Posted on 11/11/2007 5:20:17 PM PST by Graybeard58
An Atlanta megachurch took in $69 million in 2006, according to a financial statement the church's minister released in response to a Senate investigation into him and five other well-known televangelists.
The Rev. Creflo Dollar disclosed the World Changers Church International's financial information to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but said the money he spends is his own.
Dollar said his income comes from personal investments, including businesses and real estate ventures. But the church gave him a Rolls Royce, which he mainly uses for special occasions, he said.
"Without a doubt, my life is not average," he said. "But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong."
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, launched an investigation into the finances of six ministers after hearing reports of some preachers' lavish and opulent lifestyles. In a letter last week, he requested answers by Dec. 6 to questions about their executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Your tag name says it all!
Therefore,I can only assume that your are joking!!
I could certainly picture the uproar from the "sheep," in every Catholic church with the size of 5K membership if their pastors were driving Mercedes/Bentley or similar status cars, having their own Lear Jets with 2 full time pilots and living in "mansions" paid for by the "flock"!!!
Do you have any idea of the salary of a catholic priest???
Hi Leni.
I am glad you didn't said "Denmark"!!!
“I could certainly picture the uproar from the “sheep,” in every Catholic church with the size of 5K membership if their pastors were driving Mercedes/Bentley or similar status cars, having their own Lear Jets with 2 full time pilots and living in “mansions” paid for by the “flock”!!!”
Do you have any idea of the opulence that exists in the Vatican?
Some of these people travel full time. Perhaps it makes sense to have their own plane and perhaps it doesn’t. Don’t give to that church if you think its a waste. Its really that simple. Nobody is forcing you to give money to these churches. The state forces you to give it money and then wastes it at a much higher scale.
The vast majority of these evangelists are very good people who manage the resources they have very well. The church will police itself and needs no help from government.
It is OK with me too, he can afford it!
The real "victims" are poor old women who generously gives their last dime in exchanged for being blessed by God. I don't feel that you can make a bargain with God for giving money in supporting others lavish lifestyle!!
The last two weeks on TBN has run 24/7 asking for your money (Fund raising in such a way that Hillary would envy!). All the preachers there is quoting scriptures over and over again, that if you are a giver to the church (TBN) then you are going to get such a blessing from God (financially) that is beyond your wildest imagination. It is nothing but a scam and it is "false" prophets preying on people's emotions!!!
Leni
This is all very inexplicable....but I think the truth (and the motive) will out.
The game's afoot!
Leni
Now you're getting it!
Some of these people travel full time. Perhaps it makes sense to have their own plane and perhaps it doesn’t. Don’t give to that church if you think its a waste. Its really that simple. Nobody is forcing you to give money to these churches. The state forces you to give it money and then wastes it at a much higher scale.
The vast majority of these evangelists are very good people who manage the resources they have very well. The church will police itself and needs no help from government.
I do agree with you. Vatican is really a State by itself, probably full of corruption and greed as well. St. Paul paid his own way spreading the Gospel by working part time as a tent maker.
Nobody forces you to give any money to TBN or any other Christian group.
The money goes for many worthy Christian activities world wide.
OTOH The government forces us to give them money mostly unaccounted for.
Got it?
Did Senator Grassley have some proof of wrongdoing beyond evidence of "wealthy and lavish lifestyles"? Is that alone enough for the government to investigate ministries? I may or may not be inclined towards any of these ministries, but government's interest should be confined to evidence of wrongdoing.
Dramatic in its incongruence, I'd say.
You are a fool. Jesus said no such thing about his "institution".
“I have a problem with anyone that teaches false doctrine and uses the Gospel to make lots of money. His lifestyle is so anti-Biblical and anti-Christ like that it is impossible to defend. He is simply living according to the spirit of this world, and not the Holy Spirit.”
Any more so than millions of others? As you attack one church the enemies will leverage your wrath for the others. The Word tells us many false teachers will appear. People are supposed to question and challenge the teachings of their leaders. If they don’t then they are falling short themselves.
“As I said, Hell is too good for these people.”
Sorry, thats the worst punishment God could think of. IMO thats good enough.
Frankly, I’m curious nobody has asked how much money do these mega-ministries put OUT in services such as tithing, special programs for the poor/disadvantaged, food, clothing, medical care, crisis pregnancy ministries and the other miriades of services these churches tend to perform. Additionally, what is the ratio of output to income (before salaries, regular bills such as utilities, and not including building/repair funds)?
Before squacking about opulent lifestyles, I’d like to see the works and other financial contributions.
I think answers to those questions might shed a very different light on the equation.
Just using Mrs. Meyers as an example, I’ve been told she spends MILLIONS just in tithing alone. I’m sure other ministries do, too. It stands to reason that if mega ministries tithe 10% of their total income, the tithing alone could come to millions just from one ministry, which doesn’t include the spending on other services which also benefits the public at large. I seriously doubt the government manages our tax dollars as well. Government isn’t concerned about a good reputation to draw in more money like the ministries are!
I do have a problem with politicians butting their noses into where it doesn’t belong, and government regulating religions. However, there is no way government (in their eyes) can examine islamics or other foreign relgions who act as storefronts for terrorism funding without doing the same to Christian religions. This is the danger inherent in non-discrimination laws across the board.
LOL, I will leave it to God, then. Fortunately there are different levels of Hell, and maybe He will create a special place just for them. Judas might have to share his space with them. I am content to let God decide, but I was expressing my total contempt for these people. They make the Antichrist look good.
“You are a fool. Jesus said no such thing about his “institution”.”
You are a fool blinded by your own judgment. Using that interpretation we would all be wearing sandals and riding donkeys.
God wants to bless us with his gifts. How we manage those gifts is important to our judgement.
“They make the Antichrist look good.”
The reason I keep responding to these is I think this attitude lessons the true evil of Satan. People who abuse the church’s money are evil, but they are less evil than Satan. They have succumbed to the forces of Satan but are not greater than him.
Satan is as bad as it gets. Perhaps he is in their hearts or perhaps they just fell for the love of money instead of the love of God.
There will be false churches and false teachers. The Word of God tells us that. The church is not the building or the non-profit but is comprised of the people. If the people continue to allow this kind of outlandish spending then they are equally as guilty.
You’re correct on that. But you knew what I intended to say.
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