So how then do these multi-million dollar fundamentalist mega-churches fit in? Don't you think Jesus would be upset seeing so much wealth squandered on such things?
2007-01-02 07:16:59 · 13 answers · asked by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have this private vision (you might call it a fantasy) of Jesus striding into one of those mega-churches, knocking the collection plates to the floor, chasing the preachers, the elders, the deacons, and so on, out into the street with a switch, while He angrily shouts about His House being a House of Prayer, and not a den of thieves. Oh, what a sight that would be! I can almost hear Him saying how tired He is of our endless programs, how our tithes and offerings are making Him tired, how He doesn't want to hear any more choir singing, or see another pageant...what He wants is for us to love one another, as He taught us. If we love Him, He says, we will obey His command...and His command is that we love one another. In fact, He even qualified it by saying that the world would know His disciples by the love they have for others. How can a man or woman who can drive their Mercedes right past the homeless shelter on their way to their rich mega-church possibly claim to love others as Jesus does? It makes Him very sad, is my guess.....
(Does that fantasy make me a "bad Christian?)
2007-01-02 15:21:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some fundamentalist sects that preach the prosperity gospel, which asserts that poverty is not consistent with salvation and that if you are saved prosperity is a natural consequence.
I don't know why rich evangelists travel the world first class and ride limos to their crusades, or live in luxury. Part of it I guess is to present their church as a vibrant, legitimate, strong and credible church, or somewhere along those lines, i.e. they need to be presentable. Personally I'd respect any evangelist who'll live in poverty, travel cheaply, dress cheaply.
Besides, when one has a rich or healthy spiritual/emotional/psychological life one will realise that riches just don't do it, no matter what religion you belong to. It's so much better to give away. I'd like to believe even in new age lecturers but they do the same, they charge large fees and travel first class, and live luxurious lifestyles. too bad.
2007-01-02 15:25:48 · answer #2 · answered by charlie c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Jesus said that the LOVE of money was a bad thing.He did not say having things were a bad thing. He did however say that it would be easier for a camel to fit throught he eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Not becuase they have money, but because of how easy it is to stray from Gods path when you are rich. When people are broken in spirit they seek Jesus, when they are on top of the world, they tend not to.
2007-01-02 15:23:57 · answer #3 · answered by Stacey B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a christian and YES I think it's terrible to squander gazillion dollars on mega-churches. That is not true religion...it's a bad witness of what God commanded us to do....to help those in need and to love our nieghbors as God loved us. It doesn't say anywhere in the Bible to have a church so huge it has its own zip code. It's a lamentable reality of the modern church and I believe God will judge accordingly
2007-01-02 15:22:46 · answer #4 · answered by 4 Shades of Blue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously you know nothing about what Jesus stressed. Who's going to give to the poor? The rich or the poor.
And he's probably upset at what many are doing with their wealth.
2007-01-02 15:22:41 · answer #5 · answered by namsaev 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I laughed at the extravagance of Oral Roberts who missed the parts about being humble having named a University after himself along with the 737 withi his name plastered on it he used to fly around in. The extravegant churces are much like casinos. They got their trapping from the donations of suckers who should learn that the house always wins.
2007-01-02 15:22:11 · answer #6 · answered by Rico E Suave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this might be what Jesus meant by saying "Not everyone that says Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven".
Much money can turn a good heart to bad.
2007-01-02 15:20:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He did not mean that material possessions were evil or that to be wealthy makes you evil. He was simply trying to say that the accumulation of wealth and possessions was not what life is about. That people should be concentrating on their spiritual wealth and growth.
2007-01-02 15:24:09 · answer #8 · answered by Russ J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, hopefully they are giving it to charities. Churches that keep all the money are just crooked churches. They are out for money and they can't take it with them. My church gives back to the community. Helping people that need it.
2007-01-02 15:22:06 · answer #9 · answered by suzy-Q 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the church is helping reach people and bring them to God, then I think Jesus LOVES that. However, if the church people are bathing in their cash driving Cadillacs and living in mansions "in his name" conning people for money, well those are the ones that have it worst in hell.
2007-01-02 15:21:41 · answer #10 · answered by Jessica 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋