With all the money tied up in churches and synagogues and mosques and other sorts of temples - maintaining them all and all their clergy/clerics/rabbi's etc. , couldn't so many of the world's problems be solved?
Didn't Jesus say something like "wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, I am there"?
If so why do you ignore it?
2006-08-20 23:55:52 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I totally agree........Thank God for people like Bill Gates who just gave millions to the world cause, all the while churches just hoard their excess.....It is sickening.
2006-08-21 00:14:45 · answer #1 · answered by Denise W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Christianity giving money to the church is about obeying God's word. It's not about making preachers and the like wealthy. Those preachers who misuse the money given by their congregations will be held accountable.
Churches are to use the money to enhance the kingdom of God. After all, Churches still have to pay the electric, gas and water. Most people wouldn't get much from sermons if the preachers stood at the pulpit naked. Churches are still suppose to help and teach the poor.
It boils down to faith, if and when you give money to the church you've done what God has commanded, if that money is misused then it's on those who are doing the misusing.
For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Mal 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].
When a person, personally does the will of God they are being obedient, it's not on them if others ignore God's commandments.
2006-08-21 01:24:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the New Testament Paul write in his letters that we should as Christians not forsake the fellowship of other Christians. He was saying that in order to grow in your beliefs you needed to fellowship with other Christians in a group or gathering. That's what churches etc. are for so that Christians can go to a designated place and fellowship with other Christians. The money spent to maintain the church is not money wasted. Also at my church there are many outreach programs that are funded by the money that we spend at the church.
2006-08-21 00:11:02 · answer #3 · answered by Only hell mama ever raised 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many religious buildings are as much (if not more) about developing a sense of community as they are about religious worship. It's a place where large numbers of believers can congregate to meet and interact with one another. It's also easier to communicate information in one central location. The pooled resources can also go into programs that aid the religious community. It aids greatly with organization of a religious group. This is the one thing that atheists and other non-believers lack, and it shows in the relative lack of any organized political movement toward advocating the interests of the non-religious population.
2006-08-21 00:04:34 · answer #4 · answered by phaedra 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure where you live, but most of the churches in our area are hardly thriving financially. Our church doesn't even own a building.
We don't pass a collection plate either. Guests are encouraged to not contribute financially until they've decided that we are the church that will work for them.
I'm guessing that you're really not all the familiar with church life.
2006-08-21 01:51:11 · answer #5 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What Jesus is talking about is prayer of agreement.
The church still needs to operate in a world system that uses cash. Jesus even paid taxes when He was alive.
2006-08-21 00:02:41 · answer #6 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
technological awareness hasn't been making efforts to refute the Bible. It only would not arise and at present, you're spreading a ludicrous stereotype about what technological awareness is all about. And your feeding into the paranoid fantasies or non secular isolationists. trust me, no scientist ever contains the lab interior the morning and says: "ok. There are nevertheless those who trust in miracles. we ought to dispel that theory at present". it truly is not what they do.
2016-11-05 07:07:43 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the UK Churchs have been landowners for years so they are actually very wealthy.
2006-08-21 00:07:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
MOney spent on these places is for buying food for SOUL and not for body....it is a matter of belief and not necessary a logical applicaton of mind.
2006-08-21 01:01:03 · answer #9 · answered by walkan 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Y? Do you have multiple religions in the first place?
2006-08-21 00:32:25 · answer #10 · answered by kris2pe y 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋