So today I read the paper for the first time in a while. I remember now why I don’t do it that often, as I always get enraged by something… I do like reading the paper but I find once every few weeks is enough for me. Too much doom and gloom, too much political point scoring, too much crap frankly… Today I noticed this small snippet which I couldn’t help but comment on:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/21/solomon-temple-brazil-christ-redeemer
Does anyone else wonder what on earth these people think they are doing? I mean I don’t imagine Jesus, were he to turn up today, would be saying, ‘oh how wonderful you’ve got so much faith you have built me a gigantic temple’ would he?
Apparently this temple is going to cost some $200 million. Ok, so I know that Sao Paulo is certainly not the city it was 20 years ago, or even 10, but it is still the Brazilian city with the highest number of people living in slums. Perhaps the church in their infinite wisdom might think that using some of this $200 million would be better used to help some of their poor? I mean it’s just an idea, perhaps knock the builder down a few quid and buy them some food or clothes or I don’t know? maybe a half decent home…
Just one more thing, which I can’t leave out: the church’s founder and leader owns a private jet, which according to the Guardian cost $45million… need I say more?
Frankly, it ‘staggers the imagination’ as my Dad would say.
3 Comments
GODthinker
July 22, 2010 at 9:58 pmThis kind of thing frustrates the heck out of me as well. How can tithes and offerings go to a huge mortage when there be hungry people, orphans, widows, and the sick, who are in need? I do not believe that is what God wants. He wants us to look outside the church to those who still need to find Him.
Matt 25:34-26:1
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 7 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
NIV
We cannot turn a blind eye to the needy and continue to bless ourselves.
sarah
July 24, 2010 at 12:34 amwhat some call faith and following Jesus I think is only following their greed. There's so much of people claiming they money to spread the gospel and then we find out the rich lifestyle they're living. Frustrates me…and makes me sad. How much more then does it make Him sad.
Seeker
July 26, 2010 at 10:59 amI read the Guardian article and it shocked me, not least the information that they are importing all the stone from Israel. The headline says the new temple will "put Christ the Redeemer in the shade". Thankfully it can never do that, though it may be taller than the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiero.