The WordSmith | Published 2020/04/11

The Church Building

By Tom Kasprzak

 


Due to the current COVID-19 crisis the last few weeks the church building has been empty while everyone is in "social isolaton" and will be empty for some time yet.

A while back I wrote about The Church I see, its a vision of a full and vibrant place, where all are welcome. But what happens when the building is empty when God's people nolonger gather at this space?

Walking through the empty building I wanted to take some photos. I think the images convey how I was feeling at the time. 

Ponder on these questions - What is church for you? How does it make you feel to see the building empty?

I then penned these words in my prayer journal.

 

The Church Building

What is the church building without people?

Often we treat it like an object of reverence or a shrine

It’s just some wood, some bricks

A lectern and a steeple

The building’s dead without God’s people!

What use is an empty building sitting idle?

Can it pray?

Or sing praise tune?

Will the empty pews sing out?

What’s this lonely building all about?

Sitting empty all alone

Can it point towards God’s throne?

The illuminated empty sign

Will it declare that God’s divine?

When God’s people leave this place

What becomes of this deserted space?

Then what is church? I hear you say

When we know that Jesus is the only way

It is he that lives in you and me

He’s the life that flows within us

We are his people his Church, his bride

The Church is where ever 2 or 3 gather in his name

And they can proclaim Christ’s world wide fame

It’s not a building or a place

Not a temple or a shrine

The Church.... it’s God’s people

It’s God saying

I bought you, you are mine


 


 

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