What Moses Saw

On Memorial Day we watched Glory.  There is a scene in the film that shows a group of soldiers clapping, singing, and taking turns giving motivational mini-sermons.  

Basil Wenceslas said, "How come we don't do church like that?"  I was surprised by the question but I was able to answer it because the Bible answers it.  I told him we follow the pattern of worship that happens in Heaven, that everything we do is as close to the Heavenly original as we can make it.   I told him what St. Stephen said (reported in Acts 7:44), "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen" and explained that everyone who saw Heaven and told us what it was like described something that looks like the the services of the Orthodox Church.

A few minutes ago I came across this essay that goes into much more detail than my short answer to my son.  So, I'll print it out and give it to him tomorrow.