Ryan Johnston

First, we each sell a kidney. 

Next, we each sell some fingers.  Who needs 10?

Not really, but here’s how we really could:

While reading through Frank Viola’s book Reimagining Church, I came across a statistic he mentioned in a previous book, Pagan Christianity, written with George Barna.  He (Frank) said that institutional churches in America alone have over $230 billion worth of real estate.  Just in America!

I’m a proponent of house churches.  Especially after reading Reimagining Church, but also because this is the way first century believers did it.  And I have a feeling they knew how to do things better than us simply because they would have actually known people like the 12 disciples. 

Anyway, what would happen if the churches of America decided to sell their real estate and used that $230,000,000,000 to take care of the homeless, jobless, poor, hungry, disabled, children, widows, elderly, and on and on?

Would we need government agencies that do the same?  Or could the churches take care of it all?

Could we get people out of debt, especially the churches who are in debt?

Would we be living out some of the things Christ asked of us?

Would we be able to let go of our churches’ buildings in favor of helping others?

Could we find other places to ‘do’ church?

Not an easy subject to talk about.  What would happen to faith in America if we did this?  Should we do the same with our homes?  Or cars?  Or any other luxury? 

Just a thought.

Let me know what you think.