Why do we build a church?

We (Christians) build to see God. In 1 Chronicles 22:19 God says “Seek me, build me a temple”. Building a space for a community to encounter God is one of the most basic acts of drawing heaven into your world. It has been this way for centuries.

The Shunamite woman built a room on her house for Elisha in 2 Kings, and it attracted the favor of God, bringing her out of her barrenness. Abram built an altar and called on the Name of the Lord, as did countless other heroes of faith. Moses put up a tent, David and Solomon built a temple, the Jews established their synagogues. When Elijah built that altar, it was an act of sacrifice where God’s fire fell.

There is something about building that seeks God. To designate a place in the heart of a community, to seek God together, a place to pray, mourn, celebrate, ask, dream , for centuries, this has been the activity of a people that seeks God’s blessing. In turn God responds. When you build a church building, you’re not just building a community center; you’re building an altar for God’s fire!

We build in response to God’s presence. Man is strangely wired. Once he encounters God’s presence, he is always inclined to build something! In Genesis 28 Jacob met God in that dream at Bethel; he “sets up a pillar” in response. Noah built an altar. David was filled with zeal to build a temple. In Luke 9 Peter, James and John experience the powerful transfiguration. Somehow it must be hardwired in humanity, because the bible tells us “he did not know what he was saying” as his heart burst out with “Let’s build tabernacles! It’s good to be here!”

A church building resonates with the soft presence of God throughout the week because like Jacob experienced, God can be awesome in a geographical space. “Ground” can be made “holy”. (Ex 3:5).