Credit card to heaven?

Question

Why is it that to get into heaven, when on television the Evangelical churches often say that I need to have my credit card ready! or words to that effect, pay a tithe. Usually with some ify reason to phone in? Some churches (or television preachers) ask people for large donations, donations poor people can ill afford.

Do others find this distasteful? Is it these churches that keep people "a safe distance from a God" that they can not afford?

Please do not tell me this does not happen because I have witnessed it many, many times. Is it time to rein these blackmailers, or expose them for what they are?

It seems after 18 answers people would like some form of regulation. I have email from the devout agreeing with me.
So why not ask your Congress to look, consider and rectify this stain on an otherwise spiritual experience.
Is it similar to "price gouging" or is it worse? Who will take the lead and tip up the tables?

Answer 1

I to have witnessed this tasteless act. It mainly occurs on the numerous American religious channels.

I can understand giving money if it helps with the maintenance of the church etc, but many of these TV evangelicals are just praying on the innocent and vulnerable.

I do agree that they need to be regulated. However, that regulation must not affect the good work that many churches do (IE the salvation army work with the homeless). Regulation should also not affect our freedoms.

I am in no way religious by the way

Answer 2

1. To get into HEAVEN, you accept JESUS as your SAVIOUR, HE is the ONLY ONE WHO can Recreate your Spirit, and that let's you into HEAVEN. Anybody can get SAVED, "NO CHARGE".
2. GOD put into this EARTH befor WE got here, a "SYSTEM".
This System allow's you to SOW and REAP.
3. Any body can Sow and Reap.
You can do it with "seed's", as in Plant's, Flower's, Tree's, Grass so on so on.
YOU can do it with "Kindness", be nice to other's, help other's so on so on.
This system work's on Automatic and has Error's in it since Adam blew-it.
Example: When you plant vegetable seed's, bird's will come and eat the small plant's, insect's will try to eat the crop, the Weather might cut-up and Freeze your veggie's, the neighbor might come by and steal some etc.

When you give money out of your Heart for the Right Reason's to Help other's, GOD's System will repay you---you Reap what you Sow---but what if the Devil come's to STEAL your CROP? What if when you get that Crop back, your car break's down and you have to pay for the Repair's? Not many Teacher's of GOD will tell you these thing's so that you can protect your Crop. If your not Born-Again, you probably wouldn't Believe it either. I mean, if you don't Believe there's a Devil, how can you Believe he could Steal your Crop?

If you attend Service's at a "church-building", and your getting FED there Spiritually, I would suggest you pay your Tithe's there.
Your using the building, electricity, service's, there time so on so on. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

There used to be a sin called, "Simony". If you committed Simony it meant you had bought a blessing. It was really a problem in the middle ages. In recent times it has been largely forgotten. I always wondered why paying tithes and donations were never considered to be the sin of Simony.

BTW: Simony is named after Simon Magnus, a rival of Jesus who attempted to buy God's blessing from Saint Peter.

Answer 4

I think credit should be given where credit is due, but for a place in heaven, we were born with nothing and leave with nothing so no cost required to gain passage to heaven, I personally think it is rather sick that these religious people who beg for money on TV adverts and they really need to re-evaluate what religion is about, still if you pardon the pun I reckon those type will be paid back in heaven.

Answer 5

Wasn't it Martin Luther and his 95 theses that came around when the Church in England was selling something similar to this? Isn't it funny how history repeats itself. Greed is all to often the driving force for these TV evangelists. But be careful not to stereotype, not all of them are in it for the money. These are the ones who will eventually prevail.

Answer 6

Jesus said no man shall enter Heaven unless he is born again.
He also said that no man shall come unto the Father but by Me.


ask Jesus into your life and be born again by the power of the Gospel (an actual real life event in your real life) if you do this in a prayer sincerely God will answer you! you have to truely seek then God will answer!

Answer 7

Good point Tim, there are many cheaters who exploit spirituality and make a business out of it, they should be avoided at all costs.

Real religion/spirituality promotes an ethic of simple living/high thinking, is compassionate to all living entities and develops love for God.

To discuss further:- Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])

Answer 8

I believe that there is a special place in hell for these kind of tele evangelists. They use God for their own means and that is just pathetic. Many of them have been exposed and people still flock to them..go figure.I do however believe in tithing and we give our 10% to real christian organizations like John 3:16 mission where we KNOW it goes to the people who are supposed to get it.

Answer 9

Early in the church it was common practice for rich people to literally pay for their sins.

They gave money to the church and would have a priest absolve them of all sins this was usually on their death bed when the people where their most venerable

Answer 10

A Credit Card will not get you to Heaven, only the Blood of Jesus will if you believe.