To build or not to build.

I was listening to a church planter today talk about his vision of having a church in DC meeting in community centers and defunct church facilities. I was reminded of a pearl of advice from Dr. Elmer Towns - “Big mistake planters make is to buy land too quick and build too small.”

I’ve worked in a church that met in the same facilities for 50 years, and is now in a new building. I’ve worked in a church that met in a public school for eight years, then moved into a large, newly constructed building.

Buildings are a blessing and curse. The “church” is not the building, but the building can be a tool for ministry. But the headaches of fund raising, maintenance, etc might almost lead a church planter to re-write 1 Corinthians 7, with apologies to Paul;]

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a CHURCH PLANTER not to BUILD.

8 Now to the CHURCH PLANTS WHO RENT I say: It is good for them to NOT BUILD, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should BUILD, for it is better to BUILD than to burn with JEALOUSY.

25 Now about RENTERS: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you RENTING? Do not look TO BUILD. 28 But if you do BUILD, you have not sinned; and if a CHURCH PLANTER BUILDS, he has not sinned. But those who BUILD will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have BUILDINGS should live as if they had none; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 32 I would like you to be free from concern. A RENTER is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a BUILDING OWNER is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his BUILDING— 34 and his interests are divided. A RENTER is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: His aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a BUILDING OWNER is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his CONGREGATION. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.