Now THAT's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

WOW! A drone show put on by a church in Manvel, Texas depicts our Savior Jesus on the cross.

One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Tomorrow, HE IS RISEN. pic.twitter.com/zlhWEnFzCZ

— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) April 4, 2026

First off I'll say that it is very cool.


BUT because that same money could have fed families, housed the homeless, or funded ministries that actually touch the poor and vulnerable that Christ commanded us to serve.

Amos 5:21-24 God speaks directly to Israel about their religious gatherings.

"I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"


God isn't saying He merely prefers justice over spectacle. He's saying the spectacle itself becomes repulsive to Him when justice is neglected. A stench.


Mark 10:21, Jesus is equally direct:

"Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven"


These aren't suggestions. They're central commands from both the Old and New Testament.

I'm not here to condemn any specific church. But I do think it's ok to ask questions.

At what point does production replace purpose?

Is this justified? Is this for us, church vanity etc.. or are we doing what God commands.

CrackerJackAg said:

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First off I'll say that it is very cool.


BUT because that same money could have fed families, housed the homeless, or funded ministries that actually touch the poor and vulnerable that Christ commanded us to serve.

Amos 5:21-24 God speaks directly to Israel about their religious gatherings.

"I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"


God isn't saying He merely prefers justice over spectacle. He's saying the spectacle itself becomes repulsive to Him when justice is neglected. A stench.


Mark 10:21, Jesus is equally direct:

"Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven"


These aren't suggestions. They're central commands from both the Old and New Testament.

I'm not here to condemn any specific church. But I do think it's ok to ask questions.

At what point does production replace purpose?

Is this justified? Is this for us, church vanity etc.. or are we doing what God commands.

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Jesus also rebukes Judas for making the same commentary about the ointment the woman puts on Jesus. You can use your line of rationale for every single church item until their is no church left.

one MEEN Ag said:

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CrackerJackAg said:

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First off I'll say that it is very cool.


BUT because that same money could have fed families, housed the homeless, or funded ministries that actually touch the poor and vulnerable that Christ commanded us to serve.

Amos 5:21-24 God speaks directly to Israel about their religious gatherings.

"I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"


God isn't saying He merely prefers justice over spectacle. He's saying the spectacle itself becomes repulsive to Him when justice is neglected. A stench.


Mark 10:21, Jesus is equally direct:

"Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven"


These aren't suggestions. They're central commands from both the Old and New Testament.

I'm not here to condemn any specific church. But I do think it's ok to ask questions.

At what point does production replace purpose?

Is this justified? Is this for us, church vanity etc.. or are we doing what God commands.

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Jesus also rebukes Judas for making the same commentary about the ointment the woman puts on Jesus. You can use your line of rationale for every single church item until their is no church left.

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Yeah, that doesn't apply here. That is a very strange personal interpretation of the scripture.

If you read the response it is very much about blatant spectacle without justice. NOTHING to do with taking the Churches to zero.

I didn't say the church was not doing anything wrong. It's just my response when I see a large display or spectacle. It's a question worth considering when taking direct scripture into account.

The drone show was 100% donated by an Anonymous person, from my understanding.

Interesting discussion.

The comment about Judas reminded me of a couple of things I heard somewhere.

First, is that Jesus loved Judas very much and we can only imagine how his heart was broken when Judas betrayed him.

The second, that I have understood from Jesus' rebuke to Judas had more to do with where his heart was at that moment. He was confused about the bigger picture which Mary understood. She wanted to love Jesus through the action of washing his feet. All Judas saw was the value of money and maybe his guilt of misunderstanding the reason Jesus was in the world. He didn't come as a conqueror, but was bringing a message of peace and mercy rooted in love for one another.

As for the Easter drone show, I am sure the congregants weighed all of that and wanted to celebrate the resurrection of Christ in their own way.

Agree to disagree on who is reading personally into scripture here. And in general weighing in on the nuances of what money should go towards the actual church vs what money is frivolous and deserves to be sacrificed to the infinite need of 'for the poor.'

I've heard, 'money should be used for the poor' instead of everything under the sun that the church has ever bought across every church I've been a part of. Its an eye rolling argument because at the end of the day, if you have food and clothing and shelter you've got enough to come participate like anyone else in the services of the church. The first priority of the church isn't to ensure financial prosperity of the at large community. Every line item on a church budget can be squeezed harder to divert money to the poor until there is nothing left of the church.

Some guy donated the money for the show. Good for him. Do I think the show is the best edification of Jesus? No. Do I believe in the once saved always saved/heavy emphasis on rededication that protestant evangelical churches push that this type of spectacle reinforces? No. Do I think God considers this action as evil as the Israelites in the full depth of hypocrisy about sacrifices that you bring up? No. Do I think this guy is doing some mortal sin here by this? No.

So it just get chalked up to another case of trying to police how someone else spends their money.

one MEEN Ag said:

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Agree to disagree on who is reading personally into scripture here. And in general weighing in on the nuances of what money should go towards the actual church vs what money is frivolous and deserves to be sacrificed to the infinite need of 'for the poor.'

I've heard, 'money should be used for the poor' instead of everything under the sun that the church has ever bought across every church I've been a part of. Its an eye rolling argument because at the end of the day, if you have food and clothing and shelter you've got enough to come participate like anyone else in the services of the church. The first priority of the church isn't to ensure financial prosperity of the at large community. Every line item on a church budget can be squeezed harder to divert money to the poor until there is nothing left of the church.

Some guy donated the money for the show. Good for him. Do I think the show is the best edification of Jesus? No. Do I believe in the once saved always saved/heavy emphasis on rededication that protestant evangelical churches push that this type of spectacle reinforces? No. Do I think God considers this action as evil as the Israelites in the full depth of hypocrisy about sacrifices that you bring up? No. Do I think this guy is doing some mortal sin here by this? No.

So it just get chalked up to another case of trying to police how someone else spends their money.

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You seem very hostile and seem to be taking things in ways that I am not saying them.

I think it would be best for you if I just choose not to continue the conversation.

I was just simply asking questions (and openly saying I don't know the situation) and you seem to take everything as an attack.

I don't know your personal situation and maybe this is some cross you've had to bear within your church and you have a different perspective than me on "the poor" that gets you going.

I'm not looking to have an argument man. Just a discussion.

This is a discussion forum.