When people put their money into an offering plate, that money should be used for God right? Then what's the deal with these churches using the money to buy $10,000 red carpet, chandeliers, expensive sound systems, and other stuff that has nothing to do with God's work? Of course the church's bills have to be paid. It should look nice and clean. But it shouldn't look like the Ritz-Carlton! That money could be better spent feeding many many hungry people, spreading God's love, buying blankets for the homeless, and many other ways. THAT's God's work, not buying things to impress other churches, right?
We have one church here that owns an entire city block of buildings. They have TV ads saying they have a place for YOU, they're all doctors and lawyers, and rich people, and the pastor won't even speak to a person he knows if they're not "good" enough. This doesn't seem very Christian to me and it makes me sick the way people give money that should be used for God.It's too common.
2006-09-22 17:38:23 · 15 answers · asked by married_so_leave_me_alone1999 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They have a place for your MONEY anyway. (This church is Southern Baptist by the way.) I cant help but dream of someday going to that church and standing up during services and asking, since they're so big on WWJD, "Would Jesus be buying all this stuff and acting all fancy, or would he be using this money to feed, clothe, heal and help people?" It's not my place to judge them, and they may be sincere Christians, but I feel they have their priorities seriously screwed up. Anyone else feel this way?
2006-09-22 17:41:01 · update #1
Sorry, but you've confused a Churchianity church with a Christian church. If you are interested in supporting a Christian church, look for a Church of Christ or a mission church in a storefront in the poor section of town. Or, look for a church that has all the fancy stuff, but that also spends a huge chunk of dough on outreach and mission programs! We have both, here in Roswell, NM. Washington Baptist, where I attend, puts a lot of money into helping church members who need food for kids etc. Church on the Move, where my friend Patsy attends, has a big, fancy church with all the bells and whistles, and they also spend a fortune every month on outreach and missions. Just keep going to different churches until you find one where you feel at home. That's how we wound up at Washington Avenue Fellowship. It's got a small congregation of steady tithers and a self-supporting pastor who never went to seminary. He preaches from the Holy Spirit. He also has two small stores where they sell alien memorabelia. He and his wife both work their butts off. They hire churchmembers who are between jobs and tithe to the church just like the rest of us. They post the church's finances for all to see every three months, and account for every dime that comes in. I like that. I have a feeling you would too.
Why not ask the pastor at your church if you can take a gander of his books and see what he says. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for THAT conversation, LOL.
Best wishes finding your home church.
2006-09-22 17:52:07 · answer #1 · answered by wo_manifest 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a church in our area like that too. I actually refer to it as a cult because I attended there for a few months and they told me to my face that I had to give money to the church or God would curse me! What's even more amazing is that this church has over 5,000 members, and like the one you describe, about five buildings around the city. They have TV ads saying they want new members from different races, not just white people. The family that owns several ball teams and business in our state attends there, and they made them "pastors." It's funny in a sick, pathetic way.
I can tell you, since I've attended their services before, that they are a bunch of creeps trying to extort money from the gullible and from those that are hungry for recognition and public praise. Churches like this will answer for what they've done, don't worry. And I agree with you, it's too common. What I want to know is why do so many people fall for this?
2006-09-23 00:46:53 · answer #2 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't need money, honey. The poor sure could use some. Wake up! Where did you think the money was going. That's what they do, they refurbish their churches and you should see their residences, new car, plastic surgery. I'm sure they would be happy to show you the pictures of their last vacation, Tahiti was so nice!
I am being a bit sarcastic, but it's true some so called churches do that and the hell with the poor, the homeless and hungry, let them find food and shelter.
2006-09-23 00:47:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I tend to agree with you.
I remember in 1979, see Jim Bakker on TV asking people on the PTL club to send in money so they could buy two TV cameras for $250,000!
Does my memory server me correctly. Anyone here know if I'm right on this or not.
Once upon a time did not Robert Schuler operate his church out of an old Drive In Movie Theater. Did cars not park there and hear the sermons over the loudspeaker system.
Now, of course, he as the Crystal Cathedral. A million dollar or multi-million dollar stained glass palace.
You can rent this for your weddings, but the cost is outragius.
We're talking $1,000 to 7,500 for a wedding.
This is pandering of religioni to the rich.
Billy Graham's operation is also very, very big. I knew people who worked for his filmmaking division. World Wide Pictures.
This company is a multi story building in Burbank designed to make documentaries for Billy Graham's crusades and on contract for others.
Churchs come to them and pay $10,000 or $20,000 for a custom movie.
The people I knew from his organzatin started their own company and they do contract work for churches and religious schools.
You come to them with a general them and they put a package together for you and some are quite good. I saw one called "Beyond Winning" which is about sports and God. But a film like this costs $5,000 to $20,000 to make.
OF course the Church then owns it and can rent it out to other churches for a fee and eventually get their money back.
It also serves an inspirational purpose and is shown each semester to their sports students and general students.
But the money for this comes out of the plate.
It is Gods work.
Who knows.
A sound systems helps you hear the sermons better.
I've been involved in small churches doing productions and most of the equipment was provided by the members. We used the church sound system for the singers, but we all had our own equipment and we did the recordings.
It was all done in house and at no cost to the plate.
There are alternatives.
However there are companies out there catering to this and I used to work with them. Church Services, for example, they provided AV equipment. Projection screens, slide projectors, video equipment, sound systems, etc.
We supplied a lot of churchs with big, expensive Dalite movie projector screens. Generally every screen for a church was priced between $150 and $500.
2006-09-23 01:32:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lets face facts. The FACT is:
1. It's YOUR duty too tithe.
2. It's the committee's responsibility to answer for "spending".
3. That church and the "elders" will answer for it, not you.
4. If this is your reason for not going..........
5. YOU, being such a UPstanding member. Why are you belittling churches in a forum filled with nonmembers?
6. YOU, my friend are a stumbling block, as well as a crybaby member. (if you are a member) I doubt it.
hahahahahahaha
Good Luck.
God Himself, said: it's none of your business.
Now...walk around and sidestep this one.
.
2006-09-23 03:40:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think some churches are ran more like a business than a church. It seems as though they have turned their eyes towards money rather than God.
2006-09-23 00:40:42 · answer #6 · answered by ~aShLeY~ 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. I understand you would want a house of God to be built of high-quality material, but you are right that a bigger percentage should be invested in the needs of members.
2006-09-23 01:00:16 · answer #7 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't need money! If you (Christians) want to help the hungry and homeless people, help them directly or through legitimate charities.
2006-09-23 00:45:18 · answer #8 · answered by tomleah_06 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am in the wrong souther baptist church, then.
but yes, i agree that this is a spendthrift situation gone wild. (maybe i can get the dvd series going on this)
i also believe that any, ANY, religious institution that does not spend their excess funds on people are wrong.
-eagle
2006-09-23 00:43:33 · answer #9 · answered by eaglemyrick 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes there is something very wrong with that,we are accountable for the funds placed in our possesion by God to spread his Word,not to glorify ourselves
2006-09-23 00:42:12 · answer #10 · answered by norm s 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋