The importance of church beauty
Humankind was created by an infinitely creative God who deserves our best when it comes to how we worship him. Whether it be in our everyday lives, the music we play, the prayers we pray or the love we show to our neighbors, our God deserves the absolute best we can give in our worship to him. None of these statements are controversial, so it shouldn’t be controversial to say that the churches where we worship should be objectively beautiful.
Inside most historic churches, whether Catholic or Protestant, we will often find stained glass windows, excellent architecture and breathtaking paintings. These things are often used to help the worshiper better glorify God. The visual beauty of the building helps to stimulate our sense of sight as we worship. Visual stimulation can help to humble us during worship and remind us of our finiteness in the midst of an infinite God.
There are those who oppose putting money into a building. Some will object, saying that the church should use the money for mission work and not a building. Others will also claim that by making our buildings beautiful, we are idolizing the building over God. “The church is the body, not a building,” is a common refrain.
As for the use of money toward the building, it is possible to set aside some money for church construction and upkeep while also keeping some set aside for missionary work. With a good budget and someone who can manage finances working for the church, it is not a situation where you have to choose, but one where you can do both.
Finally, it is possible to idolize a building and the art within it. Some churches do not have images of Christ in them for this very reason. That should not prevent us from trying to make our churches beautiful, however, as you can idolize anything. We must have the right heart posture; a church building can aid in our worship rather than hinder it.
Ultimately, Scripture tells us to do all things to the glory of God. This should include designing and building the structures in which we worship our God, and our God deserves the best that we can give. The blessing of Abel came from his giving his finest animals as a sacrifice to God, and so we should give our finest worship to God partially by worshiping in beautiful buildings meant to reflect his glory. Even the temple that Solomon built — as detailed in 1 Kings 6 — is arrayed with such beauty and detailed care that the building itself shows the worship of the hands that created it.
Ultimately, some churches will not be able to afford to purchase or build grand buildings, and this is okay. A beautiful building is a strong preference, not a command. That being said, if a church has the means to afford such a structure and feels led by the Lord to do so, its leaders should build with the purpose of glorifying God. Let his name be praised through the effort.
Hughes is an opinion writer for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on X