“The Idol of Big Buildings”

I recently came from a
great vacation in Puerto Rico with my entire family; we had an amazing time! However,
one thing, and one thing only, disturbed me with a passion. I went to visit a
church that I visited before. At the time, they were a congregation of about a
thousand people (I am guessing!) The fire of God was there without a doubt. Nevertheless,
“God told” the pastor to build this building that literally looks like a
coliseum. They had some money in the bank so, why not? I was able to see the
structure of this building as they quickly started the construction. As I went
on this vacation, I saw the building painted, I knew that they faced some
financial problems, but I was now convinced that the building was ready and
that God has done an amazing miracle here.

I told my future wife, Rayette about this church as
one of the most powerful churches in Puerto Rico. The service was to start at
11:00 AM; we got there at 10:55 AM. As I looked around the enormous parking lot
was almost empty, I was wondering what was wrong. The congregation is a
congregation of about two hundred people and the Fire is gone. They are being
consumed by that humungous building that serves as an open and visual ridicule
of their faith. I am sure somebody said that it was not the time; I am sure
somebody asked; “Why are we building a building that can seat over
fifteen thousand people when our congregation is less than two thousand people?”
I am also sure that they were
told that they had no faith.

Beloved, have we become a ridiculous church? The Bible
tells us in Luke
14:28-30:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you
first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to
complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to
finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This
person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”

Since when is
estimating the cost a violation of our faith? Building without estimating the
cost is not a violation of the faith, but irresponsibility and a misuse of
God’s money. Not only should we count the cost, but we must seriously consider
if there is a real need for it. The church is about people; it’s about making
sure that we equip them for the work of the ministry and making sure that
everyone, absolutely everyone that has legitimized Biblical need is taking care
of. I am not talking about the church becoming a Welfare System, but the church
of the book of Acts was known, not only for the miracles, but because no one
was in need. That is the reason why the people gladly placed their money at the
Apostles Feet.

If you meet in
a building that sits five hundred people and your congregation is exploiting
and is going over that number, you are experiencing a good problem. You will
definitely have to do something because you can run into problems with the Fire
Marshal. Yet, before you
start building you must take a good look at your finances. If you don’t
have enough to pay cash for it, then you may need to consider having more
services or get creative in dividing your congregation. But going into debt is
not Biblical either. Romans
13:8 tells us:

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for
he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

            Haven’t you notice that everyone is
saving the souls or building the kingdom while sounding like used car sales men?
Stop allowing these thieves to steal your money, making you feel that if you
don’t give them money the whole world is going to hell. If they don’t have the
money; if in order for them to have a ministry and meet their little budgets
they have to manipulate God’s people, then you need to let your ministry go. It’s
not that I don’t believe in massive events; but I, together with billions of
others, got saved for free. It took one man or woman of God to tell us about
Jesus on a one-on-one basis. That is revival, when we the church minister to
people as part of our daily lives.

I am so, glad
that God is about to destroy and close down many buildings across America, but
the church, the real church, you and me, will be corrected; restored, edified, built-up,
equipped and sent-out with power for the service of God’s people and for the
glory of God.