Comments on: How to Get Paid by the Church http://mpchristianity.com/get-paid-by-church.html where biblical principles produce everlasting profits Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:33:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Brad Harmon http://mpchristianity.com/get-paid-by-church.html#comment-1467 Brad Harmon Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:52:42 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=2071#comment-1467 I think your frustration has been experienced by many people in the church Ryan. Even Jesus became angry at what was being done by the moneychangers in the temple. I'd like to vehemently refute your characterization of the church, but I know there are far too many that fit your description to a tee. That being said, there are also many churches that collect tithes and offerings and use the money following sound Biblical principles. Perhaps it is unfair to throw the bath water out with the baby? I can't agree with you that people will not experience true freedom within the walls of any church - particular churches, sure, but not any church. I firmly believed that we are called to a people in the form of a local body joined together to serve each other and worship God. There are fewer and fewer churches that pay more than lip service to this though. I pray that God will lead you to one of these churches and show you what a body of authentic believers looks like in practice. Thank you for sharing your heart, frustrations, and comments with us. I think your frustration has been experienced by many people in the church Ryan. Even Jesus became angry at what was being done by the moneychangers in the temple. I’d like to vehemently refute your characterization of the church, but I know there are far too many that fit your description to a tee. That being said, there are also many churches that collect tithes and offerings and use the money following sound Biblical principles.

Perhaps it is unfair to throw the bath water out with the baby? I can’t agree with you that people will not experience true freedom within the walls of any church – particular churches, sure, but not any church. I firmly believed that we are called to a people in the form of a local body joined together to serve each other and worship God. There are fewer and fewer churches that pay more than lip service to this though.

I pray that God will lead you to one of these churches and show you what a body of authentic believers looks like in practice. Thank you for sharing your heart, frustrations, and comments with us.
Brad Harmon recently posted..Christmas Songs that Make Me Think and CryMy ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Ryan http://mpchristianity.com/get-paid-by-church.html#comment-1464 Ryan Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:35:25 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=2071#comment-1464 This money issue is one of many reasons I quit going to church. It has corrupted Christians and the church from the get-go. It don't make sence at all. Salvation is free yet afterwards churches make you feel obligated to pay tribute the rest of our lives. Saved into a financial obligation. Yea, no body likes to give away thier gifts and time to let God pay them in His way. I served years for free and God has rewarded me in more indirect ways. I got rather burnt out from doing too much. Since I quit church, I find Christianity is actually free, but no one will ever have true freedom in Christ inside the walls of a church. I don't hate God and I don't hate Christians. I'm just not going to get my Christianity from an institution that is run like the world because of its enslaving nature. I say enslaving as in the guilted obligation to serving and giving in order to build up the business and keep the business side of church in business. The whole business aspect of church just makes it a divided place where it is serving both God and money. Christians can survive without the church institution but the institution and those making a living off it cannot survive without Christians. This money issue is one of many reasons I quit going to church. It has corrupted Christians and the church from the get-go. It don’t make sence at all. Salvation is free yet afterwards churches make you feel obligated to pay tribute the rest of our lives. Saved into a financial obligation. Yea, no body likes to give away thier gifts and time to let God pay them in His way. I served years for free and God has rewarded me in more indirect ways. I got rather burnt out from doing too much.

Since I quit church, I find Christianity is actually free, but no one will ever have true freedom in Christ inside the walls of a church. I don’t hate God and I don’t hate Christians. I’m just not going to get my Christianity from an institution that is run like the world because of its enslaving nature. I say enslaving as in the guilted obligation to serving and giving in order to build up the business and keep the business side of church in business.

The whole business aspect of church just makes it a divided place where it is serving both God and money. Christians can survive without the church institution but the institution and those making a living off it cannot survive without Christians.

]]> By: Brad Harmon http://mpchristianity.com/get-paid-by-church.html#comment-1382 Brad Harmon Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:55:48 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=2071#comment-1382 Thanks for solving the mystery Melanie. This post was very much inspired by yours, and I appreciated the struggle you wrote so eloquently about in your article. I don't think churches realize how much this type of behavior affect their congregations. It even happens when compensating church staff - especially when it comes time for a raise. Some churches do a great job when it comes to this topic, but too many still need to rethink their approach. Thanks for solving the mystery Melanie. This post was very much inspired by yours, and I appreciated the struggle you wrote so eloquently about in your article. I don’t think churches realize how much this type of behavior affect their congregations. It even happens when compensating church staff – especially when it comes time for a raise. Some churches do a great job when it comes to this topic, but too many still need to rethink their approach.

]]> By: Melanie Hope http://mpchristianity.com/get-paid-by-church.html#comment-1366 Melanie Hope Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:18:06 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=2071#comment-1366 Brad, this is a great post- and thanks for the mention. I did take down my article because I ended up nearly leaving the church over the issue and I did not want to stir any further controversy. While I positively despise rumors and gossip, I was on the receiving end of some vicious comments (of course, being out of the loop, I found all this out much, much later). I was UN-invited to the retreat for which I offered to speak, even for no fee. No one bothered to tell me, they just announced at the end of the service that they decided to not have a speaker at all. I chose not to address it, as I was so very hurt and feared of further recourse, but things still got ugly even without my participation. I won't go into detail, but I will say it is this type of behavior that makes me understand atheists. If Christians treat each other this way, against even their own supposed beliefs, what kind of example are we setting for non-believers? I do still tithe, and I do still attend, but I am no longer involved as I once was. They continue to pay the pastor, accountant, custodian, youth leader, office staff and other speakers - but I will never offer my services to my own church again. I feel very blessed that I am strong enough in my walk not to let the church interfere with my faith. Brad, this is a great post- and thanks for the mention.

I did take down my article because I ended up nearly leaving the church over the issue and I did not want to stir any further controversy. While I positively despise rumors and gossip, I was on the receiving end of some vicious comments (of course, being out of the loop, I found all this out much, much later). I was UN-invited to the retreat for which I offered to speak, even for no fee. No one bothered to tell me, they just announced at the end of the service that they decided to not have a speaker at all.

I chose not to address it, as I was so very hurt and feared of further recourse, but things still got ugly even without my participation. I won’t go into detail, but I will say it is this type of behavior that makes me understand atheists. If Christians treat each other this way, against even their own supposed beliefs, what kind of example are we setting for non-believers?

I do still tithe, and I do still attend, but I am no longer involved as I once was. They continue to pay the pastor, accountant, custodian, youth leader, office staff and other speakers – but I will never offer my services to my own church again. I feel very blessed that I am strong enough in my walk not to let the church interfere with my faith.

]]> By: Brad Harmon http://mpchristianity.com/get-paid-by-church.html#comment-402 Brad Harmon Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:43:51 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=2071#comment-402 I really like the advice not to be "wishy washy" about your fees. Oftentimes, we can confuse the client if we are not up front and clear about our services and fees. I also appreciate your description of the struggle that entrepreneurs go through when dealing with the church. I wish more church leaders were in tune with this struggle. I really like the advice not to be "wishy washy" about your fees. Oftentimes, we can confuse the client if we are not up front and clear about our services and fees. I also appreciate your description of the struggle that entrepreneurs go through when dealing with the church. I wish more church leaders were in tune with this struggle.

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