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Christianity Today, October (Web-only), 2008 |

After the Bailout, Government-Owned Churches?

But law profs say church-state problems are unlikely.

Ruth Moon | posted 10/01/2008 07:32AM

If any bailout legislation passes, the government will likely hold mortgages purchased from banks and attempt to sell them as soon as their value climbs high enough.

So what happens if the government buys ...

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Hilda

Posted: October 08, 2008 3:00 PM

Stuart you are 100@ correct..We are the church..Where 2 or more are gathered together in HIS NAME. All these buildings are places where people gather together..But the Temple is within us. The church met in homes before and there still are some that meet together in homes. The overhead expense and paying to hear God's word to allot of these evangelist is like the CEO's and others who are Greedy and are sheep in wolves clothing..Some people wanted the words "In God We Trust" off the currency...Well they got their wish God heard them..The Federal Reserve Bank and the Council of Foreign Relations, U.N. have taken COMPLETE CONTROL NOW. One WORLD GOVERNMENT has reared his head and all that didn't want GOD in anything will get what they deserve..They reap what they sow..Trust in man and this is what happens. Trust in God and He makes the impossible possible...Acts 2:38

James Goetz

Posted: October 07, 2008 10:32 AM


Please let's consider both ecclesiology and property ownership. The US government with anything close to it's current constitution will never own a church. The current financial bailout might make the government owners of church buildings, but never a church.

kenneth kramer

Posted: October 06, 2008 9:33 AM

Churches would do well to follow the word of the Lord..."owe no man nothing but love." Unfortunately that warning goes unheard by most Christians, which is one reason we find ourselves marginalized by society We do church just like the world does business. It is hard to recognize the difference between most churches and most businesses with their slick marketing campaigns and advertising. I live in suburb of Chicago where a large mega church has food court and a Starbucks! The first time I saw I thought I was at Woodfield Mall. This church just spent 80MILLION dollars on an addition, yes, addition! Big churches, big budgets and big debts along with never ending pleas for the faithful to give more! "The bird has his nest and the fox his den, but the Son of man has no place to lay His head." "Where EVER two or more are gathered in My name there I AM."

Stuart

Posted: October 02, 2008 6:56 PM


I wondered to start with if the headline of this article is meant to be satirical. The Church is people it isn't a building, so no bank, government or anyone else can own a church. It's about time we all got over our obsession with buildings!

Ernie

Posted: October 02, 2008 10:53 AM


what an amazing waste of time. does anybody really think that the Lord needs to worry about borrowing money from a bank in the first place? Or that He is concerned about any government giving Him special treatment? let the government convert them into sports arena's and hcockey rinks, an d indoor soccer fields, in recognition of our state Religion and Sunday family time!

Dave	Posted: October 01, 2008 8:52 PM


I can see some good ambulance chasers getting ready for this one. Gotta keep those attorneys eating.

Ted Voth Jr

Posted: October 01, 2008 6:25 PM


There's confusion in the article between 'church' in the Christian meaning, the true meaning, of the word, and the world's meaning, and obviously too often the Christian's misunderstanding of the word to mean 'the building within which a church meets'. Think, people; it's why God gave us brains.

Jim	Posted: October 01, 2008 5:34 PM


Owning a mortgage isn't the same as "owning" a church. Further, the government would not "own" the church but merely a building. The church will continue, even if it has to meet in a tent.

Charitas

Posted: October 01, 2008 12:11 PM

Thought provoking article however it is a non sequitur. Holding and possibly foreclosing loans on buildings are quite separate from managing the proceedings within those buildings. Mortgagers and note holders are not landlords that govern tenants. We should be much more concerned about our tax laws. 'Schedule A' deductions allowed for Church donations permits government intrusion. Because of this pastors may not endorse candidates or certain other voting issues from the pulpit. Churches that violate this rule have their tax except status at risk.

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