Has Church succumbed to Big Business America?

Question

I've seen a lot more that churches as well as the people who run them write more and more books and sell T-shirts, and all kinds of stuff these days. Has Church just become a kinda WalMart phenonmenon, were the soul is saved between the coffee cups, novels, and the ocassional CD-ROM for home spritual growth?

Answer 1

Church did not succumb to Big Business America. What you see is the Church of Big Business America.

Answer 2

Jesus has become a kind of shared Corporate Logo for Mega-Churches and the like minded who lust to become another Mall Church with a Starbucks on every floor, secular establishments like the Hard Rock cafe...,

and its Sad they turned the glory of our Lord into nothing more than a designer label and the Church services more like an Amway meeting glorifying soap and hygiene products.

I recall in my childhood that people didn't come to Church for the Starbucks espresso or because a famous movie start or sports star was a member..., people came because of a hunger for Jesus.

Today these modern Churches use celebrities as a draw to fill the pews (translates into big $$) and Jesus is on the down-low, taking second billing. I am just amazed these Churches have not sold T-Shirts with the word Jesus on them and some celebrity autograph's their name on them (or have they?).

I hear there are even Jesus action figure dolls!

BILLIONS of dollars are sunk into these massive structures with all the electronic gimmicks available from concert lighting effects to the most advanced sound system known to man. Its about glitz and aesthetics, not feeding the soul - not feeding the poor. Its all a shame these days. Embrace the world and its rock and roll and the world will fill your pews.

When the Bible spoke of a great falling away - this is as much part of that falling away as those who literally drop away from Jesus. This new movement leaves the core teachings of Christ and what he was/is about for something compromising, something more worldly minded.

Answer 3

I view your question as showing that you are starting to see what the today church world is all about that is associated with the world. However do not confuse this church with the other church that is totally separated from the world. Oh yes my friend there is a clear two-fold in the word church just as there is in every word available in the English language.

Do not let those of the world confuse you as they just say the word "church" hoping you will not understand and do not read your Bible. It is only those who do read the Bible and do seek the constantly consistent truth who will be able to see a difference in the two folds of the word church.

My friend you did deeper into the word church recorded in the Bible and maybe that will be an aid to answering your question for you. Look for the difference in of this world or world system and not of this world and world system as a start. While doing that do smile and have a good day.

Answer 4

so which you're suggesting that the LDS Church is a corporation device? Thomas S. Monson CEO? The Apostles are a board of directors? permit's be careful approximately your assumptions right here. the final government of the Church at the instant are not a crew of business enterprise executives. lots of them do no longer even have company journey exterior of Church provider (Boyd ok Packer, as an occasion, advance right into a instructor his entire existence). those are the data. The Church actual conducts business enterprise as a criminal entity. It advance into included each and all the until now interior the 1800s by potential of Brigham youthful. each business enterprise working in this variety of grand scale needs criminal viability. a typical business enterprise has one objective good? Make the biggest income achievable. it rather is the place your argument loses water. A Church has diverse motives then say a utility agency. What damages it greater is the the certainty that no guy or woman interior the Church could make the lots of the Church's fulfillment by way of its layman variety of management. you may must be grasping at some conspiracy concept to make your declare that any great religious sect is incredibly merely in it for the money. ***In reaction: i wouldn't in any respect be so formidable as to assert that i comprehend the middle of the different guy besides my own. You demonstrate greater approximately your self than you do the leaders of the LDS Church with your assumptions. The faults you're calling out have no longer something to do with the business enterprise of the Church; they're all human flaws. no person is acceptable. Even adult men on the suitable. anybody interior the Church is familiar with and accepts this concept. does not that recommend that your connections to "huge business enterprise" are merely accident?

Answer 5

Yeah, some churches go too far, I've attended one that was atrocious in it's selling tactics. I cannot say at what exact monetary point it becomes a sin, but it is at the moment when the church goes from trying to get the Word to people to trying sell their church like an ad campaign. It is a change in the heart, and there it becomes a sin.

It is my opinion that unless the church elders make a consistent effort to ask themselves "would Jesus approve?" in every aspect of public life, then the above change WILL happen, eventually.

Answer 6

It's been big business since the 1800's. That's what Christmas and Easter is all about. Most churches are social clubs.

Answer 7

One cannot serve God and money.

A true Master of any wisdom, teaches without monitary gain ... to insure the knowledge and lessons are passed on. Survival of Truth is priceless.

Answer 8

Some have most definitely. Look at TBN. Send them some money and they will send you a TBN refridgerator magnet. LOL!

Answer 9

If you say so, doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Answer 10

thats a good question..... do u think....