Is there a biblical precedence for this Baptist megachurch?

Since when did fundraising campaigns become part of the corporate worship scene? For the past few years, it seems as though churches across the country have each come up with their own creative marketing package for these campaigns. All of which it seems have been for constructing new buildings, wireless cafes, parking garages, and high-tech video game rooms.

They have been promoted as a way to relate to non-believers, to draw them in, to create a foundation for future generations. As if the Gospel of Christ needed to be advertised as a box of Lucky Charms as one pastor put it.

But if we take a look at the Bible, can we find any examples of similar fundraising campaigns? Passages such as that from 2 Chronicles 24 have been used as an example. Upon first glance it can be understood why that would be the case. However, as Christians we know that a campaign to raise funds for repairing Israel's Temple is much different than raising $115 million for constructing a new church building decked out with a glass sky bridge.

The Temple was God's dwelling place. He was to dwell there among the Israelites, and it was the place for worship and sacrifice. Of course it would make sense to keep the house of God in pristine condition. And so Joash was making a godly decision to repair and cleanse the Temple.

But does a church building in 21st century America serve the same purpose? My answer is no. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn. The Temple was no longer needed as a dwelling place, we are now the temples of God. And it was no longer needed for sacrifice because Christ's sacrifice was final.

The early church was not seen hanging out in magnificent buildings equipped with the latest architectural designs and gadgets. Instead they mostly gathered in homes for times of discipleship and then went out into the world instead of waiting for people to come in.

Could those millions of dollars be used to finish translating the Bible into the rest of the world's languages? How about for funding missionaries to the far corners of the earth? Or perhaps for funding the redemption of the thousands of slaves that still exist?

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"Baptist Megachurch"

Liberty U's Caner Scandal

If the allegations of Caner falsifying the details of his background are true, Liberty University's reputation could be damaged forever. Not to mention, that this will just add to the leverage that non-believers can use against Christianity. Especially since people have been claiming that the school has tried to cover up the lies instead of taking action.

Why in the world would someone in the spotlight believe that he would be able to get away with such lies, lies that could easily be proven false, in this day in age? That's one reason why I find it so hard to believe. However, it seems as if there are more and more complaints coming out about him. And let's face it, he will not have been the first public person to have lied or cheated or misled in the name of Christ, leaving a wake of destruction behind. Destruction which other churches and Christians will need to work to clean-up.

But how could his claims have gone unsubstantiated for so long? Why would no one have noticed when he began writing his books? If it turns out to be true, what will happen next? He'll resign his position, but who will Liberty find to replace him. The Liberty name will have been tainted regardless of if the school is not really the one at fault.

India's "Culture of Impunity"

From an optimist's perspective, CSW's call for India to reverse the culture of impunity for religious violence is a sign for hope that maybe if the government will begin punishing the attackers and repeal the anti-conversion laws that the violence will stop.

However, from a Christian's point-of-view, there is only hope in Jesus for this persecution to end. Unfortunately, India's historical caste system (however reformed it may be) provides the basis for persecution against anyone deemed "untouchable," whether it be Dalit by occupation or Christian by faith. As long as the government and majority of Indian society holds on to the idea that people are not equal, persecution, punished or not, will continue. History has shown that when people in positions of authority can accept that others are unworthy of certain basic human rights, it opens the door for all sorts of prejudices. It seems as if most acts of genocide have originated from this belief.

Until Indians begin to understand (Dalits included) that no one is untouchable in God's eyes, militant Hinduism will continue to influence Indian politics and acts of Christian persecution and anti-conversion laws will remain unpunished.