I agree with the premise by Wilder about the affluence of athletes.  I disagree with the conclusion buy the preacher a mansion equal to that of sports stars.  If they are worried about death threats, this did not work, now everyone in the world knows where the pastor lives.  This was the wrong way to spend the church’s money.  I am not saying that because I am in full-time ministry and do not live in a 3.65 million dollar parsonage.

Utterly appalling.  Perhaps the pastors should consider a vow of poverty.

Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”

The man asked, “What in particular?” Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”

“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”

That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”

The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”

Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”

Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?”

Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”

Matthew 19:16-30 / The Message

Respected Todd Rhoades,

You have written about the 3.65 million dollar mansion, Money, Consumerism and Happiness in your post.  We are living in a world where Consumerism has influenced everything - Personal Lives, Culture, Religion, Faith, Spirituality, Environment and Ecology.  In this context I want to post a part from my article which examines the impact of consumerism and industrialization on our minds and environment. Please read.

The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.

The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.

Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.

Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.

Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.

If there are no gaps there is no emotion.

Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.

When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.

There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.

People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.

Emotion ends.

Man becomes machine.

A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.

Fast visuals/ words make slow emotions extinct.

Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys emotional circuits.

A fast (large) society cannot feel pain / remorse / empathy.

A fast (large) society will always be cruel to Animals/ Trees/ Air/ Water/ Land and to Itself.

To read the complete article please follow any of these links :

<a href=http://www.planetsave.com/ps_mambo/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=75&func=view&id=68&catid=6>PlanetSave</a>

<a href=http://www.ephilosopher.com/bb-topic-244.html>ePhilosopher</a>

sushil_yadav

Have no problem with Christians having lots of money.  Don’t even have a problem with this church buying a nice house for their pastor.  DO have a problem with their wealth theology.  Money has a purpose.  It is a tool to a larger goal.  But when money becomes a distraction to the gospel, then it’s better left behind.  Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.  Paul is clear about that in his writings to the Corinthians.

Wow, I don’t know where to begin. Whether we judge because we don’t have or whether we condemn because it is contrary to our understanding of scripture, is something i will leave to others.  I do have a problem with this church spending 3.65 mil on a house for its pastor, and that isn’t to say he is not worth that much. When I consider words from Jesus like “Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt 6:25b-26) We start chasing rabbit trails when we focus on the things of ministry instead of the why of ministry. I know that i don’t need a 3.6 million dollar house for my family of 5, my present house is meeting the needs just fine. I don’t need a caddy to ride in, my minivan works well. The point is what we need is often far different then what we want. And God knows both. Paul told us to be content whether it is with plenty or in need, these words kind of echoes Jesus words doesn’t it?  As a pastor of a small church i am often tempted to compare myself to others, that is usually the time i take my eyes of what God has provided for me. I am grateful to God for his blessings, for it is more then many others have. Would I like more? Sure, but at what cost? I will enjoy God’s blessings now and be content with what He brings to me today and tomorrow. As pastors we serve him not for the monetary things, but for the call that He has placed on our lives. Fulfilling that call brings much greater rewards then a 3.6 mil house. The why of ministry is that God has called us, He will supply our needs out of his riches.
Just my thoughts anyway.

I think one of the more important things to consider in this particular case is how this looks to the community at large.  Answer:  not good.  When churches and pastors are getting a property tax exemption for a 3.6 million dollar house because they are part of a “non-profit organization”, that causes many to scratch their heads and go, “huh?” Once again, the church is viewed as being out to “get people’s money”.  Without commenting on the perverse (okay, that was a comment) prosperity theology being promoted here, if this church wanted to “live peaceably with all men,” they might want to consider donating some of the many thousands that they have to spare to the local township to help make up for the tax exemption that they’re exploiting, and promote goodwill and harmony within the community.

Jim,

I knew you could’nt leave it alone

I don’t recall using the word jealous either anyway I was just making an observation and statement If my tone sounded inappropiate I apologize to Edd. It looks to me Scott is accurate in his summary

This is not about a rock start… or super athlete… or even a mansion. It’s about how we use the resources Christ has trusted to us. The money does not belong to a “church” or “pastor.” They are the stewards. It belongs to Jesus, How would He use it to change the world? Build His Church?

What we can learn from Pastor Ben is how to teach giving. Obviously they have a surplus of funds.

A side note. I wonder how long it will take the IRS to place caps on the so called “parsonage allowance.”

Faith, Hope and Love to you all…
Pastor Edd, the pious pastor (Ha Ha)

Wow, my church parsonage is only worth 2 million.  I gotta get more faith.

Okay I want all you who are this pastor’s brother’s and sister’s in the lord to stop judging him and think. Look at what the enemy (media) has done. We have no changed our complete focus and now discussed a situation that has nothing at all to do with us. I bet you guys didn’t know he was a executive at Chrysler and he nearly mad double what he is making now… but no the media didnt say that… Call the church and ask for the real story instead of some new story from the media.

The discussion and various views are interesting. The IRS thing is also interesting. I see merits to both side of the argument and I’ll just say Lord, Your will be done. I was just talking to my bishop in an online chat about the article and comments.  I thought I’d share a snippit of our conversation:

Me: I wonder what the church at large or the public’s reaction would be if the pastor and his wife bought the house on their own instead of the church buying it for them?  Wonder if it would have been as big a deal.  Also makes me wonder what kind of place Jakes, Osteen and others mega church pastors live in.  LOL

Bishop: I see.  It wouldn’t have been a big deal if it did not come off of the tax roles.  That just gave them a reason to talk about it.  And I am sure that the others live in mansions too!  But they probably bought them themselves just to escape just this kind of press.  The church may have given them the money to get them, though.  I guess I won’t ever have to worry about that kind of controversy...LOL :D

(I know some of these mega church pastors are making a bundle and live lavishly.  Osteen doesn’t even collect a salary from the church anymore, but then again he doesn’t need to as he’s making millions on his book royalties.) I wonder what everyone’s thought would be.  Would anyone’s view be different if the pastor had the finances to do so and bought the mansion himself instead of the church buying it for him?

Anyway my two cents.

The bible says you reap what you sow, those who sow sparingly shall reap sparingly, but those who sow bountifully shall reap bountifully. What are you reaping? I guarantee it is in line with your sowing. God says you can’t out give Him, give it a try. God Kingdom first. Stop looking in the next lane and run your own race.