Wealthy Pastors

[redblue22]

What do you think of pastors who have their own private jet? yacht? mansion?

 

[Noxot]

I have more respect for the ones who make money with books and whatnot.


I don't like jesse duplantis because I think it is superfluous to ask people for a 50 million $ jet when you can drive a car. though I realize that some popular people go every which way in the nation and world to talk to others. but in this day and age of tv and internet there is a much smaller need for travel and exorbitant amounts of spending based on donations... which could have been used for something better such as charity.

I also frown down upon joseph prince after I heard he gets paid 1$ million +. I was disappointed to learn it. I don't like that the church would act like the world in how it does things. I think that getting paid that much money is how the world functions. the super successful make big money, it's a basic rule that the world does.

I would change my opinion of them if they used most of their money for something that would make God happy. but I think that this kind of stuff is a symptom to a bigger problem. I don't feel that Christianity is very much alive in the world, it is probably in part my own deadness.

I think that the world depends on force and coercion for their idea of goodness to be in the world. coercive systems in the world exist so much because Christianity lost their fight with the world. I don't feel that deep of a connection with anyone. when I die I think I want to for the most part be alone. i'm not satisfied with thinking that we will all magically become better people once we go to heaven.

humans are not capable of living up to the standards of Christ even thought they have improved. it has not been a total loss. just not the victory that Christ seems to have expressed. maybe the world will fully grow into it one day.

I wish I could have found more value in life, but all I see are people giving to some person who then makes lots of money. I wish life was more about life than it is, but I can't say that I did any better than most others.

 

[Greg J.]

I think the Lord has blessed them, and that their financial status has nothing to do with their heart, which is what God wants. It is best for every individual if God is first in their heart, and yet, he is not very often #1 in people's hearts, wealthy or not. Saying pastors should not be wealthy is a form of passing judgment that results from our own problems. God did not say his followers should be poor. The things Jesus taught were oriented toward having the right heart toward God.

Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. (Proverbs 13:21, 1984 NIV)

I think there is a place for every follower of Christ to be an example to others, but only God knows exactly what that should look like for each person. It is not to be poor, but to be thankful—we are to be thankful for what we have, and the people that need that attitude most are those passing judgment on what other people have.

 

[name_is_irrelevant]

What do you think of pastors who have their own private jet? yacht? mansion?

See it the same as any other Christian who owns tons of stuff. It's just the modern version of Abraham owning hundreds of camels or something. All that matters is what they're like as a person; everything else is irrelevant really. Some people make their wealth their identity, or use it as a platform to try and gain followers, which is not what the gospel is about. A person who goes with prosperity theology is like a guy who does the nice guy routine just to get girls (and then both get bitter when it doesn't work lol.) But I see no reason to demonize wealth itself, there's nothing holier about being poor, I've known people who are broke who are scumbags. It's not like the opposite of Donald Trump as a person is being broke, that's just the opposite in terms of bank account.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[.Mikha'el.]

What do you think of pastors who have their own private jet? yacht? mansion?

I'm not bothered by this as long as they're doing their part to help the less fortunate among us. It's definitely not wrong to be rich. No one begrudges Gates or Buffett for their fortune because of all what they've done for the poorest of the poor, and I'd hold anyone else to the same standard, regardless of chosen vocation.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What do you think of pastors who have their own private jet? yacht? mansion?

As the apostles said, TEST THEM before accepting them.

They must pass every TEST of Scripture (which few ever seem to do, btw, I think) , being fully in line with God's Instructions/ Descriptions of who they claim to be or want to be or think they are.

These are also often the SAME tests for everyone, from least to greatest, as Yahweh(God) is no respecter of mone.... er... persons.

Compare them honestly, as God permits, to those in Scripture (few ever come close).

 

[Niels]

Although yachts etc. are a bit much, wouldn't strike me as wrong if their parishioners are similarly wealthy. Some communities happen to have more money than others. I wouldn't find fault with them if their church happens to be full of doctors, lawyers, politicians etc. They would merely be serving a community where it's the norm. Churches like that often do a lot to help the poor, support missionaries, fund Christian organizations etc.

On the other hand, if they're fleecing the flock to live the high life and lord it over others, I consider that to be reprehensible.

 

[Sketcher]

Whether your means of making the money is legit or not, it always looks bad when a pastor is truly monetarily wealthy.

 

[timewerx]

What do you think of pastors who have their own private jet? yacht? mansion?

They should sell those, move to a smaller place so the money can be used to help more brothers and sisters in Christ

 

[W2L]

What do you think of pastors who have their own private jet? yacht? mansion?

I think they are following bad doctrine and are teaching others by their example to follow the same.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

They should sell those, move to a smaller place so the money can be used to help more brothers and sisters in Christ

That 'happened' , so to speak, IN ACTS ---- if anyone had two houses, they sold one to pay someone else's debts/ needs - NO ONE claimed anything as their own, and NO ONE had a need (ALL THE NEEDS WERE MET GENEROUSLY, spontaneously, orderly, and freely)

SCHINDLER wept seriously, when he realized IF ONLY HE HAD SOLD HIS MERCEDES BENZ, he could have saved TWELVE MORE JEWS.
He is well known for saving as many as he could at the time during the war.

Now, in peace time, people are told to BUY MORE HOUSES FOR INCOME? RETIREMENT/ do not WASTE MONEY giving to the needy !!!

Talk about selfish, self-serving, false gospel !

 

[timewerx]

Some pastors also genuinely believe that their wealth gained from their ministry is a reward from God for being such an exemplary Christian. Obviously they have not read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

The only real reward is Life and the Truth - all in John Chapter 6.

Things of this world is NOT from God:

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

 

[W2L]

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is [k]clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [l]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [m]wealth.

7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [n]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and [o]acts on them, [p]may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

"Do not worry about food and clothes like the gentiles do -
the Father in Heaven knows all you have need of;
don't even take thought for what you will eat or where you will stay -
the Father Himself, (Creator of the Universe and All Life)
provides all that is needed for His children..... "

The needs we have, food and clothes and place to sleep, "things of the world" are provided by God in His extravagant generosity and good pleasure ....

 

[timewerx]

Now, in peace time, people are told to BUY MORE HOUSES FOR INCOME? RETIREMENT/ do not WASTE MONEY giving to the needy !!!

Sadly, that is is how free market works. More spending = positive growth for the economy.

There is no room for modesty and austerity (so you can give more to the poor).

 

[W2L]

The Lord said God would take care of our needs. How does the economy matter if God takes care of us?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Sadly, that is is how free market works. More spending = positive growth for the economy.

There is no room for modesty and austerity (so you can give more to the poor).

That is what the world says. (and it is not free market, actually)

Modesty is not just 'optional' for anyone abiding in Jesus - it is essential.
'Austerity' ? Not sure about in this context now. We can only give what we have, and Yahweh (God) Provides what we give, which might not have anything to do with 'austerity'....

DO what the Father says to DO, and HE PROVIDES all that is needed , especially joy, peace, righteousness and LIFE ABUNDANTLY.

 

[MehGuy]

Disgusting..

Also suspect many of them are psychopaths.. nothing wrong with religion, but it certainly can be exploited.