Questioning myself.. please help

JennnaRocks · 06-22-2007, 11:27 PM

I've been having this thought for quite some time and I haven't talked about it with anyone because Im afraid of what they might think of me. I really don't know if I should bring it up or not but i feel i need to.

I've noticed how much money people leave for the church at the masses and it has been bothering me. I understand that it is a contribution to keep everything nice and all but I feel that it is a lot of money. It bothers me every time I hear the priest talking about compassion with the less fortunates while he drives a brand new car. Or when the pope prays for the people in dying of hunger in africa while the vatican is full of gold and ridiculously expensive paintings & artifacts.

I'm I wrong?

bobthecockroach · 06-22-2007, 11:31 PM

Church offering money goes to a lot of different things. Churches, for example, have to pay bills just like everyone else.

JennnaRocks · 06-22-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

Church offering money goes to a lot of different things. Churches, for example, have to pay bills just like everyone else.

but they don't pay taxes.

bobthecockroach · 06-22-2007, 11:36 PM

Taxes make up only a small percent of the money people spend.

RawkforChrist · 06-22-2007, 11:40 PM

Think of it this way it takes 27,000 a week to run my church.....
FYI. my church is large, it holds about 1,000 people
but that 27,000 also includes different missions that we are involved in also...

**DaGeek** · 06-22-2007, 11:48 PM

It all depends, I suppose. Some churches certainly do put too much money into looks, and some pastors are corrupt, and they do get a ridiculously large percentage of the church's budget... But that doesn't mean all churches are. I don't know about your church, or if it has any of the above problems, but there isn't really a problem with keeping a place looking nice if what God's calling the church to do is being fulfilled.

It's a delicate issue, because having nice things isn't wrong by any means, but there definitely is corruption in many churches. I can't say who's right or wrong, though there are some churches I definitely disagree with.

Nate · 06-23-2007, 08:49 AM

Go read the portions of Scripture in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Kings, and Chronicles that talk about the furnishings of the temple. God never intended for His house to be sparsely furnished. It also doesn't seem, to me, that He ever intended for the church, lower-case, to be the one to carry out the various missions He left for the Church, upper-case, to do. Obviously, it's great when a church can use their finances to help the Church continue the work of Christ, but Scripture clearly allows for fineries in the house of God and payment to the priest / pastor.

tlj009 · 06-25-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

It bothers me every time I hear the priest talking about compassion with the less fortunates while he drives a brand new car.

That is the only real problem that I have with what you said. The church house is for the Lord and should be kept as such. I personally think that anything given to the Church to praise or glorify God is great. The priest on the other hand needs to be the hardest working person in the congregation. I have no problem with his pay and if he saves his money fo a new car then great. But if he is to teach that we need to be more generous and give more, then he needs to be doing that himself too.

Nate · 06-25-2007, 08:48 AM

If you "have no problem" with it, then why do you apparently have a problem with it?

tlj009 · 06-25-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

If you "have no problem" with it, then why do you apparently have a problem with it?

Perhaps you misunderstand what I have a problem with. I have no problem with a priest, pastor, anyone working for their money, sacrificing by not buying one thing so they can buy another. I do have a problem with anyone especially a priest or a pastor standing up and preaching that the congregation needs to be more generous and give more to the church when they are not showing the same generosity. Like I said, the pastor is to be the hardest working person in the congregation. That includes being the most generous. If a person doesn't hold themselves to the same level that they hold someone else, then it is a problem.

Cruelty*free · 06-25-2007, 10:01 AM

I know exactly how you feel!!! You are not wrong for thinking this because sometimes this is true. You give from the heart..sometimes I dont have money to give in there because obviously I'm broke that doesnt make me feel bad because I couldnt pay that day or what not. There are alot of "rich" people at my church and yes they give. My pastor is a very down to earth guy but their is a pastor I know of who is just greedy...I hate to say it. Money money money..you are supposed to be helping poor ppl and yet you're living in a mansion when people at your church are struggling to give.

it saddens me