Why R some (not all) bigger churches U go into lavishly decorated and covered in gold and murals and statues??

Question

I thought churches might be simple buildings encouraging us to live simply and without greed and you know em. I can't explain. I went into a Large Spanish church and it had the largest organ I have ever seen. Also there was gold everywhere and lots of plaques, statues, big murals, modles of Jesus and his diciples and lots of fancy show of stuff. I wasn't expecting that cause I thought they wouldn't want to have the churces looking all flash and making themselves look rich and greedy. Well thats the impression I got. That the church was built by a rich person who was showing off. I can't remember for sure how it came about but it seemed 2 fancy for a church.

Answer 1

I think on the one hand, that a place of worship ought to be decorated and look very nice because it is a place dedicated to God, who should be treated royally. On the other hand, it would be sad if a place of worship were decked in gold while people in its area were starving. I think as long as the church amply helps the poor at every given opportunity, and puts them first, then it is ok to decorate.

Answer 2

Some churches believe that decorating the church can spiritual focus the congregants. For example, stained glass windows, although pretty, are meant to let light in without you being able to look out. It is a way to hide the sin of world from the congregants but allow God in. Also, most of the windows serve a purpose because they are decorated with lessons directly from the bible.

You might want to ask the pastor/priest the next time you visit a big church why something is "gilded." True, they may tell you it is just to get more members in the door (Which I personally think is wrong.) but there might be a symbolism to what they are doing. It might also be the way the people can give directly to God. I mean, the Vatican alone is one of the richest countries in the world.

I agree with you, it is too fancy. That money should go to other places but spirituality is a tricky subject with complex reasons and sometimes even excuses.

Answer 3

Pixie is right when she says that to some extent it's meant as a way to focus the thoughts of the participants. She's also right when she says the money could be better spent. I'd just like to add that the main religious reason for soaring cathedrals and gilded decorations is to show devotion to God. The more you care, the more money you spend. Of course, there are less exalted reasons, as well. Prestige is one; as you say, it's a way of showing off. More money is another. More people will come to a church that is exquisitely decorated. They bring with them offerings and can make a Church rich. Or at least that was true at the time when most of the biggest and most expensive churches were built. Today, not so much.

Answer 4

If you notice it's usually only older churches and the Catholic ones which tend to be like this.
Historically churches were built using subscription, where the local people gave a small sum of money each to build a church. Many early christian ones built in the Byzantine empire were often gifts from the richer patrons to their often adopted lands. Also, typically the Catholic church has money tied up in land which it also uses alongside donations and gifts of money. Also many monasteries attached to these churches served as schools hospitals (all fee paying) which also brought in lots of money. The fancy murals and statues were often necessary as many people even in the 1900's could not read and the pictures were intended to act as a storyboard of the Bible. Also, until the Gutenberg Bible and the invention of the printing press, copies of books and of the Bible were not only rare but in Latin, wich only the richa nd educated could read.
If you read Revelation the walls and floors of the New Kingdom of God are made of pure gold, and the gates are of twelve different stones/pearls (according to either english translations or the original Greek and Latin script which I prefer).
When you talk of helping the poor, up until the 1970's (I think) the church often helped the poor. Some churches ran a poor fund where those who were in poverty could request money for food and clothes. Other churches did donations of clothes and food parcels to the needy.
Many Christian demoninations do still hold the idea a church should be simple, including Protestant and some Methodist denominations.
PS Some more stricter Christian churches ask for a certain percentage of their worshippers earnings as a tithe towards their work

Answer 5

If you go into church that has lavish decorations dosen't nessecarly mean that they are showing, or rich or greedy, traditionally many gave money to have churches build, a certain merchant family wanted to donate a glass mosaic of John the Baptist baptising Jesus, or some other important christian event, many today still do this but put plaques donated by this family or that. Here in Boston we have two large Catholic Churches, a Cathedral and a Basilica, they seem ornate, but its not overwhelming

I've been to a church where it was plain and simple but the minister drove a Porsche and his wife had a mink coat, That seemed strange to me as a Catholic seeing a person with so much wealth, such as what you saw when you walked into that church (since clergy take a vow of poverty). I thought they were showing off
but they weren't. He had a good job working as a lawyer and she did conslutation work, he always wanted a Porsche and she always wanted a mink coat. I judged them by thier outward appearances thinking they were showing off thier wealth as you thought when you walked into that church.

Answer 6

Different cultures have different ideas. And different times, too. Some people have also bought into the belief that if they enrich the church (whichever faith they are) then they are going to get more blessings and be favored by God.

Back several hundred years ago, the Catholic Church was all that there was. Anything else was heretical and thereby banned. Religous doctrine governed life. The church was also very wealthy and the wealthy have money to throw around. So churches got more and more elaborate. In many ways, churches became major employers of their time.

If you feel uncomfortable in an overdecorated church, then that is your right. Some, though, feel at home in a very richy appointed building, as that, to them, indicates that they are showing love. I don't agree...but everyone does have a right to do as they please.

Answer 7

So many were made during the high Gothic period of architecture in the Mediaeval times, and they would all be restored to look as they did through the ages. Also, new ones would be made in a similar style to look old, and Gothic architecture was once again popular in the Victorian Ages.

And the church has always been ridiculously rich, and basically controlled all art over the past few hundred years, so loads of art was commisioned, because they could just afford it.

Answer 8

The real question is why are you visiting these churches anyway? Are you seeking to find your Father, God of all creation. Many churches are highly decorated, some out of love from God and others through other motives. In truth Gos is the only one who know the reason behind this. If they are decorated in love for God I would suspect it is because of the thankfulness in their hearts for Jesus making open the way back to God through his dead and Resurrection. Jesus' redemptive power is seen in the shedding of His blood at Calvary for your sins. Jesus loves you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much that you were the only person in the world he would have still done it for you so that you could have a loving relationship with God your father. Amazing uhh? Praise the Lord. Some people dress in plain clothes, others in more fancy apparel, it is really up to them and God and one one else should really judge. We tend to judge others by our own twisted standards. God standards are different and His ways are true.

Answer 9

I don't have a clue. It's stupid isn't it I mean what does all that stuff have to do with god? - well nothing. Think of all the good things that church could have done with the money they spent. now I don't think a church should be dirty or rotting or anything, they should look nice or else no-one would go in. But come on it's not a palace.

Answer 10

Simple this is a fine example of how mankind has been conned by the church over the years. They have forgotten about their main cause God, their faith is wrapped up in a book, written by man, or i should say changed by man so man could profit from God, of course he bible is not only book changed, and if some people were to stop and think a bit they would realise that they should put there faith in God, not a book.

Love & Peace

Answer 11

You have it right ,that Church has turned to making there whorshipping bulidings.into temples of evil,they have created graven images. I think that most of these buildings where built by people who think they are saved by works before they haved recieved Grace. Some have no idea they just give a tenth of there earnings. The pople are the church really not the building.