06/11/2026
Our church has just purchased new seating, painted the auditorium, and will soon be installing new carpet. These are things we've prayed for and worked toward for years. What we now enjoy is a gift from God, and I want us to be faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us.
With that said, I want to be very clear as we move forward.
I'm praying that goldfish crackers occasionally get spilled on the new carpet. That's a sign we have toddlers in church.
I'm praying that half-full water bottles get left behind after a service. That's a sign people were here and left carrying heavier things on their minds.
I'm even praying that a few of our chairs get stained over the years to come. Life is messy, and the only way to avoid messes is to avoid people. We're not in the business of avoiding people, we're in the business of reaching people.
Church buildings are meant to be functional, useful, and practical. They're not museums. They're not artifacts. They're not even sacred in and of themselves. Scripture is sacred. Christ is the focus of our worship. And the church is the people, not the building.
Most of us had a grandmother with a room that was "special", a couch wrapped in plastic, a room so important nobody was allowed to use it. Looking back, those rooms rarely held the memories. The memories were made in the kitchen, around the dinner table, in the den, and in the places where life actually happened.
And life is messy.
There were spills. There was wear and tear. There was always something that needed cleaning. But there was life.
I'm not suggesting we slop biscuits and gravy into the auditorium on Sunday morning. But as pastor, I want to make my position clear: If you're thirsty, bring a drink. If you need a pack of peanut butter crackers or a banana during the service for whatever reason, that's okay. Just be considerate and clean up after yourself.
The last thing we want is to turn the place into a pigsty. We have volunteers who sacrifice countless hours to keep our facilities clean and welcoming. Out of respect for them, we should take care of the property God has given us and clean up after ourselves.
At the same time, let's never lose sight of what matters most.
One day every one of these new chairs will be old and worn out. One day this carpet will need to be replaced. One day this building itself will fall into disrepair.
But the souls of men, women, and children are eternal.
As a church, let's always remember that people are more important than property, and saints are more important than stains.
And let's never forget:
The building is not the House of God.
We are.
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord...
— Acts 7
