Why Should We Renovate?

One well known architect and church consultant has written that 90 percent of churches that build new buildings do so for the wrong reasons. Many building projects are initiated where there is no real need, but done so for unbiblical reasons.
Wrong reasons to renovate or build:
1. People in the community will see we are doing something.
2. We need a project that we can all get behind and work for.
3. So we can be proud of our building when visitors come.
4. We should use our money on something we can see.
5. Because other churches have built new buildings.

Let’s look at these reasons in light of our biblical calling as a church.
1. It is never a godly motivation to be worried about what others are thinking about our ministry. The truth is that most of what a faithful body of believers do on a day to day basis is unnoticed by others. God who sees in secret will reward openly.
2. If a building project is needed to bring about unity of purpose and a common vision, then the church has a faulty view of unity. Unity must come as a gift of the Holy Spirit that is created from a common faith and commitment to biblical truth. Our unity must come from our doctrine not a building project. This is why most building projects results in the loss of members and division in the body.
3. The focus of all our worship is to bring glory and pleasure to God. Our place of worship is a much a part of our offering to God as our praise and singing. We should not ever desire that people come and say what a lovely building this is, but say, “they must worship a glorious God.” In other words, the building should be more of a reflection of the goodness and majesty of God rather than the deep pockets of donors. We don’t want a building that is a showcase of our talents and gifts, but a place where people hear the glorious Gospel and enter the presence of the God to whom all nations will give glory.
4. Whenever God blesses us with resources, they belong to Him and His Kingdom. We are stewards of these gifts. It is for this reason that our church is one of the biggest giving churches to our Presbytery and why we have a growing commitment to giving to world-wide missions. None of this giving is something we see. We are casting bread upon the waters. Buildings and upkeep is expensive and so we should be conservative in our spending, but also, “not offer sacrifices that cost us nothing" (2 Sam. 26). Worship is about giving God our best. Israel was wrong to live in paneled houses with the latest in fashionable comfort, while God’s house was still in disrepair. The church building is not God’s temple, for God dwells with his people. However, the place of worship should reflect our attitude about God.
5. Other churches do all sorts of things that we don’t. We have a commitment to be a church that is biblical and true to the Reformed Faith. This means we ought to have a sound biblical reason in anything we do. Many churches think that worship should be entertaining. Many churches think they should have a program for every group in the church. Many churches think they need a recreational center for their people. It is not that most of these things are wrong, but that these things “what are people are doing”, is not the guide for our worship and service. The Reformers made many changes in worship, because the medieval church was steeped in all types of worship accruements and services so that the real task of the church such as preaching the Gospel and true worship was almost totally obscured. Many evangelicals are closer to Rome than you think, because we are prone to try all sorts of innovations just because others are doing it.
For now God has placed us as a witness to the Gospel and to biblical Faith in downtown Enterprise. We need to be faithful and good stewards of what our resources and our building. Our only motivation ought to be to do that which honors Christ and brings him glory.