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Inevitable Megachurch Abuse Of PPP Funds Is Coming To Light — Private Jet Included
Religion Dispatches ^ | 12/15/2020 | ANDREW L. SEIDEL

Posted on 12/16/2020 11:12:23 AM PST by Gamecock

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To: Gamecock

She is no spring chicken.


41 posted on 12/16/2020 12:54:11 PM PST by miserare ( Respect for life--life of all kinds-- is the first principle of civilization.~~A. Schweitzer.)
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To: Gamecock

hmmm...


42 posted on 12/16/2020 12:54:40 PM PST by sauropod (Balls to humblegunner.)
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To: kaehurowing
If churches are classified as nonprofits, they are entitled to the same benefits other nonprofits are.

You think religious institutions should be in line for federal handouts?

Someone will open a few Madrassas and you might change your mind...

43 posted on 12/16/2020 12:56:04 PM PST by Gunslingr3
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To: Gamecock

Either he is a runt, or she is an Amazon.


44 posted on 12/16/2020 12:56:59 PM PST by miserare ( Respect for life--life of all kinds-- is the first principle of civilization.~~A. Schweitzer.)
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To: Seruzawa

“...Abuses by mega-churches give the demonRATs ammunition to go after ALL churches....”

Exactly!!
There are thousands of churches across our nation that obey the law and carry out their calling without issue.
This kind of BS will end up with draconian government punishment etc. on all of em.


45 posted on 12/16/2020 1:05:10 PM PST by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: Gamecock

“...I wouldn’t call these entertainment halls churches.

Yeah...no kiddin’.
One has to use the term “church” rather loosely for some of these joints. Many are nothing more than a social gathering clubhouse with a little so-called religion/preaching tossed in just enough to meet the “church” definition.
On the flip side of that, there are some good, solid, Bible-believing churches that adhere to the principles given in the Word and teach/preach as such. They’re not out to fleece or harm anyone...just the opposite.
Most of the time, they’re usually scorned and ridiculed by the mainstream, but they’re out there doing what they feel called to do and actually trying to help people in need.
It’s wrong to “lump em all into one basket”, but that’s what usually happens. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump”.


46 posted on 12/16/2020 1:22:00 PM PST by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: lgjhn23

“ FWIW, I’d be totally ashamed to call myself “Christian” and be taking government money like that.”

My (small) church took about $40K. We used it to pay our janitor, the part time employees who run an after school care program, sexton, organist, etc. We were very worried about revenues given shutdowns and small attendance. Thankfully our revenues have been nearly on par with a normal year, so that money is segregated in case we need to pay the loan back.

I know it’s easy to cite egregious examples like Osteen, but I believe there re many small churches with good governance who have benefited from PPP while adhering to their Christian principles.


47 posted on 12/16/2020 1:27:57 PM PST by NittanyLion
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To: ThisLittleLightofMine

There is a difference between (legal) Churches with buildings, property, assets, ...

and The Church, body of believers.

We have fostered the legal Church with tax advantages, deductions for contributions, etc. They take out loans to pay for their stuff. And sometimes take pride in it, to the point of creating an idol. Now this model is threatened by the Govt. And the believers may suffer along with it.

If you need a building (a sheep shed), rent it.

It feels like we are headed toward the New Testament form of Church, like the underground Church in China and in other persecuted countries.

Will the (remaining, true) believers reach more souls from a persecuted situation than ‘Churches’ do today?


48 posted on 12/16/2020 1:36:01 PM PST by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: Gamecock

Wow, look at her eyebrows compared to the younger pic.
They’ve been propped up like Nancy Pegrossi’s.


49 posted on 12/16/2020 1:40:52 PM PST by GnuThere
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To: miserare

It looks like she has a picture of herself on the lamp table behind her. This prosperity gospel stuff guarantees big egos—the Almighty wants you to be successful and you’re not a sinner, you’re a little god capable of anything.


50 posted on 12/16/2020 1:50:04 PM PST by PA Presbyterian (Never Surrender!)
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To: NittanyLion

“...I believe there re many small churches with good governance who have benefited from PPP while adhering to their Christian principles....”

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and decision-making, for sure.
IMHO, taking money from the government opens up a door that a church will someday wish they’d never went thru.
Our own church is small as well. We never took a penny in govt. money and never will...the doors would be bolted shut first. And it got tough...real tough there for quite awhile. We learned real quick what it means to trust God, and with the Lord’s providence and a lot of prayer, we made it through the worst of it...at least so far.
FWIW, with what’s possibly coming down the road, NONE of em may survive as far as the buildings go.
We’re praying hard that it never happens, but if so, the true church is the believers within it, and it will survive as it always has throughout the ages...in spite of government closing edicts.


51 posted on 12/16/2020 2:05:48 PM PST by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: Scrambler Bob

“....It feels like we are headed toward the New Testament form of Church, like the underground Church in China and in other persecuted countries.....”

THIS.

“...Will the (remaining, true) believers reach more souls from a persecuted situation than ‘Churches’ do today?...”

YES


52 posted on 12/16/2020 2:14:41 PM PST by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: lgjhn23

I definitely respect your way of thinking. God bless your church, I hope you come out stronger on the other side of this!


53 posted on 12/16/2020 2:45:21 PM PST by NittanyLion
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To: PA Presbyterian

They disgust me. But the bigger they are the harder they fall.

Karma will catch up to Mr. and Mrs. Grifter.


54 posted on 12/16/2020 3:42:22 PM PST by miserare ( Respect for life--life of all kinds-- is the first principle of civilization.~~A. Schweitzer.)
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To: Seruzawa

No it isn’t. The church we attend chose not to apply for this money.


55 posted on 12/16/2020 5:56:05 PM PST by bella1 (I voted for the Alpha male)
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To: Seruzawa

You’re being RIDICULOUS!!!!

If she’s attracted to Joel, it’s cuz she’s bat-dollar CRAZY!!!


56 posted on 12/16/2020 6:18:55 PM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism. )
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To: Gamecock
These discarded rules embody the separation of state and church, one of America’s founding principles.

Wrong. At the time of the Founding Fathers, most of the colonies/States had an official religion. It was only the FedGov that wasn't allowed to pick one over the others.


Lisa Guerrero of Inside Edition has been digging too, and she discovered a private jet likely financed with PPP money. Marcus Lamb runs Daystar Television, which may have as many as 2 billion viewers and is valued at a quarter of a billion dollars. Two weeks after it took $4 million in taxpayer PPP funds, it bought a private jet, a Gulfstream V, valued at between $9 million and $10 million.

That is an extremely stupid argument. The jet was definitely not bought with PPP funds. Even with money being fungible, I would bet dollars to donuts that the Church was planning on buying the jet, whether or not they got the PPP $$$. Obviously, it took more then the PPP funds to get it, since it cost 2.5x MORE than they got in PPP funds.

That said, any business buying private jets (excepting something like a courier service or contract jet airline), should not have been eligible for PPP funds anyways.
57 posted on 12/16/2020 7:52:51 PM PST by Svartalfiar
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To: lgjhn23; Gamecock
One has to use the term “church” rather loosely for some of these joints. Many are nothing more than a social gathering clubhouse with a little so-called religion/preaching tossed in just enough to meet the “church” definition.
On the flip side of that, there are some good, solid, Bible-believing churches that adhere to the principles given in the Word and teach/preach as such. They’re not out to fleece or harm anyone...just the opposite.


Ha no joke. One of my buddies from my old Guard unit went to First Baptist in Dallas. He thought I needed some Jesus, and I figured he needed a beer, so we agreed to join each other for such. So the service I went to with him, was more half-rock concert, half-youth minister monologue, half-other stuff. It was definitely not reverent or feel like "Church".

Likewise, another friend got involved with some non-denominational youth Christian 'church' thing down at Baylor. Went to her re-baptism (and one or two of her 'worship services'), and again, they were more band concert / short sermon from the youth group leader or whoever he was. The complete lack of a reverent atmosphere sure made it feel like not-Church. Yea, they're all Jesus-music and whatnot, but it's not anywhere close to a full men's choir on Gregorian chants. Unfortunately, the closest Traditional Mass to me is an hour or so away, and is always crazy packed if you don't get there an hour early...
58 posted on 12/16/2020 7:59:59 PM PST by Svartalfiar
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To: Gamecock

Paula White is married to Jonathan Cain, the keyboardist from the band “Journey”.


59 posted on 12/16/2020 8:26:56 PM PST by CrimsonTidegirl ("Welcome Down To My Planet Hell."- Nightwish)
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To: kaehurowing

I understand many businesses took the loans because the interest rate was very good for restructuring, however churches should not be in debt. Borrower is slave to lender. In addition churches taking loans is a terrible witness.


60 posted on 12/17/2020 12:33:05 PM PST by ThisLittleLightofMine
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