Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: Jeremy.Gibbons@prg.oxford.ac.uk (Jeremy Gibbons) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Use of God's money Message-ID: Date: 14 Apr 91 02:46:10 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Oxford University Computing Laboratory, UK Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu jsast@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Johann) writes: > Why is it so necessary for churches to build enormous spires into the sky > with multiple stained glass windows and gold crosses adorning everything? > Is it really to the glory of God? What would glorify God more, a gold > cross, or one of his children who is no longer hungry, sick, in poverty, > etc. To this end, when my church decides to spend $5,000 on a new set of > chimes to be put in the rear of the sanctuary, it is time for me to start > giving to a soup kitchen. I cannot believe that feeding the hungry is > contrary to God's purpose. While Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, `Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.' And they rebuked her harshly. `Leave her alone', said Jesus. `Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.' (Mark 14:3-9, New International Version) Nobody ever said Christianity was easy. Jeremy *-----------------------------------------------------------------------* | Jeremy Gibbons (jg@uk.ac.oxford.prg) Funky Monkey Multimedia Corp | *-----------------------------------------------------------------------*