In Monday's Dallas Morning News newspaper there was a front-page article about how the members of First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX, one of the nation's largest Baptist churches, had pledged $115 million to renovate their facilities. This incensed me that they would spend so much money on making themselves more comfortable when so many people are hurting financially right now. I wrote the following e-mail to the newspaper on Monday.
"So First Baptist Church of Dallas is raising $115 million to remodel their buildings. What an abomination to God! In the midst of the worst economy since the Great Depression, when so many people are out of work and in need of help, when so many people are hurting, instead of making a greater effort to reach out and help these people and the poor, FBC Dallas is gathering a record amount of money to revamp their property! How self-centered! What pride! What arrogance! What greed! What a complete abomination to God they are!
Oh yes, I know, they'll say that the leaders prayed about it and felt that it was God's leading to do this. Let me ask them this: "Would God approve of wasting so much money on yourselves when there are so many hurting people out there? Would God sanction such self-centeredness, such self-indulgence, such pride?" Oh, I know FBC gives money to different charities. Well, just think how much more good you could do with $115 million, instead of spending it on yourselves.
Acts 17:24,25 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelling not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is He worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.
This is what the paper published on Wednesday.
"So First Baptist Church of Dallas is raising $115 million to remodel their buildings. What an abomination to God! In the midst of the worst economy since the Great Depression, when so many people are out of work and in need of help, when so many people are hurting, instead of making a greater effort to reach out and help these people and the poor, FBC Dallas is gathering a record amount money to revamp their property! How self-centered! What pride! What arrogance! What greed! What a complete abomination to God they are!"
The time has come for us to take a stand against the greed, self-centerness, arrogance and lukewarm/cold hearts that fill the churches today. We can be silent no longer!
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Hi Cliff,
ReplyDeleteGluttony, and self service are the message being preached at that church brother. I am still praying for you and the folks.....Steve
A note of positive is that they decided to print any of your letter at all. As you have stated this nation has become a pit of greed and selfishness and much of the body has conformed to the ways of the world, because of such this nation will be thrown into deep spiritual darkness. This has already begun.
ReplyDeleteI AGREE 100%...I JUST TOLD MY HUSBAND HOW I FELT ABOUT MEGA CHURCHS BUILDING MORE AND BIGGER BUILDINGS WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND CAN'T EVEN FEED THEIR CHILDREN.
ReplyDeleteI DON'T THINK GOD IS PLEASED WITH THIS AT ALL!
THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING SO MANY PEOPLE'S FEELINGS ON THIS SUBJECT.
Brother Cliff,
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what the LORD had me write on my blog just the other day. JESUS is not in man's building's. How dare these people insult our LORD like this. Those in churches today are being told what their itching ears want to hear. Shame on the Shepherd leading that flock astray. I pray they become obedient to the TRUE message the LORD gave them. REPENT!! Your Sister in Christ, Cassie
God spoke judgment on America because of her Pride and Greed. And we must remember:
ReplyDelete1 Peter 4:17-18 (NASB)
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?
1) We are commanded in Scripture to flee from the love of money and from the deceitfulness of riches.
ReplyDelete2) We are told in Scripture that it is impossible to serve God and money.
3) We are commanded in Scripture to choose between these two masters.
Incredibly, the churches today go about doing the exact opposite and don't even know or believe they are totally deceived.
Esau traded his inheritance for a bowl of lentils. Gehazi exchanged the trust of Elisha, and his own health, for some clothes. Ananias and Sapphira lost their lives for material gain. And Judas sold our Lord for thirty pieces of silver.
Sadly, the members of the Laodicean churches today (FBC Dallas, et al.?) have traded their place in the Lamb's Book of Life for economic security.
And God says to His prophets, "Tell them, but they won't hear you."
The churches greed goes quite a ways back also. Our children in most cases are forced to go to secular public schools because the churches schools are too expensive for members to send them to them. This is in part why so many children are lost today. They should have for a long time now been providing schools, feeding the poor, taking care of the widow's the churches are so far from what is rightious or Godly it's no wonder GOD is angered to wrath. I see non-believers saying things like "this nation will deserves all the hardship that comes upon it." a nonbeliever can see the sins better than the pastors of these churches...it sickens me.
ReplyDeleteThey are building bigger barns (v. 18):
ReplyDeleteLu 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Preach it Cliff! The fact that anyone would even consider putting that much money into a building right now is laughable! The road is narrow and there are few that find it, truly! But let's not be discouraged, as long as there is breath, there are still more to come into the kingdom. Come quickly LORD JESUS!!
ReplyDeleteDeirdre
I'm reminded of when the disciples pointed out the elaborate Church structures to Jesus. His reply -- not one stone will be standing upon another.
ReplyDeleteLance
Cliff,
ReplyDeleteSurely you are one of the few voices I hear in this country. Thank you and God bless you and your family. The last church we attended started drawing up plans to put in a lot of shops so the members could make purchases of various gifts, etc. before and after church services. We ran!!!
What you write about greed is true!
ReplyDeleteI put your article here: http://alertsweden.blogg.se/?tmp=25125231
Hope it is okay?
God bless you brother!
Alert, feel free to post my messages wherever you'd like to.
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, there has been no reply posted in the paper to my comment that they published. I don't know if no one wanted to argue about it or if no one sent a reply that the paper thought was intelligent enough to print.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteCliff, I completely agree with your expose on and confrontation *of* this church. I personally think it's *disgustingly sinful* for a church to have a 115-million-dollar renovation when so many of their parishioners and surrounding community have probably fallen on hard times. Personally, to me it smacks of immorality. 115 *million* dollars?? For **renovation??** With economic hardship all around us??
ReplyDeleteThese people...may the LORD forgive me, I hope I'm not passing unnecessary judgement on fellow believers, but these people...they need to repent and get right with God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus *must be* highly displeased if Scripture is to be believed, which of course it must be, "it cannot be broken." How can people spend 115 million dollars on renovation when there are kids and homeless people in the community going hungry??
They should pray for hearts of flesh, clean hearts...
Many blessings to you, Cliff, for exposing this $115 million scandal.
ReplyDeleteMy critique of today's mega churches extends beyond the enormous flow of money, which is indeed quite the scandal in how it's used/misused.
Besides that, my hope is that churches would put away and forsake their--
a) clinging to 501 ( c ) 3 status
b) their affiliation with that Willow Creek Association, and
c) any selling of sermons and merchandise in their hallways.
By clinging to both tax exempt status and to a demonstrably subversive system like the WCA, churches everywhere are now dumbing down their doctrines and sermons to appease these man-made utilitarian alliances they now shelter themselves with.
Take heart, I reckon that when Jesus returns to start The Millenium, that the Truth will again prevail.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
It saddens me to see these so called churches build bigger and better buildings every few years or so and neglect the poor and the hungry. Hundreds, or even thousands of the poor and hungry could of had some of their needs met... Rather these so called pastors (false teachers) are intent on building their own individual mini-kingdoms and seek the praise of men and honor from men than seeking His will that comes from above.
ReplyDeleteShouldnt we be doing unto others as we would have others do unto us? the days ahead are hard and difficult yet a time of purification for those whom the Father is drawing unto Himself.
Sharing one anothers burdens, not building bigger buildings is what is important.