First Baptist Church in Dallas is building a new worship center complete with educational facilities, a parking garage, and a sky bridge. Estimated cost: $130 million. The Dallas Morning News is calling it the “largest church building program in modern history.”
Four Dallas buildings owned by the church were demolished over the weekend to make way for the building project. If you are into implosions you may want to check out this website.
Whenever I hear about mega-churches like this I think about the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. –Matthew 7:13-14.
I'm not sure how I feel about mega-churches that have such expensive buildings. I understand the pull to have churches which provide and foster a community for the congregation…but what does it say of the values if all this money is going to help those who already have a lot? No one's asking them to take vows of poverty, but a sky bridge?!?!
I suppose it could all be justified if the church building was used predominantly to serve the community, but somehow it just doesn't seem right. And it's certainly not a problem reserved for mega-churches, although I think they are easier to point a finger at; small churches that are married to their buildings over the gospel have the same issue.
Thanks for posting this!
Courtney: You sound like a Messiah College graduate turned Lutheran seminarian!