Let The Stones Cry Out

by Douglas Wilson

Architecture speaks. It is not possible for human beings to live in architectural silence. When congregations build church buildings, this is either a testimony or a mask

Today we see many magnificent old church buildings abandoned because the Gospel went out of them long ago. However, good architecture and the proclamation of the Gospel should go hand in hand.

Jesus Christ by his death on the cross made the kingdoms of this world His. The architecture of our church buildings should proclaim His lordship.

In Let the Stones Cry Out , Douglas Wilson reflects on what a Christian church should look like, and how human nature wants to get it wrong. A glorious building without the gospel will soon be empty, and an ugly building is lying about the nature of our salvation.

From fundraising to the first Sunday, Douglas Wilson provides much-needed wisdom on how to go about building a church and filling it so as to expand greatly the opportunities for ministry, locally and nationally. After all, worshipping God is not a means to another end. Worshipping God is the highest calling that any human being has. It requires no other justification.

Genres: Theology

168 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2021

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Franky Schaeffer apostatized from the faith, he wrote a good book called “Addicted to Mediocrity” where he critiqued Christians for giving up a heritage of being the best creators in the arts of music, painting, architecture, sculpting, and so on.

This was built upon a particular work of His Father, Francis Schaeffer who stated in “Art and the Bible” that “We should realize that if something untrue or immoral is stated in great art, it can be far more devastating than if it is expressed in poor art. The greater the artistic expression, the more important it is to consciously bring it and its worldview under the judgment of Christ and the Bible. The common reaction among many however, is just the opposite. Ordinarily, many seem to feel that the greater the art, the less we ought to be critical of its worldview. This we must reverse.”

What Wilson does in this book is to explore the theology of Architecture under this same lens, where Christ Church is/was in process of building a new building for a place of worship. What does it say to the world or of ourselves if we want to have a bright orange steeple? Are there some features that we must spare no expense on? Or are there some additions that are simply there for vain glory? Should a church building be beautiful or just functional? Does God care what our church buildings even look like as long as those who enter in are striving for piety and holiness? Wilson explores this and much more in this work. The chapters are small and bite sized like a potato chip, but that is the problem with a potato chip - it’s not a whole meal. There were many areas that I wish he was able to explore further and give a more robust defense or explanation of his thought process.

[Micah Bloomquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to a theology of Christian architecture in building churches. So many things are not considered in our modern evangelical minds. The things that we believe about God and about his creation influence everything we do. Being made as co-creators, what do the things we build tell the world what we believe about God? Why do churches today look like strip malls and box stores? Why did Christians historically build cathedrals and beautiful churches? Certainly it was not vain materialism, that's the problem we have. The church building is a tool given to us by God to do the work of worship, it ought to serve God and his purposes on the Lord's Day. We should be reflecting God's glory in our building in the same way that God displays His glory throughout creation. Let's build beautifully.

[Nick Solheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pastor Douglas Wilson's Let The Stones Cry Out is a brilliant scriptural analysis of the theology behind build a church sanctuary, specifically focused on Wilson's Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. This book brings the holiness of God and how we fellowship in His presence to the forefront, and serves as a model for churches big and small.

Let The Stones Cry Out looks great on any coffee table (or in a pastor's office!), but I have docked one star for a couple of typos that I encountered in my read through it.

[Brad Bevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our church is going through the process of renovating right now, and will be building in the future. I love many of Doug Wilson's books and when I saw he had written one about church architecture and buildings in particular, it was an easy purchase for me. This is a series of 63 very short ruminations and essays about different aspects of a church building and what makes it important, or not important. I really enjoyed this one and it gives you a lot to think about when considering the structure of the building itself, how many resources should be allocated to it, and how to make the church building good, true, and beautiful while highlighting the sacrament of the Word and the Lord's Table. If you are interested at all in church architecture, you will enjoy this one - recommeded.

[Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Wilson talks more about principles than specifics.
It therefore is a great book to compliment other books which talk more specifics, to check whether those specifics align with the principles we want to go by.

[Logan Thune · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really beautiful and clarifying book on a really fun and inspiring topic—with a few too many typos.

Many good biblical and theological principles to guide your thought process on planning/building/buying a sanctuary.

[Emma R. Pilcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a time when Christians seem to view aesthetics the same way pagans do, this is a very practical read. While its focus is architecture, many of the principles are applicable to other areas in the realm of aesthetics, especially those pertaining to worship.

[Saolomon Mouacheupao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5. Not what I thought going in. It’s a bunch of bite sized, potentially unconnected essays on their church building project. I appreciate the pastoral nature of it most. Real good bits in there, a little repetitive

[Taylor Sines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Not sure what I expected. More of a devotional on the topic of tools and how they relate to God’s work through the church.

[Caleb Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not familiar with too many other pastors/theologians writing on this topic or even such a practical outworking of the gospel. Very refreshing.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 man have we lost a love for beauty in the church and as believers! I love anything that brings light to that lack of love ❤️