When I was in high school I had a real problem with religion. Why? As a teenager I couldn't get a grip in my spirit why "churches" had to spend so much money on buildings when there was so much need in the lives of people. It seemed like every time my girlfriend took me to church all they were seeking was money for their new building projects. Maybe those building projects of yesteryear are to help people today for such a time as this. Let me explain.

It wasn't  until I was 23 years old that I came to the truth that in the word and eyes of God the church is not a building but rather the church is the people who believe in Him. But believing in God also means believing that Jesus Christ is His Son and that our eternal salvation is only through Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. Once you believe, then Jesus says "follow me". In his faith, words and deeds.

Finally I realized the fact that God was not into the church as a building but rather into the church as the people. When I studied the life of Jesus, I discovered he did not concern himself with the traditions of the religious leaders of his day but rather with the heart of God towards people. When His disciples marveled at the beauty of the temple, His only response was: "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."  Matthew 24:2

Considering Jesus' straight talk on the man-made temple that was so revered in those days, what manner of persons should we be? People with compassion towards those who have been hit the hardest by the condition of the economy which is now made up of more and more single parents with children and families that don't have a roof over their heads. The cliché "What Would Jesus Do"(WWJD) truly needs to be considered more and more by churches and its leaders in our modern day society where people and their well being are far more important than possessions and programs.

I started considering what would happen if some of the largest churches in our area would take their emphasis off of buildings and building projects and put it on what God cares about most, and that is people. What kind of impact would it have on people’s lives, believers and non-believers if churches sold their properties and gave to the poor in the form of housing and food? Not necessarily move out of their buildings but rather lease them back and then open up the buildings at night for sleeping quarters for displaced families and children. They could use the monies from the properties to provide food and life sustaining help that would stimulate faith and hope in God. Isn't that what Jesus would do?

I asked my brother if he would go to the County Assessors office to look up the values of some of the churches in our area. Here is what the assessors office values these church properties which include land, building and improvements.

Capital Christian Center:  Assessor's value - approximately $51 million

Warehouse Ministries:    Assessor's value - approximately  $8.5 million

First Covenan tChurch (Rancho Cordova) Assessor's value - approx $14.5 million

First Baptist Church Elk Grove:  Assessor's value - approx $11.5 million

Bayside Church Granite Bay       N/A (estimated in the millions)

Trinity Life Church North Highlands    N/A (estimated in the millions)

I realize that there will be many religious people who would rebuke this idea because it bucks tradition and could be contrary to a church's "building funds" or "business plan". There is no evidence that Jesus cared about religious buildings or business plans.  If these monumental edifices were built and maintained so that the religious leaders and denominations could display an outward show of their personal success, then it is just a matter of time before they experience what the temple and religious leaders of Jesus' day did. 

With so many vacant commercial locations, there is no need for anymore new church buildings. What ever size a church(group of people) need, there is a building just waiting and perfect for their needs at a great price that will not strain the members personal finances. And then with money left over to do the good that God wants them to do. A good example is Bayside of South Sacramento. They are meeting in the Sac City College auditorium. They have a great location and the school benefits from this shared building as well. This is really what is meant in the bible as being "wise stewards".

I believe God is a God of resourcefulness, and would delight in seeing his people use his houses of worship 24/7 for the needs of hurting people. Do I get an AMEN? Or is it "Amen all by myself"?, a recognizable and humorous quote from Pastor Sherwood Carthen of the South Sac Bayside. 

I am hoping to do a follow up article on the leaders of the above named churches that will hopefully give SacPress readers a glimpse at their salaries and if  the economy has forced reductions in their pay. If layoffs are happening in their church, if any of their homes risk foreclosure and perhaps a look into their lifestyles and report whether or not they are living like kings or living like the King of Kings.  If you know their addresses and/or their salaries it would help me with my article because most churches won't divulge this kind of personal information. I don't know what there is to hide unless they have something to hide. It seems like the Sacramento Bee is publishing many groups salaries, I am surprised they haven't gone after the religious groups.

Hey church people, let's start a new radical approach to doing church. Let's open up the Houses of God once again and stop shutting the doors to the people who need to get closer to God. Remember what Jesus said?    "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  Revelation 3:20   In this statement could he also be speaking to the religious leaders of our day?

About this SacPress writer: Jack Nordby served as a pastor for the Southern Baptist Convention and the Assemblies of God. He has been a guest speaker at churches and other events. He too is knocking at doors of todays religious leaders.

Sources: Pictures of Capitol Christian Center, Bayside of Granite Bay and First Covenant are fair use from the internet.