The church is not an institution. It is a movement and is to be conducted and viewed accordingly. This is the emphasis of my latest read, The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch. The subtitle of the book is fitting: “Reactivating the Missional Church”. And then the back flap reads, “A Call for a Complete Reorientation of the Mission of the Church.”

In summary, ‘traditional’ ways of doing church with buildings, paid, professional clergy, passive worship services (people listen to music and sermons with no interaction), and programs have simply missed what the Church is all about; they have lost the “Apostolic Genius.” The models for this reorientation are the first Christians and the current Christian movement in China. These movements embody the real way of doing mission.

Hirsch is gifted in communicating the pitfalls of contemporary methods, but I am not in agreement that a wholesale abandonment of ‘traditional’ church is necessary. The reason for my disagreement is simply that I have seen ‘traditional’ churches succeed in the areas he wishes to change with small church, missional communities.

Disciple making (mission, evangelism, etc.) is the center of our Christian task and I do agree with Hirsch that we have neglected this area most of all and because of this have failed in our mission. There is a necessity for a more communal form of discipleship processes in our churches in which there is safety, trust, and authentic relationships that are characterized by sacrifice.

But what about these buildings? Are church buildings helpful or harmful? Both. They are harmful because they pervert the meaning of church. Church is not a place you go or something you do. It is something that you are. The church are those who are called out (which is what the word means anyway) for God’s mission to the world. A building with services times and programs can hurt this focus. This is the main critique of traditional buildings from guys like Hirsch and other emerging leaders.

However, church buildings are also very helpful if used appropriately. If a church, emerg(ent/ing) or traditional, chooses to use a building for church gatherings and functions it should do so in a way that cultivates an attitude towards service and mission. The first step is to decide that the building is not just for you and your church; it is for the community. Your church building should function in missional ways throughout the week. This will limit the degree to which your church members view the church as the special spiritual place and boost your church’s impact into the community by hosting events (music festivals, block parties, basketball tournaments) and services (childcare, tax help, counseling). Their is a de-sacredization that needs to take place in our church buildings. The building is not the temple where the presence dwells; it is the people where the Holy Spirit lives.

When this happens and churches pull together funds to build not for themselves but for the community, church buildings will begin to function in more missional ways. Simple ways could be starting a cafe in your church building that is open 6 or 7 days a week with coffee, music, and other activities that people are involved in. The church can then become a third place. A third place is not your home or your workplace, but is another place where life happens. This is usually something like a bar or a coffee shop where people get together to do life together and share moments and memories. The church building should be used similarly. The building is a safe place where unbelievers can come to be loved with real gospel love and can be told the story of how Jesus loves them and can save them from their sin-filled lives that are filled with depression and despair.

If you choose to have a church building or currently have one, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How are you currently using your building(s)?
2. Are these uses congruent with mission?
3. What are you doing or planning to do to increase missional pathways re: your building?
4. How are you empowering your members to get involved?