Why are some churches incredibly large and flashy?

Question

Check this place out:

http://www.breakthrough.net/WHC/

This church is located in my town, Columbus, Ohio. The pastor, Rod Parsley, owns a Corvette and a house that is worth two million dollars. The church itself is incredibly huge, expensive, and very fancy. Don't you think that money would be better spent on, say, I don't know, feeding starving children? What do you think?

Answer 1

I think the whole Word of Faith movement (Rod Parsely and his ilk) is a blight on Christianity. Try as I might, I just can't see anything in Scripture that backs up the idea of storing up treasures here on earth for yourself. There is, however, a great deal to be found that says we're to feed the hungry, care for the widows and the orphans - you know, think about the well-being of others BEFORE we line our own pockets and pimp out our cars.

Answer 2

There is a bible passage about a camel and the eye of the needle as far as getting into heaven if you are rich. I think that Christians are deft at picking and choosing which bible passages to thump and that they ignore the fact that Jesus was poor, lived among the poor, advocated a simple life, and wasn't flashy in any way.

Answer 3

Its not about the Message, its about the " Flash". I am reminded of the Temple In Jerusalem in Christ day ..Follow my Line of thought for a Moment..
"Departing now, Jesus was on his way from the temple, but his disciples approached to show him the buildings of the temple.  In response he said to them: “Do YOU not behold all these things? Truly I say to YOU, By no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.”( Matt 24:1,2)
There...There.

Answer 4

Many people must like large, flashy churches, or they wouldn't get that way.

But...

It does seem that the money could be better directed. Jesus didn't allow himself to collect any possessions, and the only follower with his hand in the offering plate was Judas.

Answer 5

Jesus said to "chose between God and money". Ones like you describe are for the money and full of pride. The odds of them getting to heaven are remote. "It is easier for a Camel to get through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to get to heaven" Jesus also said. All that money they are spending on themselves should be going to feed starving people, sick people, and ones that are not Christian to become Christian.
What you have described is not Christian, just pretending.

Answer 6

Rod Parsley is just one of the many evil parasites living off the gullible.

Is he still doing that "Burn Your Debts for Jesus" thing?
.

Answer 7

Some of these church leaders better start praying more and spending less.

Answer 8

Because of religious escapism. Most people don't know what religion really is. They just want to be entertained.

Answer 9

tOTALLY, PEOPLEARE BEING RIPPED OFF BY SHALLOW EGOS IN THE NAME OF GOD. DO YOURSLEF AND HUMANITY A FAVOUR, GIVE YOUR DONATIONS TO STARVING CHILDREN, LEAVE THE CHURCH TO THE SHEEP WHO BLINDLY FOLLOW MR RED CORVETTE, GO DEEP WITHIN AND DISCOVER GOD FOR YOURSELF. IT'S WHO YOU ARE

Answer 10

1 word, 3 syllables;

Corruption.

Religion isn't the opium of the masses, it's the opium of the gullible.