Gawd you make me laugh Mickey! This is predominately a U.S. forum. The U.S. priding itself on Capitalism, which is the opposite of Christianity - you can't serve two Masters. I'm guessing the U.S. has one of the highest concentrations of Fake Christians eg Trump. TRUE Christians are beautiful people. They sacrifice themselves and their Lives for the Sick, the Weak, the Poor etc. FAKE Christians I could kick from a moving Train without a second thought!
There are plenty of beautiful people the world over, even in Russia and North Korea for example. Beautiful people are not restricted to christians. Remember that churches are tax exempt, not even paying land tax, they often have a large base paying tithes. Churches have low overheads, maybe two pastors, a couple secretarys maybe a handyman/gardener but often that role is taken up by volunteers (my wife and I were once volunteers church gardeners for years). Churches are a business, helping the needy is easier for them than the average Joe & Jill.
Many years ago I went to a Church one fine Sunday evening. During the Singing they passed around an EFTpos machine, so you could make your Donations. Times are a changing. Probably use BTC now.
There is an asx listed fintech which is all about church donations. Pushpay, PPH.AX Ironic word, 'push'pay. Unfortunately the majority of christians are too dumb to know they are being scammed. In actual fact they defend the scammers and heap scorn on those who would like to show them reality.
Trump uses the christian playbook. If you don't follow or be loyal to him, you are labeled a RINO. In christianity, if you are not loyal to their doctrine, you are labeled a heretic or a wolf in sheep's clothing. The catholic church would or does excommunicate you. My older brother was excommunicated from a protestant church in Auckland, so was I many years later in Perth when the pastor started fucking my wife who then left me for him. I was physically barred from entering Church on Sunday. Little did I know at the time it was a blessing in disguise.
I recall going to a heathen English protestant service for a neighbour who died and they had a "silent collection" which meant paper only, no coins. It was a lot cheaper to be a Catholic.. I started to watch the Hillsong doc last night and I struggled to understand why the pastor guy was exciting the ladies so much but with so many in the audience, there will always be a good number.
Great documentary I'm surprised Toronto still has a chapter ( even advertising the Women's and Kids sections like this could ever be a positive environment for them ). The only power women have in the church are as wives of men in power. Might be a great church for "Fortune Teller" though I think he'd be into it.
I get your anger and disgust, nothing has really changed since the Early Church fell in to corruption. Human nature has proven itself verifiably corrupt. Imagine the cognitive dissonance the Hillsong members are experiencing, “It’s imperfect men and Satan, we will pick a new leader because the slate is clean!” Reminds me of Matt 12:43-45. “43 “Now when the evil demon leaves a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.45 Then it goes and brings along with it seven other demons more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and the last condition of that person(church) becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation(church).” “…Planetshakers, had just revealed that his recent cancer diagnosis – about which he wrote the song Healer – was, in fact, fake…”
Basically sums it up, there is corruption everywhere, but most predominant where there is (a) money (b) power - both being interrelated, eg, politics, religion, business and obviously large crime gangs like Mafia, Triad. So christians belong to this very large organisation and think its lilly white and run by Jesus. LMAO. "The church is the body of christ." ....Yeah, whatever. Taking Communion.." This is Jesus' body." Oh the deception.