Sunday, June 7, 2009

Is Money a Big Part of Organized Religion?

Where do you think most modern day religious organizations would be without money? Is money really a big part of modern day organized religion or is that something in the past. Why do certain scriptures require their believers to donate a portion of their earnings?

Does this money improve the lives of religious believers? I'm asking these questions because most people won't. Most people don't even no where the money they earn is going. If you donate money to a religious organization and they choose to hire someone to install stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary, is this really going to help the congregation. Is this a want or a need?

When does a religious group become too powerful for its own good. Do you think the Catholic religion, which at the time of me writing this article, is the largest organized religion in the world, by itself, is very powerful or driven by finances. This organization has seeked wealth and power for centuries, creating an establishment that has its hands in everything all over the world.

Is it fair to have religious leaders living a life of luxury, while some of their followers suffer and go without food or shelter. Should some of this money go towards the aid of others who choose not to believe in the religious culture of their patrons?

Why do some people give money to their religious organization, even though they can barely survive. Are these people driven to contribute money because someone makes them feel guilty? Some of these people give money and time, even at the expense of their own family. It's just not fair, when I see people who are barely scraping by but give faithfully to an organization that promises them a better life after they die.

Your rewards for living a good life on Earth will be received after you die and are allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does anyone have any proof of this? If you choose to base your life entirely on faith instead of seeking knowledge and wisdom, or even questioning your religious doctrine, you're not doing yourself any favors.

Money plays a big part in organized religion and honestly does a lot of good throughout the world. Christianity has had a large impact on the United States of America but only time will tell if it was a good thing or not.

If you have extra money and desire to give it to a religious organization of your choice, feel free, but if you're giving 10% of the money you've earned and really can't afford to, I wish you would take the time to research what your church actually spends it's money on. If your church is building another church in Mexico but you don't have enough money for food, clothes or other necessities, I would suggest that you let other people donate their extra money instead.

It might not be mentioned anywhere in your religion, but I'm sure your God or the ultimate Almighty power of the universe you believe in, does not want anyone to suffer or go without, because your religious organization chooses to make you feel guilty if you do not contribute a certain amount of money, for whatever reasons they can possibly come up with.

If everyone that believes in this interpretation has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, wouldn't Jesus be suggesting a life kind of like Mother Teresa but without any money. She wouldn't be allowed to ask any wealthy people for money, let alone use it if she acquired it somehow.

Have you ever ask yourself is there any Hope in Religion .

Would it be safe to a sound that by asking for money from a wealthy person would mean I would not be going to happen. Does it say anything in the Bible about using money from a wealthy person for great earthly deeds and you get to go to heaven but he does not. If this is starting to sound a little confusing, welcome to my world. There are very few people that follow organized religion, that even ask these questions, let alone seek the answers and find the truth and keeping an open mind to future information that possibly could change the old answer that they accepted as a truth but now realize, the possibility that the old information could be wrong.

If you were a religious leader and could not answer some of the major questions that you yourself had, would you continue living a life of confusion or seek relentlessly to find the answers until you are satisfied. Knowing that if you were satisfied with the answers to your questions and now your religious beliefs have changed considerably, would you retire or quit working with the religious organization you were involved with.

This is one of the biggest obstacles for most people that seem to get comfortable in their religious environments. If the interpretations of a you Bible verses are incorrect and can be proven, either scientifically or through translation errors, does this mean that there are more verses in the Bible that could be incorrect or misleading.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Jim Rohn Author Review

You Can Do It If You Want Video

Get off your butt and start your life in motion today.

Question Your Religion

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a motivation help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Why I Built Spiritualbooks4u
Old Souls Of The World

The Wisemen Weren't Very Wise - Christianity

Here's a verse from Matthew in the New Testament, read this first and then I will explain why the wisemen weren't very wise.

"9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

The wisemen traveled great distances from around the world to see the new King. The star in the sky obviously pointed the way to his birthplace and when they saw him, they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, and incense and myrrh. It doesn't really say how much or what the value of these gifts was, but if I was to guess, it would've been around $1 trillion dollars. Okay that's pure speculation and let me get back to my point.

Here's the part I don't understand, if Jesus was born King of the Jews, how did we get Christianity. How come the Jewish faith didn't become stronger and more powerful with this newborn King. I know, there's probably all sorts of things you could say in Christianity's defense, like the Jews killed him or even the little dying on the cross incident, kind of put a damper on things, but the Jews lost there king and the wisemen disappeared, never to be heard of again.

Now if I was one of the wisemen or the Magi, I would have been smart enough to stay in contact with Jesus. I couldn't have e-mailed him but could have used the stars somehow to find him, like they did originally. If it were smart enough to use the star in the first place, he could have been found using the solar system a second time. Don't you think.

What it all comes down to, is this, if these Magi were so smart, why didn't they seek Jesus's advice or counsel in days to come. Why would they have given him these gifts, only to never be heard from again in the Bible. Another thing to think about on your religious path to spiritual enlightenment.

Oh by the way, what the heck did Jesus's parents do with the gifts.

Hope in Religion

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Thinking Like God

The Meaning of Soul Video

What is soul, is it someone dancing around to some great music or is it something inside of us, find out what two people think about the word soul.

Question Your Religion

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Question Your Religion

Is Our Treasure in Heaven Or on Earth?

Do you know anyone, who seems to have it pretty bad on earth and really can't wait for the suffering and pain to go away from their life? I have met plenty of them. These people often create their own problems and these problems eventually lead to suffering. This suffering eventually leads them to hope, hope is what some religions offer to relieve the suffering on earth and the promise of heaven is starting to sound pretty good.

It's not hard to imagine someone living today in difficult circumstances. When the economy isn't going very good, often people suffer with thoughts of despair and dwell on negative upcoming future events. These constant negative thoughts can add to our suffering and perpetuate the glorious ideas of the treasures waiting for us in heaven.

Is our treasure in heaven, a life beyond everything that you can possibly dream about. If you're a good religious follower, you get a really nice house, where ever you would like to live and will never have to worry about anything again. This often sounds more like a fantasy world than a reality.

I can see where anybody could easily get caught up in these beliefs. Hope offers us relief, this relief can take away the burden and pain of our daily lives, sometimes. Now I would imagine that poor people, are easier to convince about their treasures waiting for them in heaven. People that don't have very much and live in a life of daily suffering, poor sanitation conditions, starvation, water and housing problems can easily grasp onto these beliefs.

Wealthy people who seem to have treasures stacked up in large quantities, and who are living a pretty good life, might think a little different. Are they going to have even more in heaven? It's hard for them to imagine having more stuff than they have right now.

I don't believe there is a heaven, there very well could be but there isn't any real proof. Try to make the best out of your life on Earth and don't get too caught up with the glorious hope of heaven. Life is meant for living and try to be and become the best you can, learn to be more loving and compassionate and enjoy your life on Earth, it might be the only one you have.

In Judaism, only they get to go to heaven, Christianity relies on a belief in Jesus as God and the path to heaven through Islamic beliefs is going to be long and hard. If the Christians are right, the Muslims and Jews don't get to go to heaven, if the Muslims are right, well you get the point.

Life Changing Books

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.

Creating Love And Happiness

Saturday, June 6, 2009

In North Korea - The War Effort

Men will be men. They do some great things and they make some great mistakes, on both sides of the "aisle" and on both sides of the ocean. Mere men with their politics and their wars is not what this ongoing struggle in North Korea is about. It's about the war for Korea in the heaven lies.

I cringe when I hear of the great plans people have for "going in to North Korea" when "the door opens." Friends, the door is open now. There's never been a door or wall that has kept the Gospel out totally. Never. Word gets in and the Word we send is a powerful Word that gets things done.

The cruel war is waging as we speak. The question is, what part of the "war effort" will you join? Very few of us (actually I must say "you", because I just missed it) remember the horrific days of World War II. We've seen the footage though, and we know that everyone in this country realized what was at stake, and got involved however they could. Women showed up at the factories. Churches prayed and gave. Clubs were formed. Oh so much more. The "war effort" was not just about the front lines, but total immersion.

Are you in the war effort for North Korea? Don't wait until the visible doors open. It may be too late then, because those who walk "by sight" will be entering then and could ruin things. Go now!

There's a song making the rounds these days that would be appropriate to close out today's comments.

"Watch and Pray."

Christian, do not seek repose.

Cast your dreams of ease away.

You are in the midst of foes,

Watch and pray, watch and pray.

Wicked forces, evil powers

Gathered in unseen array:

they wait for your unguarded hour,

Watch and pray, watch and pray.

Put your heavenly armor on.

Wear it always, night and day;

To defeat the Evil one,

Watch and pray, watch and pray.

Hear, above all, hear your Lord,

Love Him, serve Him, and obey:

Treasure in your heart His Word,

Watch and pray, watch and pray.

Watch as if on that alone

Hung the issue of the day.

Pray that victory shall be won,

Watch and pray, watch and pray.

AMEN!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Power Of Faith

Too Busy Not to Pray - Slowing Down to Be With God by Bill Hybels

Got a lot going on? Do you think you are too busy to pray? Well, this book shows you the benefits of an active prayer life, an action plan for starting or restarting a prayer life, and also some reasons why we should pray.

The author has broken the book down into 4 major sections with a few chapters each. God calls us into his presence, God invites us to talk with him, God breaks down the barriers between us, and God speaks to our hearts. The first section is all about who God is as a listener and a grantor of our prayers. The author wants us to see the character of God throughout scripture and also the reasons God wants to grant our prayers.

The next section speaks of the ways in which we should pray. What sorts of things should we be praying for and why that is important to each of us. "God doesn't want us to pile up impressive phrases. He doesn't want us to use words without thinking about their meaning. He wants us simply to talk to him as to a friend of father authentically, reverently, personally, earnestly." (p. 54)

The third section speaks about barriers to our prayers getting through. In the chapter on prayer busters (ch. 9), the author gets to the heart of what could be standing in the way of answered prayers. "For each unanswered prayer, its important to check out three possible hindrances...the request may be inappropriate...the timing may be off...there may be a problem in the life of the person who is praying." (p. 100)

The last section is where the rubber meets the road. This portion of the book is laid out in a practical manner and speaks to the heart of what we should do if we really want to start or in some cases restart our prayer lives.

In the chapter "Slowing Down To Pray", the author speaks of our lives like that of a race car engine. For most of us our engines are revved to the maximum output. We are constantly racing off to the next event, class, bible study, or church service with never enough time to stop for prayer. He asks a very pointed question, "Where does the still, small voice of God fit into our hectic lives? When do we allow him to lead and guide and correct and affirm? And if this seldom happens, how can we lead truly authentic Christian lives?" (p. 125)

What I loved about this book is that it not only enlightened me as to why we all should be praying more often, but it spoke the importance of listening (ch. 12), how to hear God's leadings (ch 13), and what to do with leadings (ch. 14)

If you are a person who is wondering where we should pray, when we should pray, why we should pray, how to pray, or what to pray for then this book will be of real use to you. If you have never started your prayer life or are looking to rekindle the flames of a once fruitful prayer life, then I highly recommend you read this book.

God is waiting daily to hear from you. Are you willing to slow down enough to speak to him?

-- Jeffrey R. E. Morgan
http://www.jeffreyremorgan.com

Jeffrey R. E. Morgan, a member of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), founder of Blessings From Heaven Ministries, and Master of Divinity (M.Div) student at Faith Evangelical Seminary, has a passion for Christ and the Word of God and seeks to share this with his readers.

Susan Jeffers