JUST OPEN YOUR HEART, DAMMIT!

[Randy Carson]

I understand what you're trying to say, but there is another aspect of this that I did not cover in my response above: namely, is it fitting to give our best to an almighty God?

IOW, people donate money to a church not to make the pastor wealthy but because they want to give to God. And not just money, but time and talent, as well. If God exists, are we going to be chintzy in our buildings that are designed to magnify and glorify him? Are we going to go cheap on the carpeting and the choir robes and the floral arrangements? (Do you think the angels in heaven are wearing hand-me-downs or playing second-hand harps?  )

Apologies for the late reply, and if anyone else responded to this already, I've been rather busy this week. 

What use does your god get out of these things, Randy? Honestly now. 

Often lauded by your brothers and sisters as the most giving and loving deity, is he really just so self-absorbed that he would rather funds be spent on ostentatious buildings and set ups in stead of the poor and the otherwise needy? 

Something to think about while you're getting your story straight as to who your god is.

Does the worship of God benefit Him? Or us?

See, people LOVE God and want to show their love and gratitude for what He has done for them in tangible ways. How then can the Church take the money which was donated in order to by a pipe organ or a stain-glassed window and say, "Well, that's all very nice, but we have a better idea of what to do with your offering to God than you do."

It's a fun way for non-believers to hammer Christians, of course, but it's not as simple as the meme portrays or as Min believes.

*My bold*

I daresay they damn well could. 

"Oy, folks, we know we took a donation for a new pipe organ but we really feel we should donate that money to the starving children in Africa instead."

Who the hell would have a problem with that other than some asshole?

Let's say that a wealthy individual dies and leaves a sizable sum of money to her church with the stipulation that it be used to purchase a new gymnasium for the youth ministry. Can the Church can legally accept the money earmarked for that purpose but divert the funds to starving children in Africa, instead?

Now, let's consider the value of Church growth. If a group of 200 Christians forms a new church in a storefront of an old strip mall, they will put up some signs and attract a few new members. So, at 250 members, they rent out a larger space in an old warehouse near the airport. And they attract a few more members. At 500 members, they buy a small church that another denomination had for sale. Then they grow some more.

At every stage of growth, people are hearing the gospel and being saved. Baptisms, weddings, funerals happen. And the collection gets larger and larger and larger...which means that even MORE money is sent to Africa.

Or they could have sent all their money to Africa in the beginning, never built up the physical buildings, never attracted the youth with a rocking band, etc. Staying small, they would have nothing more to send.

Surely there is a balance to be found in here somewhere.