This is interesting..... that you bought up the subject about churches investing $$ into stained windows. I was conversing with a couple of friends a couple days ago, about how churches has gone too far with materialistic things, investing money into their church buiildings, special programs, etc. while the money being invested in those stuff, could have went to people who needed it the most. I.e. medical bills, or for when people are low on money or whatever happens, that money should be made availlable to them whenever needed.
When the discpiles asked for a special collection from the congreations, they ask that the money be directed to people who need it.
I don't mean to put down the churches, no offense intended against them, it is just what i see, and am disgusted by it.
I've been going to different churches my whole life, and one of the issues I had a problem with most of them were the issue of tithing, that is because I felt that the money should go to poeple who need it, so instead of giving to the churches, I just redirect the money to whoever need it- whenever the cirucmstances come up, to help them, in any way I can. God says to do it out of the goodness fo your heart, not be compelled to do it becuase you need to, I have no problem helping people because it gives me happiness knowing that they are being helped. I wonder why they invest money into stained windows, their own church bulidings, programs, etc, instead of helping people, what's the benefit in that? maybe to inspire people into paying more in tithiang?? Whatever their intentions are. You know I was thinkiing days ago, that if churches would just do what God and Paul asked them to do, then their town, esp their members would have been well taken care of, esp when a sick member needs medical care, and the bills would have been taken care of right away because they had the money to do so. Sadly this is not the fact in today's society. But I'm glad that the world will be a better place one day when Jesus rules the earth, imagine peace all over, the world, with no wars- no dieases, no deaths, that's a dream waiting to come true.
Lacey