Do We Have Authority for a Church Building?
This question about whether or not the New Testament contains authority for a church building often comes up when discussing other issues that relate to Bible authority. When one points out that things like instrumental music in worship, missionary societies, and "fellowship" halls are unauthorized, there is sometimes the response that we don't have authority for a church building either. Most of the time, the one who argues for the lack of authority for church buildings does not believe they are wrong. They just believe that we don't need Bible authority for everything we do and are then simply pointing out what they believe to be is inconsistency (or hypocrisy) in those who oppose things such as instrumental music.
We must not be too quick to take the question of a congregation owning a building and lump it together with various unauthorized practices. Just because someone likens church buildings to fellowship halls and then demands that you either accept both or reject both, does not mean the two belong in the same class. Each one must stand up to the scrutiny of Scripture alone. In this article, we will consider the question: Are church buildings authorized?
First of all, we know that each local church is to assemble. The Hebrew writer admonished the brethren to not forsake "our own assembling together" (Heb. 10:25). Paul wrote to the Corinthians about what was going on when they "come together as a church" (1 Cor. 11:18) and what they were to do "when [they] assemble" (1 Cor. 14:26). Local churches are to assemble. Of necessity, this demands a place to assemble.
Does the New Testament give us any indication as to what kind of place churches are to use to assemble? We actually read of several different kinds of places that were used. The church in Jerusalem at one time met in an area of the temple called Solomon's portico (Acts 5:12). Paul and the disciples in Ephesus spent two years meeting in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9-10). In Troas the church met in an upper room (Acts 20:7-8). Some of the early Christians met in homes (1 Cor. 16:19). Notice there is no uniform pattern that the churches in the first century followed in regards to the type of place they assembled. Without a specific type of place given, each autonomous congregation is free to determine the most expedient way to assemble. This does not necessarily mean a bought or rented facility. But it would include that.
Keep in mind the purpose of the assembly -- edification, worship, evangelism. Therefore, if a congregation is authorized to have a building, it is for these purposes. The work of the church is not recreation, entertainment, social gatherings, etc. Therefore, things like fellowship halls and family life centers are not equivalent to, and are not to be a part of, a church building.
Don't be tempted to think that church buildings are unauthorized and that we are therefore hypocrites for opposing the innovations of men. The New Testament provides authority for a congregation to own a building in which to assemble. It is an expedient that, if a congregation chooses to use it, must be used lawfully in carrying out the work of the church.
