I would love for someone to clarify the justification for needing a church that costs more than a hospital or school. And before you argue that most of the money goes to things that are necessities for the church: a 40,000sq.ft. building with crystal chandeliers, high quality statues in every corner, top-of-the-line audio equipment to speak through, and a minister that owns two brand new vehicles is NOT required to have someone read out of a book.
I undoubtedly believe that if such a church was stripped down to lawn chairs underneath a tent that 90% of the church’s members would complain that the church leaders were weakening their own belief in ‘God’.
Explain yourselves.
@ MixedGurl – thank you for cowardly proving my point and contradicting yourself within a few short sentences. "It takes money to get the word of God out" –> "What you are saying is not true". Well, some simple math comparisons leave us with:
Church + Money = Religion
Church – Money =/= Religion
And why do you think that God needs money? You realize that money is simply a complicated form of paper with advanced ink drawings on it, right? Our government.. the same one that approves of abortions and stem-cell research ("bad" things, in the Christian’s eye).. is the one that provides you with money, so long as you work your ass off and give a little of your earnings back to them.
The selling of God is BIG business. Religious hucksters from time immemorial have known – even before P.T. Barnum – that there’s a sucker born every minute. Exploit human gullibility, "spiritual void," wretchedness, hopelessness, and despair by offering an eternal reward of non-suffering and infinite happiness. Point out in subtle terms that this reward in the afterlife does come at a price, and begin collecting "offerings," "donations," and tithes and watch the God-selling business grow to obscene proportions.
Religious "leaders" are all hucksters – the degree of personal greed is just a matter of…degree.
P.S. Jesus is the greatest story ever SOLD. Just look at how the Roman Catholic Church has profited obscenely by it.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Oh boy here we go. I agree with you though, it is kind of ignored.
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June 8th, 2010 at 12:58 am
money is the real god they worship, that is why
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June 8th, 2010 at 1:06 am
Because Christians have more money. Therefore it makes sense to go after them.
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June 8th, 2010 at 1:41 am
Gotta have those golden candlesticks!
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June 8th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Because…god wont be satisfied until he have a golden toilet seat and toiler paper made from think pieces of gold.
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June 8th, 2010 at 3:04 am
AMEN preach it! I am in agreement with you!
Take away the private jets, the mansions, the cars, the jewels, etc. Take away the scarlet robes, the privilege, the vatican and all it’s riches. Make them toil away in soup kitchens and see if they change their tunes.
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June 8th, 2010 at 3:40 am
They can’t hold a $3 candle to the "Church" of Scientology
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June 8th, 2010 at 4:14 am
ask the catholics,it sounds like you are describing their churches.
my baptist church is very modest.
and not all churches beg for money,we give to help with the up keep.
and my pastor drives a mini van,
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June 8th, 2010 at 4:46 am
they don’t have anything on the mormons. those mormons are way more successful that’s how come they can afford to have all those damn kids.
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June 8th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Because conservative evangelicals love to have an indulgent lifestyle. Jokers like the Bakkers believed that their "work" for god justified their extravagant lifestyle – the jewelry, cars, air-conditioned doghouses, etc. Evangelicals are the most money-hungry group of them all, no one else even comes close.
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June 8th, 2010 at 6:02 am
I agree.
I don’t even get why people feel the need to have to go to church to believe in/worship God.
I also don’t understand why some Christians like to turn their noses up at those who have better things to do on Sundays than join a bunch of other stuck up Christians in church and gossip.
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I sleep in on Sundays . . . haven’t gone to church in years and don’t plan on going anytime soon.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Well it was foretold in the Bible at Revelation the 18th chapter what false Christians would act like in the last days.This is one of the attributes.Paul said do not let greediness be even mentioned among you. It’s big business but read what is going to happen to false religion soon in the same chapter.I was in Honduras and visited a church with a 40 ft wall of gold and that didn’t count all the images of gold on the walls.When I stepped outside the poor were sitting on the church steps begging for a little food. I was so disgusted but it is like that all over.http://www.watchtower.org/e/20021201/article_01.htm
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June 8th, 2010 at 6:37 am
money makes the Word go round……..ha ha
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June 8th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Not every church is like that. There are some out there that are in it just for the money. There are others that are doing what God ask us to do. We come from a humble little church. Most the things in our church were donated to us. We couldn’t afford all the things we have in our church. The top 10% of our tithes goes to the missionaries abroad. Our pastor drives a broken down truck and he is very happy. We are not rich by far as the world says rich, but we are blessed. So don’t lump everyone in the same category as others.
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June 8th, 2010 at 8:02 am
A church bigger than a hospital? Must be just a clinic, and a small school.
okay, I seen from the other answers, about mega churches and stuff.
I would just stop going to those, if I had issues with them.
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June 8th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Ya know, it’s a shame that some churches adorn the outside and even use private jets and have mansions while the rest of the people starve, but do not blame Christ for the sins and evil of His followers. Jesus didn’t even have a place to lay His head at night to go to sleep, how much LESS can you have??? Those who follow Him and have luxury vehicles, hundred dollar watches, tailored suits of choice, who decorate their wives like christmas trees and dress the flashiest to garner the most pleasant compliments, these are not the true children of God.
Those who you DO see do that, are persons on the fence who with time will completely go for the appearance and luxury and trade mammon for God, or they will repent and desire to serve God, and God alone. But please do not think this is something the Bible encourages.
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Christian experience.
June 8th, 2010 at 8:59 am
It takes money to get the word of God out. Most Churches have lights,air conditioning and things like that. You need money to pay the bills. At church no one is ever force to give money to the Church.When I give money to a Church I am giving not only to the Church but back to God.What you are saying is not true. Since it’s not your money, how is this affecting you?
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Christian Chruches are not the only ones that give money.God Bless
June 8th, 2010 at 9:45 am
As a Christian I agree with you about the lavish spending in SOME churches. Pastor Rick Warren gives 95% of his earnings to the church but you fail to mention that little tid bit.
However, you just plain don’t like us Evangelicals and probably stayed awake last night trying to come up with a snappy question to vent your frustration after watching too much MSNBC. (They hate us as well)
My church started a food bank 27 years ago that now feeds over 400 families a week. Bill Gates gave us a huge walk in refrigerator and a huge walk in freezer to help us out. The church building is almost falling apart but parishioners don’t care that much as long as hungry people in our city get fed.
How much money have you given to charity this year?
Your hate will eat you alive friend.
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June 8th, 2010 at 10:04 am
The selling of God is BIG business. Religious hucksters from time immemorial have known – even before P.T. Barnum – that there’s a sucker born every minute. Exploit human gullibility, "spiritual void," wretchedness, hopelessness, and despair by offering an eternal reward of non-suffering and infinite happiness. Point out in subtle terms that this reward in the afterlife does come at a price, and begin collecting "offerings," "donations," and tithes and watch the God-selling business grow to obscene proportions.
Religious "leaders" are all hucksters – the degree of personal greed is just a matter of…degree.
P.S. Jesus is the greatest story ever SOLD. Just look at how the Roman Catholic Church has profited obscenely by it.
References :