What is the money supposed to be used for again?

Question

My wife's church has over 10,000 members and is raising 200 million to pay for a new church. Do you know how many homes can be built for that amount of money? This type of thing isn't limited to my wife's church, "building funds" have become common in many of today's churches, in addition to tithes, offerings, prayer offerings, and the multitude of different ministry offerings. Many of these pastors have homes nicer than I do (and I am by no means without means).

The way I see it, there is no reason for a pastor to have a private plane or a church building worth more than 1 million (despite the size of the congregation) as long as there is even ONE person in his community that is without food and shelter. There is no reason for a person who gets paid from the contributions of others to have fine clothes when people in his/her community can't afford decent clothes.

I know that some churches do some charity work, but they are by far the minority. Where is the money going?

Shouldn't all churches pool their money together to take care of the less fortunate, instead of competing to have the largest followings?

KAL, imagine movie theaters, hair salons, spas, bowling, bookstore, and other god ordained commercial services that the entire public can enjoy, at the cost of getting rid of the buildings that already stand on the property in question. Oh, btw, yes, it is several acres in a metropolitan area.

Answer 1

It has always amazed me that jesus taught that money was not life's goal and could be in fact a hurdle to getting to heaven, since he died and Paul hijacked the faith christianity has been about money. Paul was accused by many of his early churches of being for lack of a nicer term a confidence man and keeping extremely shady money dealings. Going on and on to the Corinthians about what a wonderful guy he was for not taking money from them and preaching for free, yet he was being paid by many of his other churches. It seems his tradition of "send me your money" has stuck with the faith.

If the church liquidated even %10 of it's assets it would feed an awful lot of staving people (even christians praying to god but still starving to death).

Answer 2

I don't think it is wrong for churches to build places for people to worship and fellowship with other believers. However, $200 million seems excessive to me. I agree with you that as long as there is even one person in the community without food or shelter (unless it it by their choice), building anything more than a functional building is inconsistent with what Jesus asked us to do.

My church has a building fund...the goal of the campaign is $2.5 million. HOWEVER, that $2.5 million will allow the church to build (or buy/lease and renovate) FIVE buildings in five different towns...it will also support the development of an online (Web-based) campus, fund a church building in Eastern Europe, assist another in Southeast Asia, and fund an after school program to provide food and activities for children from the low-income housing in our community.

I'm not sure a $1 million limit is reasonable for the largest congregations, depending on where the church is located...depending on the market, $1 million may not even buy enough land to build a church that would hold 10,000 people (even if split across four or five services). However, if my church, with about 2,000 members (across the five locations) can build five church buildings (plus the two we're assisting with in other countries) with just $2.5 million, $200 million seems more than excessive just to build one.

I always thought the government represented the heights of inefficiency...but none of the buildings on the campus where I work cost even close to $200 million and any one of them would be more than sufficient for the needs of a church with 10,000 members.

...are you sure you have that number right...$20 million would still be excessive but at least I could visualize what a $20 million facility might look like...$200 million boggles the mind. The Crystal Cathedral in California only cost about $55 million (in 2007 dollars) and I have a hard time imagining anything more unnecessarily extravagant than that church! Are they trying to buy 10 acres in downtown Manhattan?

Answer 3

It's big business! A church just up the road from me tore down the Free Store so it could have a bigger parking lot... They claimed they were tired of putting out money for the electricity (there was no running water in the building... the people who had to use the restroom went to the basement of the church). So electric was the only bill. 2 months after they tore it down they put in new pews, new carpeting, new oak front doors, etc... I was furious! A lot of poor people (not destitute, mind you... but they needed help) went without because this church felt it needed a bigger parking lot. That was 7 yrs ago... the parking lot still doesn't get full.

Answer 4

So your wife goes to church but your an atheist lol what the hell.Anyway yeah arent all of mankind stupid .We all worry about money way to much.Honestly as a beleiver in god I realy cant name a major church thats not in it for the money and thats why we have so many non believers.

Answer 5

The well being of the congregation is not the reason to start a church. It's a status and money thing.

Answer 6

Church is a business, just like Corporations are not going to give away their money churches aren't either.

Answer 7

Hmmm...my church barely makes end meet. Can't help you with this question.

Answer 8

Great question my friend. Money goes to buy the reverend a new car for sure.