Mega Churches - Opinions?

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Jan 7, 2022
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#61
I think if everything is done in taste, that is fine. For example, if they have a cafe inside that is okay but not a steakhouse as many people cannot afford this. I personally have not been to such a church. Whatever the church decides to do, they should do so where everyone feels welcome. I am fine with a pastor living in a nice part of town but living in a larger than needed house/mansion seems excessive. The multi-millionaire pastors apparently make their money from book sales. I think they should be able to provide a comfortable lifestyle for their family and their future such as college education, retirement, etc. (if they do make such money outside the church through book sales, conferences, whatever) and should donate the rest. In those cases, they should not draw a salary from the church.
You lost us at "I think...."
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#62
First of all I would say ----let God be the judge of the Mega Churches and the Pastors who have them ----each of us should be more concerned with what we do with our Money and Ministering to others -----

God I see in Scripture does not have a problem with His People having wealth Spiritual or material ---Job was a rich prosperous man Lost it all and God restored it all back to him by twice as much -----Abraham was a wealthy man ------as were many others of God's chosen people ------

Money and possessions Folks is not the problem ---it is what you do with God's money and His possessions -----you see we own nothing -----it is all God's were are just stewards of God's possessions --

So unless we ourselves know the personal background of the Pastors who are running these Mega Churches and know for sure they are just hoarding money for themselves and are not giving any of their financial resources to prosper God's Kingdom as they should be ---then we are just judging them on what we yourself see and want to think ---

God's Promise is --He will provide the resources needed to sow into His kingdom ----if one needs a plane to sow into God's Kingdom then GOD will provide the plane ------You can't out give God Folks -----

So our judgment of these people is wrong when God is the only one who knows their hearts and what He has provided for them to do His work for His kingdom ------

We need to be concerned of our own Pastors and if they are preaching the right doctrine to their Church --Many of our Pastors today are not Born Again and are Teaching and Preaching False doctrine to their Church sending them straight to their eternal death and are not concerned about it ------

It is so important for people to know the scriptures so they can tell if their Pastor is a False prophet or not -----so they can ---run Forest run --out of the Church ----

Great piece of Scripture here ==Jesus is teaching about money increase here -----he who does right with little gets much -----


Matthew 25:14-30 NIV

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.

18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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i say ------This scripture below again says God will Bless you abundantly in all things --having all you need -----

We don't know what resources these Mega Churches need ---but God does ----and He will deal with the the Pastors who are unrighteous in their deeds in their end ------we need to keep an eye on ourselves and make sure we are doing the right thing with what God has given us ------


8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV

Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”[a]

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
There are serious repercussions if you frivolously give your money to mega church....you are to be a good steward and " the seemed ok" isn't acceptable
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#63
All churches are not seen as equal by the Good Shepherd.....read Rev 2 and 3
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#64
well believers do need to worship somewhere together rather sitting in the cold and rain. Not everyone can just meet in their houses unless they are rich and have the space.
Believer have to have a place to gather, and get a Starbucks, and exhort the "celebrities" on stage singing songs that make them want to dance.....just like the world

There is a reason Jesus said paid shepherds don't care about the flock.....
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
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#65
There are serious repercussions if you frivolously give your money to mega church....you are to be a good steward and " the seemed ok" isn't acceptable
You make this Claim now provide the scripture that supports it ----

Provide the poof in scripture that gives any warnings about giving money to any Mega Church ------I await your reply -----

I agree--- that we were Called to be Good Stewards of what belongs to God ----and that is everything on this Planet

but here is the thing ---

We haven't been and we won't be ----this planet is a mess because we were ----and are not STILL-- Good Stewards of what is God's ------ Everything belongs to God and that includes the all main stream Churches and Money -----not us ----so we need to make sure we ourselves are good stewards of all that belongs to God -----instead of worrying about what other Churches do ---

I say ---we should be GOOD STEWARDS of This
Keep a Check on your own Church and make sure they are doing what they should be doing to advance God's Kingdom -with their MONEY --and Make sure your Pastor is preaching God's Word and not their own words ----OR a different Gospel -----which does give warnings of being CURSED for doing so ------

So many of us criticise others for what they do and we ourselves are the worst stewards of what belongs to God -----We humans Have made a MESS of being GOOD STEWARDS of God's stuff -----all of us ----no human is exempt ------

We should all take HEED to this verse of Scripture ---VERSE 11----live quietly, to attend to your own matters-----

1 Thessalonians 4
Context
Living to Please God
…10 And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more

11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.…

Berean Study Bible

also this scripture
Proverbs 18:2 ESV
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#66
You make this Claim now provide the scripture that supports it ----

Provide the poof in scripture that gives any warnings about giving money to any Mega Church ------I await your reply -----

I agree--- that we were Called to be Good Stewards of what belongs to God ----and that is everything on this Planet

but here is the thing ---

We haven't been and we won't be ----this planet is a mess because we were ----and are not STILL-- Good Stewards of what is God's ------ Everything belongs to God and that includes the all main stream Churches and Money -----not us ----so we need to make sure we ourselves are good stewards of all that belongs to God -----instead of worrying about what other Churches do ---

I say ---we should be GOOD STEWARDS of This
Keep a Check on your own Church and make sure they are doing what they should be doing to advance God's Kingdom -with their MONEY --and Make sure your Pastor is preaching God's Word and not their own words ----OR a different Gospel -----which does give warnings of being CURSED for doing so ------

So many of us criticise others for what they do and we ourselves are the worst stewards of what belongs to God -----We humans Have made a MESS of being GOOD STEWARDS of God's stuff -----all of us ----no human is exempt ------

We should all take HEED to this verse of Scripture ---VERSE 11----live quietly, to attend to your own matters-----

1 Thessalonians 4
Context
Living to Please God
…10 And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more

11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.…

Berean Study Bible

also this scripture
Proverbs 18:2 ESV
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
You are a cloud without water

Go ahead, keep supporting the "whore"

2 Peter 2
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#67
John 2
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#68
Jesus on megachurch religious leaders (or do you think Jesus is ok with heretical bookstores and Starbucks in the church?)

Matthew 23:23
5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#69
Revelation 3:1
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead...Wake Up!"
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#70
"Pharisees" equals religious leaders

Luke 12:1
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy"
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#71
Luke 12
41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them"
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#72
You make this Claim now provide the scripture that supports it ----

Provide the poof in scripture that gives any warnings about giving money to any Mega Church ------I await your reply -----

SEE ABOVE ^

So many of us criticise others for what they do and we ourselves are the worst stewards of what belongs to God -----We humans Have made a MESS of being GOOD STEWARDS of God's stuff -----all of us ----no human is exempt ------
I know you arent aware of it, but scripture also compels you to do this :

Ephesians 5
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#73
John 10
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#74
Matthew 7
15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
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#75
Ephesians 5
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
OH --so you know all the People personally who run the Mega Churches and know that they and their Churches are all evil ------WOW ___GOOD FOR YOU that you can be their Judge -----for you know what they are all about and what they all do with their Funds -----
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
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#76
Matthew 7
15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

OH ----so you know they are all False Prophets and your Church and Pastor are always on the straight and narrow and are perfect in all their ways -----

I think your are Grasping at straws with that Statement -------

1643034206482.jpeg
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#77
That enough verse for you ?

Some here say give your
OH --so you know all the People personally who run the Mega Churches and know that they and their Churches are all evil ------WOW ___GOOD FOR YOU that you can be their Judge -----for you know what they are all about and what they all do with their Funds -----
Take it up with scripture, not me

Matthew 7
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#78
2 Peter 2
3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
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#79
And we will each give an account for EVERY thought, word, and deed.
Even a non-student of the Word.
 
Jan 7, 2022
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#80