Paying the rent or feeding the poor

I agree with your thoughts. :-)

white stone

Sister Andie you are 100% in this matter. This has been something that I have struggled with as well. The sad thing is not only do NonChristians identify the building as the church but the people in the building identify the building as the church. I live in a small town and so the churches are small and often fincially struggling barely paying the costs of the building along with helping and ministering to the poor.

It breaks my heart to know this fact and is ulitemately why I give my "tithes and offerings" to the poor directly.

I do acknowledge that a building can be a quite a handy tool if its not fincially choking the church out.

hi,we often fall into the either or trap...sometimes it can be both and... it depends on the amount of people and the giving of those coupled with frugality of the church administrators. we meet in simple metal buildings and give millions to missions.we also meet in small groups in homes and parks and restaurants each week all over the area.if you live where you have hurricanes as we do in south louisiana it is easy to see who has a heart for the city and who doesnt in times of stress...we were perfect until they let me in lol...love you all and wish you all could be blessed to have as many great churches in your area as we are blessed to have in baton rouge.jimp

I see no problem with local park meetings and in-home meetings. Jesus ministered from a boat.

hi, the early church held everything in common,so please bring all your stuff and monies to my house so we might evenly dole it out.Jesus came for us...the most important thing we can have is a loving intimate knowlege of Jesus.it is all about us...Jesus and us...jimp

Church has lost it's meaning. I hate going on Sundays when it's not about Christ anymore. It's about us.

couldnt agree more.

When the churches idea of the gospel is going out to the streets and preaching a rhetoric that ignores sin and mans need for a Savior and simple preaches Jesus is a great guy come sit in our shinny new air conditioned building then count me out

From what I can understand the early church gathered in houses. Now we seem to require special buildings, to the extent that most non Christians would identify the building as the church rather than the people inside. It worries me that in many churches it costs so much to run, with rent/mortgage etc, so that when you give, it barely covers that, let alone leaving enough to help the poor in your congregation and the wider world. I think it would be great to have our services at the local public park! What does everyone else think?

I would say that it really doesn't matter what the world identifies as the church but rather what God identifies. He is forging a vessel that is an expression of the life and light of Jesus Christ. I don't think a building (or lack thereof) makes much of a difference, it's about a body of people in union with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Over and over we have seen that when such a body is gathered together that the congregation will gladly and easily meet the need of both building costs and charitable Christian work. The hearts of the people will be moved to do this willingly and with joy.

The building is a safe place to meet and teach our children and stands as a beacon to the community as a place where people can come and meet God because He dwells among and in the people who gather there. A house of prayer unto all nations.

In Christ,

Ron

Mathew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." nkjv

I am a lover of Acts and the early Church. But we are here today and I am learning not to put God in a box. He can use us where ever. Our part is to take Him with us because we have spent time in His Presence - In prayer, in the Word, in worship. So when we go we take Him with us. To love, to serve, to give, to receive etc. Praying for where ever the Lord has us fellow-shipping. This makes the difference. we all are frustrated with our Church situation in America. But we have to see there is some good as well. If there is individual growth, the fruit of the spirit, times of prayer, maybe not at our speed but growth is good.

We must begin with ourselves first. Taking the log out of our eye, spend quality time in the closet with Him. Being a doer of the Word.

Tomorrow I get to go be with my new church family downtown to Church without walls. Church for the homeless. This is not a time for me to get puffed up, to be a grand person to feel good and self righteous, it is a time of humbleness, it is an honor, a privilege to be there. To spend time with the Lord seeking His face for all to receive Him, hearts ready. My heart ready to hear His quiet voice on when to speak, when to give a hug, when to give a word of encouragement etc. To serve. Jesus died for these people and He loves them dearly. Tread lightly.

So, I would say - Glory to God - lets meet with a humble heart wherever we are in prayer and expectation that the Lord will have His way. Being open to the Lord desiring to take the log out of our own eye for His Glory and for our growth. It is a lot of time not up to the Pastor but to us to lay before the Lord and ask for Him to create in us a clean heart. Right now my new Pastor is doing a session on submission. Using Mary as our example. It is not about sin nor is it about the cross but it is an awesome message and the Holy Spirit is working on each one helping us to be more like Jesus. Glory to God. He is worthy.