Church Construction
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Church construction began during Old Testament Bible times in the form of the Temple. While few church buildings today represent the temples from days of old, this building activity is still changing and developing with society. Before the 14th Century, it revolved around the arts and beauty. The arts were an expression from the people of their love for God and his holiness and therefore they looked beautiful. The stained glass, the ornate wood carvings and ironwork, the paintings adorning the walls, were all expressions of the Word of God.
Then, when the printing press was invented in the 1500's, this was radically changed as church buildings became more focused on the written Word of God because it was suddenly available to the masses. With less emphasis on art and beauty, and more on dissecting the teachings of the Lord, church construction reflected the change. They became more austere and more practical. It was at this point that the pulpit from which the teacher stood was moved front and center. The teachings became the focal point of a church service, and the surroundings were less relevant than in the past. :And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn over the dead, that in all things He might have preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
It changed once again when culture, once again, integrated the arts, and churches became accustomed to the masses. Theater style seating was introduced in church construction as an attempt to make the gospel feel accessible to all people. Singing as a form of worship, with more musical instruments became an integral part. The feeling wasn't more or less formal, but simply reflected public building design at the time, which in turn lent the structures a more laid-back, easy-going feel. The idea was that the building itself didn't present a "holier than thou" expression of the congregant's sentiments.
Spiritual structures are sure to alter once again in the coming years. The changing technology alone has revolutionized the way they operate on a weekly basis. The worship experience in a church building can be as simple or complex as we make it. Following the return to the simpler structures in the 1970s and 1980s, many have become more "seeker friendly." In the 21st century, we're seeing construction and buildings that imitate the corporate world. Mega churches integrate book stores and coffee shops into their church buildings, similar to shopping malls. From there, who knows what's on the horizon for church construction.
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