Musings: Notes From My Daybook

Building a sanctuary sets up a real learning experience for both church and minister. And the greatest may well be rooted in determining the real reasons why. I am well aware of the arguments that rage about how North American churches should or should not spend money on expensive places of worship that are used only one or two hours a week. But the one thing that has come clear to me out of my experience with a current stewardship program at our congregation is that the real test is not about the worship space.

The real test is whether I and the congregation I serve are committed to pursuing God's mission in the geographical place where we live and work. Here is the reality. Building a building to simply build an edifice seems superficial and short-sided. And, on the other hand, to think that a building could substitute for mission is delusional. For Northlake, our direction is set. We seek to build a sanctuary to create a space where some of the 282,000 people who live within 5 miles of our campus can participate in pursuing a God-centered life.

Our mission to announce the kingdom, nurture a Christ-shaped community, and offer compassion to broken lives. That we are doing every single day. But there is more to be done--much more. And a building, like a book or a computer or a lesson plan or piece of art or a sign or any other tool is a tool. Churches that are pursuing God's mission, need tools, good tools to aid them along the way. But tools, no matter how small or great, are never a substitute for the power of God working in a community of people. For the kingdom rides in on the lives and hearts of people given over to God's mission.