...I pray for the future of the cathedral, whether it be in the hands of chapman university or the catholic diocese, ..if it continues to be led by the schuller family at the glass church I pray that they have the desire, energy, & stamina for doing the ministry they do & that it includes care for the congregation..that they look upon the congregation with respect..& likewise that the members show care & concern for the schullers & that it does NOT simply come down to being "all about the money" as somebody joked in the courtoom on Monday, ..the church ismuch more than just about money..or should be..& schullers have to respect this..as should the members..if ujust want to be a philanthropist..there's lot of charities..if you just want to make money, there's lots of corporations to be CEO's at...what makes the crysta cathedral special, different? sure, the beautiful campus..but if that's all it is..just a building, no love, that's not a church..also, at the same time, there rmembers who are short-sighted in thinkng that the crystal cathedral is "THE CHURCH" ..like an island..that's wrong too..I was up on the 5th floor of the court on Monday & a few "members" asked me who I was..sure, yes, I've veen thru the membership process at the CC, but its NOT the sum of my self-identity ..If I told them I also attend catholic mass at various churches they would probably look at me with horror in their eyes..but theologically, attending MORE than one church is actually MORE theologically, or ecclesiologically, correct..because each congregation (which is a better name for each individual church) is but a tiny part of the larger whole of the worldwide church, ie the Body of Christ....if all the church buildings were destroyed today, the REAL CHURCH, ie the BODY OF CHRIST, would stand strong, or should as long as people aren't overly attached to their church building..think about it, God had to tear the Jewish temple down to make Israel realize they still exist as God's people..it was supposed to bring them together..likewise the church of Christ....I know this is painful for many people..& people are grumbling & making statements about "legal action" action etc..but apart from all that..the pain may lead to spiritual gain eventually..I still attend the crystal cathedral periodically & I notice the people who are ALWAYS in the same spot..its their "ritual"..& God isn't impressed with religious rituals..that actually stun spiritual growth...& when they leave the cathedral campus some don't go out & engage the world with the light of Christ....many do, fortunately, but some don't..the church building is a "means to an end", not an end in itself...
