Ostentatious Christianity

 

The global Catholic Church wealth considering real estate and art is estimated as being between US $1 and US $3 trillion. Vatican City State (museums, post-office, media, etc.) has a revenue of only €300 million. The Catholic Church own land world-wide, 177–200 million acres.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is considered one of the wealthiest religious organizations in the world. Total estimated assets: $100–150 billion+

Megachurches are typically defined as a Protestant church with 2,000+ weekly attendees. Typical Financial Stats (Per Church):

Category                                                     Range (Estimated)

Annual Revenue                                         $5 million to $100+ million

Asset Value (Buildings, etc.)                     $10 million to $200+ million

Staff Salaries                                             Often 40–60% of budget

Senior Pastor Salary                                  $100,000 to $1 million+

An estimate of combined value of Church real estate globally approaches $300billion, the Catholic Church accounts for more than half of that.

Jesus said to him, 'If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'

Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, 'It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you are making it a den of robbers.'

No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.' The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 

May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money!

the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.'

Seems to me we have missed the point.

To the question 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered:

'The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.' Then the scribe said to him, 'You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that "he is one, and besides him there is no other"; and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength", and "to love one's neighbour as oneself" —this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.' 

The material Church is antithetical to all that Jesus taught.