By Arthur Owiti
With the current economic down turn having affected some church buildings; one cannot ignore the significance of the church building. It in itself has been a base of false doctrines such as Prosperity through Tithing, Clergy/Laity and others, despite its few benefits.
This emphasis on physical buildings falsely called churches has been aided by the adoption of a Levitical order in Christendom. The Levitical order as per the book of Hebrews, is mainly based on man made buildings and artifacts. It also was an order that allowed a few men near God with the other majority, far away from him.
However as Christians being under the New Testament, we are in the Melchizedek order of Jesus Christ the Great High Priest. This order is not based on man made buildings and articles but the true heavenly tabernacle. Thus believers, Jew and Gentile, can ALL draw near to God through Jesus Christ.
Sadly, most of the church in the Constantine era 'married' the state out of convenience and survival sake. This re established a type of Levitical order, rejecting the New Testament teaching of the church. The Levitical order, being physical and outward in form, needed a physical building. Thus the so called 'Church, meaning a physical building' was born.
Things have not changed as today we have grand church buildings carrying on the Constantine tradition of man made temples for Christ. In the mainline churches, the physical building is designed in a way that separates the people from the ministers of God and most of implies a separation between people and God thus requiring intermediaries or ministers of God. It also holds activities such as 'Enthronements', 'Church Feasts' Ordinations; almost a complete copy cat of Jewish temple worship only borrowing New Testament language.
For majority of the churches, the physical buildings are the store houses of the tithes, abusing the scriptures of 'BRING -ALL- YOUR -TITHES TO THE STOREHOUSE SO THAT THERE IS FOOD IN MY HOUSE'.
This is deliberate ignorance of 'My House' which applies to the temple in Jerusalem. It is the only physical place that was God- chosen for feast days, sacrifices and tithes. This is why tithes are mentioned only in the gospels, at the advent of the New Testament while the temple was still the only official physical place of collective temple activities.
So are today's physical mega churches competing with the temple in Jerusalem? Have they replaced Jerusalem thus justifying them to collect tithes and hold feast days? In terms of collecting tithes and having the Levitical order through few priests instead of all priests in the Melchizedek order, YES.
This is in no way discrediting Christian leadership, which is not man imposing and Nicolaitan, but servant like in form and organization.
Consequences of the Physical Building
Money Making Buildings
The buildings have been collecting revenue in a huge way, not just from believers but from other quarters. Sadly the money gained from these other ventures is not made known to the congregants. However the leaders don’t feel obliged to do so because some congregants don’t concern themselves with such issues. And even if they mention it is superficial, because if people knew the truth they would ask very many questions.
Here in Kenya rich churches in the city have multi-purpose halls that generate cash during the week from secular events. Church car parks are leased to city companies. Concerts, receptions and other meetings are held. The charges for the rooms are dear but the accountability on the use of the money is lacking. One congregant lamented that the rooms were said to be built for the worshippers use but during the week there were only strangers occupying the rooms. I hope he could see the real beneficiaries of the building? Only those who can pay for them during the week, and not just Sunday worshipers.
State/Government Interference
This came about due to the historic relationship between church and state especially in Western colonized countries.
In Africa, the church landed first through the missionaries who built churches and schools. However when the time came to partition Africa, the Western powers had to show proof of influence to gain an area. The best proof was Western missions which turned their churches and schools into symbols of imperial government.
This relationship of State and Church still exists in modern Africa, with most churches doing the bidding of government. This has killed the church's role as the voice of reason in society. Strange and sad to note that in a time when injustice and corruption is so prevalent in the country and in the church, as in Kenya, most of the church’s silence seems to be deafening. Instead they break the silence on soft issues and when their interests are in danger of harm.
False Teachings and Beliefs
As stated at the beginning, the emphasis of an outward form of religion clouds the inward nature of true faith.
This outward religiosity makes people believe that the church is the house of God yet they are the church OF Jesus Christ. That only the priest/pastors are men of God, yet all believers are priests in Christ Jesus thus sons and daughters of God who can call on him in the name of Jesus Christ. That tithes and offerings must be given to a church to receive praise from God, yet God wants us to give cheerfully and in our ability to help the needy, widows and orphans amongst us and further the true gospel of Jesus Christ, not maintain church buildings and keep ministers on the pay roll.
False Ministers
Because of the lucrative business in the church mentioned in the buildings and merchandise many are studying theology or joining ministry because you can survive with a salary and some little gain from the merchandise revenue. They are right. The money rolling in shows the increased number of students in bible schools. The tent-making abilities are not an option so people work at being salaried men of God like the Levites.
This shifts ministry's true focus on the people and places it on the belly and the cares of this world. No wonder one preaches ear soothing messages to get praise from men and a raise from the tithes and offerings.
These are blemishes that have all borne out of the church building doctrine that has done more harm than good. Yes it helps Christians congregate together but it cannot replace the church, the body of Christ.
A true Biblical Fellowship NOT building is what is mentioned in the scriptures as true doctrine and practice. The New Testament teaches about a new and living way where all can be near to God, not by going to a physical place of worship, but through the blood of Christ and faith in Jesus Christ who is of the unchangeable priesthood.
