What amazes me about the Creflos and Eddies and the others is that they either are incapable of saying the word no, or refuse to use the word. 3 million is a lot of money. Why is it that we confuse the western version of Christianity, with Christianity world wide? Please tell me where in the Bible does it say “ get all you can while the getting is good because enough just isn’t enough? I thought Paul said that we are to be content in whatever state we find ourselves.
I find the greed of some preachers not only distasteful, but extremely dangerous. Why? Because they are able to take our focus off the things that really matter. I read an article on Charisma magazine’s website, that did the following
identified an issue
named the rationale, and in some ways touted a party line (political party line)
Offered no real rational solutions
I find that this is true of almost every defense our so called leaders offer. They deflect, and they obfuscate in hopes of people not having the attention span to really challenge, and hold them accountable.
It is ridiculous that in a city the size of Atlanta, there is a pastor who is paid more than a million dollars, drives around in a 125K automobile, and then has the nerve to say that he is all about ministry, meanwhile not that far from his church there is desparate poverty, huge drug use, and where he could be a voice he is noticablty silent, obviously careless, (he could care less about the people around him). And he blames the people around him who pay him for doing it all rather than taking personal responsibility and making a much needed change. 3 million dollars can purchase food for a lot of hungry children. It can supply healthcare for lots of children in Atlanta, not to mention provide housing to thousands of homeless. But is he thinking about them, I would dare say no! How do I know this, because if he were thinking about them, he would have done something by now!
It is sad but true, beneath the spires of hell itself there are demons who are giggling their tails off because we are too blind to see the truth that they work so hard to hide from us. And that truth is a simple one
*SALVATION IS NOT ALL ABOUT BEING SAVED SPIRITUALLY. IT IS ABOUT BEING SAVED IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE, INCLUDING PHYSICALLY. THE EARLY CHURCH GOT IT RIGHT, WHEN THEY ELIMINATED POVERTY AROUND THEM! CHECK OUT THE BOOK OF ACTS PEOPLE THEY DID IT! THEY ELIMINATED POVERTY, IT IS NOT A POLITICAL THING, IT IS NOT EVEN A RELIGIOUS THING. WE ARE CALLED TO DO MORE, AND SO LONG AS WE ARE BEING LED BY GREEDY MONEY GRUBBING PEOPLE WHO CARE LITTLE FOR THOSE OF US INSIDE THE CHURCH THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PREACH PART OF THE TRUTH, AND LEAVE THE OTHER PARTS ALONE, WE ARE IN DIRE STRAITS
The pastor who wrote the series of Purpose Driven books actually got it right. He made millions, some estimates say tens of millions of dollars, on his books. Does he live on a mansion in the LA hills, did he buy himself a Benz or a Mabach, the answer is NO!!!
He gave that money to his church, even repaying the salary that he had been given for 20 years. He now pastors for free. And it did not stop there, he tithes 90% of what he makes and lives off of 10%. Now if he can do that, why then does Creflo, Eddie, Joyce, and the like have that issue, of feeling that enough just isn’t enough. He did not even buy a jet, he flies on commercial. I find that it is when we totally remove ourselves from the world we are called upon to touch, that we lose the focus of the mission that we are on. When we become afraid to get our hands dirty in the healing of not just the church, but the world outside the church we find that our character becomes corrupted and co-opted by this world’s system. I pray that in the midst of all this that Eddie, Creflo, and the like can really seek God, although I am really concerned about Creflo, because he has made some statements that make him sound more like a Jehovah’s witness more than a Christian, but that is another post. In the meantime be encouraged, and make sure that in your own walk that you seek out those things that are by far weightier matters, than wealth, and riches. It is all about being Christ to those who do not know Him, and I fear that there are more of those in this country than we know only because they have been presented with a veneer, and when the veneer is pulled back, what you see is rotten wood, or as Jesus Himself said when describing the pharisees, "dead men's bones".
*Please see the definition of soteria, the greek root word we get the word salvation from.
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6 comments:
With the exception of Bishop Long, should I add the rest to my "SIT YOUR AZZ DOWN" list???
You make a lot of sense-maybe Shakespeare said it best....'"like a fool who struts and frets upon a stage, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.."just because everything is legal and transparent does not make it right(eous). If it is yellow, quacks and waddles it's a duck.
That it my point. It truly boggles the mind to consider that a lot of these ministers as opposed to being real transparent, (I am sorry AM, Eddie is waist deep in this mess that he has created himself).
These men want to try and deflect and use fear to try and get others to rally to them as though they are symbols of the church. I am sorry but these men and women are anything but real examples. I am sorry but they all have issues with money, and how to use it for the greater good. That good being right outside thier own doors.
I can recall someone saying to me that Eddie spent some 80K on the poor last year. Now I am not one to say he should do more, BUT. When you are snatching down better than seven figures from your ministry. and you give less than three to help the poor outside your own door. I have a problem with that because it kinda identifies where not just your head is but where your heart is as well.
We are told to be content with whatever state we are in. That godliness with contentment is great gain. Why is it that the one who call themselves leaders cannot seem to say, "I have enough, I will help out those around me who do not have as much". Where are the homeless shelters that they sponsor? The food banks, the housing? Are these not all pieces of the mission that we are supposed to be on?
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Where am I not making sense?
Why is the dialogue always mostly about Creflo and Eddie Long? I have noticed this alot. Rarely is the Copelands, Benny Hinn and Paul & Randy White ever mentioned. And to best honest you must not have seen what other mega church pastors and even small church pastors are rolling in beyond these in question? I know a pastor of 3000 member church right now that is driving a Bentley. Its not just these ministers that have excess. Its a whole lot more of them.
I am not saying any of this is excusable, but why bash or question some that have the spotlight and not check them all? For example Joel Osteen has , count them, 4 homes, yet as of late he has been a media darling or darn near next appointed Billy Graham. Long and Joyce Myers only have 1 home each, yet they made the list? Wrong and wrong all around the board. They ALL need to curb the excessive lifestyles and be in question, not just a select few.
I agree with justcurios none of them should be granted a break....
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