What Will Your Lord Jesus Christ Say About These Extravagant Pastors?

[macko]

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...47714,00.html?

Why do preachers need private jets?
That's the question one US senator is asking
November 14, 2007

MARBLE toilets costing thousands of dollars. Fancy cars. Private jets. Extravagant pay cheques.

Senator Chuck Grassley launched an investigation into the finances of six US churches. -- Pictures: AP
It seems like a scene from lifestyles of the rich and famous.

But these are real-life aspects of the lavish lifestyles that some church pastors in the US are leading, especially the immensely popular television evangelists.

With donations running into billions of dollars from their legions of followers, six churches are now the target of an investigation into their finances.

The ministers of the churches have a month to respond to, and participate voluntarily, in the investigation initiated by Republican US senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, according to ABC News.

A member of the Senate Finance Commitee, he wants to know how churches are allocating their funds and whether tax breaks given to charities are being abused and exploited.

He said: 'We need to make sure that the sanctity of tax exemption for charitable giving is preserved...'

The senator said that he launched the investigation after whistle-blowers detailed the lavish spending of some ministries, one of which included US$23,000 ($33,000) marble toilets.

According to ABC News, two of the ministers have said that they would cooperate in the investigation.

According to Mr Creflo Dollar of the World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park in Georgia, his ministry is an open book.

His Atlanta megachurch took in US$69 million last year, reported AP.


He defended his request to buy a private jet out of church funds, saying: 'Like a carpenter who has to have a hammer to do his job, I've got to have a plane to fly around this world and be back here to pastor two churches - one here and one in New York.'

Mr Dollar was also given a Rolls Royce by the church to use on special occasions.

He said that his personal income came from investments including business and real estate ventures.

Mr Dollar added: 'Without a doubt, my life is not average. But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong.

'My lifestyle does not come out of the church's bank account.'

Mr Dollar is famous for preaching the 'prosperity gospel' which tells believers that if they are faithful to God, they will be rewarded with material riches.

PROMISES

Mr Kenneth Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Newark, Texas had also requested for church donations to buy a jet.

He had promised his followers that: 'It will never, ever be used for anything other than what is becoming to you, Lord Jesus.'

But he was caught taking a two-day layover in Maui, Hawaii on his way to an evangelical seminar in Australia and other stops in the Fiji Islands and Honolulu.

This raised doubts about his use of the US$20 million plane. According to Mr Rusty Leonard of Ministrywatch.com, some of the ministers and pastors were trying to fleece their flock of believers.

He said: 'Jesus Christ would not want this to be happening. He did not take money from his followers and use it to buy better robes or a nicer mud flat.'

Four of the six churches have defended their spending, claiming that it is legal.

But others such as Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Georgia had harsher words for the enquiry undertaken.

In a brief address to his congregation on Sunday, he said that Senator Grassley's request for financial information was 'an attack on our religious freedom and privacy rights'.

However, in a statement issued last week, he said that he would cooperate with the authorities on the matter.

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Hei Guys And Girls

Just wonder what will your Lord Jesus Christ say about these extravagant pastors?

Are you all that 100% sure that your pastors are that good and holy?

I remember my friends telling me Jesus Christ rode on a donkey and not on an extravagant twenty horses pulled luxurious coach.

Why are your Christians pastors so extravagant? Give me a break, Christians out there.

PS : Don't blame for raising this topic, it is your so called christians pastors extravagant ways that gave me the ammunition, sorry, blame your extravagant pastors with expensive backsides.

[sujkop]

sigh.... what is there to say? crap pastors loh... no point hearing their crap excuses for they will come up with more crap excuses to confuse everybody..

I am human to be very embarrassed by such extravagant pastors giving a bad name to christianity. Makes me wonder what is God doing in letting such pastors becoming so rich, powerful and extravagant.

[macko]

Actually I think being a pastor is an easy way to become rich, all you have to say is God here, God there, God says this, God says that, blah blah blah... then says God says you must donate so that I can be extravagant to buy an air plane, my precious backside cannot sit like others on commercial airlines, ha ha ha...

Just wondering if we are going to see similar newspaper reports about our very own Singapore Christians pastors...

[burdened22]

Hello, it's not going to happen, it's happening. That is why I wrote the thread about churches being cold. Of course they are not asking for private jets and all those. Singaporean not so stupid.

Just to give macko some ammo, this happen in the church I use to attend. In one meeting, the assistant pastor table a motion that funds be use to buy a new car for the pastor so that he can travel about to do "God's Work". All in the meeting gave a resounding "Yes". Then, the pastor table a motion that the assistant pastor car is old and need a new one. Again, the elders and deacons all gave their resounding "Yes". Sounded like a "banana republic" running a "kangaroo court". It's true and happen right here in Singapore. All done "In God's name".

By the way, did anybody really know how much a pastor in a medium church is getting?? Let me tell you that the answer you get will not include weddings ,funerals other sidelines. I'm not implying that all are corrupted. I'm saying most are. It's a career to some. These pastors also make it a point to attend problems during office hours. Anything after, "please talk to me tomorrow".

[thelamb]

Jesus would say "Have breakfast with me".... John 21:12

Our God is a good God and His mercy is everlasting even to the Mega Churches and the preachers they invite (Trinity Broadcasting Network and Benny Hinn Ministries amongst others who have been found to be less than transparent).

I have got no problem in any pastor earning 50 million a year as long as it is transparent and they pay taxes and it is OK with the donors. Having money is not wrong, it is the method employed.

Power and money corrupts. Absolute power corrupts infinitely. If I am getting that much money, I don't think I will do otherwise. I am a sinner under grace just like them. So cannot blame them too much.

It is important not to be Worldly but to consecrate our lives to Jesus that we may live a simple and God fearing life. Let us run away from temptation.

[Visionary]

True Christians understand what the Scriptures say... "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) Sadly, in all walks of life and in virtually every vocation - there are counterfeits. I would to God that Pastors were exempt - but unfortunately there are too many bad examples like those quoted in the article.

Lest you think unacceptable behavior will escape the wrath of the Sovereign Righteous Judge of all men - the words of Christ Himself tell you how it all ends... (Matthew 7:22 and following): Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Using another's sin does not excuse each man his own sins. All are encouraged to turn to Christ - forsake all - including this world's ambitions - and seek forgiveness from your sins and righteousness that only can be found in Christ - for this life and the next.

[Bearing]

Brothers and Sisters

Pastors are only human. Don't make them to be God because God do not need money. For God speaks things into existence, man can't. Jesus says this: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

This doesn't mean that you trample on God's servants and deprieve them of their needful wages. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." How much to give is purely up to the church itself. Some people will run church like a business, that's why they need to grow their congregation because this translate into $$$. And when you check how they use the fund been poured into it, you will be astonished at what it's been used for. Real christianity is not easy to follow. Paul taught us this:

3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

[Tina]

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Some pastors, radical islamists, buddhist monks are in the limelight for all the wrong reasons nowadays.

It shows that men cannot be trusted, only God can be trusted.

However no one should be judged or stereotyped because of the failures of a few others. Let God be the Ultimate Judge and conmen, hypocrites and extremists have to eventually account to Him one day.....


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[charisma]

The Bible's stand on wealth and "financial breakthroughs" is clear.

Matthew 19:24 and Luke 18:25,repeated for emphasis

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Matthew 6:19-21,

""Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Philippains 3:18-19,

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame- who SET THEIR MIND ON EARTHLY THINGS."

In another of his epistles, Paul warns of the danger of twisting our gospel preachings to make for more sweet hearing for unsaved ears. Galatians 1:10,

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of God."

In no way should we skew our gospel to conform to the world. In all ways we should seek to conform ourselves to the image of Christ. It is dangerous to run a church based pseudo-Christian beliefs.

I wonder what churches like city harvest and new creation have to say to the above.

[charisma]

Originally Posted by thelamb

Jesus would say "Have breakfast with me".... John 21:12

Our God is a good God and His mercy is everlasting even to the Mega Churches and the preachers they invite (Trinity Broadcasting Network and Benny Hinn Ministries amongst others who have been found to be less than transparent).

I have got no problem in any pastor earning 50 million a year as long as it is transparent and they pay taxes and it is OK with the donors. Having money is not wrong, it is the method employed.

Power and money corrupts. Absolute power corrupts infinitely. If I am getting that much money, I don't think I will do otherwise. I am a sinner under grace just like them. So cannot blame them too much.

It is important not to be Worldly but to consecrate our lives to Jesus that we may live a simple and God fearing life. Let us run away from temptation.

Tell that to Kong Hee and Joseph Prince.