Mark 13:1-2

“As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’” vs. 1

It’s not surprising that the disciples were impressed by the temple. King Herod, in an effort to impress the Jews, had spared no expense in its construction, and modeled it after the magnificent temples he’d seen in Rome. It was considered a wonder of the world! And for the more rustic Galilean disciples, it was almost beyond belief. Some of the foundation stones they marveled at can still be seen today, and people still wonder how they could lift and maneuver such massive blocks of limestone. But Jesus wasn’t the least bit influenced by the grandeur. It seems he just shrugged his shoulders and told them it wouldn’t be long before those beautiful stones would come crashing to the ground. That’s pretty much still how it is with our construction projects, especially those that congregations have attempted in recent years to house their burgeoning numbers of members. Before long, all their energy and money is spent in taking care of their buildings, and they find themselves cutting back on mission and ministry. Sometimes, after a time, the congregation even disappears–all that remains are the bricks and mortar. It’s such a delicate balance. The church does need an external presence, but its real foundation is nothing less than Jesus Christ, and his Body is a people, and not a building!

Thought for the Day: When do church buildings become holy space?