Joash chest

[meshee]

Has anyone heard of this principle? Seemingly it's a chest used to collect money for a "building fund". The church we visited yesterday had one in place and I have never heard of this before outside of the references in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

As always, my curiosity has the best of me. We liked the church a lot, so if we decide to go back, I will of course ask about it, but just wanted to know all of your thoughts!

meshee

[HeIsEnough]

I'm sorry, but that is nothing more than a building fund, with (perhaps) a biblical name given to it.

[meshee]

Thanks for your response HIE. (I always get the feeling that you roll your eyes when you see me post a silly question! )

I'm going to make a promise to stop posting my "curiosity" questions, even though I do value everyone's opinion. And think I will just stick to reading for awhile.

[HeIsEnough]

Thanks for your response HIE. (I always get the feeling that you roll your eyes when you see me post a silly question! )

I'm going to make a promise to stop posting my "curiosity" questions, even though I do value everyone's opinion. And think I will just stick to reading for awhile.

No way meshee, you keep posting whatever questions you want. I avoid the ones I don't like, and I can only think of one at the moment, will my pet be in heaven?

It was more towards that church, and any church really, to incessantly put a biblical name to something to make it legit. Hopefully, no one will ever start a Judas fund for traitors.

[Tall Timbers]

meshee,

Keep asking, the thread title caught my attention. I like to know what's going on out there. Some church starts a "Joash Chest" fund... next thing you know it's all the rage and they're all doing it... and I would have learned of it because you asked the question.

The story of Joash is found in 2 Kings, chapters 11 and 12, and 2 Chronicles, chapters 23 and 24.

[meshee]

Thanks you two. All I know is outside of the Joash chest thing, I really like this church. (But am of course, not trying to let my emotions outweigh any reasonable concerns.) I am planning on attending Bible Study there tonight and will ask about it.

This is the church's website, if anyone would care to look it over and give any feedback. http://www.tfcyoungstown.com/

We are just so starved (for truth and fellowship) and know that God has some place intended for us, we just keep praying and hoping that "maybe this is the one!"

meshee

[antitox]

Pastors use these bible referenced names for their building funds in their endless quest to raise money. They want to make it sound spiritual to the congregation.

Personally, I don't like it. So many pastors get caught up in building expensive structures and loading the congregation down with alot of overhead where they are cash-strapped and have very little revenue to do any good works.

[freedomnut]

Thanks you two. All I know is outside of the Joash chest thing, I really like this church. (But am of course, not trying to let my emotions outweigh any reasonable concerns.) I am planning on attending Bible Study there tonight and will ask about it.

This is the church's website, if anyone would care to look it over and give any feedback. http://www.tfcyoungstown.com/

We are just so starved (for truth and fellowship) and know that God has some place intended for us, we just keep praying and hoping that "maybe this is the one!"

meshee

Just went to the website, and was taken back a bit at the "CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE" option. May be a legitimate reason for that, but it just seems a little too "money centered" to me. Almost to the point that the "Joash Chest" thing is a ruse to make you feel guilty if you don't ante up a wad for the building fund.

However, if you're comfortable and feel led there, don't let folks like me dissuade you. I'm sorta cynical until I can learn more than surface data - part of being an old codger I s'pose!

[meshee]

So, I ended up going last night to Bible Study. After the study the acting pastor came up and sat down to talk with me, we got to talking so much that I actually forgot to ask about the Joash chest

What is even more interesting to note though is this: approx. four years ago, the church took a huge swing from charismatic pentecostalism to their now more reformed beliefs. The leadership remains the same, they all felt in one accord that the Holy Spirit was leading them to take a step back and examine their motives for the church and their beliefs. They spent almost 3 years in daily constant prayer over this. Of course during this transformation for them, the church began to dwindle and they lost many of their former congregants. They went from well over 1000 to the now approx 100 in attendance on Sunday.

This was about the same time frame that my husband and I also left our former church. What I found most appealing was the pastor's gentle and humble nature. I found nothing that raised a red flag. And when he approached me to talk last night, he of course opened up with the familiar "so what brings you here" and for a lack of better words and explanation I told him that we were sort of "recovering pentecostals" which made him laugh and say "so are we!" We also talked quite a bit about the Doctrine of Grace, and told him of my recent exposure to it and how liberating it has been for me.

I think I am going to stick around for awhile and get to know and understand them better. But I do promise I will ask for a complete explanation of the Joash chest on my next visit!

meshee

(P.S. I just want you all to know that I am in no way speaking badly of anyone who considers themselves Pentecostal. We made an escape out the almost hyper-charismatic realm of pentecostalism, and while I cannot be in agreement with most of the beliefs, I do love all my brothers and sisters in Christ.)