Jesus said “Do not let your right hand know what your left is doing”
Unfortunatly Jordanian churches seem to forget the words of God which they claim to serve and protect.
I have wrote about this before, but now as I went to church again, it angers me to see all those names of people on the walls of the church (and they aint the names for saints). It is the names of people who donate for church, and in return, they seem to have their names painted everywhere in order for anyone going to church for praying to see!
Seeing Church practice what seems to contradict with a basic Jesus teaching for the sake of more donation does only help distance me even more from following such Church.
This time, I made sure to take pictures. I hope that there are some priests who read blogs where my voice can reach them. Maybe one can act to stop this insanity of converting the Churches walls into an advertising billboards!
“Snakes! You sons of snakes!,” said Jesus to the Pharisees (Matt. 23:33).
13 And the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated.
15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise.”
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Thy house will consume me.” (John 2:13-17).
I wonder how Jesus would feel about this.
Fadi Zaghmout فادي زغموت 
it’s vanity and it’s not limited to Christianity.
best…omar
LikeLike
You are right Observer.Also,this can be applied on mosques’ names that indiacte the person who carry on this donation.
I think It needs more watch from religious authorities.
LikeLike
Omar, I agree.
RedRose, I guess that we should watch our religious authorities not to sell our holy places.
LikeLike
This is a symptom of a lack of faith. Thus, the authorities must address the cause rather than the symptom.
The giver should seek the reward from God without anyone knowing of his charity – not even himself, when he gives with one hand without being sure how much he/she gave. If their intention was to receive praise in this life, then God owes them nothing in the next life.
In Mosques, I have seen water fountains with signs asking the drinker to pray for a deceased person. I think that is wrong too. We all need forgiveness, not just the person on the name tag.
–nar
LikeLike
true!
LikeLike
this is sick! that’s sweifieh’s church isn’t it? i’ve always noticed the drawings (or dedications as i find them) and i hated them. and the very few times i’ve decided to go to church i spent my time staring at the walls, reading the names, and not actually paying attention to what’s happening, i never even understood any of the roman things they say anyway…
with the donations they get, i guess the church could get a computer and internet connection and view your blog.
LikeLike
100% I totally agree with you! every time i go to church I think of this…not only that it is againt the teachings of christianity but also because I find it very tasteless and untactful for the art of byzantine iconography. people should be aware that icons are not just any drawing that can be done anyhow. it’s an art by itself and it should take aesthetical values in consideration. man! I’ve seen some icons that make me think that Jesus would be saying: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” ;D
LikeLike
nar, this is what my father told me. He said it isn’t a sin to have their names, but as Jesus said, God owes them nothing in the afterlife.
girl wittha attitude, Fadi, I am glad that there are other people like me who have noticed this and are actually annoyed with it.
Fadi, I am sure they know exactly what they are doing ;), but may God forgive them anyway 😛
LikeLike
Al Pachino’s line in The Devil’s Advocate rings true (he plays the devil): “Vanity…it’s my favorite sin!”
LikeLike
Good point, Arab Observer. The whole Christian church has forgotten many of Jesus’ teachings, but the one on giving especially.
I’m contemplating how we over-emphasis ‘sin-management’ in life over ‘grace’.
LikeLike
Dave, it does ring true.
Kinzi, it is sad how the ones claiming to protect *the word* are actually the ones who are reuining it!
LikeLike
Excellent ArabObserver. Houses of God should be places to praise God and only God. If someone does charity for the sake of God, then he shouldn’t seek human’s praise or else it wouldn’t be pure charity.
LikeLike
hey
is there anyplace we could chat?
yahoo, msn etc?
LikeLike
Hey, I totally agree with you. I dont know if you’ve seen the church at the baptism site, that is by far the worst, i was honestly disturbed when I saw the names of the donors all over the church. But what really struck me was that in the middle of the church there are mosaics, and on the mosaics its says their names. I was so pissed off, who gives a damn if you gave some of your money to the church?? It also bothers me that its in huge handwriting and that specific church should be owned by the government as it is a main tourist spot.
LikeLike
Abed Hamdan, you are totally right :). We agree here 😉
Anonymous, I still couldnt find a decent chat utility to add to my blog. You can email me meanwhile to fadizaghmout@yahoo.com. Would you pls sign in with an id instead of anonymous so that I could differenciate you?
Joe Kalis, no kidding? Even the church at the baptism site??!! They serious have gone insane! It is a touristic distination!! How come the Church allows this?!! :S
LikeLike
The Observer,
I wish to ask you what Christian denomination do you belong to? Is it Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Monophysite (ie Coptic Church) or Nestorian (ie Assyrian Church of the East).
I agree with you that not just Jordanian Churches but most Churches associated with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its American chapter, National Council of Churches (NCC) have departed from teachings of Christ our God.
Rev. Bob Edgar leader of NCC, USA, which published the RSV translation of the Bible endorsed homosexual ‘marriages’ and ordaining women Bishops!
If Christians wish to return back to our faith, we must uphold evangelism of lapsed Christians and also unbelievers, particularly Muslims.
LikeLike
Prosetylising is not immoral as the early Christians also did it. Both the Bible and Tradition of the Catholic Church are full of instances where Christians, not just lay persons but also officials (Bishops and Priests) prosetylised.
St John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople did prosetylise unbelievers, as did St Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
LikeLike
Ishaq Ibrahim, I have grew up belonging to Orthodox Church. I have never been a strong religious person and recently I am even more distanced from religion as all.
I dont see any harm in endorsing homosexual marriages and women bishops.
I guess that Christianity should move forward, not backward. Christians should adhere to the Christ message of love instead of keep on judging each other based on different interpretations of a historical texts.
LikeLike