$70 million sanctuary - excessive or good investment?

[Leonhard]

If they had made the Church in the style of romanesque cathedrals I'd have called it money well spent glorifying God.

[Jin-roh]

I'm reminded of the woman who poured excessively costly perfume at the feet of Jesus, and it was called an act of worship. Though Judas objected because the perfume could have been sold and donated to the poor.

That said I hardly see the reason to build churches *at all* in the United States. Surely there are enough buildings out there with dwindling congregations that could use the new members.

[One Bad Pig]

That said I hardly see the reason to build churches *at all* in the United States. Surely there are enough buildings out there with dwindling congregations that could use the new members.

Well, populations DO shift. In the Rust Belt though, yeah.

[Teallaura]

While I stand by my earlier statements, I have an issue with this.

Methodism isn't as austere as it's Baptist brethren but we DO have an historic doctrine that condemns excessive ornamentation. Nothing wrong with building a beautiful church to God's glory - but if we aren't careful we start building to our own glory - which is wrong. As a result, Methodist churches are historically moderate in their ornamentation (yes, stained glass windows caused a ruckus back in the day).

A 70 million dollar facility strikes me as a really big ornament - and the question is who does it glorify? This is pushing the envelop of Methodism more than a little which brings the question into play.

As an evangelism tool, it's a non-starter - pretty buildings don't make disciples.

[One Bad Pig]

As an evangelism tool, it's a non-starter - pretty buildings don't make disciples.

I dunno - Hagia Sophia seems to have mightily impressed the Rus (though ceremony certainly played a part in that as well).

[Teallaura]

? I'm trying but I don't remember that from Russian history...

[Jin-roh]

Well, populations DO shift. In the Rust Belt though, yeah.

Populations shifting in what sense?

[Teallaura]

I think he means to places that don't already have a bunch of big empty buildings.

[Jin-roh]

I think he means to places that don't already have a bunch of big empty buildings.

Still, it's hard to believe in a nation as historically and deeply Christian as the United States that there would truly be much of anywhere that lacks sufficient churches for its Christian populace.

Though I'm speak from LA county, of course. We've had plenty of migration in, and still plenty of empty churches.

I do not understand church planting here at all.

[One Bad Pig]

? I'm trying but I don't remember that from Russian history...

Prince Vladimir ostensibly send emissaries to check out other religions (early 10th century) to see which he'd consider picking. His emissaries to Constantinople said of the liturgy in Hagia Sophia "we did not know whether we were on earth or in heaven."

[Jin-roh]

Prince Vladimir ostensibly send emissaries to check out other religions (early 10th century) to see which he'd consider picking. His emissaries to Constantinople said of the liturgy in Hagia Sophia "we did not know whether we were on earth or in heaven."

Also Christians could drink. That helped. :-)

[One Bad Pig]

Also Christians could drink. That helped. :-)

Well, he checked out Rome and the Jews as well as Islam.

[Jin-roh]

Well, he checked out Rome and the Jews as well as Islam.

Bacon, beer, and liturgy so sublime you may transcended this mortal realm. Christianity wins!

[Teallaura]

Prince Vladimir ostensibly send emissaries to check out other religions (early 10th century) to see which he'd consider picking. His emissaries to Constantinople said of the liturgy in Hagia Sophia "we did not know whether we were on earth or in heaven."

Oh yeah! I read that a few months ago, actually - in a book about Vikings...

[Teallaura]

Still, it's hard to believe in a nation as historically and deeply Christian as the United States that there would truly be much of anywhere that lacks sufficient churches for its Christian populace.

Though I'm speak from LA county, of course. We've had plenty of migration in, and still plenty of empty churches.

I do not understand church planting here at all.

Church planting is a different animal from church building. We need more planting - the establishment of new congregations - and less building of lovely edifices with empty pews.