"The temple was to be filled with art work. "And he [Solomon] garnished [covered] the house with precious stones for beauty" (2 Chron. 3:6). Notice this carefully: The temple was covered with precious stones for beauty. They had no utilitarian purpose. God simply wanted beauty in the temple. God is interested in beauty. ... There can be no question. Beauty has a place in the worship of God.

Young people often point out the ugliness of many evangelical church buildings. Unfortunately they are often right. Fixed down in our hearts is a failure to understand that beauty should be to the praise of God. But here in the temple which Solomon built under the leadership of God himself beauty was given an important place."

--Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible