Sure don't build 'em like they used to...

So Solomon finished building the Temple. The entire inside, from floor to ceiling, was paneled with wood. He paneled the walls and ceilings with cedar, and he used planks of cypress for the floors. He partitioned off an inner sanctuary—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling. The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet[h] long. Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.
He prepared the inner sanctuary at the far end of the Temple, where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant would be placed. This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar. Then Solomon overlaid the rest of the Temple’s interior with solid gold, and he made gold chains to protect the entrance to the Most Holy Place. So he finished overlaying the entire Temple with gold, including the altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place.- 1 Kings 6:14-22

Solomon built the temple as a place to go and worship God. It was also a shrine. Made of the finest cedar, olive wood, gold, and other valuable materials, it served as much as a sign of Solomon's great wealth as it did to the glory of God. It was not designed, however, with an eye to how many people could fit inside, how they'd be able to see and interact with the teacher, and how it could be done cost effectively.

Yesterday, I had the chance to tour the new sanctuary at Grace Community Church in Noblesville. The sanctuary won't officially open until August, but the inside is done and now the work to be done includes installing lights, speakers, projectors, and all the 21st century acoutrements that seem to define our worship experience in the modern (temple) church. The thing that impressed me most about the new place- Grace really seemed to do it right. The room itself is very nice, and holds about 1500 people, but the furthest seat from the stage is no further than where it is now, in the 100-seat auditorium. Natural light filters through moveable panels that cover the large windows. And, while great attention was given to design as it relates to the worship experience, there seems to be no extravagance to the materials used- concrete floors, open beam ceiling. And, no debt. I think Grace has done it right, and I'm excited for them.

Francis Chan is another one that has this right. As his church was going through the process of building a new worship space, they thought, "how much money could we use to do ministry if we saved money on a building?" This led to a really innovative, and altogether Christlike new sanctuary design.



(By the way, Christlike in this context doesn't mean the building is "like Christ," rather, this more closely approximates how Christ taught. Less concern about the building and environment, outdoors, with just Him and us.)

Oh well, something to think about as we in ministry struggle with budgets, buildings, and Sunday morning "performances."

Peace be with you.