Dr. Gene Veith’s most recent post over at Cranach discusses an interesting article on how society is making use of abandoned church buildings by turning them into restaurants, museums, stores, and concert halls. So, what’s the verdict? Is it okay to eat supper in the narthex and shop for jeans in the nave?
Sphere: Related Content-
6600 N. Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(260) 452-2100
{ 2 } Comments
Great issue. And Dr. Veith brings up the very emotional, visceral points- that some church buildings evoke a sense of transcendence that others do not, with symbols that proclaim Christ Crucified and Risen. But, as one comment made clear, the Church identifies itself with the Word of God, in with and under the Sacraments, not in, with and under a building.
Hm, however, I can’t help but be torn about the issue–stained glass windows, icons and the cruciform structures are not to be worshipped, but to teach. And for some (deaf, for example), the symbols themselves communicate and proclaim that which they cannot hear-the Gospel.
The point still stands that we are not worshippers of a building, but just as Veith made the analogy of the Chef behaving more reverently in the church-made-restaurant, I think the space that we use for various functions says something about us.
Has anyone brought up the fact that Jesus became angry when the church becoming a marketplace?
John 2:13-22
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
13 [show]John 2:13-22
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. (ESV)
John 2:13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (ESV)
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
What is more troubling than a restaurante is to see churches converted into a dance club, where one of the primary attractions is to dance on the altar. Or, as happened to St. John Lutheran Church in San Francisco, have a former LCMS Lutheran Church converted into a mosque.
Post a Comment