The idea that God doesn’t care about the building in which we worship is stupid. He does care. He expects our very best in everything, including our liturgy and architecture. Why do you think he gave Moses that long list of instructions on building His tabernacle — a list that covered everything down to the tassels on the curtains? After all, any old tent would have done just as well! The more miminalist, the better! No bronze seas or gigantic golden candelabras — just the Lord an’ Me!
Pathetic. The churches in which we worship should be as glorious as we can make them. Notice that I said glorious — I’m not talking about human-centered crap like “family life centers”, dining halls, basketball courts, swimming pools, 12-piece electrified “praise orchestras”, and the like. I mean they should be entirely focused on glorifying God, places full of exquisite statues, gilt, gold, lamps, stained glass, terazzo, hand-laid parquetry, marble altars, incense, ikons, and sumptuous architectural details. Those steel-building “Church in the Shed” places, with their indoor-outdoor carpeting, folding steel chairs, and audio/video systems are an embarrassment to the Christian faith.
We should strive for what the Russians found at Hagia Sophia “We did not know if we were on heaven or on earth.”
How about the priest turns around to face God instead of the congregation, as well?
He gave Moses — and later Solomon — specific instructions as to building, trappings, and worship because at that time, Jehovah God DID meet with men inside buildings, i.e. the Holy of Holies.
The Law of Moses has been fulfilled, the Ark and the Temple gone. We are under a new law that is written on our hearts, not on tablets of stone. The new covenant between God and man doesn’t require an earthly dwelling for the Lord.
You sound like a faithful Christian. I’m sure you already know those things. Read Hebrews again to refresh your memory as to how Christ changed it all, particularly chapters 8-10, where the early Christian Jews were warned not to return to the Law of Moses and its trappings.
I think you're right. I always complain when they bring out the guitars in our "beige" Catholic church.
If you were meeting a foreign dignitary, a President, or some other VIP for supper, you'd put on your best clothes and comb your hair. Why not do the same when you go to worship? A really nice polo and new pair of jeans look nice, but if you have a shirt and necktie, why not put those on for church on Sunday?
The liturgy and yes, even the building should follow suit. Why play the guitar when you've got a pipe organ gathering dust. Why build an airplane hanger when you can build a beautiful church? Why should we offer "good enough" when we can do better?
Have you ever been to Mother Angelica’s shrine in Hanceville, Alabama? It’s worth the trip.