Paying for church

[tekkengod]

My friend convince me to go to church the other day, so i said, why the hell not? had nothing else to do, i was curious. so i went, we got there and he said "you brought your money right?" and i said "no why do i need money, are we eating" he said "no, its $2 to get in. my jaw hit the floor, then i started laughing as hard as i could. would you pay? what do you guys think about this?

[leo]

My friend convince me to go to church the other day, so i said, why the hell not? had nothing else to do, i was curious. so i went, we got there and he said "you brought your money right?" and i said "no why do i need money, are we eating" he said "no, its $2 to get in. my jaw hit the floor, then i started laughing as hard as i could. would you pay? what do you guys think about this?
i think they just take collection at a weird time, most churches take money during the service, this is optional but everyone does as it keeps teh church open.

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

My friend convince me to go to church the other day, so i said, why the hell not? had nothing else to do, i was curious. so i went, we got there and he said "you brought your money right?" and i said "no why do i need money, are we eating" he said "no, its $2 to get in. my jaw hit the floor, then i started laughing as hard as i could. would you pay? what do you guys think about this?
That is quite bizarre -- I never heard of a church that had an admission fee. :eek: Many churches do take up a collection, but (at least in all the churches I've ever been to) you are in no way obligated to put anything in the plate (we're supposed to help support our churches, but nobody ever gets thrown out because they can't afford to put anything in the collection).

[Drunken Miss Ho]

That's just crazy! What kind of church was it?

[KickChick]

"Paying" usually means an "offering" to the church which is used for the work of the church.

A required "admittance amount"???

It is my understanding that you are not under any obligation to contribute to the needs of any Christian church. Rather, you may be compelled to give what you can in proportion to the blessings that have been received by you. :Angel:

[Davey Bones]

Tithing is one thing, but paying to get in? Go spend your money on a beer, lol. This church sounds suspicious....

[Drunken Miss Ho]

I'm not too hip on church protocol, but aren't first time visitors kind of exempt from collection? I thought collection was for regular church goers to aid in the upkeep of their church. I would think a visitor should be able to check the place out before they are expected to make an offering.

[E.E.N.S.]

I like to support my church - I give 10% gross (which is about $80.00 a week) - but it does seem very odd to have a "admission fee" required...they would probably do better to just ask for additional help if they needed it that badly. Ask and you shall recieve...

[David]

It's cool, as long as your consumer rights aren't affected eg get a refund if God fails to deliver the Home Cinema or World Peace you prayed for whilst there...

Rgds,
David

[Kwajman]

We all are supporting every single church in our towns, states, and country by making them tax exempt. If cities want to fix their budgets, they should make the churches pay taxes on just their property. While my taxes used to go through the roof every year (I no longer own a home), the church's just sit there.

[glo_in_da_dark]

maybe your friend was joking about the "admission fee". i think he meant to ask if you had an offering.

[Drunken Miss Ho]

Whatever with Christianity. It's all about Hare Krishnas. They give you free food and books with cool pictures in order to get you to go to their temple :D . But they sure do talk a lot, and if you keep going for the free food but don't go to the temple, they start to stare at you funny.

[tekkengod]

maybe your friend was joking about the "admission fee". i think he meant to ask if you had an offering.

thats what i thought, no i am dead serious, they had people at the door {obviously longstanding memebers or something} collecting money, it applied to everyone, me and the members, it wasn't an early collection, it was an admittance, he ended up paying for me and we got in and then later near the end the collection plate was passed around. i went for the sake of getting a feel of the atmosphere of church, maybe get me a little taste of being so close to the religious, i was just curious, I'm sure as hell not going back. it was a christian church. that is ridiculous, i'd have though something else would have been offered like food or drinks, but nothing.

[Drunken Miss Ho]

I don't like that at all, that's not what church is about. If food and drinks were served after I would have felt a little better about it.

[AZeitung]

thats what i thought, no i am dead serious, they had people at the door {obviously longstanding memebers or something} collecting money, it applied to everyone, me and the members, it wasn't an early collection, it was an admittance, he ended up paying for me and we got in and then later near the end the collection plate was passed around. i went for the sake of getting a feel of the atmosphere of church, maybe get me a little taste of being so close to the religious, i was just curious, I'm sure as hell not going back. it was a christian church. that is ridiculous, i'd have though something else would have been offered like food or drinks, but nothing.

I think the problem lies in the fact that you didn't go to a denomination that was actually sane.

But no, you don't usually get food or drink at church (although sometimes they will have some kind of breakfast or something going on afterwards, and it's usually free), unless you count the wafer and wine.

[Melanie]

Moved to Religion forum as it seems more suitable

[aikiMac]

I think the problem lies in the fact that you didn't go to a denomination that was actually sane.
He didn't even go to a Christian church.

Tekken dude, that wasn't a Christian church. That was a church faking at being Christian. Actual Christian churches do not charge an admission fee for a worship service.

(There could be an admission fee for a special concert or play, but you didn't say this was a concert or a play.)

[Drunken Miss Ho]

But no, you don't usually get food or drink at church (although sometimes they will have some kind of breakfast or something going on afterwards, and it's usually free), unless you count the wafer and wine.
The church I go to does have a coffe hour after service, but it's Unitarian, so that doesn't really count when discussing Christian churches, plus there's no "admission fee", but I have a friend who went to a baptist church when she was younger, and they had a coffee hour following the service. I thought that was a fixture at some churches. In my mind food's the only possible way an "admission fee" could be justified.

[tekkengod]

He didn't even go to a Christian church.

Tekken dude, that wasn't a Christian church. That was a church faking at being Christian. Actual Christian churches do not charge an admission fee for a worship service.

(There could be an admission fee for a special concert or play, but you didn't say this was a concert or a play.)

no, it was most definately a christian church, i saw "christian house of prayer" written on the outside of the building, they are like all the other religious groups, they wanted money, the christians you know may not be like that, but the ones there most definately were. I'm not paying for anything religious ever. let alone a cover charge. come on now, you know my name isn't tekkendude :rolleyes: you can use my full name, if it bugs you, then just Tekken, but "dude" you make me sound like a loser. :D

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

I thought that was a fixture at some churches. In my mind food's the only possible way an "admission fee" could be justified.
In my experience, even when there are coffee and doughnuts (or other food), only a voluntary donation is accepted. In my church, even when we have a pancake breakfast (which also includes eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, etc.), it's still just a voluntary donation.

[Kimbie]

That is just ridiculous.
I've visited may churches around the city and i've never seen anything like that. I think that's awful, especially asking a newbie for money. Is there a faster way to drive someone away? My church sometimes holds out reach services for new people. We use the church offerings to provide an awesome night for those people, like buying the food ;) and stuff. That seems a lot more welcoming than pushing them for money.

[tekkengod]

you know i wouldn't mind giving money if it was going to say an aids foundation, or cancer or 3rd world nations and not the preachers Lotus, but sure as hell not to get in the door.

[Drunken Miss Ho]

The whole thing makes me so angry! Capitalist pigs!

[myki]

Hi Tekk, I looked up "Christian House of Prayer" on the net and found a church in Copperas Cove, Texas, is that the one?

If it is, it looks like a charismatic evangelical church who are probably in the money making business. Some really like that sort of thing, but like most here, it'll be a cold day in hell before I pay a cover charge for church!

Were there bouncers?

[clockman75]

Yikes! I'm SDA Christian, I wonder why those evangelists are doing that?
They must have a good reason, but I wouldn't go back there if they are charging money before you go into the service. Was it a good sermon?

Alot of Churches here in the city provide food, and clothing for the homeless, even on days when there is no worship service. I can think of two or three actually, and I know there is more. The prespertarians, catholics, and baptists.. etc,

[tekkengod]

Hi Tekk, I looked up "Christian House of Prayer" on the net and found a church in Copperas Cove, Texas, is that the one?

If it is, it looks like a charismatic evangelical church who are probably in the money making business. Some really like that sort of thing, but like most here, it'll be a cold day in hell before I pay a cover charge for church!

Were there bouncers?

yeah, i'm pretty sure thats it.

n there wern't "Bouncers" but there were 2 BIG guys {like 6'2 looked to weight about 230 or in that range} they didn't act like bouncers either, they were smiling and being polite and collecting the money, but they looked capable of atleast keeping you out if you didn't pay, everyone payed though, now i'm half tempted to go back and not pay, and see what they say/do.

[aikiMac]

no, it was most definately a christian church, i saw "christian house of prayer" written on the outside of the building, they are like all the other religious groups, they wanted money, the christians you know may not be like that, but the ones there most definately were. I'm not paying for anything religious ever. let alone a cover charge. come on now, you know my name isn't tekkendude :rolleyes: you can use my full name, if it bugs you, then just Tekken, but "dude" you make me sound like a loser. :D
Sorry dude. :love: I'll try to remember that in the future. It must be a regional thing. My home towns are Phx, San Diego, and LA. In those places "dude" is a friendly term for a male, young or old. It's always a benign word. You can use it with friends and strangers alike.

I stand by what I said about it being a fake Christian church. I'd say it to their face.

[tekkengod]

Was it a good sermon?well, not particularly, it was about repention and sinning, nothing new that i hadn't heard a thousand times, i do get a kick out of how they get red in the face from all the arm motions and yelling.
i also didn't like that he specifically pointed me out and put me on blast when he mentioned that i was new and blah blah blah.

[tekkengod]

Sorry dude. :love: I'll try to remember that in the future. It must be a regional thing. My home towns are Phx, San Diego, and LA. In those places "dude" is a friendly term for a male, young or old. It's always a benign word. You can use it with friends and strangers alike.

I stand by what I said about it being a fake Christian church. I'd say it to their face.

no prob, but just for the record, you do know that a "dude" is an enfected hair on an elephants ass? :eek: so next time you go to call someone "Dude" think about that :D around here dude is used, but not as much as "man"
or my least favorite 5-letter N word {how the hell that became acceptable is beyond me} the catch phrase around here is "guy" "Hey guy, check this out" it sounded weird, and took a few weeks to get used to.
you'd say that to their face! :eek: now that would be funny, i could see the reaction now "you're going to hell" or "you're not a christian" and then you could come back and slam some verses in their face, {religious arguments are always the most entertaining} you of all people are most definately safe from hell. :cool:

[aikiMac]

no prob, but just for the record, you do know that a "dude" is an enfected hair on an elephants ass?
Say what?!
Well, there are no elephants on Manhattan Beach Blvd!

[Shadowdh]

Run... run fast and far... the moonies are coming...!!!

Was the reverend named Jim Jones or similar... anywho... a mate of ours used to be hooked into this place called the forum (not an internet board) who would charge you for a "breakthrough"... (no idea something to do with the head I think)... the first one was a few hundred pounds (£) and several weeks... then the price rocketed... thousands... can we say "praise the lord"...

[tekkengod]

God is omnipotent and lives in the sky......but apparently hes just not good with money.
did any of you see that south park episode where the christian channel kept asking for more and more money? that was a classic.

[aikiMac]

God is omnipotent and lives in the sky......but apparently hes just not good with money.
No, ... man. (I remembered. :) ) Entrance into real churches is free. Real churches are not businesses and real churches do not chase after a profit. I'm very pained that all the churches you went to were focussed on money.

[Thomas]

On the topic of "paying" for church, can anyone tell me if the practice of the "tithe" is used by any denominations nowadays? How do you figure out how much it is and how do you pay it? What if you don't pay? Thanks!

[Davey Bones]

Roman Catholics still tithe. And how much depends on the parish, IIRC. Some state a flat amount of 5-10% of your income, while others simply as that you give what you can.

[tekkengod]

No, ... man. (I remembered. :) ) Entrance into real churches is free. Real churches are not businesses and real churches do not chase after a profit. I'm very pained that all the churches you went to were focussed on money.

i only went to that one. there are others. But none of my friends go there, i may go this weekend just for the hell of getting a feel, last time i had to hold my wallet the whole time. :D

[Kwajman]

Wasn't it in the bible about giving unto Caesar what is his, etc, etc.... and it says that ten percent is Gods?

Where are you Aki???

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

Tithing 10% is not part of official Catholic Church teaching. We are obliged to help support our church as our means allow, but the exact amount or percentage is left up to the individual to determine. People who have no money to spare are not obligated to give anything.

The money we give is supposed to be a gift, cheerfully and willingly given. When a fixed percentage is demanded, that money is no longer a gift.

Kwajman, you're probably thinking of Matthew 22 19:21

"Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

But there's no mention of percentages.

[Drunken Miss Ho]

I know that Mormons demand 10%, and it's not a gift, it's mandatory. And Scientologists make you pay for everything, the more money you have, the better a scientologist you are, that's why actors like it so much. Moonies indeed. They're all crazies.

[aikiMac]

Tithing 10% is not part of official Catholic Church teaching. We are obliged to help support our church as our means allow, but the exact amount or percentage is left up to the individual to determine. People who have no money to spare are not obligated to give anything.

The money we give is supposed to be a gift, cheerfully and willingly given. When a fixed percentage is demanded, that money is no longer a gift.
Ya, what she said.

The Caesar episode was an attempted, but failed, trap that has nothing to do with tithes/offerings. See verses 15 and 16. Herodians were people loyal to king Herod, who sat under the Caesar. To say that the Jews shouldn't pay taxes to Caesar would be treason against Caesar, and the Herodians would be all over Jesus. But to openly support Caesar would upset the Jews, who hated living under Roman rule. Jesus couldn't win.

Well, they thought Jesus could not possible escape this trap. But he did it. Verse 22.

The idea of 10% comes from the OT law requiring 10% of crops and other income to go to the Levites (the priests). When Joshua led the Israelites into the "promised land," the land was divided up among the several tribes. Each tribe was allotted specific real estate. This was an aggrarian world, so land was crucial. The tribe of Levi, however, was not given any land. No land --> no farm --> no food. So the OT law provided for their support.

Obviously we no longer live in that context, but pastors/priests are supposed to be supported by the congregation. 1 Corinthians 9 and some other places speak to this, especially 1 Corinth 9:14.

[aikiMac]

you do know that a "dude" is an enfected hair on an elephants ass?
You're pulling my leg. I checked Webster. That's not one of the definitions. Def #2 & 3 are how I use the word:
2) a city man
3) fellow, guy

[Drunken Miss Ho]

Hey Aikimac - I'm with you on dude. Since I've moved to the east coast, people make fun of me for saying it (to both guys and girls alike.) But I'm proud of it, I consider it part of my California heritage :D

[tekkengod]

You're pulling my leg. I checked Webster. That's not one of the definitions. Def #2 & 3 are how I use the word:
2) a city man
3) fellow, guy

I'm dead serious. i remember looking it up a while back.

I'll check it again. it may be a souly scientific term and not appear in some dictionaries. i'll look, but i know thats what it meant. just like a "dork"
is a whale's penis. i wonder how the hell those terms came to mean the things they do now.

[tekkengod]

so then it did or didn't say in the bible that you should give your money to the church? yes or no?

[aikiMac]

so then it did or didn't say in the bible that you should give your money to the church? yes or no?
It says you should give some of your money to the church. Definite yes. The pastor/priest has to buy Cheerios for his kids too, you know. But admission into a church costs no money, period, because the Word of God is free. Members are supposed to donate of their own voluntary choice, not because a bouncer scares them into it.

[Kwajman]

Kwajman, you're probably thinking of Matthew 22 19:21

"Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

But there's no mention of percentages.


Thats it! Thank you KT.

[Fishbone.]

My friend convince me to go to church the other day, so i said, why the hell not? had nothing else to do, i was curious. so i went, we got there and he said "you brought your money right?" and i said "no why do i need money, are we eating" he said "no, its $2 to get in. my jaw hit the floor, then i started laughing as hard as i could. would you pay? what do you guys think about this?

LOL!!!!!

What a rip off.

The system at it's worst. Religion - The world's biggest pyramid scheme.

[Hapuka]

My friend convince me to go to church the other day, so i said, why the hell not? had nothing else to do, i was curious. so i went, we got there and he said "you brought your money right?" and i said "no why do i need money, are we eating" he said "no, its $2 to get in. my jaw hit the floor, then i started laughing as hard as i could. would you pay? what do you guys think about this?

Lol that's great. :D

Don't worry most churches aren't like that.......... At least I hope. :o

[shax]

a few mosques dont charge anything but most people attending donate what they can.

however mosts mosques charge the local attendees a membership fee. you dont have to pay it, but the names of the local attendees are put up onthe walls and whoever dont pay have a big blank next to their name for all to see. needless to say there arent many blanks. except for my name. i refuse to be forced to pay a 'voluntary' donation. insted i give my donations anonymously so that only God knows about it which is enough for me.

soz for the rush post. i got a choc cake waitin for me.

[Hapuka]

Huh you have to pay a membership fee now to go to church?
What is our world coming to? :confused:

[Fishbone.]

Took you long enough

[medi]

Huh you have to pay a membership fee now to go to church?
What is our world coming to? :confused:


It's more like a Service Charge



*rimshot*

[Fishbone.]

Service charge... Righhhhtttt

For sitting our backsides on their seats? And doing our prayers?

[CanuckMA]

Synaguoges charge a membership fee. Sombody has to pay for the building, staff, etc.

[Davey Bones]

I tend to volunteer time and energy to my Church as opposed to cash. I usher at least once a month, co-chair one committee, and am a member of another.

I hate feeling obligated to give *anyone* money, and I give several hundred dollars a year to various charitable organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, the Human Rights Campaign, Special Olympics and a few others. Of course, even though the money doesn't go to my Church, my donations fund social awareness, and that's a big thing for a Unitarian ;)

[slipthejab]

ha... once again... Mr. Rebel Without A Pause Tekkengod seems to be spending more time around Christians and worrying about what they do than do most Christians do! :p

Tekken is a closet Christian. He just doesn't want to admit it to himself. :D
Come on Tekken - we'll still be your friends if you admit it. :p

[aikiMac]

ha... once again... Mr. Rebel Without A Pause Tekkengod seems to be spending more time around Christians and worrying about what they do than do most Christians do! :p

Tekken is a closet Christian. He just doesn't want to admit it to himself. :D
Come on Tekken - we'll still be your friends if you admit it. :p
Aye, word for those would learn:
"You know, if you fight realy hard against something, so that it takes up all of your effort and emotion, then it's still got you just as much as if you embraced it."

And, really, reviving a thread that ended 2 years ago just to make fun of people -- very lame. Very. :rolleyes: