theAntiChurch.org
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Why No Buildings? What does the scripture above tell you..? "Temples made with hands? Hey! GOD'S NOT THERE!" Reason enough, but feel free to read on...

How often does one hear a modern pulpit professional say that "we derive our doctrines and practices solely from the scriptures?" or "We seek to model our church after the New Testament church?" Well... if your church owns property or a meets in a building, you have already departed from the Bible, no matter what else you say and do!

Rather than ask "Why not own a church building?" perhaps a better question would be "Why do modern churches buy property and purchase buildings to meet in, when there is no New Testament record of such?" Historically speaking, the "temple" was destroyed in God's providence in 70 A.D., and for the first three centuries A.D., Christians met only in homes and in public places (when persecution was not an issue). Public preaching of the gospel was likewise a "marketplace" event. This easily duplicable model of church planting is the type of Christianity that turned the world upside down, and is the New Testament model we seek to emulate.

Many print resources (see right, and homepage links) document that the modern style of churches meeting in a building, with a passive "theater style" audience gathered around a single talented speaker, is at best a mistaken return to the Old Covenant form of temple worship, but also a Greco-Roman (pagan) custom adopted by early Catholicism, and still absorbed into modern church practice. This is a far cry from the practice of New Testament Christians however, who met "publically and from house-to-house" (Acts 20:20), shared entire meals together (not just a wafer), and where all participated in the meeting (1 Cor 14:26).

Early Christians proudly proclaimed "the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48)." God's church is indeed a living entity - an "organism, not an organization" as the saying goes. Also "...the household of God (is) built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22

How often do the gospels record Jesus' words that he would replace the old covenant temple with one not made of human hands? How plainly do God's will and providence shine through with the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70A.D., and the fact that no New Testament churches were ever commanded to build new ones (or ever did for over 300 years)? How clearly does the New Testament speak of a living temple for the Holy Spirit? How sad then, that modern churchianity has outsmarted God by once again building temples made with human hands, and forcing His Spirit to work almost exclusively from within the confines of such a small box.

It's not that buildings are bad per se, or evil - just unnecessary. There is no "thou shalt not build" in the New Testament, so it would be wrong to say that they are forbidden. But it would be equally wrong to say that they are authorized by scripture or intended by God. The early church used buildings sometimes (such as Solomon's Porch), but did not erect them; they met only in previously existing structures.

Practically speaking, the expense of a building is not authorized by scripture. Christians freely gave of their money, knowing it went directly to feed the poor, to take care of the widows and orphans in their midst, and to occasionally fund the travel expenses (but not salaries) of Paul and other missionary church planters - but never to building funds. Expensive buildings are an unnecessary, unscriptural, and burdensome encumbrance to God's people. In short the church is people (as we all know in our hearts); her focus likewise should be people; her resources dedicated to building up people, not earthly structures, and not man-made kingdoms or organizations.

"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel..."
Luke 11:33

Christ was always among the people, teaching and healing them in public places, mountaintops, seashores, hillsides and valleys. He was not crucified "in a corner" (Acts 26:26), nor in an indoor meeting hidden from view of those who might "drive by." Today's church is by and large hidden from the masses. By meeting in our own homes and in public places (parks, restaurants, malls, etc) The AntiChurch wishes to once again release the fragrance of Christ into the public sphere, and to permit our meetings to be a public witness of our community and concern for one another, and for our community itself.

It's much easier to invite a friend into your home, or a passerby to sit down or listen in right now, rather than try and convince them to "come to our church" at a later date. We instead bring church to the people, as was the practice of the earliest (and most effective) Christians.