27159
From: shatterbrain, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Churches may be wiped out by Covid-19
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"The blow has been hardest on the nation’s many small congregations (about half of U.S. congregations are the size of Stuckey’s or smaller). Some experts think the coronavirus could reshape the country’s religious landscape and wipe out many small houses of worship. These are places where members typically go to seek guidance and comfort, but members are now finding closed buildings and desperate pleas for funds." |
27165
From: Akira, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Churches may be wiped out by Covid-19
| world's tiniest violin. |
Responses:
None
27163
From: Sue/Seattle, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Churches may be wiped out by Covid-19
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IMO this is more a religious issue than spiritual. Being a pagan nature is my church. I certainly dont disagree with you that churches are not getting money which to me puts them in the same boat as small businesses. Its very sad churches are less able now to provide services to their community that they used to. Fortunately, others have stepped up to help feed people and such. One certainly doesnt need to be religious to lend a helping hand and I see that happening over and over. Heartwarming. |
27166
From: shatterbrain, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Churches may be wiped out by Covid-19
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For some folks, having fellowship at a church is all they will ever have. Now you take even that away, then they as well may be hooked up to a ventilator and be resigned to an ignominious oblivion. |
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[27170]
27170
From: Awen, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Churches seem bent on following tradition
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There are ways to adapt....simply having smaller services, cleaning the church between (which could itself be a community service if proper social distancing was maintained), could be viable. I'm not religious, I am frankly appalled by much of what too many churches do in the name of God. Issuing hubristic challenges to god for a miracle whilst calling it faith is one of those things I'm not too impressed by, especially when there are other solutions available. However, I do get what you say about community. That said, churches have moved more and more toward these huge televangelist megachurches, overcrowded and impersonal. Even my small town church has its large TV at the front, and is....sterile. There's no spirit left to it. I might have been adrift when I was younger (as I am now) but I could still feel the soul of the church. I can't feel it anymore, it's all flash, veneer, trying to put on a circus show to attract the largest number. Why not reduce the payments to the big wigs, put it back into church and community, perhaps a higher number of smaller churches, humbler people of God instead of people of Mammon looking for money and calling themselves Godly. Smaller churches, greater number of church buildings (and more small scale local preachers, church leaders) = closer community of those within, easier to maintain building, keep it clean, keep people more distant in times of illness, but still together as community. If the church can't humble itself before God and equally important on behalf of God's flock, then it's true it might not survive in its current form. There are options for adaptation and greater spiritual good if they'd drop the hubris. Right now the ones insisting on the same mega-gatherings are frankly run by the powers of darkness seeking to exploit the Church for Mammon, arrogance, greed. Some I'm sure have deluded themselves that it's a matter of faith, but that ain't God whispering in their ear... |
Responses:
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27162
From: Guest Guest Guest, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Churches may be wiped out by Covid-19
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Pray for the people of North Korea. They do not have freedom to go to church. They do not have freedom to learn of God's love from the bible. Christians were given the gospel commission for all of the world, not just only where they live or feel comfortable. |
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[27164]
27164
From: Tex, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Churches may be wiped out by Covid-19
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God doesn't need a book to be known. God is evident, obvious, in every waking moment. Everywhere. The karma of those born in North Korea.. well let's just say I am glad it ain't mine. But the awakening is freely available to all that seek it. Bible talk is BS. Churches are jails for underdeveloped wannabes. People are "saved" because of what is in their hearts. What they do with their minds. No book, no building, no leader, required. We would all be better off if the churches all were gone. Helping others has nothing to do with churches. Though, thankfully, many who congregate in them are kind. |
Responses:
None