Strictly Personal Concerning The Grassley Six
Three personal opinions: blunt, crass, religiously incorrect:
(1) A minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ has no business being a millionaire.
(2) Numerical and financial success should not be equated with God's stamp of approval.
(3) I'm of the opinion Jesus would instruct (insert name of televangelist) to sell his Rolex, Cessna, and luxury condo, and feed the poor.
11.16.07 (7:46 am) [
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posted by:
raggedtiger (
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post date:
11.16.07 (4:55 am)
will this apply to the roman catholic church, with its home base at the vatican (spelling might be wrong)and all its riches it has inside????
posted by:
raggedtiger (
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post date:
11.16.07 (4:56 am)
BTW...i do agree with your opinions
posted by:
surrogate (
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post date:
11.16.07 (5:40 am)
How very blunt, crass and religiously incorrect of you.
I agree.
posted by:
inkspector (
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post date:
11.16.07 (6:21 am)
It is too bad that some people believe that by giving to the church (whatever one) generously, that they can by their way into heaven. However, one must think of whose pockets are really getting lined here -- the church's poor, or those in charge, visible or even some administrators.
posted by:
squirrelzone (
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post date:
11.16.07 (6:42 am)
I couldn't agree more.
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
11.16.07 (8:58 am)
Reply to: raggedtiger
I am Protestant, and have not had opportunity to interact a whole lot with Catholic Priests. I understand they take a vow of poverty. To me, the commitment to a lifetime of sexual abstinence seems strange and unbiblical. Still, I admire the man/woman wo would live out such an ideal in the name of his God. I understand the Catholic church has great sway over the poor of much of the world. Thus, if there are riches stored away at the Vatican, many would come from the poorest of the world. To hoard such wealth seems quite foreign to the teachings of Jesus Christ. I'd put such behavior in the same category with the disgusting televangelists with which I've sought to give opinion with the last several posts.
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
11.16.07 (8:59 am)
Reply to: raggedtiger
We probably have much with which to agree. Thanks.
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
11.16.07 (9:00 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Anything blunt, crass, and religiously incorrect- I owe it all to you. Thanks!
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
11.16.07 (9:05 am)
Reply to: inkspector
I have friends who support missions through Independent churches. They are of the persuasion that more of their money actually goes to the missionaries, bypassing "the middleman". It's not true. There still must be administrators, etc.
Of course an individual cannot do it all. There is a needed place to support third-party ministries. However, we must be careful. I'll not give my hard-earned money to someone wearing a Rolex and living in Palm Springs, even if they show a sad video on my television. God expects me to be more discerning.
posted by:
PastorDave (
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post date:
11.16.07 (9:06 am)
Reply to: squirrelzone
Thanks. Hope all is well with you and your family.
posted by:
heavyarms (
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post date:
11.16.07 (9:08 am)
To poorly-paraphrase the late, great Lewis Grizzard...
A preacher ain't the guy on TV with a 24k Gold Rolex begging you to send him more money.
A preacher is the man that mows the grass up at the church house on Saturdays, takes time out of his day to conduct the funeral for a young congregational member's recently deceased dog, and goes around on summer Sunday mornings knocking down dirt-dobber nests so that their inhabitants don't bother worshippers when the windows are open. Do you think Benny Hinn ever conducted a funeral for a dog? Do you think Joel Osteen ever knocked down a dirt-dobber nest?
Just to give you a real-life example:
When I was in high school, my sister (who is physically and mentally disabled) had to have surgery to repair a dislocated hip.
On one side of the coin, We went to one of the largest Baptist churches in town. To give you an idea of size, they had two Sunday morning services, with 300-400 attending each. The "Pastor" there was pulling down a good six figure income, had his home paid for, got a new bass boat as a "gift" from the church every year, got to go on an annual "mission trip" to Israel.
On the other side was the preacher at my grandparents church. That is lucky to draw 25 worshippers on Sunday. Not because its a bad church, but because its a small church, there are eight rows of pews. Its out in one of those Mayberry type communities where everyone knows everyone, waves at everyone, leaves their doors unlocked, etc. He's the kind of preacher that mows the grass at the church and accepts invitations to eat Sunday dinner at members' homes. He doesn't even really know my dad except through my grandparents.
Guess which one came to check on my sister's progress and look after my dad's needs while he spent two weeks sleeping on the floor of the ICU and at the Ronald McDonald house in New Orleans (4 hours from home) while my sister recovered...
posted by:
bawdy (
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post date:
11.17.07 (12:51 pm)
Right on, brother.
posted by:
surrogate (
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post date:
11.17.07 (4:11 pm)
Reply to: heavyarms
Amen.
posted by:
surrogate (
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post date:
11.17.07 (4:14 pm)
In fact, I don't see how a very large congregation could ever have a pastor who could meet the needs of his parishioners - especially these ridiculous mega-churches. I mean, really, when delegating empathy becomes a practical necessity, I'm pretty sure it's a sign a church has grown too large.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
11.18.07 (6:53 pm)
Reply to: inkspector
Are you trying to tell me that I can't, after all, buy my way into heaven?
This is really disappointing. -And to think I'd been holding off on buying that Porsche just in case.
posted by:
ggirl (
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post date:
11.20.07 (9:15 am)
I agree!
