Monday, April 07, 2008
Building Better?
LifeWay Research released a fascinating survey today on church buildings that may come as bad news to many pastors. Turns out the "unchurched" don't necessarily go for churches turning contemporary—at least not when it comes to architectural style.
Researchers showed 1,684 adults—all of whom essentially hadn't been to church in the previous six months—four pictures of church buildings with various architectural styles. By more than a two-to-one ratio, participants opted for the Gothic cathedral building over more contemporary options. Just as surprising was that the unchurched repeated this preference for the traditional in choosing among various foyers and worship centers. In fact, the run-of-the-mill contemporary sanctuary with multiple projection screens and stadium seating actually came in dead-last, as did the wide-open, family friendly foyer.
Obviously, this is both startling and a little upsetting for thousands of pastors who have ridden the wave of church design and construction that says a less "churchy" building is a bigger draw. But before all you old-timers start saying "I told you so," let's dig a little deeper on both the research and the results:
Researchers showed 1,684 adults—all of whom essentially hadn't been to church in the previous six months—four pictures of church buildings with various architectural styles. By more than a two-to-one ratio, participants opted for the Gothic cathedral building over more contemporary options. Just as surprising was that the unchurched repeated this preference for the traditional in choosing among various foyers and worship centers. In fact, the run-of-the-mill contemporary sanctuary with multiple projection screens and stadium seating actually came in dead-last, as did the wide-open, family friendly foyer.
Obviously, this is both startling and a little upsetting for thousands of pastors who have ridden the wave of church design and construction that says a less "churchy" building is a bigger draw. But before all you old-timers start saying "I told you so," let's dig a little deeper on both the research and the results:
Consider the exterior options. Aside from the cathedral, the other three church buildings presented were not (in my opinion) necessarily cutting edge or wildly contemporary. None were refurbished warehouses, I.M. Pei lookalikes or emblems of innovation. Given the selection, I'm not sure I would've voted for any of these three either. To a degree, they reek of mass production rather than the artistry so often shown in a cathedral. At the same time, this speaks volumes about our cultural and spiritual climate. Through all the mile-long shopping malls, Super-Duper Wal-Marts, and megachurches, people are still hungry for intimacy and community, even as it's reflected in architecture. One respondent even mentioned wanting an "intimacy that's transcendent." Isn't it interested how the tables have seemingly turned? What was previously considered a cold, detached worship environment may now be seen as a warm, inviting locale for tight-knit communion. Remember, these are unchurched adults. Just because they prefer the look of a church building doesn't mean they're more likely to actually show up in that building. I'm not trying to be a complete cynic here, but the reality is church buildings rarely draw people. Sure, they can facilitate a connection, and they can certainly make for a smoother transition (i.e., not be a detraction). But even LifeWay's survey found that 36 percent—the largest segment—of respondents said the design of a church building makes no difference in how much they enjoy their time there. It's an eternal truth: The church is people.
One of the keys to this study was the underlying question asked by Cornerstone Knowledge Network (CKN), the company that solicited LifeWay Research. Here's what one CKN representative had to say: "Despite billions being spent on church buildings, there was an overall decline in church attendance in the 1990s. This led CKN to ask, 'As church builders what can we do to help church leaders be more intentional about reaching people who don't go to church?'"
We would do well to continue asking similar questions, even when the results aren't what we'd hoped for. Especially when they're not what we hoped for.
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People need to look in the Word and see how the early church assembled and ministered life to each other and their community. Their ministry, which changed the civilized world in a relatively short time period, was not about buildings, architecture, or location. I suggest that those interested in this subject read Frank Viola's (with George Barna)new book out: Pagan Christianity. It provides some fascinating information about how the church buildings, architectural designs, and religious focus on the "external" materials originated.
I was a little cynical about the results of the survey. Gothic buildings and cathedrals are much more aesthetically pleasing, so it's no surprise that people would choose them. But when it comes down to actually picking a church, I'm not convinced how much architecture would influence their decisions.
The article concludes with...
"...help church leaders be more intentional about reaching people who don't go to church?"
Just a thought: How about witnessing to these people who don't go to church about their sin debt problem with God, their destination of Hell, and their need for Jesus Christ's payment of their sin debt. Once a human is born again and has the Holy Spirit inside them, they should want to gather with other believers for the purpose of worshiping and learning more about the God who created, and saved, them...whether it's in a building that used to be a WalMart, a Cathedral, or a Corn Field.
Oh, and that way, if they die before the church building is built, they'll actually BE part of the REAL church and spend eternity in Heaven instead of Hell.
Just a thought.
"...help church leaders be more intentional about reaching people who don't go to church?"
Just a thought: How about witnessing to these people who don't go to church about their sin debt problem with God, their destination of Hell, and their need for Jesus Christ's payment of their sin debt. Once a human is born again and has the Holy Spirit inside them, they should want to gather with other believers for the purpose of worshiping and learning more about the God who created, and saved, them...whether it's in a building that used to be a WalMart, a Cathedral, or a Corn Field.
Oh, and that way, if they die before the church building is built, they'll actually BE part of the REAL church and spend eternity in Heaven instead of Hell.
Just a thought.
Peace be with you Marcus, as well as those able to read this message.( if it is not censored :-)
The time has come, the harvest is ripe.
Pass this message on to all fellow believers.
The Faithful Witness
The time has come, the harvest is ripe.
Pass this message on to all fellow believers.
The Faithful Witness
Everyone must keep one thing in mind, it's all about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If the Bible is being preached, people will come - the building doesn't matter.
I was a Presbyterian attending a very fine church having close to a million dollar annual budget, but the Bible wasn't being preached. My wife and I finely decided to stop going to church. After about two months of having a sense of being empty, we decided to attend a revival held in the basement of a pottery shop. Guess what - we finally got saved! It wasn't the building; it was the need, the desire to have a relationship with Jesus.
After two years, we still attend this same church under the pottery shop. Even after several attacks by the "the father of lies" it continues to grow in all respects, people, faith, trust in Jesus as savior.
Will we build a facility of our own? Yes we will, but the most important aspect to the church is putting God first and as long as He is the guide, people will come to see what it is that you have they don't!
I was a Presbyterian attending a very fine church having close to a million dollar annual budget, but the Bible wasn't being preached. My wife and I finely decided to stop going to church. After about two months of having a sense of being empty, we decided to attend a revival held in the basement of a pottery shop. Guess what - we finally got saved! It wasn't the building; it was the need, the desire to have a relationship with Jesus.
After two years, we still attend this same church under the pottery shop. Even after several attacks by the "the father of lies" it continues to grow in all respects, people, faith, trust in Jesus as savior.
Will we build a facility of our own? Yes we will, but the most important aspect to the church is putting God first and as long as He is the guide, people will come to see what it is that you have they don't!
# posted by 
: 12:08 PM
: 12:08 PM Thumbs up, anonymous! It has NOTHING to do with what kind of building a "church" meets in, but the heart, spirit, & commitment of the PEOPLE (the TRUE church or body of Christ) meeting there (as well as its pastor/shepherd, but that's another topic for another time). If the building had anything to do with it, & I thought that,I wouldn't be where I am either. The church was meeting in a local high school auditorium when I first started attending it, & then we moved to the back of a shopping mall. Yes, we now do have our own building (a miraculous story in itself), but it has NOTHING to do with why I atend there. (There are/were other potential obstacles as well, but that's also another topic.) God bless those who are committed to the TRUTH, however primitive or fancy a sanctuary they meet in! Deus te abencoe (God bless you in Portuguese)!
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