In a previous post, I presented a theoretical plan for solving the world’s water crisis. I proposed a way for churches to come up with that money by “taxing” themselves 1/3 of what their property taxes would be if they were paying property taxes. We could get the needed $10 Billion in one year to fully fund the work that needs to be done to solve the world water crisis.
Now, Todd Rhoades, over at Monday Morning Insight has got me thinking about another way churches can do this. He writes that according to a recent study, churches in America spent $8.1 Billion on sound and video equipment last year.
So we can either give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name to every thirsty person on planet earth, thus solving the world’s water crisis, OR we can have state-of-the-art sound and video projection equipment in our churches.
Hmmm. World water crisis…. state of the art sound systems. Which to choose?
It seems like an easy choice, right? I mean, after all, to really be in touch with Jesus, we’ve got to feel the music and have our eyes massaged by the swirling lights on the screen.
If we don’t get those music-induced goosebumps on Sunday morning, how will we ever make it through the week? And besides, most people will stop coming to church if we cannot compete with the high-def surround-sound movie screens down at the Omniplex theater.
So I guess all those people around the world who just want a cup of clean water will just have to go thirsty a little bit longer.
Here’s the honest truth: When we sing worship songs on Sunday morning, we are listening to the sound of water being poured onto the idolatrous altar of music.
Of course, I’m in the same sinking ship, but on a smaller scale. I bought an MP3 player (a cheapo $30 job) last month, and purchased a few songs off iTunes. Jesus might be asking what I did with the $40 He gave me, but if He is, I can’t hear Him, because somehow, I got water in my ears.
Update: And there are so many innovative ways of helping these areas get water. Check out these:
Jo Ann says
Well, Jeremy, don’t feel bad about your MP3 player. I bought one to listen to messages from GES conferences, John Niemela and Charles Clough, all in MP3 format. What a blessing. I just discovered your blog. Thank you for ministering to us in this way. I have been reading a lot about the current discussion on the gospel and certainly support your view which you articulate well. We need these articles to help us sort things out in our own minds.
Jo Ann
Jeremy Myers says
Jo Ann,
Thanks for the comment! It certainly is a lively debate that is going on. I hope you appreciate the MP3s. It’s the only way I listen to audio any more, though I have become a bit of an addict. I checked my iTunes podcast downloads the other day, and I have nearly 2000 sermons to listen to. Yikes. I’ll never get to listen to them all!
Jeremy Myers says
Check out what some who are not in churches think of churches:
Church Buys the Strand Theater
Note especially the comments.
Esther Toon says
I shy away from guilt-trips in either direction since a focus on Jesus would solve both problems. But I sure love, applaude and promote the truth and logic of your argument!
Jeremy Myers says
True point. I need to focus on my own expenditures as well, before pointing the finger at someone else.
Jeremy Myers says
Yes, it is sad how much we spend on our churches…