What Do You Think About Church?

1. 61

   dtaylor05posted 15 years ago

   I drove past a church in my hometown the other day and noticed they did some remodeling to their building. What used to be a beautiful, Holy building now looked like a Shopping Mall. I heard they spent around $9 Million on it. I couldn't believe my eyes...or ears. There are so many churches these days being built that are costing Millions of Dollars. I don't really understand the intent on their spending.
   
   Aren't churches supposed to GIVE to the community instead of spend it on facilities? Didn't God intend the church to be a place for worship and not be about a performance? Correct me if I'm wrong but I think churches like these could be spending their Millions of Dollars on something more meaningful. They could give back to the community, help the helpless, feed and shelter the homeless...do good things to help people. But instead they are blowing it on fancy sound and light equipment and recreation areas. Sure it's good to build a church community and want people to come to church and enjoy themselves. I just feel like some churches these days are more worried about image than showing God to people.
   
   What do you guys think? Share your thoughts!

   replyreport
   1. 57

      Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      You say this as though this is a new phenomenon.....
      
      The entire point of the christian church is to collect money to build edifices to itself. Nothing new here. If the christian church behaved the way the bible tells them too, the world would be a wonderful place. Unfortunately there are too many who read it to say that theirs is the best god, all others are going to hell, and to build monuments and idols to their god.
      
      Only they call them symbols...................

      replyreport
      1. 77

         t.keeleyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         So true....so true....

         replyreport
   2. 59

      allshookupposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I have seen many church buildings like you are talking about. I think you'd laugh if you could see my church. It's tiny, we can seat about 80. If you were driving down the road and didn't know to look for it, you'd miss it. But, our weekly offerings are good, I think, for our number. But, our pastor preaches giving and helping those who need it. He preaches against materialism, as it is only a tiny thing in life. And he's right. I just share this with you so you'll know that all churches out there don't worry about how great their buildings look, but that some do actually care for those who need help and act on it. So, I ask you, please don't judge all churches like that one you talk about. There are many out there who do a lot of community work. My old church went to the bank to borrow money to build a larger building. My husband and I were against this because we wanted to save the money and not pay out interest when it could be used for better purposes and we didn't really need a new building. Something I have noticed around here, but that is just around here and may not apply to anywhere else. Is this: That the smaller the church in number, it seems, the more they give to the needy. I'm not sure why that is. Like I said, that may not apply to anywhere but here. I'm not saying that big churches are bad at all. Just the bigger ones in my area like to have crystal light fixtures,  etc. And that's where a large chunk of money goes. So many people could be fed, clothed, or housed for a small amount of money that I wonder if people realize this. With the economy like it is, more churches, I hope, will be lending more of a hand to those who need it because the number is growing fast. What I have learned from the church we now attend it that you can't out-give God. No matter what you give, God returns to you many times that amount. He always blesses those who help others in His Name. Everytime. I can bear witness to this.

      replyreport
2. 59

   VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 15 years ago

   1. There can be no limitations to the number of churches.
   2. From where can churches give people..; and what for ?
   3. We cannot expect others to show God. We should have faith and pray continuously.
   4. Providing fancy, lights, sound, etc. are also a kind of help to society. How many people   
             engaged in those trade are benefited?

   replyreport
3. 60

   Osa Osazuwa-Tosanposted 15 years ago

   Well, that's a very correct concern about what's done these days in the name of Christ's Church. Let me say however that the church is not in building or fancifulness. The Christian Church is in the first instance, the collection of people filled with the Spirit of Christ, who live to promote the life of Christ and the purpose of God's love for mankind in the world.
   
   It is therefore a misconception to think that the Church can be represented by structures and fanciful human modes. Simply what's being done by these people is far from the concept of the Christian Church.

   replyreport
4. 78

   Pestposted 15 years ago

   I have long ago left the church for these very reasons.  The millions of dollars spent on churches turned me away quickly.  I have always said that I would prefer to gather in a shack to worship than under a "Golden Calf".  My community of just over 2,000 people just built a six million dollar church!  There are four other churches including this new one in town!  Christianity started as a community that shared everything...I don't think this is what Peter had in mind for the church when he began after Jesus' death.  I have a pretty good idea that Jesus would over turn the pews and tables of the churches as he did in the temple.

   replyreport
5. 61

   dtaylor05posted 15 years ago

   Thanks for your post. I am not saying all churches are the same. I actually like smaller churches than I do bigger ones. I feel that bigger churches seem to preach on getting more people into the church than spiritual growth. The smaller ones are more community based and tend to have a more in-depth service about The Bible...you know truly getting into His word.
   I just think that there's a better way for some churches to spend money than to put it all in a big flashy facility.

   replyreport
6. 67

   Lady Guinevereposted 15 years ago

   I also agree that churches can use the money that they bring it a lot more efficiently.  Then again there are those whose only priority is to preach their version of the Bible and if you don't get it in their way then you are a sinner and all kinds of horrible things.  Be wary of those who do this and read why in my latest hub:
   http://hubpages.com/hub/What-Are-Cults

   replyreport