Letter asking for donations while church shopping - If you're not Christian please skip this thread

[Anonymous]

If that last post is the OP, I call total and utter BS on Jeff cutting people's responses to this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I'm the daughter of a minister and in every church we've congregated it was always stressed how the financial responsibility should be thrown upon those who are mature in their faith. The new members should be fed and not asked to provide anything. "

Perhaps you told him you are the daughter of a minister and he thought you are mature in your faith?

I can bet you read the part where I said this was the only pastor who didn't talk to us, never called or contacted us but you're just trying to be mean, right? I hope your day tomorrow ends in a better mood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,
Is your DH a non-believer?

Yup and I said that a few times already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that last post is the OP, I call total and utter BS on Jeff cutting people's responses to this thread.

What last post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Budgets are very tight at churches these days, as you can imagine. I would be hesitant to join a church which asked for a contribution before you even join or really become part of the church family. After you are taking part in the activities, Sunday school, and so forth then I think one should contribute to a church, because the bills sure don't pay themselves. But if a church is talking to you about money upfront, I would keep on looking.

Churches are rich and are definitely not short of money

[Anonymous]

Yup? Rude!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budgets are very tight at churches these days, as you can imagine. I would be hesitant to join a church which asked for a contribution before you even join or really become part of the church family. After you are taking part in the activities, Sunday school, and so forth then I think one should contribute to a church, because the bills sure don't pay themselves. But if a church is talking to you about money upfront, I would keep on looking.

Churches are rich and are definitely not short of money

Actually, many, many churches are struggling financially. Membership is declining and people are giving less in the current economy. A lot of small churches can't afford a FT pastor anymore, and pastors are having to supplement their part-time income with some other kind of employment. Larger churches are cutting staff. Really, there needs to be some consolidation in a lot of denominations, as has happened in the corporate and nonprofit worlds, but somehow it is harder to do with faith communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that you believe that Jews are "non-believers" but at the same time you also somehow believe that Saul and David are a part of your Bible and a part of your religion. How does that work out? How can modern day Jews be "not believing" in any religion but the actual tenets of their faith (like Saul and David) are somehow real and tangible to you? Do you make this up as you go along?

I can answer your question.
Modern day Judaism is as far away from ancient judaism as is modern day cristianity. We are talking about 2 different branches of the same religion. Modern day Jews do not practice ancien judaism. Neither do Americanized Christians of our time.
These are 2 sibling religions, not mother-daughter religions. In one the religion is meant for one tribe, in the other it is meant for all of mankind.
Tribalistic gods were nothing of the ordinary 2000 years ago.

I'm not sure I understood all your points, but the gist of what you seem to be saying is that Saul and David have nothing to do with modern Judaism, and everything to do with modern Christianity. That's a little bit unsettling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If that last post is the OP, I call total and utter BS on Jeff cutting people's responses to this thread.

What last post?

By last, it means the one immediately preceding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that last post is the OP, I call total and utter BS on Jeff cutting people's responses to this thread.

OP here and that was not me.

On a note following one PP's point, our pastor in our previous church went PT and took a teaching position once the contributions went down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand why you're upset, but reproaching the pastor probably isn't a good idea. The Bible says "touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm." Although Saul was in the wrong, David refused to harm him because he was anointed by God. If this pastor is anointed by God to lead that church, then leave him to God and God will deal with him in due time. Saying a prayer for him would probably be the right thing to do.

BTW, I love your upbringing and wish I had grown up in the church.

Non-practicing Christian here - I find the bolded sentiment to be very dangerous. Annointed by God or not, pastors/ministers/priests are human - they make mistakes, and often those mistakes must be addressed here on earth. I can easily imagine the "let God deal with him" line of thinking in the minds of bishops or other officials as they excuse and/or sweep under the rug allegations of abuse by clergy.

Of course, this pastor's "offense" - if it's that - is rudeness, not abuse, so there's really no comparison. But I the sentiment that clergy is unaccountable here on earth is unsettling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:true Christians? what are the other kind of Christians?

Mormons.

Mormons are NOT Christians. *magic underwear*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They need to see your W-2's to prove you are not lying? Wow. Makes me glad to be a non-believer

Wow, seriosly??? That is why I am also a non believer........


So it's OK to use the phrase "non-believer" but it's not OK to use the word "believer" (at least according to the "non-believers" on other threads)? I'm sooooo confused!

[Anonymous]

My DH and I gave up finding a church, because every one we went to was WAY too obsessed with getting us to sign a tithing agreement. Tacky and ridiculous. I hardly think there should be a set number you tithe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:true Christians? what are the other kind of Christians?

Mormons.

Mormons are NOT Christians. *magic underwear*

Is magic underwear really more ridiculous than any one of a hundred stories "real" Christians believe? Noah? Jonah? Water into wine? Come on, be reasonable.