Meeting Outside the Church Building

John Wesley, the instigator of the Methodist movement, was an Anglican clergyman. In March 1739 he left London and met his friend, the evangelist George Whitefield, in Bristol. He then did something stunning. He preached outside in a field. Wesley wrote in his journal:

[March 31, 1739 ] “I could scarcely reconcile myself at first to this strange way of preaching in the fields, of which [Mr. Whitefield] set me an example on Sunday; I had been all my life (till very lately) so tenacious of every point relating to decency and order that I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin if it had not been done in a church. April 1.—In the evening (Mr. Whitefield being gone) I began expounding our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount (one pretty remarkable precedent of field-preaching, though I suppose there were churches at that time also), to a little society which was accustomed to meet once or twice a week in Nicholas Street. Monday, 2.—At four in the afternoon, I submitted to be more vile and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation, speaking from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thousand people.”

Wesley was passionate that people should not perish from their sins. Yet he was unable to reach them from church pulpits. After the success of these outdoor gatherings, Wesley never hesitated again to preach in any place where an assembly of people could be brought together. He preached another fifty years, often proclaiming the gospel in fields, meeting places, homes, chapels, and on the street. Wesley never left the Anglican Church. He still preached in any church that welcomed him (there were plenty that did not!). He determined, however, “to be more vile” and preach in any place where people gathered.

While Jesus' habit was to worship every week at the synagogue, he also did much of his preaching, teaching, and healing in other places (a hill side, the market place, walking along a road, in someone's home). John Wesley preached in open fields, on horseback, and in any other gathering place. Is God calling us, like Wesley, to realize that most people are not coming to hear the gospel in our worship services? If people are not coming to us, then we must go to them. God may be calling us, like Wesley, to tell the story of God in Jesus Christ any place where people gather, any place where we can gain a hearing.

Perhaps this is especially pertinent for us since Salem currently does not have a church building. Regardless of what the future holds for Salem, we will always gather together for worship. We will always assemble together to “build up” the community. Hopefully, we will soon have a place of our own for these bigger gatherings. Still, almost all of our smaller gatherings (classes, Bible studies, meetings, etc.) could meet outside of a “church building.” In fact, looking at Jesus and John Wesley, maybe they should! The best places to hold these smaller gatherings are in our homes. Other public locations work well, too, such as restaurants, coffee houses, and libraries.

The point is, the church is not confined to a building nor should it be. We are the body of Christ in the world and we are mobile. We will proclaim and embody Jesus in the world wherever we go. What an exciting adventure!