GC in houston no free ride - did jesus charge - Page 3

Apocrypha · #21 10-03-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

Excellent points! Why not? What happened to tent meetings, meeting in barns, homes, unused buildings, and yes, even outside? There are some oneness organizations that even mandate their ministers wear robes. So why do we need to spend (who know how much) for a general conference when it really isn't necessary - especially with the level of technology that we have today? Need a conference - how about a fellowship meeting with those other churches in the same general area - the one some pastors will not allow their assembly to even associate with (same organization)?

The point is how do we serve Christ and his body of believers by spending so much money on buildings, religious trappings, creature comforts, etc., when so many are going without the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter, medical support, etc.)? Whatever happened to the priorities of service and worship that Jesus commanded? Paul held his final local conference at Miletus with the elders from Ephesus finished up aboard a ship!

I guess this subject just caught me in a 'hot spot'. To see hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent on frills, clothes, dining, the buying and selling of books and trinkets, and the building up monuments to man, when the desperate stand at the gate with hands outstretched, just hurts my heart. To personally see a $5,000 a month church mortgage (plus related building expenses) taking the church resources, when a widow can't get her roof fixed. Or a 78 year old man is having to work part time jobs because when he pays his living expenses and tithes to the pastor, he doesn't have enough money left over to eat on for the rest of the month.I personally know this man and his situation!

Correction: No, this misuse of church resources does not hurt my heart - it make me downright angry!

So, if my zeal is misplaced and excessive, I apologize.

The church has become building and fundraiser centric in its focus in North America. A friend of mine is a minister in a UPCI church in S. California and their church runs like 150-200ish and rents a high school on Sunday and a small office for its administration due to commercial property prices. They are barely considered to be a "real" church by the building owning pastors in the area. There is a heavy bias where a pastor is many times judged by his building, not by his charity, outreach and evangelism efforts.

Hoovie · #22 10-03-2010, 02:47 PM

Strange thread... But since we are on a roll...

did Jesus have an espresso machine?

Apocrypha · #23 10-03-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Strange thread... But since we are on a roll...

did Jesus have an espresso machine?

No he drank wine.

A.W. Bowman · #24 10-03-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apocrypha

The church has become building and fundraiser centric in its focus in North America. A friend of mine is a minister in a UPCI church in S. California and their church runs like 150-200ish and rents a high school on Sunday and a small office for its administration due to commercial property prices. They are barely considered to be a "real" church by the building owning pastors in the area. There is a heavy bias where a pastor is many times judged by his building, not by his charity, outreach and evangelism efforts.

I love it! As long as that local church can remember what their true purpose is, remain clear on how they are to achieve their goals, and to whom they are to serve and please, they shall do well. Let those serving within their own monuments stay on and take glory in their wealth. Even so, a wealthy church can yet be a Spirit filled church, but like the rich man, it is often a more difficult walk than for the poor man.

Let us keep the gospel simple and the spiritual teaching full of meat.

Apocrypha · #25 10-03-2010, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

I love it! As long as that local church can remember what their true purpose is, remain clear on how they are to achieve their goals, and to whom they are to serve and please, they shall do well. Let those serving within their own monuments stay on and take glory in their wealth. Even so, a wealthy church can yet be a Spirit filled church, but like the rich man, it is often a more difficult walk than for the poor man.

Let us keep the gospel simple and the spiritual teaching full of meat.

Many pastors would be well served to look at history. Read up on what happened to Metropolitan Tabernacles decline after Charles Spurgeon died. There are tons of half filled, over built churches out there where a 2nd or 3rd service would make more sense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Tabernacle

Sam · #26 10-03-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Strange thread... But since we are on a roll...

did Jesus have an espresso machine?

probably not but He was called a "winebibber"

BeenThinkin · #27 10-03-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

I love it! As long as that local church can remember what their true purpose is, remain clear on how they are to achieve their goals, and to whom they are to serve and please, they shall do well. Let those serving within their own monuments stay on and take glory in their wealth. Even so, a wealthy church can yet be a Spirit filled church, but like the rich man, it is often a more difficult walk than for the poor man.

Let us keep the gospel simple and the spiritual teaching full of meat.

Greetings friend. I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but "is the Gospel really simple?" I thought it was until I started reading all of the many explanations posted here on AFF about the Gospel. (Now please don't misunderstand me, I understand explanations that you make very easy.) But there are others who post so much "depth" if you can call it that, that I think the common everyday Christian would never be able to understand it all. Do I make sense? How much "learning" does it take to understand the Gospel?

BT

Cindy · #28 10-03-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

Greetings friend. I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but "is the Gospel really simple?" I thought it was until I started reading all of the many explanations posted here on AFF about the Gospel. (Now please don't misunderstand me, I understand explanations that you make very easy.) But there are others who post so much "depth" if you can call it that, that I think the common everyday Christian would never be able to understand it all. Do I make sense? How much "learning" does it take to understand the Gospel?

BT

johnny44 · #29 10-03-2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

Conference? What's a conference? Why a conference? Why not hold some local meetings in a park, on a mountain side or at a beach/lake/river side? Or, even in a desert?

Where did the First Apostolic Ministerial Association of Jerusalem, International (FAMAJI) hold their annul conferences? Who was invited, who preached, and how much did it cost?

And, how much money was raised through the auctioning off of Peters, James and John's sandals? Forgot, the church in Jerusalem kept Peter's sandals.

Aw,why not just go sell your house and lay the proceeds at brother Bernards feet.tic

TrmptPraise · #30 10-03-2010, 10:16 PM

I love the insinuation that somehow people (or in this case, an org.) is charging for church.

As some have mentioned, conferences, seminars, youth conventions & congresses, men and ladies retreats all have expenses related to them. The fact that there has been a registration process involving a fee in recent years is of no surprise. It is certainly not a charge for church or the message.

Considering what is cost to send two teenagers to youth convention and/or youth congress, I would call GC bargain basement.