GC in houston no free ride - did jesus charge

[CC1]

I hate the idea of charging for a church conference but they are in a very difficult situation. It costs much more these days to put on these events than it did 20 or 30 years ago.

Of course I always thought those horrible one hour offerings covered the costs. Apparently not.

[A.W. Bowman]

Conference? What's a conference? Why a conference? Why not hold some local meetings in a park, on a mountain side or at a beach/lake/river side? Or, even in a desert?

Where did the First Apostolic Ministerial Association of Jerusalem, International (FAMAJI) hold their annul conferences? Who was invited, who preached, and how much did it cost?

And, how much money was raised through the auctioning off of Peters, James and John's sandals? Forgot, the church in Jerusalem kept Peter's sandals.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

Conference? What's a conference? Why a conference? Why not hold some local meetings in a park, on a mountain side or at a beach/lake/river side? Or, even in a desert?

Where did the First Apostolic Ministerial Association of Jerusalem, International (FAMAJI) hold their annul conferences? Who was invited, who preached, and how much did it cost?

And, how much money was raised through the auctioning off of Peters, James and John's sandals? Forgot, the church in Jerusalem kept Peter's sandals.

Why wear clothes? Why not robes? Why churches and houses?
Why not tents?

Because we are not wackos. We understand that times change.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

I hate the idea. If you have to charge people to get in, thats ridiculous. Maybe they should open the consession stands and sell nachos and hot dogs to the faithful.

Maybe my church should charge $10/head at the door (plus offerings), after all, we've got bills too. We can give a deal, one months services for $25. Or 10% off your tithes for new members. Maybe we could do seat/pew licences like professional football stadiums. I mean after all, its for a good cause right?

A conference for a political/religious organization is not the same as a local church meeting.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

I hate the idea. If you have to charge people to get in, thats ridiculous. Maybe they should open the consession stands and sell nachos and hot dogs to the faithful.

Maybe my church should charge $10/head at the door (plus offerings), after all, we've got bills too. We can give a deal, one months services for $25. Or 10% off your tithes for new members. Maybe we could do seat/pew licences like professional football stadiums. I mean after all, its for a good cause right?

Honestly though, $15.00 isn't too much.

If you have the resources to make the trip, you probably have the resources to pay the $15.00 cover charge.

[A.W. Bowman]

Originally Posted by CC1

Why wear clothes? Why not robes? Why churches and houses?
Why not tents?

Because we are not wackos. We understand that times change.

Excellent points! Why not? What happened to tent meetings, meeting in barns, homes, unused buildings, and yes, even outside? There are some oneness organizations that even mandate their ministers wear robes. So why do we need to spend (who know how much) for a general conference when it really isn't necessary - especially with the level of technology that we have today? Need a conference - how about a fellowship meeting with those other churches in the same general area - the one some pastors will not allow their assembly to even associate with (same organization)?

The point is how do we serve Christ and his body of believers by spending so much money on buildings, religious trappings, creature comforts, etc., when so many are going without the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter, medical support, etc.)? Whatever happened to the priorities of service and worship that Jesus commanded? Paul held his final local conference at Miletus with the elders from Ephesus finished up aboard a ship!

I guess this subject just caught me in a 'hot spot'. To see hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent on frills, clothes, dining, the buying and selling of books and trinkets, and the building up monuments to man, when the desperate stand at the gate with hands outstretched, just hurts my heart. To personally see a $5,000 a month church mortgage (plus related building expenses) taking the church resources, when a widow can't get her roof fixed. Or a 78 year old man is having to work part time jobs because when he pays his living expenses and tithes to the pastor, he doesn't have enough money left over to eat on for the rest of the month.I personally know this man and his situation!

Correction: No, this misuse of church resources does not hurt my heart - it make me downright angry!

So, if my zeal is misplaced and excessive, I apologize.

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

Excellent points! Why not? What happened to tent meetings, meeting in barns, homes, unused buildings, and yes, even outside? There are some oneness organizations that even mandate their ministers wear robes. So why do we need to spend (who know how much) for a general conference when it really isn't necessary - especially with the level of technology that we have today? Need a conference - how about a fellowship meeting with those other churches in the same general area - the one some pastors will not allow their assembly to even associate with (same organization)?

The point is how do we serve Christ and his body of believers by spending so much money on buildings, religious trappings, creature comforts, etc., when so many are going without the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter, medical support, etc.)? Whatever happened to the priorities of service and worship that Jesus commanded? Paul held his final local conference at Miletus with the elders from Ephesus finished up aboard a ship!

I guess this subject just caught me in a 'hot spot'. To see hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent on frills, clothes, dining, the buying and selling of books and trinkets, and the building up monuments to man, when the desperate stand at the gate with hands outstretched, just hurts my heart. To personally see a $5,000 a month church mortgage (plus related building expenses) taking the church resources, when a widow can't get her roof fixed. Or a 78 year old man is having to work part time jobs because when he pays his living expenses and tithes to the pastor, he doesn't have enough money left over to eat on for the rest of the month.I personally know this man and his situation!

Correction: No, this misuse of church resources does not hurt my heart - it make my downright angry!

So, if my zeal is misplaced and excessive, I apologize.

I guess Jesus wasn't up with the times. The Sermon on the Mount would've brought in a great haul.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Liberal

I guess Jesus wasn't up with the times. The Sermon on the Mount would've brought in a great haul.

Well, we could sell pages from the original sermon on the mount at the next GC or offer autographed pictures of Jesus.

Then there are always pieces of the "true cross" and relics from the clothing Jesus, Paul, Peter, or hair clippings (from men only, of course) or fingernail clippings from the saints that could bring in big bucks for home or foreign missions or just for HQ workers' perks.

[committed]

Glad to see some positive posts on AFF. My son wanted to go to a Christian event with several singers and speakers (non-upci) and the tickets were $25 online PLUS a $15 extra net charge - making it almost $50 for one person for ONE NIGHT. And some think $15 is too much!

[geekette]

Originally Posted by committed

Glad to see some positive posts on AFF. My son wanted to go to a Christian event with several singers and speakers (non-upci) and the tickets were $25 online PLUS a $15 extra net charge - making it almost $50 for one person for ONE NIGHT. And some think $15 is too much!

Confession time...I paid $50 in 1999 for back of the stage tickets to see the Rolling Stones and was glad to get them. I don't know that I'd drop so much money on a Christian event.