Spotlight and corruption/abuse in the church
- Thread starter KingOfBBN
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Look at this thing. In the middle of Italy. [laughing] I mean my god, can you flaunt the fact that you make billions of dollars a year as a church anymore? That's nicer than most countries capitals.
Um, you might want to take a look at the mega churches and you'll see why this is a massive issue. This obviously isn't meant for Billy Bob's church in Hazard.
We're always looking for new members at the Church of Satan
I suspect that flock would EXPECT, yea, be disappointed, if they didn't get fleeced by the minister. Has to be a duty in the job description.
Look at this thing. In the middle of Italy. [laughing] I mean my god, can you flaunt the fact that you make billions of dollars a year as a church anymore? That's nicer than most countries capitals.
I mean, the church has to eat. This is why you should give til it hurts. They need this stuff. You know, because Jesus was always dressing fly and talking about spending millions on cosmetics for churches.
My favorites are Joel Olsteen, Benny Hinn, "Pastor" Dollar and the TBN crew's personal jets and houses, paid for with other people's money and untaxed.
For the couple of "big" churches in my town there must be a hundred little white-washed buildings with the salt of the earth inside. Unless you're a Catholic, there's no such thing as "the church".
- Pulpit promises of health, wealth, and prosperity packaging it as "favor" are not biblical and therefore not from God.
- Churches are made of imperfect people therefore susceptible to any downfalls that people are.
- Lots of wolves in sheeps clothing out there. Be wise.
- Good churches do exist though. Smaller, Bible believing/teaching ones would be a good start if looking.
- Churches are made of imperfect people therefore susceptible to any downfalls that people are.
- Lots of wolves in sheeps clothing out there. Be wise.
- Good churches do exist though. Smaller, Bible believing/teaching ones would be a good start if looking.
Not quite. Let's put this in perspective, shall we?
You have a kid who tells you "Dad, I need some money for this widow and poor children and to help do God's work." You then see your kid come back with a new pair of sneakers, two tickets for a vacation, new ride and a ton of shopping bags. You ask to see what's in the bags because you gave the money and you want to see what went to the widow, orphan and God's work and then he refuses.
That's okay?
I'd be interested to hear how much most ministers 'tithe' straight out of their pay. I know mine does, but not certain how much. The dude who wrote the Purpose Driven Life says he tithes 90+ percent of his salary and book sales. Of course, he's a multimillionaire, but still.
When would enough money be enough? Does the OP or anyone else want them wearing sackcloth and living in a yurt? Is there a cutoff somewhere. Obviously, monks and dudes like Osteen are on the outlier ends of the spectrum, but who is to say what kind of life a minister should have outside of his work.
A lot of ministers that I know personally, not generalizing here, are very good with their finances because they don't waste money on dumb crap like some of us do. They are able to have a nice, but not extravagant, home and good cars that are reliable and safe for their families. I did have one about 20 years ago that had a BWM, but he was going through some midlife stuff that he eventually worked through, and sold it. I'm ok with my pastor doing well as long as he is taking care of his other responsibilities.
When would enough money be enough? Does the OP or anyone else want them wearing sackcloth and living in a yurt? Is there a cutoff somewhere. Obviously, monks and dudes like Osteen are on the outlier ends of the spectrum, but who is to say what kind of life a minister should have outside of his work.
A lot of ministers that I know personally, not generalizing here, are very good with their finances because they don't waste money on dumb crap like some of us do. They are able to have a nice, but not extravagant, home and good cars that are reliable and safe for their families. I did have one about 20 years ago that had a BWM, but he was going through some midlife stuff that he eventually worked through, and sold it. I'm ok with my pastor doing well as long as he is taking care of his other responsibilities.
Olsteen just got another mansion from royalties after this post.
You might want to start your own channel so you can talk about this more. Do some real good documentaries. You got an agenda period. I can't help what some folks do. I know that they are not all corrupt as you like to portray them.
Creating thread after thread about this is tired and boring. It's already headed where I said it would. You got what you wanted. You started it to bash and mock and you got what you wanted. Stop pretending you had any other reason for the thread.
You got the christian bashers to show up and throw their usual attacks. Well done.
Where are the threads about all the scientists who made up false info about the global warming theories and defrauded folks out of millions of dollars doing so? A lot of it from tax payers. My guess is that doesn't fit into your agenda.
Exhibit A of what Heisman wanted to accomplish. Get the haters to help him attack Christianity.
Not very Christian of you to cast fault, especially when you're wrong.
I am Christian. I simply do not subscribe to organized religion. I'll take God, you can have ALL the peripherals that have little to nothing to do with his word.
Fits mine. I completely subscribe to this theory.
You're going to have a hard time placing labels on most folks in this argument, might want to find a new tree to climb.
I don't practice any organized religion but I think the situation in the Catholic Church has been an extraordinarily despicable scandal. The only difference between some of these priests and Jerry Sandusky, is they wear a uniform and pretend to be religious. They should all wind up in the same place.
To his credit, from what I have seen and heard of Pope Francis I think he is genuinely taking this seriously and trying to clean it up.
To his credit, from what I have seen and heard of Pope Francis I think he is genuinely taking this seriously and trying to clean it up.
I drive by this every week. It's TBN.
No, this isn't the Final Four. This is Lakewood Church.
You could do it like the Mormon Temples.
Creflo Dollar's house
Joel's house
But these are the extreme examples. It occurs more often with the regular pastors at bigger churches like DaBoss and many others have pointed out. Nice cars, nice vacations, nice homes, BS family positions all while asking those who are struggling to continue to feed the beast.
No, this isn't the Final Four. This is Lakewood Church.
You could do it like the Mormon Temples.
Creflo Dollar's house
Joel's house
But these are the extreme examples. It occurs more often with the regular pastors at bigger churches like DaBoss and many others have pointed out. Nice cars, nice vacations, nice homes, BS family positions all while asking those who are struggling to continue to feed the beast.
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A) I didn't start multiple threads. Funky compiled multiple posts within other people's threads over the years.
B) Again, you just completely put words in my mouth and continue to play this victim crap where I'm saying all churches are like this. I've not said anything of the sort. The churches I attended in Kentucky were nothing like this and the one I attend now is not like what I have mentioned.
C) My "agenda" is to simply discuss the sheep mentality of not questioning men and how abuse becomes inevitable at that point. We see it in politics, sports, church and many other facets. Hero worship leads to people being taken advantage. It's funny that you could bash UNC fans for not wanting to clean up their program and university and just blindly following their coach. This is similar. You should want corrupt dirtbags to be outed from the church. It's not a reflection of God or all Christians. It's exposing wolves.
Year and 2 months. 4 separate long winded posts about the same thing, in 14 months.
No. All you did was start a thread for folks like the guy above to spew his venom with your help. That's all you did,
And you have started two threads about it. AND you mention in the first post that I quoted that you had brought it up before.
Not really concerned or worried. You can spend all your time hating. Doesn't affect me at all.
Are you implying I'm a leftist atheist who believes in climate change? Might want to take a look at the political thread there, bud. [laughing]
Why do you see this as a threat to Christianity? That's pretty messed up that you think wanting to get rid of corruption from wolves that hide in church is somehow code for "I hate Christianity."
That is not what your thread is accomplishing and it's sad you can't even see that. I am all for eliminating corruption everywhere. You come out blasting churches and think you are helping. Please don't help anymore.
There are some on here who just wait for threads like this to completely bare their fangs. All you did was give them the chance.
The Book of Revelation tells you what is going to happen to religions like this. It doesn't end well and the "church" won't be allowed to behave like this indefinitely.
“Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues."
Most folks don't realize that book is speaking about religion in general and churches in particular who falsely claim to be "christian" but prove otherwise by their actions.
“Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues."
Most folks don't realize that book is speaking about religion in general and churches in particular who falsely claim to be "christian" but prove otherwise by their actions.
I'm guily of nothing you aren't equally guilty of here. Remember that. You went tit-for-tat, too, preacher.
If you're that concerned with how mega-churches spend their money, then don't give them any of yours. Let other folks spend their money how they wish. If someone truly believes they'll go to hell because they don't fork over some cash to Joel Olsteen, then they're too dumb to be trusted with money to begin with. Might as well give it to someone who knows how to spend it.
Agree on your issues with the Catholic church's handling of the sexual abuse though. Reprehensible, and is plenty reason for anyone not to support them.
Agree on your issues with the Catholic church's handling of the sexual abuse though. Reprehensible, and is plenty reason for anyone not to support them.
Funky, my goodness, change the record. I didn't know that posts had to be approved by you nor did I know you do an audit for the Paddock. It seems your time would be better spent reading and commenting on threads that appealed to your interest instead of seeking out ones you dislike just to complain about them. Like me, for example, I don't seek out the circle jerk on GYERO and just complain about it. I click on threads that I'm interested in so if you want to contribute to the conversation then I always enjoy your takes. If you want to continue to complain about me posting four posts about an experience with a church over a 14 month time period (because you know, everyone just remembers every single post by a poster and reads every single thread) then I have no interest in continuing with this "shtick."
Yeah, I can dig that. By the way, I am a fireman. I think it is wonderful that fires are put out. I don't put out any fires myself, but I think it is a good thing that others do. I never go down to the fire station to help out. I never take firefighters a meal or anything. I don't give them any money. I never go to any place they are putting out fires. But, yes, I am a fireman because I think fires should be put out.
Someone asked a question once that has always stuck with me: "If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"