So billionaires can't be pastors or pastors can't be billionaires? Or both?
21 Jesus said to him,
"If you wish to be complete , go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples,
"Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?"
And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25
Not impossible, but hard. And how does it fit with the earlier verses...
You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Are the leaders lying about how much they need to fund a building or broadcast; are they stealing by telling people God will not bless them unless money is donated to them?
Are they loving the impoverished, dislocated workers, disabled, sick shut-ins as themselves? Insisting that donations are necessary and God's will, but then spending donations on fleets of sports cars?
If a minister is making large amounts without donations or high salaries, it can be from book sales and speaking engagements.
But we must ask also if they are breaking non-profit principles and taking kickbacks (or protection) for backing political agendas, corporations, etc. We hear of comedians who are paid to mention Applebee's in their routines. Some TV preachers have larger audiences, and might be tempted to do the same.
A certain megachurch pastor is running a month-long series on drones. Who benefits from that? Certainly not the parishioners.
