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Recently my little brother of 13 went on a mission trip to Tennessee. Right now my family recently filed bankruptcy and we had to move and we have virtually no money. The trip for him cost $400.00 which was about the last amount we had. So my brother comes home from the trip and goes that was so worth it. And I go yeah you used the last bit of our money. And then he goes, "IT DOESN'T MATTER!!! YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON GOD'S WORK!!!"

So my question is it common for churches to brainwash kids like this and give up everything their family has to the church?
BTW if you haven't guessed I'm not religious.

2007-06-11 14:21:43 · 13 answers · asked by Æ 3 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

By the way the Church didn't in any way force us to do this. My brother felt that helping others using "God's Hands" was worth it. However, I think there comes a time where someone actually needs to think of themselves before others. Especially in a situation like this.

2007-06-11 16:04:15 · update #1

13 answers

Do you know if the church knows of the family situation ?
Churches normally help families in distress and should be helping yours. If they knew of the situation I'm surprised they didn't take up collection for him to go

2007-06-11 14:32:19 · answer #1 · answered by David B 5 · 2 0

It is very common for families to sacrifice for other family members.

Let's say this wasn't a religious trip - but just a trip in general. It was ultimately your parents' decision to give that gift to your brother, as it was their money. Are you jealous because he was given a gift and you weren't?

You can't change anything that has happened in the past. By saying a mean thing to your brother after his trip dampened his spirits. He most likely knows your family is struggling. Now you have taken a part of that gift your parents gave him and damaged it. He is probably feeling guilty and hurt and what could have been a very memorable experience for him is now ruined because you were cruel to him.

Your parents chose to use their money the way they did. Was it the most practical expence from an objective standpoint? Not really. Of course the first inclination is "that money could have been used for food and bills." But what is also important may not always be the most practical at first sight.
Just because your family has financial straints, does that mean no one in the family is allowed to give or accept gifts - even if they seem lavish at the time? What is the meaning of self-sacrificing then?
Times are rough. You will get through this.

And btw, you don't have to be religious to be kind to your little brother.

2007-06-11 21:37:37 · answer #2 · answered by AutumnLilly 6 · 1 0

When the family is in that kind of dire straits, if he thinks it was so worth it, he can go out and work for it, mow lawns or whatever, and see if it is still worth it, and where are your parent's brain cells in all this? Don't they know how to say no to this kid if they can't afford something? If that is typical, it's no wonder they had to file bankruptcy....
Edit: Yes, there is a time to help yourself, if you need to, then you can help others more effectively.....It's also up to your parents to let the church, and your brother know that the family is in a bad way at the moment, and can't afford such things, instead of sending him anyway to save face in front of the congregation, they may be trying to put on a front for others, and if that is the case, they are damaging the household that way as well, it is far more important that the family needs things like food and housing first.... if your brother wants to do God's work, he can start with making sure his family has enough to eat....

2007-06-11 21:31:01 · answer #3 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 1 1

I am a Christian and I will always be. I attend Baptist Churches but the last 3-4 years I have really questioned a lot of the teachings the Baptist churches teach and one of them is tithing. The Deacon of our church that was the financial director sent out a letter to all the church members stating he was concerned with the tithing habits of the church members and some other stuff. Well the pastor of our church and the head deacon had a closed door meeting with him and they expressed their dissapproval of him sending out a letter to all the members of the church expressing that they were not giving enough money (in a round about way). Needless to say the finance director left the church. To me the biggest problem I have with promoting tithing for God's Word, God's Work or whatever you call it is that most of the "tithes" doesn't go to God's work. It goes to pay for fancy furnature and junk the church really doesn't need.

2007-06-11 21:49:38 · answer #4 · answered by mxcardinal 3 · 0 0

Did the church know about your financial situation? I don't think a good church would accept the last of anyone's money. To be honest, I know of churches that would financially support your family until things improved - which they will, by the way.

He's 13, and he's being slightly over-zealous because he probably had an extraordinary time and loves God. Christianity isn't about brainwashing. It really isn't. But I do see why you're angry, and am sorry things are so hard for you at the moment. I really think things will get better. x

2007-06-11 21:35:06 · answer #5 · answered by Munchkin 5 · 1 0

Your parents should certainly have used some discretion given your situation and ultimately they made the decision to let him go. I would say in this situation that the church (if aware of the situation) should have spoken to your parents about this and perhaps helped to at least pay for the mission trip if this was something your brother sincerely wanted to do. I can honestly say there are a lot of Christians that would give the shirt off their back to help someone in need. I believe Jesus wants us to be giving of ourselves to those in need as he gave his life for us on the cross.

2007-06-11 21:32:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

No if this is true the church sounds twisted. Normally a church would fund or collect donations or contributions in a case like this, where you're broke, and more than likely try and help the family out. It's a sad testament of that congregation.
Your parents are also responsible though, you maybe are misdirecting your anger. They were aware and they gave it to him.
If you're over 13, and old enough to work perhaps you could help your parents out?
Sorry about your dilemma♥♫☺

2007-06-11 21:41:52 · answer #7 · answered by ™Tootsie 5 · 0 1

well they are teaching him everything they should be. but obviously a trip costs money. however the state that your family is in should have been observed by the church. usually churchs will support familes (espically church familes) in time of need. i think any other church would have paid for his trip.

2007-06-11 21:27:10 · answer #8 · answered by justagirl. 4 · 0 0

I don't think the church taught this. I think it was just your brothers decision. The church would never cause a family intentionally to go broke.

2007-06-11 23:54:48 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa V 2 · 1 0

Maybe if you show him movies like the "Crimes of Father Amaro" from Mexico or "La Mala Educacion" from Spain then he will see the other side of the Church and won't have such a rotten attitude. Who the hell let him take that money away from the family anyway? sounds to me like they are more brainwashed then the kid is...hopefully they won't put such blind faith in a corporation like a church and have more faith in themselves and use that money for food and cab fare to job interviews etc..

2007-06-11 22:14:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

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