Chase Davis has a good article that discusses the matter of the building of beautiful worship spaces and church buildings.
He says evangelicals don’t plan beautiful buildings because of pragmatism. He says the thinking is that beautiful worship spaces are unnecessary and a waste of money; and that monies instead should be directed toward evangelism.
He argues, however, that the church should have a “central role in defining what is beautiful”; and that the choice of church architecture can have theological significance.
It should be noted that older Southern Baptist churches often had beautiful buildings and sanctuaries. It was a simple, sparse, austere type of beauty– often in the Neoclassical or Federal architectural style.
In any case, Davis makes some interesting points.
I have been all over Europe and have seen lots of Catholic cathedrals. The architecture is Gothic. They are magnificent. I have also seen the Washington National Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.
These gives one a feeling of reverence.
I have also seen some mega churches in the US that frankly are large but somewhat gaudy.
1 Corinthians 6:19 —
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
I think the Lord is telling us that worship is not about the building, but about God’s Spirit living in His people.
Thanks, Fred. There is also the “whereever there are two or three gathered in my name” statement from Christ himself. No doubt, Christ honors authentic worship no matter the type of building.
I am still sympathetic with the themes Davis expresses in the article, however.