Mega Churches make me very queasy.
If you sell FORGIVENESS people will buy it.
Are you buying it?
The fact that God is big business only comes as a surprise to the naive.
“squat-humping” is definitely a phrase I’ll be adding to my vocabulary!
My grandfather told me to never trust a pastor who owned more than one suit. That made sense to me then, and it makes sense to me now.
GREAT article! Preachers who cast themselves as CEOs with all the perks are ... I’m looking for the word ... Hucksters? Creeps? Absolutely Brazen Hypocrites? ... Something like that. Or those.
Sooo...I shouldn’t have watched Dr Eugene Scott?
He was a HOOT!
When one of our three kids was born mrs p6 and I watched him while she was in labor. Best and easiest birthing EVAR!
Wish Doc Scott was still around.
And my all time fav radio preachers were Brother Dan and Sister Ann. Western Pennsylvania. Not quite a mega church but close.
They got me hooked on great Gospel music like The Happy Goodmans did. Dan and Ann did a pretty good version of Great Gospel Ship all by themselves!
They also brought Chico Holiday and Big John Hall into town a couple of times IIRC. LOVE that music!
This fellow is still bush league compared to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who had gold faucets in their bathrooms, an air conditioned dog house and gave away cars like Elvis. (I knew of one plumber who was given a car for making a house call on Sunday.) Their TV station had better equipment than the major networks in New York.
Oh I forgot about the 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Wear Expensive Clothes.
A pastor having wealth is not a sin. Poverty does not make one more Godly but the church board approving a $60,000 a year clothing budget is ridiculous. They are more the problem because they catered to this demand.
Pastors who aren’t held accountable can be led astray like Jim Bakker and Jim Jones.
I’m not opposed to pastors having some luxury perks, but any pastor who spends that much on clothing and hair gel has not only failed to grasp the significance of 1 Corinthians 11, but is also acting like a Sodomite.
I also can’t stand this stupid, condescending trend of “Christian Rock”. Sorry, but mimicking pop music and replacing all the “babies” with “Jesus” does not negate the mind-numbing terribleness of that music. “Christian Rock” is undoubtedly going to be used in the next Project MKULTRA.
lol... I think we all know a Houston area "pastor" who fits that description
I think we can all come up with a good one.
My Priest came over and I was surprised that He had holes in in his pants. Not big, just a tear. Great guy, I really love him, and he takes care of my family
My favorite TV preacher was a late 40’s, early 50’s white lady, who preached like she was black. She had the Call and Response, and everything.
If you closed your eyes, she was black.
I don't think there is a problem with a pastor and his family being provided with a livable salary. However, there is a problem when a "servant of the Lord" is living a christian version of a rock star income. It does not reflect well on the Master's message. There is indeed a problem. Just because the church is able to do so, does not mean they should do it.
Jesus preached to multitudes, He healed the sick and disabled. With that kind of "star power", He could have made nice tidy sum. However, He did not.
If a person went into the "ministry", they should also accept that it is not a get-rich scheme. Just because they can does not mean they should. They do reflect the Master.
We may argue, "Well, people cannot live like Jesus." True, that is why I think a livable income is just fine so they don't have to worry about taking care of their family. However, they need to remember that they are in the business of helping save lost souls and things not of worldliness.
If you worship mammon that is.
What reason do we have to don fancy attire and celebrate? We still have infant Auschwitz's in every major city?
I'm sure the Creator will be impressed with your shiny threads though.
Amen.
Yep
Worship is not a performance. If my eyes are on the "worship team" and not on Jesus during the worship, then there is a problem. If I am going to church to be entertained by the "worship team" during worship then there is a problem. You may be "lifting a joyful noise unto the Lord", but hey that is worship in the sight of the Lord.
Further, if I need a professional worship leader to direct me in worship, that is a problem. If I have a problem worshiping without a "worship leader" directing me, then it is time to get on my knees before God.
... just trying to picture Jesus on the stage with a great band, babes doing their performance, and the stud muffin doing the worship leader thing.