Drive thru latte stands, Krispy Kreme donuts, Aerobics classes called "Firm Believers," children playing X-box during services, sermons about reaching your professional goals, how to reduce debt, "Living your best life now..."
what happened to "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was in prison and you visited me, I was sick and you took care of me...?"
2007-09-04 08:44:55 · 16 answers · asked by keri gee 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think religion has certainly become more about what God can do for me than about what I can do to help my neighbor and do the will of God.
People are so focused on the personal that they forget about fighting poverty and feeding starving children. THAT is what the church community is about, not ripping on homosexuality or premarital sex.
2007-09-04 08:52:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
What happened to "I was hungry and you fed me...?" Well, it's alive and well in our church. We operate soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and charitable organizations, provide care for the elderly, run prison ministries and much more. Just because a church member happens to use the Krispy Kreme drive-through window doesn't mean that he didn't spend the earlier part of the day volunteering in a shelter for battered children, donating aid to refugees, or providing in-house care for an elderly person.
2007-09-04 09:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by solarius 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
do you think Christians don't like latte's (love them).and alot of Christians need help,just like everyone.Many churches have charitable services,clothes we donate to our church for the needy,our food pantry feeds anyone that has a need.Holidays no one goes without a meal..There are many churches and Christians out there doing charitable things without tooting their horns.As for golf tournaments,we too have golf,softball,basketball even pool tournaments and raise money for charities.We just don't have the country club funds to play tournaments all year round,we're busy building houses for the homeless,or setting up soup kitchens for the hungry,or witnessing to people. We are also honoring our mothers and fathers,and trying to make it to dance recitals,and football and baseball practices in between all this which we call life.
2007-09-04 09:20:10 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ooh, such a pointy question! Yes, it seems that, in their quest to become the "life" of their members, a number of megachurches have turned into just another one-stop shopping/entertainment mall. I shouldn't wonder that they'll be adding condos soon. I've never seen one built next to a hospital, prison or soup kitchen.
2007-09-04 08:51:43 · answer #4 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many are country clubs with crosses, that don't put on as many charitable events as most normal country clubs.
My golf course ran over 30 charitable tournaments this season, raising well over 65,000 for charities throughout my community. I wish Christians would ask to see the financial books of the churches they attend to get a reality check on where their money is really being spent.
2007-09-04 08:51:28 · answer #5 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think for some people it has. But then, for some people it always was. Huge Christmas parties, lavish church weddings, etc. Conspicuous consumption is no respecter of religion. But the part about helping others is important, too, even if people sometimes do it in order to get thanks and pats on the back, their name on the brass plaque, etc.
The very best charity is anonymous.
2007-09-04 09:00:57 · answer #6 · answered by auntb93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that the agenda of some churches seem mis-guided. Jesus specified that the greatest commandments were:
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart
2. Love your neighbor as yourself - this is one that gets neglected.
God also wants us to be financial responsible, healthy, etc, but primarily we are to love each other, espessially the poor.
2007-09-04 08:54:21 · answer #7 · answered by OP-lo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're all playing the lifeboat game.
Thanks for your question. It's easy to understand why so many people blame religion for the bad things that happen in this world, because religion outside of the biblical definition is merely created to make us feel good about our behaviors and words.
2007-09-04 08:52:39 · answer #8 · answered by samans442 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If self indulgence is the result, that's only because the practitioners of religion are human. What's sad is how they fool themselves into believing that isn't the case.
2007-09-04 08:57:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Self-indulgence has always been in style, regardless of religion.
Except Buddhism. Then self-denial is always in fashion.
2007-09-04 08:48:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋