How can churches in the United States justify spending millions on new buildings, expanded buildings, renovations, etc., when churches in other parts of the world struggle to even have a building? Can a church justify a building program when the money could purchase Bibles for thousands of people who do not have them? Comment by Bascomb Grecian Churches should not big or spend money on buildings until every person and family in the congregation is “taken care of” in all matters. Church congregations are filled with people in lack. In Redding, California where I reside, there is a large empire building church called “Bethel Church” . These Pastors that run the church have hired their entire extended families to be employed there. They have large buildings, and are planning more. Yet many people in the congregation suffer to make ends meet. It is disgusting. They teach tithing also. Comment by Ephraim M While the original purpose of the church is to spread the Word of God,this has been metarmorphised. Christians tend to focus more in furnishing the physical state of the CHURCH than its SPIRITUAL mandate. Why build a big “Club” like church and fail to please God? Are christians who attend worship services suppose to be representing a CLIENTELE to the Bishop? I think we need to stand up and face the naked truth,we’ve fallen! We only need to renovate our worship hearts and God will grant us the wisdom to sieve the right from the wrong. Comment by Bryan Depends on the situation. Interested to hear feedback. Comment by Grandpa EC Special buildings with the expenses that accompany them are, I believe, sometimes justified. But here’s where I am, personally, right now — – Awhile back I dropped out (sort of) of the institutional church scene because it didn’t seem right to be attending and not helping to pay the bills, and I was not willing to continue investing my limited funds in real estate, furniture, electric bills, etc., etc. – Hebrews 10:25 seemed to allow me that liberty, seeing as how I was already involved with a small group here in our Senior Center which, for many years, had been served by an elderly pastor and his wife. (In addition, a handful of us meet together several times during the week.) None of which, except for giving the pastor and his wife a little boost with their car expenses, costs anything. Without becoming dogmatic about it, if our heart is into the needs of our hurting world, it might be well to consider a less costly and perhaps more effective way of being a part of the solution than we are now using. Comment by Kevin Given that we cannot be dogmatic about alot of the ways we spend the money, I think that churches should “do everything for the honor of God.” I also disagree on how everyone`s needs must be addressed before such improvements be made. While a church certainly should be attentively be seeking to help others and encourage “unity in Christ,” I think that only God can completely meet the needs of everyone. My opinion on this is that churches should rely on the counsel of the Holy Spirit to decide on whether or not such things not specifically addressed should be executed. Comment by Edith Jane I have such a hard time with this… it makes me angry. I get letters in the mail from churches around the nation and they are real inspiring until you get to the part where it says something along the lines of “I see great financial blessings for you! God has promised you prosperity!” then it goes on to say “Give us a donation of $50 or more and see the blessings in your life.” Now this letter doesn’t come from some scammer it comes from a famous pastor who travels the world preaching the Gospel. My husband and I are having a hard time with money right now, we live our lives praising God for all He has given us. But when I get these letters I feel guilty that I didn’t give. Forgive me if this offends anyone (I don’t mean for it to) but I think it’s pretty sick how big churches preach on tithing and make you feel bad for not giving I heard a pastor say “Some of you are driving stolen cars” because they weren’t tithing. We give what we can to a few groups but not everyone can give so why make them feel guilty about it?? People new in the Faith could be hurt by that, brought down… I know we were when we first Believed. Comment by Edith Jane *continue from my first comment.. Comment by Debbie Oh Granpa EC, I love you so much! I will agree that if God ordains it, He will sustain it, speaking of buildings that is. We are a home church. The pastor and his wife allow the use of their home three or four times a week for Bible studies, children’s ministries and gatherings. He works full time and does not ask for a salary. I am on a fixed income and am still (besides the pastor) the wealthiest memeber of the body financially. Three of the four men in our church were unemployed this winter. So, we are very poor group in material things, but rich in gifts such as great faith and the gift of giving. I guess to each their own. I have no problem with people who want and can support a building, pastor and programs. That is great. I just know for me, after years of institutional churhes and denominations that I love the close knit fellowship of the home church. It works very well from what I hear in China and I believe there was a reason that it was happening in the early NT church. No matter what, let Christ be the main celebrity in each individual body. It will all be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ. (2COR 5:10) Comment by alvin I have heard a famous christian financial consultant on christian radio and numerous other preachers as well say on many occasions that Jesus spoke about money more than any other subject. But they forget to tell what he said about filthy lucre, and covetousness, and not letting your right hand know what your left hand was doing when giving, and not worrying about tommorrow because God already knows your needs. For those who are interested in what the new testament says about money and goods here are the references from a concordance: Christian individuals do have personal responsibilities and needs, and the larger the christian group assembling, the larger the problem of providing safe and efficient space for whatever the group is doing. But I like Grandpa Ec’s approach better. If I lived in his neighborhood, I would have dropped by for a service by now, assuming outsiders are allowed. I would like to see churches starting up in the dining halls of nursing homes where many feel abandoned. And then those same churches refusing to build a separate building when they began to grow, because it would mean leaving part of their “flock” behind. Comment by Rd We serve a Father who is unlimited with everything. God guides he provides. God can have the what ever the needs to build a building(s) as well provide anything for missions, bibles, people or whatever is needed. Comment by Brad Look at Mt 26:6-13 when our Lord rebuked Judas for worring about the value of perfume used to adore Him. We must not forego our places of worship and just give away the money, one time, because as He teaches, we will always have the poor! Therefore, we need to maintain our worship spaces and only when we’re spiritually healty can we then evangelize the world. I would suggest that we can do both, build our churches and share the gospel. Remember, God can’t be outdone in generosity! If a person squanders his flocks money on buildings, salaries,etc. that’s a separate matter. He will have to ansewer for that sin. Peace! Comment by Mimi Edith Jane, Comment by Richard Broch Solomon summed it all up in Psalm 127:1,”Unless the Lord builds the house, I like the first part of the question in this subject – “How can churches in the United States JUSTIFY spending millions on new buildings,………….? Edith Jane, and anybody else that their church, or evangelist, has tried to lay a guilt trip on, your giving to the Lord is between you and Him. You shouldn`t have to feel spiritually pressured regarding your love for God. And those churches that “dun” members`giving amounts, will have to give an account to God. Maybe it`s time for Jesus to take up His leather cords and go through the dens of thieves again, as He has done previously. I`d better shut up for now. Grace and Peace. Comment by Mimi Richard Broch, Comment by Debbie Richard, Comment by Edith Jane Mimi, Richard, & Debbie, Aww God bless you three! Thank you very much for your encouragement! “Maybe it`s time for Jesus to take up His leather cords and go through the dens of thieves again, as He has done previously.” HAHA I second that thought!!! Comment by Mimi Debbie, Comment by Joe Sewell The question any church leadership must ask itself is: What does God want us to do here and now? I won’t disagree that matters such as helping the poor are vital and important. Where the disagreement may arise, though, is in how that’s done. I believe that each church has a God-ordained size to it — a God-Sized Church™ — that will allow them to serve the Lord the way the Lord wants that church to serve. Some megachurches are able to serve better as large bodies by using the vast resources available to them. That vastness, though, requires proper management, and that can cost money, too. The megachurch that is following God’s specific will for that congregation, though, will find the right balance and reach out in ways smaller churches could only dream of. On the other hand, “microchurches” don’t have those vast resources … but they often do have hands-on people who get the job done anyhow, as long as they, too, are following God’s will and striving to maintain the balance they need to maintain. They may choose to open part of their buildings for a cold-night shelter for the homeless, for example, in a way that would be a security nightmare for the megachurch. (Meanwhile, the megachurch can finance a cold-night shelter of its own, or assist in an existing one, bringing its larger resources to bear to help the microchurch, for example.) We need to be cautious when we say that a church isn’t doing enough in ways of “social justice” or hands-on ministry. To use the analogy of each of us being a part of the Body of Christ, each church is a section of that body. An arm isn’t as effective at walking as a leg, nor can a neck serve as a torso. On the other hand, the neck needs the torso for support, and the torso isn’t very effective without arms, legs, and a neck. Regarding the prosperity churches, though, they focus on entirely the wrong thing. I dare say that much of their teaching is designed to lift the prosperous up higher, rather than teach them how to be servants. Their way is, to put it generously, off-balance. Comment by Michael James Stone I think the answer is best said by Jesus when the disciples were admiring the finishing touches of the building program that had gone in Jerusalem by Herod “to add to” the Temple. “Not one stone they admired would be left standing.” Jesus May have loved His Fathers House but I doubt he cared about the window dressings the Temple was. It IS a straw man argument to play “woe is the poor church overseas” against the Rich mans Buiding Project or worse, like JUDAS ISCARIOT SAID: BUT LORD, this woman’s perfume could have been sold to feed the poor……. The Bible question above was purely deceptive. Bibles ARE provided. It isn’t a question of building versus bibles, again another logic fallacy trap. The point that is missing is God. I see a lot of the “Got Questions” questions posed from religion and philosophy more than faith and relationship. But I admire the Posters who turn it to God anyways. You see, if the Church was TOLD by God to expand and build or remodel, we would be arguing with God. But the questions presumes we will read into our our biases and perspectives, and so negate the question: The same is true for Bibles. I know when i was overseas we had warehouses full of bibles and second hand clothes, but food was lacking, and medicine, and furniture, and building supplies, BUT BIBLES? We had enough for many other countries too. The point is If God is directing, we Trust in Him. Our problem we have, IS GOD DIRECTING. What goes up will come down and no church I ever saw I expect to see in heaven. So if it is in a home, or in a bar, or a Temple, or a Cathedral, or Old building or new, as long as God is there, thats all I care. Accountability is the unspoken word in the question above and no one in America likes that word. But we use “hypotheticals” to tell ourselves we are better than the extreme abuses we might see in our land, but I know this. The same abuse happens in a home that does in a mega-ministry and there is no perfect solution or absolute except to say as one poster mentioned. If God wants it done, DO it. If not, Don’t. Which I imagine is what Noah said. (Glad he didn’t decide to build bibles instead)Building programs?
19 Comments »
I understand that there are some people who have enough funds to tithe wether it’s to that church or a godly group but still they don’t. Maybe that’s what the pastor meant when he said “Some of you are driving stolen cars.” but when I heard that I was new in the Faith… he didn’t explain what he meant so i took it as I have to give money when being a follower of Christ or I’m not a good servant to Him. That sounds silly to me now but it was confusing and hurtful then because I didn’t have any money.
MARANATHA
Goods:Matthew 12:29;24:47;25:14 Mark3:27 Luke 6:30;11:21;12:18,19;15:12;16:1;19:8; Acts 2:45;1 Corinthians 13:3 Hebrews 10:34 Revelation 3:17
Money Matthew 17:24,27;(22:19-22 God never created money, he created people)25:18-27;28:12-15; Mark 6:8;12:41;14:11; Luke 9:3;19:15-23;22:5;Acts 4:37;7:16;8:18-20;24:26;1 Timothy 6:10.
Unfortunately the Almighty Dollar(forgive the blasphemy) is the chief idol of many nations. Like all idols, it will fall. The reason we learn skills and work is not only to support ourselves but to serve others.
There are many other scriptures that speak of treasure, valuables, foolish hearts without using these terms.
Though tithing and/or joyful offerings to God are blessed by God, no organizational appeal should be put before personal financial responsibilities. I would also suggest that even those who teach mandatory tithing would be better to limit that teaching to the take home amount on the check, not the gross that includes what the government has and the individual will never see. The tax is not part of the harvest that is taken ‘into the storehouse’.
I would like to also hear someday, that they were running a sunday school for neighborhood kids at that senior center. And that they and other seniors were mobilizing a worldwide internet missions one on one witnessing operation, especially to those nations where missionaries are not allowed in person; and putting those of us somewhat younger to shame by showing us how it is done.
I would like to see small churches banding together and meeting in public parks and open air fields in the summer, and returning to their separate neighborhood church buildings for the winter when the heat and shelter is neccessary. How great for small churches not to feel isolated and “alone in the task” anymore! How great for christians to stop hiding behind walls to meet and worship openly for all the world to see.
People who work fulltime in the gospel do need support for earthly needs, and the “laborer is worthy of their hire”. But i dream of a church where success and the power of God is never measured by money. And the world would pay attention to a church like that as well. John 13:34,35
I can think of a church in southern California, God provided the money for the buildings,they don’t owe anything on the buildings, they have out reaches through out the world, provide abundantly for people in need. God blessed that Church abundantly.
God created the universe, this earth and us, whats is so hard for Him. He can have bricks of gold drop from the sky,(you might have to dodge them). What is in the will of God, He WILL make sure the need will be there.
In comment#6, you shouldn’t feel guilty, not one tinny tiny bit for not giving money to a Church that solicited you and has a famous Pastor who travels the World, yikes! Re-read what you wrote and see the hypocrisy behind that Church. Then be glad you didn’t give. No reason for guilt, Satan, is working you dear sister not the LORD. Trust your instincts, they are correct, do not give. Give to that which the LORD shows you and you will be guilt free 
!!
God Bless YOU,
Mimi
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
And maybe the question of WHO can all this spending be justified to?
Will the Lord smile and say,”Well done, thou good and faithful servant”? I think NOT.
Keep talking, hahaha!
Amen!!!!
Excellent Scriptural reference! Edith Jane, I ditto everybody else. If He ordains, He sustains…
MARANATHA
HUG!!!!!
From Guess who?
WHAT IF GOD TOLD THEM TO.
If anyone questions it, tell them it is none of their business if God told you to do it.
