THE REDEEMER MAGAZINE - The Magazine for Thinking Christians.

This article expounds on the subject matter "The Church Building Is Ruining the Church." Below is the whole article. If you would like to read the entire article please send your name and address to www.preacherotis@juno.com and request Edition 42: Volume 84.

THE REDEEMER®- VOLUME 84 ****EDITION 42 - OMPS® INC. 2014
 All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014  These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc.©

Digital Version

The Church Building is Ruining the Church.

Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th. D.

(Ephesians 2:21) In [Christ] the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

       The above scriptures are written in the New Testament as of the promises that God has given as part of the New Covenant. However in my 40 years of church association I have not heard one preacher or minister expound on these promises that God has relayed into the New Covenant. The fact of the matter is; the reality of the Church situation is rather pathetic and pretentious. Looking from the Black American experience it is quite the contrary as to what the scriptures says it should be doing. Not many in the Church has been taught that the Perfected One has come. According to the  Book of Hebrews Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. If God has already erected a sanctuary and the TRUE TABERNACLE then why is man always trying to build a BRICK AND MORTAR SANCTUARY/TABERNACLE that is superficial to the one that God has already built? The answer is Piety-(pious) showing loyal reference for a person or a thing/hypocrisy(hypocrite).       

     Why are multi-million dollar church buildings being built in some of the poorest communities in the nation. It is really senseless. God is not requesting man to build these building that become nothing more than idols of worship with their stained glass panes and elevated ceilings. The congregation praise the buildings more than they do Jesus. These gigantic building are empty for the better part of the week. I am willing to bet that most money that a church collects on Sunday or whenever goes to cover the maintenance of these humongous buildings. The poor people that give away their hard earned money trying to float these things cannot use these buildings unless they pay a fee even though their monies built it. As I look around the city of Jackson, I see nearly a church on every corner. I see beautiful church buildings in neighborhoods of run down houses; and neighborhoods of poverty where nothing in the neighborhood flourishes but the church building. This is not impressive to God this is only impressive to man and rival congregations. Yes, I said “rival congregations”. Don’t think for one minute there is no animosity between congregations. Pastors and congregations are building and buying larger churches out of jealousy of church buildings across town or down the block. Nor is building and buying these buildings visions from God. Jesus made it plain and simple that we don’t need or require a million dollar building to worship Jesus.

John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” This worship do not require million dollar buildings. As a matter of fact this worship is probably more humbling and sincere if done in your own home, on your drive to work, during your exercise hour or anytime you desire.  It does not require a temple, sanctuary or church altar. There is no distance between you and God. No matter where you are He is still God and loves you no less because you don’t attend the big box church building.

      People need to get out of the deception that Church or praise is only as effective as the building that it is held in. A person that jumps up every Sunday morning going to the church building is no closer to God than the person that worships at home or in their car. Most times the activities at the church building is really nothing more than pastor worship and pastor theology( a man/woman giving you their opinion of what the Bible means without any interaction from the congregation). Sunday morning church, Pastor Lead Bible classes where there is no challenging the pastor when he is wrong, and Sunday school are all man made vessels or ordnance put in place to give the appearance of Holiness. Has it ever occurred to you why no one ever graduates from Sunday School. Most schools or educational systems I know of; people either graduate or move on. In the average Sunday School class you find people that has been there for 20, 30, 40 years still in scriptural ignorance. This is ridiculous.

      Most of the rituals on Sunday mornings are nothing more than Old Testament Theology that disavows all the suffering of Christ on the Cross to be effective in rendering in the New Covenant.
       Don’t we find most Church services as mimicking the same things that the writer of Hebrews tries to tell us that Christ has done away with. Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2: For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3:  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4:  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5: And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6: Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
       The modern day church building and Church services are very much trying to imitate what was known as imperfection. God destroyed the beautiful Herod’s Temple because it was not needed. However; today’s pastors and congregations are still trying to convince that multi million dollar church buildings  are necessary and are visions from God. If this was mandatory why are there so many church buildings in bankruptcy? Surely God would not let His vision become bankrupt. The whole institutionalized Church system is nothing more than man created follies that are destined for failure. (Please read paragraph below).
       After its revenues plunged from $55 million to $25 million over three years, in 2010 the Crystal Cathedral filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. They weren't alone: nearly 500 others did over a five-year period. University of Illinois law professor Pamela Foohey took a closer look at church bankruptcy filings from 2006-11 and continues to track them. Her study, "Bankrupting the Faith," is forthcoming in the (Missouri Law Review.) She was interviewed by Ken Walker, who wrote the article on “The effects of so many church bankruptcies.”
       To validate the building of huge church buildings and the bringing of people to that building most Pastors loves to use the verse: Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. However that is only part of the scripture. They do not even read the whole scripture that goes on to say;  as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  In this particular scripture the author is not talking to the modern day Church as most pastors teach he is. Instead the author is talking to a group of 1st century Jewish Christians who had put up with persecution and were considering leaving their Christian faith to return to Judaism. Every pastor I know wants to say Paul was instructing Christians on having church service. This is far from the truth. The writer of Hebrews cannot be Paul because the writer says he  and the readers of Hebrews received the Word of salvation from others who received it from the Lord. See Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;.  Paul, otherwise, declared that he had seen the Lord and had received the Word he preached directly from the Lord himself and not from other men. ( 1 Corinthians 9:1; 11:23; 15:8; Galatians 1:11,12). The bible being true; Paul could not be the writer of Hebrews. Looking even further into the verse of Hebrews 10:25. We find the words ..........as ye see the day approaching. Never have I ever in my Christian life had a Pastor explain to me what “day” was the writer of Hebrews talking about.        

      However; through diligent study I learned that the “day” that the writer was talking about was the day of the anticipated return of Christ and the end of the Old Covenant. That is the “day” the writer was writing about. The Christians of that time awaited the first century return of Christ as Christ had promised in the Book of Matthew. Further more if you look down at verse 37: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The writer of Hebrews in this verse tells his audience(the first century Christians); that Jesus was to return in a little while, and would not tarry. Hebrews 10:37 is another verse that reaffirms Jesus’ prophecy that he would return to the first century Christians with judgement. Hebrews 10:37 is a supplemental verse that when read in its context it disavows the expected return of Christ to any generation other than the first century generation; being whom most of the New Testament was written to. Therefore; the verse Hebrews 10:25 does not pertain to modern day Christians. The institutionalized church need to stop using that verse to support their agenda to build these large church buildings that has nothing to do with salvation.

      The average pew sitter considers a larger new building as a sign of a growing ministry or blessing from God. This is quite the contrary. It is a slap in the face of God to build these huge structures when poverty exists right at the front door step and the majority of the congregation is suffering with trying to buy groceries and keep the utilities on.
      How many buildings did Jesus build? Did Jesus devote His time to the needs of humanity or building church buildings?..........My brothers and sisters stop being put in a guilt trip by those who says your worship is no good unless you attend services in a church building. You have got to learn to study for yourself. No one has your best interest at heart other than you. Getting up on Sunday morning going to a church building is just like going on a pilgrimage to the Temple in the old bible days. Jesus clearly denounced such Temple worship in the following verse. John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

WHY IS THE NEW COVENANT WIDELY IGNORED?

        To worship where you please is another promise of the New Covenant that came to being around 70AD. Jesus explained to the woman in John chapter 4 that the day was coming when the Samaritans would no longer have to worship in the mountains and the Jews would no longer have to worship in Jerusalem at the Temple. They were also no longer required to worship according to Laws of Moses. Jesus made it very plain that God searched for true worshipers to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The mere fact that to worship in spirit and truth is because the Bible says God is Spirit.
        I fail to see where the mandatory “go to church”(building) attendance to be blessed or to even be a Christian come in at. If you want to go to the church building, by all means go ahead. Don’t be under the impression that going to the church building is the one true way to God. However, the church ceremonies contains the pomp and circumstance, the rituals and the mimicking of the Old Covenant/Priesthood. I cannot see how that can be construed as True worship when Christ’s death was the seal to bring about the end of the Old Law and establish the better promises that are in the New Covenant. Below is a list of things found in the church building ceremonies that the writer of Hebrews tells us to leave and go on to Perfection. These things are gonna shock most Christians because they have never been or are being taught the importance of the New Covenant.    

       The things I am about to list will sound profound to the uneducated Christian audience. The writer of Hebrews tells us 1). Leave the principals of the doctrine of Christ (being the teachings of the Old Covenant).   2). Laying the foundation of repentance from dead works (being dead works from the Law, not the Gospel). 3). Faith toward God (being faith expressed to Old Testament Saints. Old Testament Saints were taught faith toward God because the faith in Christ had not yet come). 4). The doctrines of baptisms (being ceremonial cleansing principals associated with the Law). These are just a few of the church building ceremonies that occur during church services that the writer of Hebrews tell Christian to leave and to go on to Perfection; that Perfection being Christ and Christ alone. Others include laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. Before you or other Christians doubt what I have written here let the scriptures bare me out. Read for yourself. HEBREWS 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.     

More time is given to fights for church buildings than it is given in trying to eradicate poverty(poor and poverty is not the same thing) and ignorance. Jesus says the poor will be with us always. However, being poor is a step above poverty which can be eliminated(poverty) if more time was given to the matter than fighting over church buildings and church property.  Christians like to hide or bury matters that they participate in regularly that makes the Church looks bad. However; social media easily exposes corruption and wickedness that goes on behind the scenes in these church building. The internet gives focus daily on church groups fighting over church buildings and church property which takes the focus off of Christ and the people of the Church.  Look at these verified and true headlines:

* Highland Park Presbyterian Church reaches property litigation settlement.
* The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let stand a lower court ruling that a Wisconsin high school acted unconstitutionally when it held its graduation ceremonies in a local megachurch
* Episcopal fight over half-billion worth of property now in judge’s hands  
*10-year fight over waterfront church pits Boston Archdiocese against parishioners                              
*Residents fight Baptist church apartment block plans                          

*Friendship Baptist Church locked down as factions spar.  Some members baricade doors to keep others out.                                           

Above is but a few of the headlines that get posted nearly everyday. If there is but one Church as Paul states in the New Testament; that makes us all part of the church bickering listed above. Its all about church buildings.
    The concept of one Church is a global issue. Thereby holding local groups as much responsible as interstate groups. So what will the Church(body of Christ) do about this cancer called “church buildings”? The answer is nothing. Things will go on as usual. People will continue their addiction to the church building. Parishioners will continue to pump hard earned money into these sinking vessels. These building has nothing to do with our salvation but they are worshiped more than Jesus. They are cared for more than the masses that attend them. They become the object of affection to those who hold the keys. Last but not least they are a symbol of an edifice that carried on rituals that God had no favor in. Christ was the sacrifice once and for all. After reading  Hebrews 10:1-10 we find no reason why a church building has become such a necessity. 

Hebrews 10:1: For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2:For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3:But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

4:For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5:Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6:In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7:Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8:Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9:Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10:By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.       

***OTHER SCUM THAT BREEDS INSIDE CHURCH BUILDINGS***         An Alabama pastor told his flock during a sermon that he has full blown AIDS and, despite knowing of his HIV infection for years, continued to have sex with numerous parishioners. In further bombshells, Reverend Juan McFarland of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery revealed his cocaine abuse and the embezzlement of church money. On October 5, McFarland was finally voted out of the church by his deacons. This was after he continued to preach from the pulpit for two more Sundays after his initial confession.  He concealed from the church that he had knowingly engaged in adultery in the church building with female members of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church while knowingly having AIDS. On the same day, there was reported fighting at the Shiloh Baptist Church among parishioners to the extent that Montgomery police had to be called. The fighting was between pro- and anti-McFarland camps. The day after he was fired, McFarland and some of his supporters changed the locks at the church. This is but one in hundreds of stories where the church building cancer breeds.
In the above story the clearer picture is all about the church building.
1.The sermon was given in the church building.
2.The women he had sex with; he met them at or in the church building.
3.They had sex in the church building.
4.He changed the locks on the church building.
5.The reported fighting was in the church building.
6.The money he embezzled was taken up in the church building.
7.The injunction was ordered for him to leave the church building.

It does not take a very educated person to see that the church building is a detriment to the well being of the body of Christ. Its very apparent that most who proclaim to be servants of God cannot fulfill their ministry without the establishment or identification of a specific church building.

The main concern was the church building. This cuts us off from Christ.
Day after day we say “the Church is the people.” Do we really mean this when our entire being is devoted to the church building and its ceremonies? Amen.

Where is the "One Church" Concept that the scriptures speaks of?

THE REDEEMER®- VOLUME 84 ****EDITION 42 - OMPS® INC. 2014
 All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014  These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc.©

Digital Version

The Church Building is Ruining the Church.

End of Article