Megachurch -- necessary to worship or bloated extravagance?

What do folks think of this?

 

Looks like the Wal-Mart of religion.

 

Courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer to boot.

 

You've got to be kidding me...

I did look up some info on Megachurches though. Looks like younger people are attracted to them. And they also give one the impression that they're there for more than just worship. People want to be 'entertained' when they go. So sounds like religion being turned into a big circus if you ask me.

http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/ind...n/18504-the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-megachurches

 

I suspect "lying" is the word we're looking for here.

 

Perhaps he is. Which is why I went along and Googled "Megachurches built using taxes."

Didn't find much except that pastors of these churches make millions and are completely tax exempt. I would say that bothers me, but it really doesn't. If people want to willingly throw all their money at these people and ignore the needs of those who truly need the money and aid around them then that's fine. I imagine they aren't making their Christ all too happy though.

 

Mega churches are the reason I quit attending church. Its all a show with no go. Most if not all mega churches and churches in general are "family owned and operated".

Jesus said there would be a famine of hearing the word of God in the last days. Attend a mega church once and you'll see the famine full on. Its pathetic.

 

What do they talk about in a megachurch? I've never been to one and when I come across them being broadcasted on TV I skip right on over them.

Do they not preach the Bible?

 

I think it's the churches which are tax exempt and not the pastors; but that aside, do you think "tax exempt" means their buildings are paid for with tax dollars?

 

No, I think tax exempt means; "...when a person or organisation will not be taxed for a purchase or type of earnings that usually would be subject to some form of taxation. Certain tax systems offer a tax exemption to organisations, persons, income, property or other items taxable under the system." http://www.blurtit.com/q132568.html

Here's additional info on 'Clergy Tax' http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/clergytax.html

Also I don't know if our taxes go to build churches. I haven't found any evidence pointing either way. No one has posted any either. So I am trying to research it for myself. I am certainly no genius on what money goes where when it comes to our taxes and all that.

 

That is not something one cares to think about under the current administration, but I think in general you will find that those who claim churches are subsidized also think the government is entitled to any percentage it deems necessary of every monetary transaction.

 

Ju-hee-zus-ah! For a love offering of 29.95, you too, can be say-ved! (channel Ernest Angley here)

 

Not at all. Tens of billions of dollars sucked right off the tax rolls so the holy rollers can install $10 million sound systems in $30 million buildings on $40 million dollar lots. That's just crass.

 

I didn't say tax dollars were being used to build the churches but in a sense they are -- because they are built with tax free dollars which is really the same thing. Not to mention it's a double-dip: the individual donor gets a tax-deduction and the recipient church pays no tax of any kind yet it benefits from the infrastructure (roads, police, fire, military, etc.) that it doesn't pay for. Those people should be ashamed of themselves. And don't even get me started on the millions more tax-free dollars that they funnel into political causes.

 

It's a rock concert. And on a (*)(*)(*)(*) good sound system. Pun intended.

 

That is correct. Though clergy are treated as a special class of taxpayer by the IRS and enjoy certain privileges that the rest of us don't.

Not directly, but in a sense, yes. Tens of billions of dollars never reach the treasury each year because they are instead funneled into multimillion-dollar facilities for worship. You want to build a megachurch? Fine, pay your taxes.

 

I do claim churches are subsidized. But only because it is a fact.

 

Range Rovers aren't cheap.

 

I know the sound contractor for Overlake Church in Redmond, WA -- the home of Microsoft. That job alone netted him a new 42' cabin cruiser.



I've been there for a performance -- strictly on a professional basis of course. It's a beautiful-sounding room, excellent acoustics -- which is very expensive to achieve.

 

It is just marketing. Obviously, this is a successful pastor.

 

That's not really answering the question.

 

If that helps them worship more comfortably and efficiently, so be it.

It's not my cup of tea, but they don't have to worry about my views, but what God will think in the afterlife.

 

So they can take hundreds of millions of dollars off the tax rolls so they can "worship more comfortably?" I wonder if those hundreds of millions could be put to better use? Say, instead of insuring comfortable worship, they could, just as an example, maybe insure that hungry people are fed. Just as an example, of course. Far be it from me to tell a tax-exempt organization what they can do with my tax dollars.