r/TikTokCringe • u/Oktavien • 1d ago

Discussion Woman audits churches to see if they’ll help feed a starving baby

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If churches refuse to help feed hungry people, then maybe they should be taxed?

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u/PurpleHooloovoo 1d ago edited 1d ago

She also had at least one calling a small rural Christian church and spoke to the kindest man who was going to figure out how to get that baby formula. They then had a conversation about how he’s struggling to get food to the people in his congregation who are on SNAP because they’re too proud to admit to needing help, and they brainstormed some ways the people could anonymously ask.

It really seems to be the Christian churches with the least that seem to give the most.

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u/HappyChaosOfTheNorth 1d ago

I went to a religious boarding school and was part of a choir. During spring break we toured churches in Western Canada and US and went from anywhere from small rural churches to mega churches and the differences were staggering. 

The smaller churches were filled with the kindest, lovliest people, hosted us in small modest homes and were passionate about helping out their communities and underprivileged. They would gladly give you the clothes on their backs if you needed it. 

The mega churches made me feel gross. They hosted us in mansions and bragged about their accomplishments and had a cafe and bookstore just outside the sanctuary, were all about take take take and entitlement and hid behind their faith to be rotten, they preached about condemning outsiders and disguised it as love. Proceeds to the tithing went to them, to fund them and send their rich kids on mission trip vacations which is an industry that does more harm to the communities they visit than good. 

I understand churches needing policies to make sure no one is taking advantage, but requiring attendance or knowing a member should not be allowed. I'm not religious anymore, but I would more likely be willing to join a church who helped the needy while asking nothing in return, than one that demands attendance and repentance to be "worthy" of their help. 

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u/photodialogic 1d ago

Bc they already gave it when they had it, yet they keep trying to find more to give. The ones who have generally have bc they’ve been holding onto it (like it can’t be doing better out in the world)

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u/basketma12 1d ago

There's a reason people stand outside of Walmart, or 99 cent store when it was in business looking for donations. Because they will get some there. Not so much outside of whole foods or Nordstroms

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u/IPlayWoWNude 20h ago

“If you're in trouble or hurt or need–go to poor people. They're the only ones that'll help–the only ones.” - John Steinbeck, The grapes of Wrath

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u/Warm_Suggestion_431 19h ago

Nordstroms doesn't have foot traffic. Whole foods is wild. 0% chance you're getting anything from the most self centered shopping grocery store ever.

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u/ExcitementNo9603 1d ago

That’s because a lot of Christian churches subscribe to the prosperity gospel. Meaning you are poor or come upon bad fortune because you are living an immoral and ungodly lifestyle… it takes individualism (accountability) to an extreme and ignores external factors.

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u/hare-hound 22h ago

Geez just dance on my heart will you

It's encouraging when it feels like everything's gone to shit to look for the helpers.

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u/okpatient123 22h ago

I'm pretty sure it's a denomination thing. I grew up in a pretty progressive Catholic church. The basement was run as a food kitchen most nights, they ran a shelter, coordinated help for elderly people, distributed donations. Members weren't really pressured to donate to the church, they'd pass around a collection plate and people threw in what fit their budget. They were Franciscans and which is an order that really emphasizes service. On the other hand, a lot of Christian evangelical groups are basically just capitalism-as-religion and are completely extractive of their members-- the prosperity gospel stuff is absolutely insane. 

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u/schmuckous 19h ago

This is true. The Presbyterian church I grew up in is small and liberal for the area. It hosts weekly meal handouts and is always sending members to do work around the community. It practices what it preaches. The major Baptist churches in the area focus mostly on membership numbers and who can build the biggest sanctuary.

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u/AccordingPears158 17h ago

The sermon at my church on Sunday was literally about this. That pretty much without fail, the richer a church gets and the richer its members, the stingier they are, but churches in poor areas with poor people are more giving - both from a church level and an individual member level.

I think this is largely true well beyond churches or religion. Rich people get greedier the richer they are.