If being a Christian means being "Christlike", would Christ build huge "Mega Churches" and buy His own Jet?

Question

Would Christ or any of his 12 apostles travel in a Rolls Royce paid for donations to the Church? I am not saying that it is wrong to preach the "Prosperity Gospel" at all. I am not saying that the salaries of preachers are too high, I am just wondering if we are missing the mark when we buy huge houses when we have no children or just 2 or 3 children, buy Jets, huge gas guzzeling SUVs when we have only ourselves and 1 child to transport. ..Buy Rolls Royces while our fellow man and children are in toxic mobile homes in New Orleans, while people are starving or being enslaved in North Africa, people in the mountains of West Virginia and the Ozark Mountians of Arkansas and Missouri have no way to afford dental care: teeth rotting out, children in public schools of our inner cities do not have protection to walk to school and back safely, suburban kids falling through the cracks who shoot up shopping malls and colleges due to lack of attention, ect. Am I looking at this wrongly?

Answer 1

No.

But since when are the fundamentalists who are behind the megachurches really overly concerned with being Christlike except in name?

Answer 2

Yes actually sweets I think you are looking at this wrongly.

Please take this as a sincere answer....I do not think you are at all being fair by lumping the people you describe as "all" Christians.

Being Christlike is to strive to be like Christ, and while what you describe has merit, why would you assume all Christians are like that?

If this is your only example I suggest you try attending a small church somewhere - one that just offers a regular non televised Sunday Service (I am not Baptist but that would be a good denomination for your first time). If after some experience you still have questions, come back and ask.

I really truly see the point you are trying to make but you need to know that as a true Christian we are not to judge others. It is each persons responsibility to make their own choices here. AND it is even more important for you to see that we are not all alike at all. Many Christians in the US faithfully tithe both money and labor. Do you?

Peace.....

Answer 3

I saw a report about this. Many pastors are enjoying the donations of their congregations to an extreme. I've seen the news of pastors with a jet and a mansion. How disgusting. He claims he needs the jet to travel to the states where his other churches are, ever heard of commercial flights? The Mega Churches are a sore sight, good thing I don't live in the Bible belt. I don't think they do any good to Christianity, the way this people look at their pastors is close to worshipping. The church looks like a concert hall instead of a place of worship. Remember in the Bible said "ye shall know them by their fruits".

Answer 4

I have no problem with answering "no" to your first question, for I do not do those things.

When you get to the part about having a large home and an SUV, that's hitting a little too close to home. Oh, I have good excuses: these purchases have been my husband's choices; this large home was a repo so it was cheap; our kids were living at home when we bought it and they still bring their families to visit and stay sometimes, not to mention other guests; we bought the used SUV from our son because he couldn't afford the payments and I can't drive the old PT Cruiser anymore because of my knees and back; etc., etc. etc. ad nauseum.

I have been convicted many times of my over-consumption. I have finally stopped spending money on things we don't absolutely need, which is a good thing. I can't talk my husband into moving or selling anything, but I can help and encourage the needy.

I thank you for your question. God has used you to convict me of my responsibility to do more of what I can.

Blessings

Answer 5

It is because of the blatantly "Donate your last dime" every other sentence and the pastors wearing more "bling" then a rapper that I refuse to have anything to do with churches. I have seen a comment about joining a small congregation, but same sales pitch just on a smaller scale. I have yet to find a church that truly follows what the Bible teaches and people who try to live a Christlike life.

Answer 6

i am a Christian and i agree, he would not approve of this nonsense. You are correct, Christian means "follower of Christ" one that follows his teachings and lifestyle. But unfortuently "Christian" is tagged on to many things way to lightly.
I will say this, a lot of well meaning Christians mistranslate the Bible and go from there, which i think is the case with the church/money thing.
Most of the posts from atheists and such go based on being a Christian by people they have met with this tag, and judge the religion based on that and get a bad taste in their mouth because these people arnt walking what the bible claims. But i guarantee, if you ever meet a TRUE Christian, one that truely follows his teachings, Everyone would want to follow Christ.

Ps: The Jesus i know would give all they had to help these poor people

Please dont judge Christianity by these people, people fail, look at the word for yourself, and YOU be the Christian you want for the rest of us to be.

Answer 7

The TV Evangelists are all on Forbes 400 List of richest men in America. I have one word for them the rich power hungry Pharisees. But you cannot blame them, it has been public knowledge they had affairs and scandals and did less to help the poor than movie stars who make much less.
Brad Pitt and Opray Winfrey have done more and even Madonna has contributed more money and help to the poor and needy than they have. To date all they do with the contributions they get is build money making establishments.
Colleges and schools and hospitals, that are none of them free. NOne of them are even made with the idea of being unprofitable. In fact they cost more to go to their schools because they advertise we let you say a prayer.
Our hospitals say a prayer and for that you pay dearly.
You can even say merry christmas in there. But those hospitals are very expensive. So they make money off the unsuspecting public. The money would do more good if given to the animal shelter. They really do use the money to help animals. Sad but money given to help little children rarely gets to them. Because of bad government wants them to stay poor. It is a very messed up society and religion only makes it worse. Buy a movie of a movie star that helps people and you will be doing more good.

Answer 8

Yes. The earth is the Lords & the fullness there in.

Many times Mega Churches are there in the first place, because this is the Lords doing. The jets are for the work of the ministry.

Sometimes it isn't, & that will be found out.

Answer 9

It is funny how these are the things people should focus on but instead the preachers say the important issue are gay marriage and abortion. The focus is definitely off when it comes to most preachers and the ones that preach the message of help others out never really get heard.

Answer 10

No, you are not looking at this wrongly. There are so many things wrong with the churches today! They don't teach you how to have a relationship with God...people get so wrapped up in going to church on sunday...the SUN god day. If they truley seeked God then they would know that Saturday is the true sabbath day. Seriously, Jesus isn't really is His name at all....but do the churches follow that.....? I would advise people to get out of this religious brainwashing.....go seek God for yourself instead of following a preacher. God didn't create religion...man did. Just remember that.

Answer 11

"And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."" Matt 8:20
Christ definitely didnt live such a lavish lifestyle. I think what is most important is God has called us to love one another and serve one another. To love as Christ loved us. The truth of the matter is some people can hold well paying jobs and still serve the Lord and love Him, i just think it is different when you see pastors, those who are supposed to be tending the sheep, entirely neglecting them and taking advantage of them. That isnt the love of Christ, but rather, they still love themselves and i question whether they are saved at all.