"Lofty Steeples And Ponderous Bells"
Departures from the principles of apostolic Christianity reveals itself in many facets. One of the more obvious, in the early stages is the emphasis on material things, especially expensive and prestigious meetinghouses. This emphasis on the material tends to grow as apostasy progresses. This is evident from the history of the Catholic Church, the Disciples of Christ and the more "liberal" churches of Christ. It seems that when men depart from the faith, they seek to make up in aesthetic architecture what they lack in apostolic authority.
Of course, no one questions the scriptural right of congregations providing themselves convenient and decent places in which to worship and serve God. Nor would anyone attempt to set down the amount that ought to be spent for a building. There is certainly an area of judgment as to the size, style and cost of church houses. However, it isn't always difficult to know when brethren have reached the place where worldly pride becomes the overriding factor in planning a place of worship. When they talk about "a church building with strong appeal to the lost," "a church building with real drawing power," and "a thing of beauty that will inspire reverence," as some do; then surely the building is overstressed as to its need and perverted as to its purpose.
When a building is viewed in such a carnal light, the demand then is for "the very best" (which by interpretation means "outdo the denominations"). After all, if the Baptist building has a stronger "appeal to the lost," or has more "real drawing power," or inspires greater "reverence," then the only solution is to outdo them, or humanity will be lost.
Why back in 1832, Alexander Campbell, certainly no backwoods bumpkin, made some observations regarding meetinghouses. The Restoration was then taking firm hold in many communities, and Campbell thought he saw in the reports from some of the brethren an overemphasis on church buildings. After mentioning some of the finer buildings then under construction in several places, the Harbinger editor said:
"It is most devoutly to be wished that all who plead for reformation would carry out their principles in the plainness, convenience, and cheapness of the buildings which they erect for the assemblies of christians. No greater satire could be inscribed on marble against the religion of Jesus Christ, than are many of the houses called churches, whenever the people have the means of gratifying the spirit which is in them. There is no difference between the Baptists and other sects in this particular. Opulent communities amongst them have stately edifices, with lofty steeples and ponderous bells...Large, convenient, and permanent houses may be builded for generally less than half the sum usually expended on the same number of square feet. The Quakers are more exemplary in this matter than any other sect. But even their plan could still be improved. Let there be only a regard to convenience and durability; let all that is merely to gratify the lusts of the eye and the pride of life be left to them who seek to gain influence on the children of the flesh by reducing Christianity to the taste and fashion of this world, and we can build two, three, and sometimes four meeting houses for the price of one of the same dimensions.
"Under the present political influences which govern society, it is necessary to have synagogues or meeting houses large enough for the accommodation of the disciples, who can meet in any one place, and such of the community as may desire to attend their meetings. But for the sake of the humble founder of our religion, and the author of our hope before God, let not the walls of the house, nor any thing in it, reproach our profession." (Millennial Harbinger, May 2,1932, p. 229.)
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