The ATM of God ?

I don't know about the whole "ATM of God" thing. Didn't they learn anything from the money changers in the temple story? :o) Churches do require offerings (donations) and the Bible says to tithe 10%. The people who attend church give to help keep the church running. There is no other source of money, unless they do some type of fund raiser, and the property has to be paid for, utilities have to be paid, there is charity work that costs money, and the priest, preacher, minister, etc. does have to eat and have money for basic needs. I know a lot of people are turned off by the offering plate, and that some churches do seem to take advantage, but there are legitimate costs. God's people are supposed to take care of His house and his servants.

As George Carlin once said- "When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullsh*t, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullsh*t story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!" "But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullsh*t story. Holy Sh*t!" Lets just say that even though I believe in God, I agree much with George Carlin´s views. --------------------- Corripe Cervisiam!!! -JCM-

This is honestly why I stopped going to church. I believe in God but I am so tired of the offering plate being sent around 3-4 times per meeting, each for different things. One for the church itself, one for missionaries and so on. I also felt the sting of dirty looks when I didn't put any money in the second or third time it went around. I had put money in the first time that I really didn't have! It seems like it's more about the money anymore than anything else. We'd sing a song and then pass the plate. Sing another song, pass another offering plate. Listen to the sermon for 10 minutes, pass the plate again. It really got old. I tried several churches and they all seemed to be the same way. I am sure not all churches are like this, but I got tired of looking for one. Do I think that ATMs belong in a church? No way. I think that is way over the top. Can I see it happening, though? I am sure that one of these days it will happen.

I belive that the amount that is donated or tithed should be the amount that is eaual to 10 percent of the persons income, that is the way, I was raised, and if the priest or preacher is not "making enough money" just by preaching, that he needs to get a job. Now, I am not activly involved with any religous groups and do not reallly plan to be, which drives my brother, the preacher, crazy, but I believe we all can worship in our own ways, and do not have to go to church to do so. But, I do think it is crazy to even think about putting an ATM in a church, if you have ever read the bible, Jesus threw out the merchants and all the other businessmen for conducting business in "His Fathrs House".

good topic I myself am a Christian but refuse to belone to aan organised denomination because as you showed here they worship the almichty dollar and not the almighty GOD!Jesus said feed my sheep he did not tell us to fleece his sheep!

I won't deny that a lot of churches are money-driven and greedy. That is not what God intended. That is why Christians are supposed to tithe. Tithing means to give a tenth of your earnings to the Lord's work or the church. The Bible promises us that if we tithe we will live an abundant life. I have never tried it, but I am thinking about it if I decide to get back into organized religion again. What I would say to all you atheists is this, God is a spirit who sent His Son, Jesus, in the flesh so that man would have something solid to help them maintain their faith. When Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you that where I am ye may be also," I fully intend to be ready to go with Him.

Giving is one of the five ways to worship God. But it should come from the heart. The 10% for the Levites is no longer applicable. A person may even give his life and that is more than 10%. If we give, we should remember that we are giving to God and not directly the recipient which sometimes we do not like to help.