When the church is a building it cannot move easily with refugees.When the church is a building it cannot be placed on the back of a camel.
When the church is a building it can be easily smashed, torched, bulldozed.
When the church is a building, it can be caught in the crossfire and called unfortunate collateral damage.
When the church is a building, it can easily become a trophy of its most substantial donors.
When the church is a building, it must be fed (rather than the people).
When the church is a building, where it stands can be regulated by civil authorities, builders, and renters.