Magnificent Church Buildings

Many of us have been in some incredibly beautiful church buildings. Living in the South Bend, Indiana, area since 1952, I attended the University of Notre Dame on a National Science Foundation grant. When the family came to visit, I would take them on a tour of the beautiful church, including the grotto in the basement where Catholic heroes are entombed. When I gave lectures in London and visited France, I had the opportunity to see the magnificent church buildings in those countries. I have also seen the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. The human ability to build magnificent church buildings is without question, but is that what God called us to do?

Many years ago, we took a large group of Christians down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. On Sunday morning, we held a church service on a sandbar, complete with communion, a sermon, singing, and prayer. As we began our worship, the preacher held up his hands and said, “This is how the Lord’s church met for a long time before the first church building was erected.”

What is the justification for the expense of magnificent church buildings? If it is to glorify God, the Bible does not tell us that is what God desires. First Corinthians 3:16 tells us, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” In Acts 2:46, we see the first-century Church meeting in homes. In Acts 16:14-15, we see Lydia, a woman, converted to Christ, and in verse 40, we read that the Church was meeting in her home. In John 2:19-22, Jesus tells His adversaries, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was talking about His resurrection, not the physical building in Jerusalem.

The emphasis of Catholicism, Mormonism, and virtually all protestant denominations on constructing magnificent church buildings contradicts the focus of Christ and the Bible on building beautiful lives. The Church is not a building. If the construction of a building for the Church to meet in becomes the purpose of the Church, it is misguided. It is essential for the Church to meet together to worship, pray, and encourage one another. (See Matthew 18:20, Acts 2:46, and Hebrews 10:25.) However, a simple structure will meet that need.

Atheists and skeptics have a valid point when they criticize the wasted money. How many hungry children could we feed, and how many needy people could we help with that money? Following the example and teaching of Jesus, the Church’s emphasis should be on building lives, not constructing buildings.

— John N. Clayton © 2025