more about money these days than religion?
**Why do preachers have big houses, and fancy cars, and mega-churches?**
2006-06-17 05:37:47 · 25 answers · asked by cherripye99 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Money, or authority, or attention, of course. Maybe there are some decent ones out there, but maybe it's just a corrupt system. Even many small-scale churches I've visited are like that. All you have to do is listen to what preachers, evangelists, etc. say in their sermons to know it's all about politics, money, social esteem. All the wrong things. It's a crooked, blinding racket as far as I've seen. I'd still like to see something to change my mind about it, but I'm not holding my breath. I can't believe that so many people fall for it.
2006-06-17 05:44:02 · answer #1 · answered by forbidden_planet 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. the majority of the preachers and pastors within the christian community are running fellowships of the range of 50 - 150 poeple. They do not have large budgets and houses and fancy cars. There are a select few number of fellowships that are considered a mega-church. These can afford to pay better salaries to their leadership and they like most will spend their income on what they will, be it houses, or cars...
i don't think the issue is related to how much money they make. I think that there are some who are misdirected in the ministry, by looking at the pastorate as a job. Rather than as the calling on their life by God Himself, regardless of the income. You can't help this, but then again you can't look at them, and lump all the ministry into the same catagory as those who seek for income.
To do so, would be to sterotype and that is judmentalism in an incorrect form.
2006-06-17 05:46:48 · answer #2 · answered by Cabana C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most ministers are rather poor.
I'm a preacher's kid and I know. We lived from week to week, sometimes wondering where the next day's food would come from. I think the fanciest car our family ever owned was an inheritance from my grandmother and that was an oldsmobile. The largest home we ever lived in was a 4 bedroom 2 bath.
Most of the ministers we knew weren't much better off than we were.
The vast majority of ministers are no different than anybody else. The ones with mega churches and television ministries are the ones living in hollywood style wealth.
2006-06-17 09:17:52 · answer #3 · answered by Dustin Lochart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some preachers are, but not all. Most preachers have been drug addicts, drunks, and other people that our society looks down on, and when they have a change of heart and accept Christ things turn around for them so they able to live a better life, and that change in life can be a good thing for those who are lost and looking for a better way, and they see that better way through one, the preacher, who has walked that very course and is now doing better.
With everything else, Christmas in on the top of the list, everything is all about money to some people and that makes it look bad for the honest preachers who is about saving souls and living a good life for others to see.
2006-06-17 05:47:59 · answer #4 · answered by 1549 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is not true of the majority of preachers. Only a very small percentage of preachers have big houses and fancy cars, and many have to work another job to make ends meet. Just to give you an idea, I am currently studying for my Masters of Divinity in divinity school. I worked in the business world for more than 10 years after getting my B.A. It will take me a year longer to get my M.Div. that it would for me to get an MBA and I will be lucky to make half as much as an MBA would. So, money is the last reason I am doing this.
2006-06-17 05:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by MacDeac 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My opinion is that if they have too much its not good because they are in it for the wealth. How can you preach this verse of scripture: Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
They probably don't.
My Pastor has a nice house and cars but he deserves it. He is open to his congregation of about 300. He visits anyone of us when needed at anytime of the day. So if you are sick at 3:00 in the morning and need prayer he'll be right over. Thats good dedication from a pastor. There for you 24/7.
Mega churches is another story. They only tend to preach sugar coated, feel good messages. When they need to preach fire and brimstone type messages also. Hey truth hurts sometimes but its what is gonna keep us out of hell. God Bless You!!
2006-06-17 05:59:19 · answer #6 · answered by dahorrible1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Preachers have money today because there many people that watch TV and go to the big churches that only teach that if you give the God will bless you. They never tell you the truth about giving. We are not under the law today and don't have to give out of necessary but we should give to support the church to get the gospel out and not to have big buildings or to pay the preacher a big salary. 2 Corinthians 9: 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2006-06-17 05:46:10 · answer #7 · answered by Ray W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. When you have 5000 people giving $1 + in each offering then you get allot of money. As for "small town USA" We have anywhere from 175- 250 at any given time and we struggle to pay our bills. Having fund raisers all the time.
It really depends on the size of the Church. Beware of televangelist though. Most, not all are after money. Having a personal jet ring any bells....
2006-06-17 08:48:00 · answer #8 · answered by suthrndaysi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The book of Revelation reveals the sign of the antichrist to be 666. What 666 refers to is 3 times imperfection. 7 is perfect and 6 is imperfect. The 3 imperfections of this world are Satan's establishment of commercialism, politics, and false religion. Since nearly all religions do not follow the teachings of the Bible in its' entirety, for example, saying jesus is god instead of his son, they are actually tools of Satan to control the masses and keep the people from the actual truth. Should love of God and teaching the truth be done at a cost?
2006-06-17 05:47:50 · answer #9 · answered by crosario7519 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a preacher's wife, I can tell you we live in a medium sized house, owned by the congregation we work with. My husband drives a 15 yr old pick up and we also have a 8 yr old minivan-- definitely not in it for the money if you're in it for God.
That's not to say that there aren't loads of false teachers out there who serve themselves 1st out of their greed, but a true Christian preacher isn't in it for the money, trust me.
2006-06-17 05:46:45 · answer #10 · answered by TexasMom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋