What do we Sacrifice for Adonai (The Lord God Most High)? 1

Over the years as a member of a United Methodist Church this is the time of the year when they begin their Stewardship campaign in order to set up their budget for the New Year, based on what has been pledged. I am sure in most Christian Churches not only do they take a weekly offering, but try to obtain pledges from there members to gain a better understand of the funds they will have available to help themselves increase how they can better get there message out to not only their members but to bring entice new people to join.

There is one interesting thing to note here for some reason Churches pay their Pastors large sums of money to either entice them to be part of their Church or to keep them there. It is all very confusing to us as to why some Churches pay their Senior Pastor up wards of $150,000.00 plus a year while others may only receive $30,000.00 a year. Let us not forget that not only do they receive such large amounts of money the church also pays for their housing, utilities for their home, travel expenses and many more perks.

So what is the big deal, whom are they doing this for? Are they in the business for God it sure doesn’t seem like it to us, it sure looks like the Levites and the Priests in the Temple? The ones who benefited financially from the requirements to bring an offering for their sins, those who would go out and collect animal that were free and brought them to the temple said a blessing over them and sold them as something that was pleasing to the Lord, like God could care less where the offering came form.

I for one would love to just have my housing, utilities and transportation costs paid with enough to just be able to take my wife out or go on a vacation once in a while. I had a discussion with a former Pastor of mine who believed he could understand what I was going though with our financial circumstances, Then I preceded to ask him how, he received a good salary, had a home he wasn’t getting evicted from or had to worry if the electric or gas would be cut off. No I think not like some Pastors they try to help you walk in your faith, yet refuse to practice what they preach. I for one feel if you are going to be preaching to me then you better be walking the walk so to speak.

Not to be one way in just condemning Christians for there actions I also contacted several Jewish friends to see what the Synagogues are asking of their members in order to help provide for there continued service to the local community. What the responses where varied on the community most required a fee for seating during the High Holy Days as well as membership dues. Some just require dues, which cover everything.

Those we would like to commend for there actions are the ones who ask for nothing. Those who rely on the Lord to provide for there needs, every so often I listen to Pastor Richard Ellis, of the Reunion Church in Dallas TX. One message that really stuck in my mind was when he is asked about building a permit building to house his Church he refuses to. See Richards Church is held at the Dallas Convention Center Theater they have no permit building. According to Pastor Ellis this enables them to provide for the needs of the community by not having any overhead costs associated with a church building. I often wonder how many people could be helped if more churches would take up Richards view.

For the Jewish community I would say that there view for a need for a Building is to House the Ark, which houses the Torah scrolls. To them it is important to have a permanent building for this purpose.

What upsets us the most is much like many of our Christian and Jewish Communities today for some unknown reason they keep building these large and wonderfully expensive Buildings. The people who are directing these measures are those that are trying to bring in the people and there money, by offering there members such amenities as a Starbucks or a McDonalds right in there buildings.

So where are we going with all of this? How did we go from a big tent (Tabernacle) in the desert and in Israel to these big Million Dollar places of Worship? Who are the buildings for?


The Lord Bless you and Protect you!
The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you!
The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!

The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX.