Should Wealthy Evangelicals Take a Pay Cut?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, October 07, 2008
- Viewed 178
- (7) comments so far
The current cultural moment is unique for evangelicals. There have always been a few of them who had great wealth. J. Howard Pew, for example, was an extraordinarily wealthy industrialist in the first half of the twentieth century. With his support, evangelical initiatives such as Christianity Today were established and grew. A century earlier, Arthur and Lewis Tappan funded Charles Finney’s ministry during the Second Great Awakening, as had John Wanamaker supported A.T. Pierson, the popular Presbyterian pastor and evangelical leader.
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What do you think?
Here's an interesting commentary written for Christianity Today. D. Michael Lindsay writes, "American evangelicals are becoming a wealthy lot. This has created opportunities for the wider evangelical world. Rich evangelicals have deployed their financial resources to establish new ministries, expand opportunities for young leaders, and develop initiatives around the world.
But didn't Jesus talk about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? The rich young ruler went away sorrowful in the Gospel of Luke. Money, in and of itself, was not the problem. It was the love of money that tripped him up. He may have been generous, but he wasn't willing to sell everything. I can hardly blame him.
Evangelical executives frame their business life as a moral activity. But what happens when they enjoy lavish compensation packages even as workers are called upon to tighten their belts?"
Comments
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Tyler on Tue, October 07, 2008
This shouldn’t just apply when the economy is down. Evangelicals should ALWAYS be known for taking a pay cut.
RevJeff on Tue, October 07, 2008
Other than the widely mis-used term “evangelicals” I would have to say I agree with the idea that we ask God for our “Daily Bread.”
Check ou this dare - http://francischansblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/prayer-americans-refuse-to-pray.html
karen on Tue, October 07, 2008
Thanks RevJeff. I am always challenged by Francis Chan.
Leonard on Wed, October 08, 2008
No, they shouldn’t take pay cuts. 1 Timothy 6 says:
Tell rich people…
Not to be arrogant, not to trust riches over God, to do lots of good to share and to understand the connection between this life and the life to come. That is what rich people should do and since if I earn 45k or more a year I am in the top 1% in the world, I should pay heed.
Just my 2 cents
CS on Wed, October 08, 2008
Equality for the sake of displaying the faith must be balanced with the ability to use God’s gifts for blessing others.
Our actions should show a good witness of our faith. If everyone else is suffering, but we remain above them in what could be perceived as an unjust manner, this is a bad testimony about our faith. In those situations, a pay cut may be appropriate.
Yet, at the same time, an Evangelical can take that money that God has given and use it for ministry, helping the poor, and assisting those who lose their jobs. If God has given you the ability to make lots of money, then He likely also wants you to give lots of money.
—
CS
che of teak furniture on Mon, October 13, 2008
I think they should use their wealthiness and help those people in need of financial help. This would help justify the pay they get.
savoymt on Mon, October 20, 2008
They should all put thier wallet where thoer mouth is. Why is that Joyce Myers, Bennie Hinn and the rest live in such luxary while the rest of God’s people suffer sooooooooo much? They are hypocrits!
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