Some bigheaded preachers demand rock star treatment. If the apostle Paul were around today he might throw rocks at them.

Just when I thought we charismatics had finally taken enough abuse from the egomaniac ministers in our midst, I’ve learned that some of our leaders are taking things to a new extreme. We’ve moved beyond the red carpets, limousines and entourages of the 1990s. A new strain of the celebrity virus is spreading in large segments of the church.

One friend of mine in Texas recently inquired to see if a prominent preacher could speak at her conference. The minister’s assistant faxed back a list of requirements that had to be met in order to book a speaking engagement. The demands included:

* a five-figure honorarium
* a $10,000 gasoline deposit for the private plane
* a manicurist and hairstylist for the speaker
* a suite in a five-star hotel
* a luxury car from the airport to the hotel (2004 model or newer)
* room-temperature Perrier

This really makes me wonder how the apostle Paul, Timothy or Priscilla managed ministering to so many people in Ephesus, Corinth and Thessalonica. How did they survive without a manicurist if they broke a nail while laying hands on the sick?

I was relieved to know that this celebrity preacher’s requirements in 2007 did not include a set of armed bodyguards—because I just might want to jump uninvited into her Rolls-Royce and say a few words.

It gets worse, if you can believe it...........

Further reading

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See link to see how it can get worse......

I'm sure I'm going to see posts from people saying "sounds like typical Christians", but it truly is shocking that people can so blatantly ignore what God says. Preachers earning enough to live on is one thing. Preachers living to excess for the same duty is completely different. Sometimes it makes me want to to see this happen.

Oral Roberts was like this all the way back in the late 1960s that I know of. I will assume most of the others have always been this way also.

Question - do you think that some of these celebrity preachers are doing it just for the money? Or do you think that the money they charge religious organisations for their services they see as being God's reward for spreading his word?

Tiggs....same question different wording

Yes to both

Christ is this guy a preacher or Brittney Spears?

I'm sure some of them believe that they are simply receiving "God's reward for spreading his word". However, I see a difference between getting enough to live on, and the kind of Prima Donna acts of those who require fuel for their private jets...... (that sentence in itself gives me an idea of the type of money they are making, if they hve their own private jet).

The second story in the article, which I didn't quote, has these preachers charging money (all going to God, of course) for their prayers and healing. Some people have gone as far as giving $1000 for a ten-minute prayer session. Certainly you can appreciate the difference between covering living expenses and the gratuitous money that these guys are asking.

I agree. People always have internal excuses for great greed.

For a man of god.....doing gods work.....NO I don't.

This celebrity televangelist type of religion is something I find incredibly disturbing, I find it even more disturbing that they think they've found a way to justify it in the eyes of God. It's a gift for spreading his word.

Power and money is not necessarily evil... however, it IS easily abused, far too easily abused.


I think many of these greedy men have missed a few key points, and not just key points of religion and christianity, but key points that should apply to everyone religious or not:

1. Integrity
2. Selflessness
3. Simplicity
4. Honesty
5. Equality

I honestly earn far more than I need... My work for God and for society is to make sure that others who don't have enough find relief. THAT is God's reward for ME, the knowing that I DON'T need all that crap to be happy, and in fact, I've lived a life of excess before, and I can say without a doubt it was far less happy and balanced than it is now.

I hope these excessive people find their way... but money and power are like sirens and temptresses luring people off course. We see it all the time in both religious and non-religious people.

Paranoid Android,

I am kind of shocked that this surprises you considering that it's really nothing new. Popes, cardinals, Ministers, Priests, et all have been behaving like this for ever. Popes have been classic examples of the prima donna lifestyle because they held the power of excommunication. Who would tell someone with "God's" ear no?
Selling indulgences, traveling in style, good food, mistresses, political power, on and on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Alexander_VI


Regards,
Mabon.

That's cult worship rather then actual mainstream religion. Though if the worshippers reach a certain size, I suppose that "apostle+" can start their own religion... Kind of like the mormon religion did.

All this makes me think of is the christian cult that lives not that far away from me. The Rama cult they are.


Makes you wonder why people would put up with that crap and demands? People will follow anything it seems if it's dressed up nicely. Many people would rather die than think; indeed, most do. -Bertrand Russell

This is one of the few statements of yours that I agree with... I call it dressing a pig. And you're right (or Bertrand was), most people would rather die than think... it's advice ALL people should heed, including Atheists. I don't think religion and/or christianity is hte pig though, I think the lack or morals and integrity these people lack is the pig.

Ok, I take it back, I agreed with ya on one other thing... you're right, they should never have cancelled Firefly. haha.

oo, geeze, the Blue Angels just now flew over my house at about 500ft... I thought there for a second that this was it and the west coast was plunging into the sea. Dang... those planes are LOUD.

its beyond prima donna its exploitation of the insecure and ignorant (the not knowing kind) and the US has made a buisness of it...Jim Jones, Benny Hinn, jerry Farwell, dobson, the bakers, oral roberts..Joyce meyers, creflo dollar, the pope for cripes sake etc yet many will say they agree and have nothing to do with this yet soemone is most of the mentioned have TV evangalism they have lobbyiests to affect laws its a very big racket LOL ..... they jsut rape and pillage people to fund lifestyles on the blood sweat of regular folk as if someone is more worthy or knowlegable then another ....gosh its go to be the most excepted form of expoitation going ... yet as long as you have those that go in droves beieving they themsleves are not worth anything more than a bone thrown by a preacher as if they have a direct line to god and no one else does...... this will continue.....

I don't believe all Christians are tarred with the same brush but there are always those who take advantage of a quick buck ,and it is made easy for them In America more so than the rest of the world .it seems to me that the Americans are very gullible about TV evangelists and send them money although they are suspected of misconduct.


fullywired

you know, im a christian. and i cant even express my anguish torward this. i mean, ill come on this forum and i catch alot of crap because im a "christian". you want to know why? because of people like this. we are supposed to remain humble without the need for gratification of celebrity. this contradicts the tenents of christ. i therefore, must question the validity of their claims to christianity.

i need to say to everyone, wholeheartedly, to ease up on the judgement. please know that this doesnt represent christianity as a whole. the hypocracy of the church is well documented. but please, keep in mind that these are HUMAN faults, and not faults in the doctrine itself.

please take the time to judge a man by his particular self, and not the stereotype of humanity.

Its really sad people do this using "gods.ect." and is controdictive to the bible, ,kinda makes ya mad at these wackos proclaiming to be part of "the church" but in all actuallity they are part of the "anti-christ" to bow down to some man.,....pffffffffff thats just ...not right . to say the least. I think we will be seeing alot more of this. and more people following after men like this. which is really sad, because these people are so blind. but then you can think about the text, 2 tim 4:3..for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves TEACHERS, having itching ears...4) And They shall TURN AWAy thier ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto FABLES..makes one wonder if these men arent doing such as the scripture warnes us of..

Actually, in a way it's good that these people go this far. As Christians our focus should be on God, not on a pastor, preacher, theologian, etc., and the fact that these people are so obviously not Christlike makes it easier to take our focus off them and put it on God.

im not religious but i have a question?? my friends mom and dad and belonged to the same church for years and they are required to give 10% of their annual income to the church?? does this go for all churches? my thought was they sent the collection dish around? do any of you who are apart of a church give any percentage of your income to the church?

My church doesn't have a collection dish to pass.

But I do know several churches that suggest that you give 10% of your income to the church to help with the operating costs. In a standard everyday neighborhood church, that covers mortgage, upkeep, a couple of salaries, heat, AC, insurance... what's left over typically goes to the churches charitable causes. it can be quite spendy to run a church.

My experience is that they don't kick you out or send you a bill if you can't donate the suggested 10%. It's just a suggestion.

Some churches believe that the 10% tithe is the way to go. I just have one question though - is that 10 % before tax, or after tax? Because back in ancient times, there was no such thing as a government tax, no money even. Tithing was based on 10% of the farming produce (cattle, grain, fruit, etc). How does ones weekly wage/income compare?

And as the divide between upper and lower class steadily increases in our modern world, do we still ask the mother-of-four who feeds her entire family on $200 a week to give up $20 to the church, while the bachelor businessman on a $100,000 salary ($1923 a week) would give $192.30 at the same time. Surely the monetary system our world has in place today is sufficiently different from the barter-system of animals and grains that existed when tithing existed.

For the record, the purpose of Tithing in the Old Testament was for them to support the Tribe of Levi, which were not allowed to own land, and therefore not able to grow crops or herd cattle. The Tribe of Levi were set apart as priests for God, and it was the responsibility of the other 11 Tribes to ensure that the Levites were given food and lodging. In the modern world, on the other hand, while it is true that part of the money given would go to supporting the minister or priest, the money goes to other things also, like upkeep of the building, equipment for the building, helping parishoners out if they fall on hard times, supporting missionaries, going towards bills/rates/etc, organizing events, and the general overall well-being of the church ("church" as in the body of believers).

It is not going solely to the priest or minister, and the minister is allowed to own land, get a house, hold a mortage, etc.

If you may not have guessed already, I don't think the 10% tithe as dictated in the Old Testament is valid any longer, considering the purpose and nature of the church today. Instead, i think people should give what they are willing to give. If the mother-of-four cannot give any money, then that's as so be it. While the businessman who attends church might be willing to put in a lot more than the 10% tithe-amount. It's a matter between the giver and God, and if you're hearts not in it, then God won't care how much you're giving (see the story of the poor widow which Jesus tells in Mark 12 and Luke 21, for a good example of what I mean).

This is my view of tithing, at least

~ Regards, PA

Believe me it's mostly for the money.(celebrity types)

They live extravagantly . They are materialistic ! (the celebrity types). Again I have not seen this crap with european christian preachers. Never.

This is what disgusts me with our "american mentality." We are often naive and believe everything we hear.

It's no wonder the US is going down the toilet.
Excuse me for my bluntness but sometimes I have to shake some people awake and get their adrenaline going.

Politicians are also treated like movie stars or have to be.

It is a huge blemish on the face of christianity. They ruin everything for the christians that are truly trying to do the right thing and making a laughing stock out of them. and their faith. but for many it is their own fault.

These preachers are laughing all the way to their banks. They are not just greedy they are often extremly hypocritical and do not practice what they preach.

Eventually they all get caught ! But they get to keep their/your money And they are forgiven by their own followers/sheep

Two rewards ! Materialistic earthly wealth and then heavenly wealth.

Jesus would have thrown stones !

I mean damn -these people are supposed to show/teach you that greed and hedonism are not supposed to be your eartly goals while on this earth.

You are supposed to share what you have and give , right ?

I agree and if you have the time it's a nice idea to help out where you can-with organising church activities, bookkeeping,baking a cake ,church repairs.

it doesn't always have to be money. Donations should be voluntary. If the church is short on cash they can inform their congregation and explain their plans and intentions.

My ex- boyfriend painted a beautiful mural for the interior of his church.

My church does expect everyone to chip in to take care of our bills, we pay property taxes (which are expensive) our building and land are paid for, we have electricity, water, insurance, all those normal every day things. We all know through our chuch business meetings what needs to be paid for and when and we as a group make sure that happens. We have no clergy in my church, but do have an appointed secretary and a few other business people, we trade off dong these jobs.

However, that being said, I make a pretty good living... about 60% of my income does go to chairty. That doesn't mean that my church forces me to do this, they certainly do not, but, we hear a lot of talk around here about "God's Plan" for each of us. This is his plan for me, and I'm more than happy about it. I could be living in a million dollar house with hot cars and extravagent vacations, but I don't... i live in a tiny old but cute house with a nice-ish but 6 year old german sport car (my weakness, but not too weak). There's just something more rewarding for me in knowing that I have no debt, and that kids who need medical care and can't afford it are getting help, and that I comfortably have what I need, no more, no less.

To me, that is a gift... it's a gift for me to know that I can live a simple life, and LOVE it.

Someone once told me that a pastor at her church was complaining about people he knows made a lot of money (they were some guys from the NFL) were not giving 10%. He even made a joke that they were magically living on $400 a week and they should share how they could buy a BMW on that income. I really don't like that. And she says that the bible says you have to give 10% so even if you can't pay the bills to live you have to give. I understand giving, but I think it should be what you are comfortable with. You shouldn't be made to feel guilty if you don't give 10%.