them so there is a safe and dry (relatively speaking) place to train up new disciples. When we start putting the emphasis on the building and not on the ministry, we stop being a church.

Ask yourself this: Are you more concerned about the condition of your pews, or the emptiness of your pews? Are you more concerned about the state of your kitchen, or the number of people fed by that kitchen? Are you more interested in getting people into the pews to hear sermons or out on the streets to live the Bible?

Folks, we live in a very materialistic world. The churches get caught up in having the right look, or décor or program. We need to be about doing the right thing. We should keep in mind that the great commission is “Go and make disciples,” not “build and make yourselves comfortable”.

Buildings fall, but the word of God is forever. Let’s deal with the forever.

See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.