Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: credmond@watmath.waterloo.edu (Chris Redmond) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Use of God's money Message-ID: Date: 21 Apr 91 05:28:26 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Waterloo Lines: 27 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article johnw@stew.ssl.berkeley.edu (John Warren) writes: >>. . ., 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. > >It's not, but feeding the hungry with the money that God claims as his own >(i.e., the tithes and firstfruits) is. I have some difficulty with this argument. God does not benefit from those chimes -- God does not benefit from *anything* we do with (or without) money. If the chimes inspire us and others to worship, then they are probably a good investment of God's money. But if I recall correctly, there are very few passages in which God tells us to raise splendid buildings and promote the arts. There are many passages in which God tells us to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted. I conclude that the proper chief use of God's money is in doing the latter. Of course the support of the local church is important, but as a means to one of two ends: feeding the hungry and bringing our souls closer to God. As gifts to God -- well, the very idea of a gift to God is absurd. There is nothing that God needs from us. CAR