Rich off of Religion?

Should those you run various churches become wealthly from the contributions of the church? I live in an affluent town near Dallas Texas. Some of the 700 club leaders live in the same town. They live in 15,000-20,000 square foot Mansions that are named on several acres of extremly expensive land. There is a leader of a large non-denominational church that lives in the next town [also affluenent] that has a 35K square foot home complete with his own private airport. I don't object to those who work hard for the Lord living middle class or upper middle class life but to get wealthy from the offering plate seems wrong. It seems like the money should go for spreading the Gospel or helping the sick or poor etc.etc . What are your opinion on the subject.

It is unlikely that most of their wealth comes from donations. Many make their fortunes by selling books, videos, or by owning or investing in secular companies. I believe Pat Robertson, for eg, owns some kind of silver or diamond mining company. Since you're talking about texas, I wouldn't be surprised if most of them had their hands in some kind of oil company.

On the contrary, many of the mega church leaders receive modest compensation from their churches/non-profits.

But there are a significant number of them who are compensated well into the six figures just simply for being on the boards of their non-profits. The Crouches, Jan and Paul, make 400k and 300k respectively in straight salary, with numerous other perks. John Hagee's salary has declined from its high of around 800K, subsequent to negative publicity about his high compensation. Many other big namers in the Word Faith movement are likewise compensated at a rate 10 times or greater the median American income.

In my opinion, they will be hard-pressed to justify this before the King- and He is the one we ought be concerned about. Yes, a workman is worthy of his wage- but lavish living paid for by donations made to 'the house of God' is hard to reconcile with either scripture or tradition.

Double post

Well he does own diamond mines in Liberia. He was using Tax exempt Operation Blessing planes that were supposed to be doing relief work in Zarie to almost exclusively haul mining equipment to his peronal diamond mines in Liberia. The question is which came first the collection plate or his personal wealth. Did he get rich from the collection plate then use that money to seed his personal ventures?? In Pat's case I'm not sure.

" According to a June 2, 1999 article in The Virginian-Pilot,[6] Taylor had extensive business dealings with televangelist Pat Robertson. According to the article, Taylor gave Robertson (who also had business dealings with Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire) the rights to mine for diamonds in Liberia's mineral-rich countryside. According to two airplane pilots who reported this incident to the state of Virginia for investigation in 1994, Robertson used his Operation Blessing planes to haul diamond-mining equipment to Robertson's mines in Liberia, despite the fact that Robertson was telling his 700 Club viewers that the planes were sending relief supplies to the victims of the genocide in Rwanda. The subsequent investigation by the state of Virginia concluded that Robertson diverted his ministry's donations to the Liberian diamond-mining operation, but Attorney General of Virginia Mark Earley blocked any potential prosecution against Robertson.[From www.Answers .com}

I do not think that church leaders should ever become wealthy off their church. I do think that they should have the ability to make money writing books or speaking engagements. Then what they do with that money will show their character.

I do not have a problem with anyone living a nice life, but a life of abundance I do see as an issue. If they do not practice what they preach, they would receive no respect from me.

You are right on the mark! This is wrong.....TOTALLY! Remember the Bakers, how they swindeld the followers, I feel the 700 club people are the same, they are millionaires, and they rarely "TEACH" any bible doctrine. I know much more doctrine then they do.

They are swindlers, and under satan's control......and not the control of the Holy Spirit. Stay away from this type of thing, or you will be doing exactly what satan wants, following in his comic system.

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"The word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the didviding usunder, the soul and the spirit, the joints of the marrow, and is the thought and critic and intense of the heart. All scripture is God breathed, and is profitable, for doctrine, for re-proof, for correction for instructions in righteouness, that the man of God might be mature, thouroughly furnished unto all good works.

In my Church pastors take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience so this is not an issue for them. But for those who have the ability to earn an unlimited income from the ministry, they are not in keeping with what the Lord had in mind. I do believe that they will be harshly judged not just because they are teachers, but because they have functioned more as businessmen. This is a real scandal in my opinion.

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