to buy land, and build a church in a new development area. Should churches have money like this for building buildings, or should they be using it on other community needs? Which is more important, having a place to worship and save souls, or feeding starving children, building homes, shelters, etc.
2006-12-05 03:01:23 · 19 answers · asked by ♫O Praise Him♫ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ask the people who contributed the money.
2006-12-05 03:04:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I get your point. However, at some point there does need to be a place that people can meet together and worship. I'm not going to say one is more important that the other. Someone might give a Church a lot of money to build another building or to start a program. The idea is to put churches and programs in place so that in the future they can take care of those in need.
2006-12-05 11:28:49 · answer #2 · answered by Chad H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is basically one of the most successful business in the world, Think about it they do not pay taxes and people pay them for their "services" (that's got to be funny to someone else besides me) Some even donate 10% of their salary.I read somewhere that only 5% of all money donated goes to anything charitable (I did read this on the Internet so I do not know how accurate this is), the rest is overhead costs paying salaries, building new Churches and Bribes (pay off money for emotional distress) and etc. So basically a new church is an investment to them as it will bring more worshipers with money and so on, and on. This is how business works Kind of like why you see a Starbucks everywhere you go, is the same as churches. Why do you think it is part of their duty to try and convert as many people as possible. More people = more money, there is even a church in my area that will not let you attend unless you agree to having 10% of your monthly salary automatically withdrawn from your bank account.
2006-12-05 11:32:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, at my website I tell a little story (true one) which sort of sums up things from my perspective. I've copied it below. I titled the section -
"POOR STEWARDS"
Let me share a story. I wanted to visit a local church. The pre-recorded telephone message stated that service times were at 9 am & 10:30 am. I decided to go to the 9 am service, but when I arrived there was no service. When I asked why, it was explained to me that the first service had been discontinued due to poor attendance.
As we were talking, one of the "deacons" started shouting about, "The Dome on the Hill." "A dome on the hill, brother David! I tell you it's been prophesied that we're going to have a dome on the hill! It's a dome on the hill that the Lord wants us to build!" And the price tag for this "Dome on the Hill" was enormous. This congregation was closing services because they couldn't attract the people - and the Lord was supposedly telling them that if they had a better, fancier, bigger building - then THAT would attract the people. According to the shepherds of this flock, the Lord was saying, "Gather up the tithes and build a bigger building…. And they will come!"
It is not the buildings that attract the lost. It is gentle words of kindness, and actions of love. Jesus didn't have a building. He took his love and kindnesses to the world.
Many shepherds, as stewards, gather the tithe of the Lord to build endless buildings (and feed themselves). They are poor stewards in that they should have built foundations in the hearts of men instead. They have lost the path of love, and have become blind.
Again I say to search the scriptures of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, if you would see the nature of these stewards:
•Isaiah 56: 11,12
•Jeremiah 23:1-4; Jeremiah 23: 16-22
•Ezekiel 34: 1-10
2006-12-05 11:15:14 · answer #4 · answered by themtnsvoice 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is an interesting question.
I feel they need a 'good, larger church' (if they have grown) but why would they need 2 Million?
BUT! Just take a look at Fred Price- the Faith Dome cost him "millions" of dollars, but he has a very large following.
On the other hand, look at for example, "Habitat for Humanity"
They build these houses, for the so called needy- these ppl move into these brand new FREE homes, there kids tare them up, make the house with-in a year look like a DUMP- you see them sitting on the Front porch, BBQ'ing, smoking, and dealing drugs.
it makes me sick.
also they seem to do these habitat for Humanity houses ONLY for a certain group of ppl.
NOT FAIR!
So it is up to you to agree or not to agree, I DO agree with building a new larger church if that is what they need, maybe they are in an upscale neighborhood, or spend money on the so called "needy" who lie and cheat to get free housing, food stamps, welfare, and on and on.
if the church saved the money, and paid their taxes, I agree with that more than the habitat for humanity thing, that is just a bunch of garbage!
2006-12-05 11:13:14 · answer #5 · answered by BubbleGumBoobs! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is written in Malechi to bring in all the tithes & offerings so there is bread in the house of the Lord.
There has to be a house of the Lord, where the Word of God is preached. Then there needs to be finances to cover expenses & fill the needs of the people; physical, emotional & spiritual.
There are some ministries of the Lord within the church that are usually paid a salary. Because they are full time jobs. The 5 fold ministries in the church are apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors & teachers. For the edifying & maturing of the church.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts to the people of the Church. For the edifying & maturing of the church.
2006-12-05 12:13:10 · answer #6 · answered by t a m i l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our church doesn't have money like that! I think a church should have a comfortably modest place to worship and concentrate their efforts on the lost and needy around them!
(I disagree with building homes for people, however).
2006-12-05 11:16:12 · answer #7 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There can be good reasons to have a building. $2 million is not a lot of money for a new building.
2006-12-05 11:06:41 · answer #8 · answered by Barabas 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The money IS used for starving children, building homes and shelters among many other great things.
2006-12-05 11:05:46 · answer #9 · answered by <><><> 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that a Church should feed people but why should a Church be expected to build homes? . People have to be responsible for themselves and no trely on handouts. It's in the Bible!
2006-12-05 11:05:57 · answer #10 · answered by The Masked Marauder 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
How about we pretend that they are building a permanent place to do those things. Because they are! If you really believe that they are in the wrong I suggest that you write a polite and gramatically correct letter to the church board in question.
2006-12-05 11:08:00 · answer #11 · answered by jme e 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋