How is the church supposed to help you get to heaven when it is guilty of four of the seven deadly sins?
February 222010
I mean this as a serious question, though I know that some may not take it as such. I’ve been a Christian since I was a little girl but as of late I have been questioning religion. I have noticed that the church itself is guilty of four of the seven deadly sins;
Gluttony is defined not as eating an over abundance of food but indulging in an over abundance of anything to the point of waste. This is especially so when others are in need. Drive by any church. These temples decorated to the hilt in extravagance must have cost a fortune. How many homeless shelters could be funded by the money it took to erect these cathedrals. How much money could have been donated to hospitals and medical research to help dying children?
By the same principle of gluttony, so are they guilty of greed. Surely the weekly collection plate that is passed around is unnecessary. Jesus himself said that his temple is not a market place. There are other was to pay your tithes. Give time to those in need not money to those who have.
Envy is but the third rung on the ladder.
Like greed, envy may be characterized by an insatiable desire; they differ, however, for two main reasons. First, greed is largely associated with material goods, whereas envy may apply more generally. Second, those who commit the sin of envy resent that another person has something they perceive themselves as lacking, and wish the other person to be deprived of it.
“Follow me to First Baptist” says a bumper sticker. “Join us Sundays for Fellowship and Worship” reads marques. Advertising individual churches to get people to come to your church, preachers standing in the pulpit proclaiming they’re church is somehow better than another, adding fancier signs, more activities to draw a child’s eye. All the while detracting from God. Soon the only reason people will go to church is because they’ve become the town recreational center, all this just to get more people to your church.
And finally, pride.
In almost every list pride is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and indeed the ultimate source from which the others arise. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Cushioned pews, gold inlayed crosses on oak-finished pulpits standing proud in front of a preached wearing a pressed suit preaching to a congregation wearing expensive clothing and jewelry. I needn’t repeat myself on the immaculate manor in which the church has adorned itself.
More than anything I want to spend eternity in God’s loving embrace. So this is why I ask; How is the church supposed to help me get to Heaven?
Edit: I know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the only way to get to the Kingdom of Heaven. The church, as in all churches, Christian, Catholic, Baptist.. etc, is the place where you go to learn God’s word. It’s like going to a communist country to learn about democracy. Satan isn’t invading our church, man is.
if you are talking about one of those mega churches then I might agree with you about gluttony.I attend a small church that doesn’t have all those frills. but as far as paying tithes that is recommended to help with the up keep of the church.
if someone is advertising going to their church ,I don’t see anything wrong with that.we are not trying to take people away from their church,we are trying to get people who don’t go to church at all to attend.
exactly what "church" are you talking about?
edit: church will not get you to heaven ,only Jesus as your savior can do that.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:56 pm
we put our faith in Christ, not church
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February 22nd, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Satan is invading our churches, trying to break down God’s command. Look at how many churches are giving homosexuality the green light.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 10:52 pm
What Church do you go to?
I know my tithes go to help those in need.
No church in my area or around it is extravagant at all.
I dress up to go to church, but I am not all that rich in money, and neither are most people.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Simply put, we are all sinners. And each of us have broken ALL of the ten commandments. In Matt 5 Jesus begins the sermon on the Mount and soon explains that lust in your heart is the same a adultery, and hate in your heart is murder. By that standard we have all broken every one of the 10 commandments.
The church is there to teach people about God- Jesus even chastised the teachers in his day for not doing it properly. The church is there to teach families how to follow God and obey his commands. But it is still fallen.
Pray- and perhaps find a better church. I suggest looking into Vision Forum. http://www.visionforum.org has a church listing and they are generally great churches.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 11:55 pm
If you feel you need to go to a church – take that which is true and leave the rest. The visible church by and large (all religion) has violated the teaching of their own bible. There is an invisible church of a few people of all denominations that are truly seeking truth. The visible church will not get your anywhere. You must seek truth with all your heart, with open mind and total honesty.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 12:14 am
Have you also looked at any schools, hospitals, missions, shelters, food banks, universities, etc?
A "church" is just a building.
The "church" is the living fellowship of believers.
If you cannot be for Jesus, then you are against him.
God love you.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 12:25 am
The church is guilty of that, I completly agree
a church is a body of people, perhaps you should find a church that’s main priority is to help their community. Even if its only a few.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 12:36 am
if you are talking about one of those mega churches then I might agree with you about gluttony.I attend a small church that doesn’t have all those frills. but as far as paying tithes that is recommended to help with the up keep of the church.
if someone is advertising going to their church ,I don’t see anything wrong with that.we are not trying to take people away from their church,we are trying to get people who don’t go to church at all to attend.
exactly what "church" are you talking about?
edit: church will not get you to heaven ,only Jesus as your savior can do that.
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Independent Baptist.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:18 am
Oh my God I love your question!
You have summed up in so many words why I quit going to church. I have grown so much in my relationship with God since doing so!
I know hypocracy is not a deadly sin, but you can add that to the list!
To answer your question, Jesus is the only way into heaven. "You can’t know the father without knowing me."
Peace and God bless!
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February 23rd, 2010 at 1:45 am
It’s not about "the" church. We are the church. We are the bride that Jesus returns for.
The Bible is very specific on this. Paul had to reprimand many churches for their interpretation of the Gospel he presented. Lord Jesus Himself had a message for the seven churches in His Revelation. This goes on to this day. Keep in mind that we are all imperfect, and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are also warned not to be blown about by every wind of doctrine that comes down the pike.
If your desire truly is to spend eternity in God’s loving embrace, then by all means do so. That is why we are commanded to "study to show ourselves approved". Things of the spirit can only be discerned by the spirit, so get to it.
As for your objections, I agree for the most part. However, I would like to state that some of them are incorrect.
In our church, which is an old manufacturing building that made aircraft parts, there are no spires, ornate pews or anything of that nature. We do, in fact, support a number of missions, which is where the tithes go for the most part. Our Pastors are not paid, and the church runs a food pantry that feeds about 1500 families. We have active missions in India, where we have built a home for orphans, complete with a medical facility. Our senior Pastor has planted churches in Haiti, and the Domenican Republic, and we are now sending teams to the Navajo Nation, to help with rebuilding. The list goes on and on, but the point is, there may be some who manipulate the doctrine, but there are yet again,at least as many that do not. It appears to me that you have just landed in the wrong church. Be well.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 2:34 am
The churches you speak of are paid for by the donations of the parishioners. We are all guilty of sin and can be forgiven by God. It is not the church that is guilty, it is the people with in. My priest doesnt wear a suit, he wears his priest clothes. The Catholic Church is one of the biggest charitable organizations in the world. They feed, house,clothe, provide, health care and medicine and education to millions of people 365 days a year all over the world. And that is also done on the donations of the parishioners
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February 23rd, 2010 at 3:08 am
judge not so you will not be judged
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February 23rd, 2010 at 3:25 am
the Word says not to give up the Assembly together.
if you were "saved" at that church and God doesn’t say to move, obey Him and stay and be a light for Him
if it is not, ask God where to go, we need each other.
do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 3:39 am
The church can not save anyone – Jesus is the Way to be saved
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