It is not at all unusual for men to desire and build beautiful and costly edifices to honor God and to worship within them. However, God makes clear that He prefers to be revered and communed with within the hearts of men. This gets His positive attention, motivating Him to respond in loving kindness. When this occurs, it cannot be anything but good for those who humbly seek Him.
Did Paul think it was wrong to go to Jerusalem? He certainly did not understand John 4:21—where Jesus says, ". . . the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father"—to mean that he could not worship there, because God can be worshipped anywhere. It does not do away with the Temple, but it expands our understanding of the worship of God. Therefore, the converted apostle Paul, having the Spirit of God, went to Jerusalem to worship.
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