[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement:
Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor
of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users'
privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your
privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket
to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we
also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.
Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your
contribution is not tax-deductible.)
PayPal Acct: 
Feedback: 
Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):
[ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message ]
Date Posted: 05:31:34 04/09/08 Wed
Author: Joan
Author Host/IP: ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net / 68.0.253.131
Subject: Should churches have rich stuff?
Do you think that churches should have expensive things in them?
Is it OK to have a gold chalice? Should they have stained glass in the windows?
Should churces have only the bare neccessities, like a wooden or glass chalice, and plain glass windows, to save money to give to the poor?
If the church already has those things, should they sell them to help the poor?
How much is too much, when it comes to fancy stuff in churches?
Joan
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Replies:
[>
To coin a popular phrase..." WWJD"?? -- Catie, 08:14:48 04/09/08 Wed [1] (h106.29.40.69.ip.alltel.net/69.40.29.106)
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[> [>
Catie, I am not familiar with that "phrase?" -- Barb, 08:48:29 04/11/08 Fri [1] (clgrtnt7-port-200.dial.telus.net/161.184.52.200)
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[>
Barb...WWJD.....What Would Jesus Do -- Neysa, 16:05:12 04/11/08 Fri [1] (user-38lci08.dialup.mindspring.com/209.86.72.8)
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[> [>
Thank you ,Neysa. :-) -- Barb, 08:05:58 04/12/08 Sat [1] (clgrtnt9-port-14.dial.telus.net/161.184.54.14)
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[> [> [>
You're welcome, Barb. :-) -- Neysa, 13:12:07 04/12/08 Sat [1] (user-2inik1r.dialup.mindspring.com/165.121.80.59)
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[>
Re: Should churches have rich stuff? -- Neysa, 16:19:00 04/11/08 Fri [1] (user-38lci08.dialup.mindspring.com/209.86.72.8)
I've always loved a fancy church,but it has always bothered me about the money they spend for such lavishness. First, a lot of stuff is donated by families. My dad's family donated a lot of chalices etc... to churches. The church keeps a record of who donated what...when two of the churches closed they contacted my aunt and asked her what she wanted to do with the donated items. She told them to give them a seminary. I was angry because it was not just my aunt who donated the items, but also my dad. I didn't like what she said, thought I should have been asked. I would have told them to sell the items, help the poor.
As for the chalice I was always taught that the inside is suppose to be pure gold. It is the true body & blood inside there. Also when people take the wine at communion, you have so many drinking from that chalice...isn't pure gold germ proof?
I love stained glass windows, if a church cannot afford them. The plain or colored glass looks just as fine.
Catie, asked a good question WWJD? He came in this world as a poor person. Perhaps, he wouldn't want such lavishness inside a church.
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[> [>
As "Christians" we are followers of Christ, are to be Christ-like, He was -- Catie, 05:50:27 04/12/08 Sat [1] (h95.236.140.67.ip.alltel.net/67.140.236.95)
the example we were to follow. He said to his disciples(paraphrasing) "Even the fowls of the air have their nests, but the Son of God has no place to lay his head" Also when the rich man came to Christ, asked what he must do to be his follower Christ told him to sell all of his wealth, and to follow him. The rich man went away sad. (Theologians vary on opinion if this was a real story or a parable) Either way the message is the same.
When the majority of folks were looking for a saviour they didn't expect a king to arrive in swaddling clothes, to be laid in a cow's trough, to be so humble, without finery, etc. But Christ came to teach us we are to lay up our treasures in heaven, because one day these temporary things will pass away as well as the old earth with them.
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
[> [>
Re: Should churches have rich stuff? -- Joan, 13:53:42 04/12/08 Sat [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)
I don't have a problem with rich stuff in churches, so long as it's used for the people. Having a gold chalice, which I believe is always donated by someone (I think the priest's family or maybe a close friend) is great. The fancy stuff on walls (statues, stations of the cross, etc) are there to promote thinking. IMO, having those things is important. You can strip the walls bare, or put up junky abstract "art", but representative art does more to promote worship, devotion, and understanding.
If the rich stuff is paid for through the collection and is for the exclusive use of the clergy (as with the Bakers), it's a sin.
As far as I know, everything in my church building was donated by parish members. I know the things that have to be replaced, like candles and altar wine, are paid for through donations. People donate money to buy those things, usually in memory of a family member or friend.
The statues were also donated.
I suppose those people could have donated money to a charity instead, but these things are important, too. Beautiful art, to me anyway, is more inspiring than junk. If I were to donate art, it would be something that would inspire people, not make them scratch their heads, or think how junky or ugly it is. :)
The poor also benefit from these items--and equally, which is unusual. Usually, donations like these are seen only by the rich.
A beautiful stained glass window. Good. A 2008 Lexus for the minister? Not good. :)
Joan
[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]
