Is Christianity anything to do with Reader's Digest?

When I first became a householder, many moons ago, I received a letter in the mail from Reader's Digest offering me chance of a free draw where I could win lots of money and holidays. It explained that it was a free draw. I remember thinking I'll return this and I might win. But just as I was about to seal the envelope I thought, "What if they just bin the ones that say no I don't want to subscribe?". So I foolishly subscribed and received literature I never read and never won anything.

Now Christianity mostly doesn't ask for money. Well not in the UK anyway. You don't have to pay to see a show. But a plate is passed around after a performance and many people who look like they can't really afford to out of their old age pension, seem to put a fair amount of money on it. Even if the performance is an outstanding one or a poor one this doesn't seem to affect the box-office takings. And the same few people return week after week.

So, are they relying upon the assumption that people will actually fund their performance because some or most of their audience are actually thinking, "Maybe I'll stand a better chance of getting into heaven the more I give".
Duh, I know now I shouldn't have subscribed. It was over 20 years ago. Learned from it though.

Many drawings don't need you to subscribe to have a chance to win in the drawing. You shouldn't have subscribed. And you don't have to tithe to get into Heaven. It's only by your faith and good deeds through the grace of God that gets you there.

an apt analogy.

It's just like readers digest, if you remove the name tag the front cover rips. There are funny jokes in the middle and inspirational stories too. Thanks for your subscription and keep paying so that someone else can go to the Bahamas next year~~~

Reader's Digest uses a Pleasantville, NY address but their dirty little secret is that they're actually in Mt. Kisco.

I'm sure you spend so much time in church experiencing what takes place inside.

but ill assume that you're right. first, it's unfortunate that the young people in the UK don't have God in their lives. i would be terrified to live in an increasingly Muslim country without a God of my own to consult. my prayers are with you for that.

no, how much money you give to the church has nothing to do with getting into heaven or not. do they think it? ID, maybe. but God isn't impressed with how much money you have or give. He is impressed with the reasons you give it, though.