Those huge churches with coffee shops and book stores and rich pastors who talk about tithing alot scare the crap out of me..almost as much as the people who go to them....
I think a church and a pastor should never be too rich...what are your views on this?
2006-11-15 04:29:13 · 16 answers · asked by elfkin, attention whore 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I live a couple miles away from several of these mega-churches and I can tell you first hand, it is a surreal experience that I would not want to repeat. I dont think a church should ever get too big. How can you lead your sheep if you dont even know your sheep.
2006-11-15 04:32:55 · answer #1 · answered by Mo 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I go to one of those mega churches and I used to HATE HATE HATE them! They were all about power, politics and money money money. This church I go to now though, it's different. Yah, they have a coffee shop, but they also have "happy hour" every sunday where you get buy-one-get-one-free and are supposed to give the free cup to the person in line behind you as a gesture. And the coffee is inexpensive. They only charge enough to cover the overhead and the people working the counter are volunteers. The minister is well paid, but he spends 80% of his time either at the church or working ministries for the church because the congregation is just so stinking HUGE! He really gave up his personal life to be a full time pastor so I think he deserves the money he's getting and deserves to be well paid as long as he's doing a good job. The church takes a large portion of their funds to put back into community programs and ministries to help the homeless, help attending church members in need, etc. There aren't too many mega-churches out there that I believe actually do it right but mine does! I attend Bellevue Community Church in Nashville TN
2006-11-15 12:37:54 · answer #2 · answered by chicpower 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thee are different kinds of megachurches. Some are really there to serve the community. They represent Christ well. The people are taken care of through small groups. Takes a big building, but it is functional. A bookstore inside? Why not. That's what I call a functional building. After all it's only a building. My church meets in a cultural centre.
However there are mega churches that fit the picture you describe too.
Personally I prefer a smaller church. I would rather see a lot of smaller churches established in a city or region. But that's personal preference. Mega churchews have their uses.
2006-11-15 12:45:38 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a pastor and its church are rich and they use it to further their purpose, then go for it, but if they are just storing it up. What's the point? You can't take it with you when you die. The huge churches offer alot of different things to different people, however they are not for everyone. Some people, feel more comfortable ina small church where they know everyone.
2006-11-15 12:36:06 · answer #4 · answered by dadknows 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a church has so much money that they are deciding to add a coffee shop or second state of the art gymnasium- they have lost sight of what is important in God's eyes.
The church is supposed to be there for the people, for the poor, for those in need. Instead we see a lot of them today catering to the "wants" of the upper class- plush seats, tv screens, etc.
I just think that money can be spent on better things than "pimping out" (for lack of a better term... actually, no, that's the right term for this) the church building.\
Soup kitchens have never had too much funding. Habitat for Humanity is never oversupplied. There are still people on the streets who could use a helping hand.
In short, I agree completely with you.
2006-11-15 12:35:08 · answer #5 · answered by kiwi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have been in one not that I went to it to worship, get this that church (in Atlanta Ga) had 7,500 members, average income per member was 50,000 a year, it is a strict requirement that every member tithe 10% of everything they have, so 10% of 50,000 is 5,000 multiply that times 7,500 members, 37.5 MILLION DOLLARS per year income for this church, now I dont know about you but Im thinking of starting a Mega Church myself. By the way the Pastor drives a Maybach, has 2 Helicoptors, 3 Limosines, a Hummer (on dubs) and a Leer Jet.
2006-11-15 12:38:21 · answer #6 · answered by silentbob_151 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All hail the mighty Starbucks!
Nope.
And Sotico, you have mega churches and cathedrals mixed up. A cathedral might have a small religious store in it, but it's no mega church. And it's rather intolerant of you to say such hateful things about the church like that. Stink of CHristians? You're just mean.
2006-11-15 12:34:14 · answer #7 · answered by sister steph 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They frighten me. There was an essay in The Economist on these mega churches. They actually do studies to find out what keeps people from coming to church (get this - a large percentage said "I don't like all the church images, like the cross, stained glass windows, all the wood..." so they TOOK THESE ELEMENTS OUT) and what would encourage them to come to church. Turns out people are more willing to come to church if they can stop and get a latte and scone and pick up their dry cleaning than if they actually want to worship God.
2006-11-15 12:38:00 · answer #8 · answered by wyvern1313 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never have and I have never even heard of them. I like book stores but I don't know that i would want one in my church. I would't want a coffee shop in my church. I go to a church where refreshments are served after certain services. that is for free and it is nice. (it is not a really small church but it works)
2006-11-15 12:31:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bishop TD Jakes has a church with WI-FI, Coffee Shop, Resteraunt, 3 story garage, and vibrated chairs on the pulpit. He's a big time pimp.
2006-11-15 12:34:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋