Ethics and Religion Talk: What is special about a Place of Worship?, part 2

Dahyabhai is curious about the places where a community worships. “What is the importance of a special house of worship? Is a house of worship mandatory? What are rules and requirements for someone to be allowed to enter a place of worship in your religion?”

This is the second week of responses to Dahyabhai’s question, from our Protestant panelists. See last week’s column for non-Christian and Catholic panelists.

The Rev. Steven W. Manskar, a retired United Methodist pastor, responds:

I can speak only from the perspective of a Christian. Meeting places were set aside for worship, teaching, proclamation of the Gospel, fellowship, and service have been part of Christian tradition from its beginning. At first gatherings were held in homes. But as Christianity grew, larger meeting houses were dedicated to the care and mission of Christian community. Church buildings serve a number of purposes. First, they are where the church gathers for worship, sacrament, teaching, and fellowship. The building is where the church gathers to celebrate and proclaim the life and mission of God in Jesus Christ through the seasons of the church calendar (Advent/Christmas/Ephiphany, Lent/Easter, Pentecost, and All Saints). The building is also where the congregation gathers to mark important events in the lives of the people: baptism, confirmation, weddings, and funerals. 

Finally, Church buildings are signs of God’s covenant with the people of the church and the world. The building is a sign of God’s presence and love for the people of the neighborhood, nation, and the world. If the congregation is faithful, the building serves as a proof the church exists to serve the world and not only the needs of its members. 

Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds:

Since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, there has been no mandatory house for the worship of Almighty God. While the Temple stood, the early Christians attended its services and met in its precincts to hear the apostles teach and preach. The earliest meetings of the infant Christian church were held in borrowed quarters such as the ‘upper room’ of Acts 1:13. Even at that time their numbers were too large to be accommodated in private homes. Just as the Jews built synagogues for their congregations to meet in, so Christians began to build their own ‘meeting houses,’ as the Puritans called them, at an early period; although smaller congregations continued to meet in private homes for some time​.

The ‘Constantinian Change’ allowed pagan temples to be converted into Christian places of worship, and the long tradition of meeting in grand public spaces began. Strictly speaking, it is incorrect to call these buildings ‘churches,’ because the ‘church’ is the body of Christians who assemble in them for worship. There are no written rules or regulations for those who wish to enter such places of worship, except for the force of convention, which at one time called on worshippers to appear dressed in their ‘Sunday best’ or ‘Sabbath blacks.’ I would still advise all would-be worshippers to dress with care, considering the importance of the place and the occasion.

Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds:

God is present everywhere, and therefore can be worshipped anyplace. However, a special building or sanctuary focuses the worshippers attention, creating an environment with fewer distractions. Religious symbols such as paintings, icons, statues and stained glass windows direct attention and teach faith stories. Aromas like wine, bread, or incense connect the present with the past worship experiences. Chimes, bells, instruments, the human voice elevate the human heart towards the divine. When sensate experiences such as these are augmented because of a special house of worship, the gathering space serves a useful purpose. However, if a set aside sanctuary separates worshipers from the realities of the world, walling off pain, suffering, conflict, or injustice, the walls should be torn down!

Dedicated architectural edifices create space for people to gather and can elevate human ability to worship. Some of my most meaningful worship experiences have been in temporary spaces where the profane has been made sacred by the words, prayers, intentions of those gathered. A convention center shifts from a business meeting to a worship space with the appearance of a communion table, baptismal fount, or a robed choir. A summer camp dining hall becomes a sanctuary when the pianist plays a prelude. A hospital room becomes a place of worship when a pastor prays with a family whose loved one is dying. God is present in all these places. they become a spaces for worship when humans and God meet.

There are no requirements for entry into Presbyterian churches. Anyone of any religious belief may freely enter, but respectful behavior and dress are expected. These unwritten expectations have changed through the years: My grandmother wouldn’t go to church without gloves and a hat. My mother wouldn’t wear slacks. For most of my life I was uncomfortable with seeing shorts in church. I’ve been part of many a conversation debating this matter, from ‘God doesn’t care what we wear’ to ‘bring your best (dress) to God.’ The variety of what you will see in today’s liberal Protestant churches reflects the increased casualness of American society— for better or worse.

This column answers questions of Ethics and Religion by submitting them to a multi-faith panel of spiritual leaders in the Grand Rapids area. We’d love to hear about the ordinary ethical questions that come up in the course of your day as well as any questions of religion that you’ve wondered about. Tell us how you resolved an ethical dilemma and see how members of the Ethics and Religion Talk panel would have handled the same situation. Please send your questions to [email protected].