thoughts on the news of the day: cathedrals

hmmm…..

            Is the building the church or are the people the church?  The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, California is buying the Crystal Cathedral.  Robert Schuller built this remarkable edifice and has been identified with it for many years.  What will become of the people who worship there? 

            The Catholic Church plans to make it a Catholic Cathedral so I guess that the worshipers from before still have a place to attend services, they just won’t be during an “Hour of Power” where celebrities take the stage along with the clergy.  It very definitely won’t be the same.

            Several years ago, our Presbyterian governing body had a disagreement with a church in Tulsa about who owned the property.  The church wanted to leave our denomination and wanted to take their elaborate building with them.  But clearly, our rules establish all church buildings to belong to the larger governing body.  The local church lost, but not without the paying of enormous legal fees on both sides.  The obvious question is:  wouldn’t that money have been better spent on mission?

            Massive worship facilities are not new to the world.  Medieval cathedrals are spread throughout Europe.  And I am sure there was a question then about building vast cathedrals when the people were starving. 

            I guess it’s OK to have gigantic structures built within to worship. There is something to be said about honoring our Creator with a beautiful earthly home.  We just need to remember not to worship the building.

            hmmm…..