Why are there such big expensive churches when Jesus said give up your possessions and help the poor?

Question

“You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit, and you know it.”

- Charlie from Mean Streets

Answer 1

And who do you think built those churches, masons. Who then spent their money at local shops and bought wares which were built by the poor. Oh the wonders of trickle down economics!


::please don't take this seriously::

Answer 2

If people didn't have possessions...ie a place to live, jobs, vehicles and to some degree some materials and a place to go to worship and be taught..though I agree some of these places are a bit extreme..then they would be the ones who would "poor". What is being given up...well, its never enough is it? But for you to understand try to imagine a world where there were no christians and no faith based organizations helping the needy? I agree with you about the "big expensive churches." however, I still see many christians out there giving and giving to help the poor, to missionize and to provide a means to ease suffering. I know this for a fact because I was raised in Christian Childrens Home called Christs Haven that while it wasn't the best of all possible worlds it was because of christian people that I had a place to be raised after our mother abandoned us when I and my brother we left in a one bedroom apartment alone with no food for 8 days. Some church members took us from the state run foster facility and brought us to a place in the Country. Look it up on the net..

http://www.christshaven.org/index2.php

All those pics you see of laughing carefree kids...that is no lie. I went from harboring massive internalized fears to being free and able to be a child as I was retaught to trust. I thank God for this place and those people who obeyed the Word of God. Love in Christ, ~J~

Answer 3

Because of several reasons
1) People are willing to put money into the church.
2) The church starts to put more emphasis on the ministry rather than on doing God's will.
3) They need a bigger building to attract more people. And it's for a lot of reasons other than money. Most large churches have something to offer above just an exciting church service. Most of these congregations offer outside ministries and activities.
4) They've lost their focus on what is important.

Answer 4

Just as in the Bible, people lose sight and go more by what feels right...

2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (in Context) 2 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)

Answer 5

This I have always wondered about when it comes to the LDS temples. Why spend millions of dollars on such a building? It makes me think that their God and their "Jesus of this dispensation" likes material goods. I never learned that as a child and it seems pretty blasphemous to me.

Answer 6

Hypocrisy

Answer 7

Hypocrisy

Answer 8

When did an unsaved non-believing person like you know what to do with GOD'S Will & Plan For His sevants!......you need to stop judging GOD & His Servants In Whom You Have No Clue and get Saved And Start Going To Church And Learn The Things Of GOD And The Blessings He Has For His People Instead Of Judging Them!...........Ps. speaking of expensiveness & earthly possessions!.....Speak out against Child Porn, Porn, Play Boy Books that you folks Buy that rakes in Billions every year, Cassinos, Lottery, Dungeons & Dragons Games, Demonic Movies & Games you buy your children, strippers, etc. etc. etc......that you unsaved give your worldly possessions to!....then compare what's going into GOD'S Work & what's going into Satan's work!.....GOD'S Work consist of money for homeless, unwed mother's homes, halfway houses, prision ministry, hospital ministries, helps for educational purposes, etc. etc. etc.......get your stories straight and get yourself straight first before you judge others, especially GOD'S Anointed!......Ps. get that big telephone poll out of your eye before you can see how to get it out of someone else's eye!.........Go Learn About GOD & His Plan For His Servants, And How He Bless His Servants that do His Will!........the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just!.....

Answer 9

In the Apocrypha or Catholic Bible there is a verse in the book of Sirach that says"Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise"

Answer 10

Because we can't all live like Jesus.