What would you do with $130,000,000?
A church in Dallas recently had to answer that question…well, kind of. They don’t have $130 million, but that’s the cost of their newest church renovation project. At that cost, it will be the most expensive church building project to ever take place in the United States. Here are some of the amenities:
- 1.5 million square feet
- LEED certified (its green and energy efficient)
- Glass structure
- Stone water tower topped with a luminescent cross
- Common area for downtown residents and guests
- 3,000 seat worship center (on the second story)
- 7 high-definition screens
- Choir and Orchestra pit
- Senior adult education center (under the sanctuary)
- 300-space underground parking garage
- 6-story education building for children/youth ministries
- 2 side-by-side gymnasiums
- Children’s play areas
- Outdoor concert space
- Adjacent parking garage with 500-plus parking spaces
Why build it? According to a quote on their site from their pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress:
“As I look around downtown Dallas, I see spectacular temples of commerce, of culture and of government – many new, some restored to former glory, and all intended to stand for generations. The Kingdom of God needs a home to equal them – a spiritual oasis in the middle of downtown.”
And according to a promotional video on their site:
“’Behold,’ God says in one of the Bible’s final verses, ‘I make all things new.’ That is our message…the transformation by God’s grace of our city and of our lives. Transformation is our calling. A calling to reshape the home of First Baptist Church of Dallas…to revive for our generation and all those to come, a beacon of truth in the heart of a great American city.”
Do you see the problem?
It is not the money, at least not primarily. I mean, that’s a staggering amount of money, but spending money, even on things that could be considered luxurious, isn’t inherently wrong. Rather the problem…or problems…are the ways by which they’ve come to justify it and the theological implications thereof. But before we go over those, I want to emphasize that I agree with their communicated motivation to transform their city. What church leader doesn’t want to do that? I just disagree with their methods and use of Scripture to justify them:
The Kingdom of God’s Home is Hearts…Not Buildings
According to Pastor Jeffress’ quote above, the Kingdom of God needs a home to rival those of commerce, culture and government. But this conflicts with what Jesus communicated about the Kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-21 – that the Kingdom is inside of us. The Kingdom of God needs no building or temple at all because it has found its home in the hearts of Jesus’ followers. Saying the Kingdom of God needs its own home to stand alongside city buildings completely betrays the nature of the Kingdom.
Please know that I’m not saying that all buildings are bad just because I happen to lead within a house church context. If anything, buildings are neutral – they may help, but they may also hurt. But when we give a particular Kingdom-value (i.e. transformation) to our buildings, we’ve lost our way. To misinterpret the nature of the Kingdom is to misinterpret the Gospel.
Transformation Doesn’t Come Through Architecture…No Matter How Spectacular
When watching the promotional video, there is much talk of transformation, God making all things new, and how God wants to transform their city. In general that’s all well and good. But to then take that message and say, “And that’s why we’re dumping $130 million into a sweet, new building,” doesn’t quite translate. I cannot remember the last building I saw that caused me to be transformed…and I’ve seen some pretty spectacular buildings.
FBC is setting a dangerous precedent here both for themselves and the rest of the church in America. When your beliefs about the transformative power of God enable you to spend $130 million, there’s not much out there that you cannot justify spending on. So why stop with the building? Why not demonstrate the transformative power of God by buying congregation members Escalades and Rolexes? Why not embed gold and diamonds into the floors and walls? Surely, that communicates transformation! That would draw a crowd!
No, the message of transformation can only be communicated through one medium: people. Biblical transformation is exceedingly personal. The message of Jesus is not just “come and get cleaned up,” but “come and be made new.” It’s not just a physical makeover, but a change of natures.
How can any building communicate that message?
Using Consumerism to Proclaim a Non-Consumerist Reality Doesn’t Work
The Kingdom of God is radically opposed to the patterns of this world. Unlike America, the Kingdom of God is not one built on the exchange of goods and services, consumption of resources, and competing for innovation. It is built, rather, on love, humility, and death to self. How, then, can FBC communicate a message that is fundamentally opposed to this world by utilizing the very same methods the world uses?
This is akin to attempting to put out a fire with a flamethrower and it runs in direct opposition to the practices of Jesus. Had Jesus wanted to demonstrate how powerful and wonderful the Kingdom of God is, he could have become what everyone thought the Messiah was going to be: a military powerhouse. He could have built FBC’s building in Jerusalem. He could have developed a brilliant marketing campaign. But he didn’t. Instead, he advanced the upside-down nature of the kingdom by doing the opposite of what the world does – he laid down his life in service, sacrifice, and eventually death.
Whose example is FBC Dallas following?
What do you think? Is the building justified?
You know this is a great example of how far off the American christian culture has gone astray.
“I am rich and have need of nothing…”
Idols!
And to answer your question is the building justified?
I would have to say NO! No, it is not justified because there is so much that is being lost in the walls of this struture. Souls!
By: SOwen on November 12, 2009
at 10:34 AM
I love what you said about the message of transformation. I’ve always thought that Jesus transforms people by declaring a message of “come as you are” but “leave as I AM!!”
If Christians were first called Christians at Antioch, it begs the question. Why? Was it their architectural skills? Was it the wealth they had acquired? No, it was the radical difference in their lives after they accepted Jesus Christ!!
It looks like there is definitely transformation going on in Dallas. Sadly it’s the world transforming FBC Dallas, instead of the other way around.
By: verticalworldsolutions on November 12, 2009
at 1:12 PM
All great thoughts! I especially like what you said about leaving as Jesus is and how they were first called Christians at Antioch.
I just keep wondering who is going to see FBC’s church and say, “Wow, I should become a Christian…just look at that building.”
By: Ken Eastburn on November 12, 2009
at 1:25 PM
I know. I was thinking….if I had just woke up from a comma with amnesia, and while I was recovering I read the bible and was convicted to follow Jesus. If when I got out and was looking for a church I found FBC Dallas….I would run!!!
By: verticalworldsolutions on November 12, 2009
at 1:43 PM
When the Samaritan women asked Jesus regarding the appropriate location for worship, He responded saying that neither location was correct, but instead he says, “God is spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Paul told the Athenians, “God does not live in temples built by hands.” Paul insisted that the physical body was the temple of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had referred to his body as the temple which would be rebuilt in three days.
It is alarming when so-called Christians assign any spiritual significance to any place or object, such as, “The Kingdom of God needs a home to equal them – a spiritual oasis in the middle of downtown.”
This value system is not Christian; rather, it is a perversion of Christian faith. A “home equal to” temples dedicated to commerce is merely another temple dedicated to commerce. Peter warned against such men saying, “Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.”
By: John Ramsey on November 12, 2009
at 1:13 PM
“A ‘home equal to’ temples dedicated to commerce is merely another temple dedicated to commerce.”
Wow…great line!
By: Ken Eastburn on November 12, 2009
at 1:26 PM
I agree with you completely John, and I am glad you made that point. To define a place as holy is to water-down the Gospel: where once God dwelt in a place, and His spirit was given to specific people at important times in history, his Spirit now dwells in the temple of the believer, who is a royal priest.
I have to say though, I do feel that buildings can be a tool for transformation.
A church in my community is using their property to create a community garden that will be used to help provide fresh food for local homeless shelters, and for the local community, which is low income, working class.
They have plans to transform their sanctuary into a place where local artists can display their work during the week when the sanctuary would normally remain empty and un-used.
And they dream of acquiring more property in order to invest in a community housing plan.
I think the $130 million price tag freaks us out, but done with stewardship, faith, and the earnestness to maximize our potential to serve, I don’t think the price tag matters.
But I’m not sure how a “luminescent cross” is supposed to serve anyone’s neighbor.
By: Nick Love on November 12, 2009
at 4:36 PM
Thanks for chiming in, Nick.
True, buildings can be used for transformation and there are some churches out there doing exactly that.
But when you look over FBC’s site, particularly regarding this project, none of that comes out. There’s no indication that their building will double as a place where the community can come and do those sorts of things, or a large soup kitchen for the many homeless – nothing like that. So far as I can tell, the building is supposed to be some sort of symbol of transformation – God makes all things new, including their awesome building.
About the money…there’s a balance, I think. Just because something can serve good purposes doesn’t mean it is justifiable to put enormous amounts of money into it. Cars have a function, but splurging on a Bentley or Rolls Royce isn’t justifiable. There are other needs to consider.
I’ve got an email out to one of their people to see how their building budget compares with that of missions, benevolence, etc. – we’ll see what comes of it.
By: Ken Eastburn on November 12, 2009
at 4:45 PM
I agree Ken. If their goal is purpose fine, but they could build a Costco style building for that. Their goal, from all I see, is to create an atmosphere that will appeal to more people from a consumeristic angle. It just shows a lack of faith, in the transforming power of God, to think the only way we can get people come to church is with flat screens, lattes, and other creature comforts. The bottom line is, there is nothing in scripture that suggests anything close to what FBC’s doing.
By: verticalworldsolutions on November 12, 2009
at 6:04 PM
I navigated though the FBC website and found the name, Jeffress, at least a dozen times including his biography.
I found the name, Jesus, not at all.
By: John Ramsey on November 12, 2009
at 7:10 PM
I do agree there should be a balance and prudence in what is a responsible price to pay on property development.
I guess I was speaking more in general terms.
I don’t disagree that this the FBC renovation a very faithless venture, putting trust in glam and not in love.
By: Nick Love on November 13, 2009
at 9:49 AM
Outstanding post brother…We in America have misconstrued the essence of the Gospel.
By: Brian Foulks on November 13, 2009
at 10:07 AM
What is church? Are we free to define and redefine church? Or, are we obligated to obey Scripture such as Matthew 23:8-10, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Corinthians 14?
If we are obligated to obey Scripture, then FBC Dallas may be merely the alarming hyperbole of our own shortfall.
By: John Ramsey on November 13, 2009
at 11:14 AM
I find their justification for the project simply unbelievable: to compete with the mammoth structures of downtown Dallas?
I guess once you get into a building project like this, you find yourself continuously having to justify it and get further entrenched in your position. I’m sure they thought through some of the flack they would take on this. But there’s simply no justification.
The Lord knows the true motives, like he knows the true motives of each of us.
But I can’t help thinking of the tower of Babel when I read something like this… “that we might make a name for ourselves.” All this effort with the website and the video and all that. It just misses the mark of Christ.
May the Lord have mercy on us all.
By: ThePath on November 13, 2009
at 2:19 PM
I don’t like the FBC project, but is the real issue glamor and scale, e.g. extravagance? If so, extravagance is a matter of perception, is it not?
If we are offended by FBC’s extravagance, what dollar amount would we consider justifiable? What feature or expenditure becomes inexcusable? Would we feel better about the project if it were designed as pre-cast concrete (“Costco style”) instead of glass? If the project looked more like urban blight than urban renewal, would we like it more?
Does the extravagance of this project perhaps remind us that facilities and fiefdoms are being mistaken for faith and fellowship? In this case we can look away from FBC’s blindness to search for the beam in our own eyes. What obstacles to faith do we establish? What preconditions to fellowship do we enforce? What idols do we erect as a substitute for faith?
By: John Ramsey on November 13, 2009
at 4:04 PM
John,
No, I don’t think the real issue is extravagance. Actually, let me rephrase that, I don’t extravagance is their biggest problem, but I do still think it a problem for them.
The biggest problem is the way they’ve justified it, the misapplication of Scripture and the fact that they want their building to communicate something buildings cannot communicate.
But surely their extravagance is a problem as well. $130 million is a LOT of money…more than we really realize. Couldn’t a 10, 20, even 30 million dollar building serve the same purpose? If the church really had the hurting in mind, I cannot understand why they would put $100 million into their building rather than helping those who are being affected by the economy, the hungry, the homeless, etc. There is a line, there has to be a line, but unfortunately it is not always clear or universal.
Perhaps I’m wrong, perhaps they are helping those in need. But I sent an email out to one of their folks last week asking for that information and have not heard back. We’ll wait it out, I guess.
By: Ken Eastburn on November 16, 2009
at 8:33 AM
An orchestra pit and gymnasiums are going to be of little use to someone who is homeless or hungry. It’s bad enough our cities, counties and states use this kind of thinking to promote expansion – taking tax dollars that are needed at home; it’s truly egregious when the church does it.
By: "SAM" on November 14, 2009
at 9:33 PM
Good point, Sam. How furious would Conservative Christians be if the government was doing a comparable project (comparable to their budget, etc.) at a time like this? In an economy like this?
In a single word: furious.
And yet how many of those same Christians are defending the actions of this church?
It is truly tragic when the church isn’t any better than the State.
By: Ken Eastburn on November 16, 2009
at 8:37 AM
“At a time like this? In an economy like this?”
You’re making your own argument relative. Extravagance alone cannot be the issue (Mt 26:6-13).
Recently we visited a small country church with a sagging roof where the “worship leader” chose “We Have Come Into His House” as the first song. God does not live in houses built by hands (Acts 17:24), so why do we insist that He does?
The problem with buildings is not extravagance, it’s (potential) idolatry; in which case, it doesn’t matter the extravagance of your idol.
By: John Ramsey on November 16, 2009
at 8:57 AM
True, extravagance alone isn’t the issue. But when your building becomes as extravagant as this and is coupled with justification requiring the misinterpretation and misapplication of Scripture, and is being done at a time when many are suffering under the worst economy in decades, extravagance is particularly offensive.
“The problem with buildings is not extravagance, it’s (potential) idolatry; in which case, it doesn’t matter the extravagance of your idol.”
Unless extravagance is its own idol.
By: Ken Eastburn on November 16, 2009
at 9:28 AM
I feel like Jesus must have felt when in talking to the Laodiceans in Rev 3, he said he wanted to “vomit them out of his mouth”. I’m disgusted
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at 3:44 PM
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