Posted on 04/14/2020 11:43:20 AM PDT by ebb tide
I do agree that the beauty of the church is a great testimony and does bring people to Christ.
I just don’t think the beauty consists in the priceless art and antiques.
I don’t think it is unholy to have nice comfortable attractive worship places just not to the extent that the RC church does.
As a pragmatic argument you must realize that for everyone that the Sistine Chaoel for example attracts there are others that it repels.
I should add that the salary paid to secular priests is pretty meager considering their responsibilities and education level. You would not want to live on it. They usually receive health insurance and housing and utilities (sometimes food), and do receive gifts and entertainment from parishioners if they’re the popular sort. But they still pay taxes and auto expenses (including insurance), clothing, medical copays, and cell phone. If they want to take a vacation, it’s on them to figure out how to pay for it. Financially they are on a pretty short leash.
Compare any ten random Catholic parish churches to any ten random evangelical megachurches on that "nice comfortable attractive" metric and get back to us.
My parish church was built in 1847. It's not falling down yet, but we've had to cut back on expenses so that some of the structural issues could be addressed.
We don't have an auditorium with a $100,000 professional sound system and a coffee bar nicer than most Starbucks ... but I know a Baptist church that has both those things.
Most Catholic facilities are not like St Peters. Many of them are in fact pretty shabby, because Catholics don't put much money in the collection plate compared to some other groups.
The Bible pretty clearly says to give God the best you have. That's why the accoutrements in the temple were covered in gold.
Yes the protestants are not monolithic. For every Starbucks church you’ll find a storefront or a congregation meeting in a school.
In re the RC church I refer mostly to Vatican City, Rome in general, the whole priceless art collection thing. Not a good look in my opinion.
I am all for private property and investments and such. But the pope is declaring socialism and green new deal and etc, inconsistent.
Nowhere does it say once the temple was completed the ancient Israelites hoarded wealth In the temple. Christ specifically said to store up treasure in Heaven not on earth. Christ told the rich man to sell all he had and follow Him. I’m sorry but nowhere in Scripture do we see God telling people to hoard wealth.
The Roman Church can do as it wishes with its wealth I just think it’s odd that the same church that brags about its vast wealth on tours of the Vatican is now boo hooing that offerings are down at a time of universal suffering. I also note in the parable of talents that Christ will hold us accountable for what we do with our wealth. If you are comfortable with your church hoarding vast wealth while it’s people live in poverty that’s your business. I hope it works out for you.
Bankruptcy?
Doesn’t surprise me.
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