We Are Building Cathedrals, not Condos

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)

One of the greatest artistic and architectural achievements in Western history was the development of the cathedrals. These monoliths of beauty have decorated and transformed European cities over the last millennia. Observing the process of building a cathedral was not like watching the subdivisions and shops that dash up all around us at seeming lightning speed. Bringing a cathedral to completion was the feat of a lifetime, sometime several lifetimes. This was because the builders cared about the final product that would last for ages. They had no desire to spend and be spent on a labor that would soon be forgotten after they passed away. Moreover, their construction required masters of multiple disciplines: architecture, masonry, glass, and sculpting—all working in harmony to produce a unified object designed to bring glory to God and serve his worshippers for centuries.

Like the constructors of the great European cathedrals, God did not spare any cost to build his church (1 Pet 1:18-19). He chose the best master-builders (Eph 2:20; 4:11; 1 Cor 3:10), and he calls variously skilled workers to work together to build his church (Eph 4:15-16). This is true on both the macro and the micro level. What is true of the building of the universal church (the church throughout history and across the globe), is also true of the local church, and the work of spiritual growth in an individual soul. Both the church and individual Christians are built on the same foundation, using the same methods, the same builders, and they also cost years of sacrifice, hard labor, and investment. Such investment however creates a beauty that is not simply superficial, but structural. Not merely painted, but carved. It aims for a permanence wherein a future remodel would be inconceivable.

Such long-term investment can be a hard sell in our culture. We live in an era of track housing and condominiums, of social media likes, and firm confidence in the benefits of branding. As long as the product looks good and people will buy it, why not continue to produce it with as much ease, thrift, and efficiency as possible?

Grace and Truth is not interested in mere production, but in building a final product that is in line with The Architect’s ultimate design (Col 1:28-29). That is, we are not building for the sake of mere construction; we are building because we care about the finished product and its ultimate purpose. Because a cathedral took a lifetime to build, few who saw the ground break were able to look upon the final result of their investment, proving that they weren’t motivated by immediate results, but a love of the work. Likewise, much of the fruit of our investment in one another will not be seen. Often the fruit of our labors will never even be traced back to our sacrifices (This is especially true of prayer). And that is okay, because our aim is not recognition but faithfulness (Acts 20:24).

It is easy to lose heart when we recognize the slowness and difficulty in the process of spiritual development. This is why the author of Hebrews exhorts his readers to—Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted (Heb 12:3). It is also why Paul tells the Corinthians to—be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58) And why he tells the Galatians— let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Gal 6:9).

Because spiritual growth is so slow and difficult, it is easy to put our hope in cheap and easy processes—methods that on the surface have a godly aim, but which also subtly appeal to our flesh—promising growth that is easier, faster, and which will make us more immediately impressive. These are teachings and methods that appear to produce godliness, but which actually hold no real power to produce change, just the appearance of it (2 Tim 3:5). When people turn to such superficiality, it is like arresting the development of a cathedral in order to turn the work into a fashionable yet trendy condominium.

The temptation to turn away from the costly and difficult and to embrace the cheap and easy route is faced at every level of the church’s growth. The universal church thought that having a Christian emperor and would solve all its problems. The confluence of the church and state however turned Christ’s bride into a monstrosity of political corruption—namely the Roman Catholic church.

Even today, local churches can gravitate towards putting their hope in hiring new staff, creating a new brand, embracing a cultural agenda, building a new building. These attempts usually appear to make immediate progress—but often they are only that—the appearance of progress.

Likewise, individual Christians too, as we long to grow up spiritually, we often allow ourselves to be duped into thinking that the quick and easy route will still lead to spiritual growth. Instead of thoughtfully reading an edifying book, we choose to watch a Christian movie. Instead of rising early to read the Word, we read the news and then listen to a Christian podcast as a supplement. Instead of praying for people, we are content to simply to read prayer requests.

We must remember that godliness is hard work. It takes effort. It hurts. This is why Paul told the Corinthians, “I die daily.” (1 Cor 15:31)

Consider the following exhortations:

Rather discipline yourself for godliness (1 Tim 4:7)

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim 6:11-12)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (2 Pet 1:5-10)

Honestly, it is easier to listen to podcasts than to read the Puritans. It is easier to watch a sports game with a friend than to share Christ with him. It is easier to sleep than to rise early and pray. It is easier to hide your sin than confess your struggles to a friend. It is easier and far more convenient to watch church in the comfort of your own home and to never have to engage another person in a possibly awkward conversation. These things are easier and more comfortable, but they are not very effective in the long run (pun intended—Heb 12:1; 1 Cor 9:24-26).

Likewise, condos are easier to build, and they cost far less in money and time than Cathedrals. But condos also have far less of an impact on civilization. Just because something is cheaper and easier does not mean it is better. We know this of course, but in our culture even axiomatic truths are easy to forget.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Cor 3:10-15)