Is there a better way to 'do Church'?

[Guest shiloh357]

1 minute ago, arachnogeek said:

No. For instance, there isn't a command to wear special vestments during Sunday morning worship, yet some protestant pastors choose to wear them. 

Okay.  So something is not wrong simply because it is not commanded, right?

[arachnogeek]

On 7/3/2018 at 4:06 AM, shiloh357 said:

10% is a good benchmark

Asserting that 10% is a good benchmark brings people into bondage. Suddenly, someone feels guilty about giving only 5% or 8%. Conversely, those who give more than 10% are puffed up and fall into pride, knowing that they give more than the 'benchmark'. 

[Guest shiloh357]

Just now, arachnogeek said:

Asserting that 10% is a good benchmark brings people into bondage.

No, it doesn't. 

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Suddenly, someone feels guilty about giving only 5% or 8%.

Nope. No one knows if you give or not or how much you give.  

 

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 Conversely, those who give more than 10% are puffed up and fall into pride, knowing that they give more than the 'benchmark'. 

Not true either.  Those who give more don't talk about it and usually don't want anyone to know. Often many people give anonymously for simple fact that they don't want any notoriety.

Your entire argument is based upon assigning false motives and values to others.   You really have nothing  that even comes close to a substantive line of reasoning.

[arachnogeek]

2 minutes ago, shiloh357 said:

Okay.  So something is not wrong simply because it is not commanded, right?

Substitute 'something' for 'tithing' in your sentence, and you've proved my point. 

I.e. "Okay. So tithing is not wrong simply because it is not commanded, right?"

[Guest shiloh357]

1 minute ago, arachnogeek said:

Substitute 'something' for 'tithing' in your sentence, and you've proved my point. 

I.e. "Okay. So tithing is not wrong simply because it is not commanded, right?"

There is nothing wrong with tithing from any biblical or objective standpoint.   Your entire argument is really based on just assuming the worst about people.

[arachnogeek]

On 7/3/2018 at 4:06 AM, shiloh357 said:

Nothing in the Bible teaches that a pastor cannot be paid a living wage.

Yes, but you've also rightly stated that simply because the Bible doesn't forbid something doesn't make it right. 

[Guest shiloh357]

Just now, arachnogeek said:

Yes, but you've also rightly stated that simply because the Bible doesn't forbid something doesn't make it right. 

But there is nothing that you can show that makes paying a salary to a pastor objectively or biblically wrong.   You don't agree with that practice, but it appears that you trying to force your preferences on to the Bible and on to others who "do church" differently than you do.

For some reason, it is not enough for you that we don't' force our views on to you and that we allow for the freedom and latitude for you to "do church" as you see fit.   No, you feel it is your job to impose your views on us and tell us that if we don't do it the what YOU think it ought to be done, then we are doing wrong. I got news for you.   We are not going to acquiesce to your preferences.

[arachnogeek]

On 7/3/2018 at 4:06 AM, shiloh357 said:

Million-dollar church buildings -  Those buildings are not palaces

By whose standards? One man's dung heap is another man's palace. 

[arachnogeek]

1 minute ago, shiloh357 said:

No, you feel it is your job to impose your views on us

You've imposed yourself into this thread; it is not I who have imposed my views. You, out of your own free will, joined this conversation. Therefore, you have no basis on which to say that I am imposing my views on you. 

Besides, there are plenty of people in this thread who disagree, yet haven't complained that I am imposing on their views.

[Guest shiloh357]

3 minutes ago, arachnogeek said:

By whose standards? One man's dung heap is another man's palace. 

The point I was making was that they get a lot of ministry use in vital areas of ministry.  They get dirty throughout the week and have to be cleaned a lot because of the ministry that takes place in there.  They are actually quite useful and a lot of things happen there that advance the Kingdom of God.