Pastors taking money from naive church people. What do you think?

Question

The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) is trying to recoup up to $1.3 million lost in failed AND FRAUDULENT CHURCH PLANTS, some of which existed only on paper. A late October report revealed that most convention churches started in the Rio Grande Valley from 1999 to 2005 have failed. Among 258 congregations started by three pastors in seven years, only 5 still gather.
No doubt its a bad thing WHEN PASTORS TAKE MONEY to plant churches either using it carelessly or simply STEALING IT.

Greed can entangle church leaders or blind them to wrongdoing, said Barry Minkow, founder of the Fraud Discovery Institute. "WE'RE GREEDY FOR NUMBERS so we can tell people we're effective, which makes us vulnerable on the ministry side," Minkow said.
Hope seems to spring eternal for the faithful and its not only TV evangelical pastors who know how to huckster it!

Answer 1

Unfortunately, greed exist in every aspect of life and churches are not immune. Bad management also exist everywhere. But we do need to be careful not to lump every Baptist church into the heap. I know many that run a small budget and most goes to ministries outside of the church. Sadly, we also seem to be a society that finds great comfort in high numbers.

Answer 2

Sadly some men & women enter in to ministry as a career choice and not a true calling from God. However some who are called unfortunatly get caught up in greed & the power which comes from being a succucesful pastor, they are operating in the flesh and not the spiritual realm.Those faithful who sow seeds for the love of the kingdom work will not lose their reward.

Answer 3

Despite its good points, religion can obviously attract gullible people. I guess free choice comes into it - if people want to give money (and if they have so much to spare), it's ultimately their decision what they do with it. It is sad that money is taken fraudulently, though. Maybe there should be some sort of official inquiry - though then there would be a big protest about government interference!
Without me lecturing, Jesus did call us to not have our hearts set on earthly riches. Maybe pastors sometimes lose sight of the fact that you don't have to have a building, choirs, huge membership, sound systems etc. to have a 'church'. That's just my opinion, though!

Answer 4

Hi this problem is most common these days esp in my country and if the church attenders don't watch out it could happen to them. The most ridiculous I have ever heard is selling of miracles am not going to mention any church it made me laugh. If you are desperate for a miracle you are most susceptible to prying eyes of "pastors" who are out to make a kill through you. A real pastor is supposed to pray for you free of charge. Its your right as a church member to know how your church finances its projects ask for the statements if you have to while contributing to the finances 10% of your income and/or offerings which are completely voluntary. Pastors are not supposed even to follow you personally for not paying thats why money should be kept in an envelope with no name

Answer 5

i think its a vary real possiblity i mean look at how pastors live these days most of them have better cars than the people that attend the church and many live in rish parts of town while their followers live in not soo good parts. and well the church does pay their salary. sooo who knows maybe they do take money from the people that attend but hay wats new church leaders have been stealig from the church for a long time what else is new

Answer 6

It is totally disgusting. "Thou shalt not steal".

I once read of a failed church planting project, where the people moved to an area where the church was to be built, and then the Baptists decided to cancel the project. What? People have nothing better to do than to spend money to move around and buy new houses, and then find that they won't be having a church? What happens to the original planned money? It's right up there with TV evangelists who hypnotize people into giving their money to them -- and all in the name of God!

Answer 7

I don't believe that you were behaving in an un-Christian way. Inviting a stranger into your house for an extended amount of time can be very risky to you, your family and to your property. You can never know when this person will became angry at you, seek revenge and then justify that behavior in her own mind. Edit: This is just as risky as picking up a hitchhiker. There are other ways to help someone who is truly in need than to bring them into your home while you and your family are asleep.

Answer 8

Religion---How Should It Be Financed?

GENIVAL, who lives in a shantytown in northeastern Brazil, supported his wife and children on the meager wages he earned as a hospital security guard. Despite his hardship, Genival gave the tithe conscientiously. "Sometimes my family went hungry," he recalls while rubbing his belly, "but I wanted to give God my best, no matter what sacrifice was necessary."

After losing his job, Genival kept up his tithing. His minister urged him to put God to the test by making a large donation. The clergyman guaranteed that God was certain to pour out a blessing. So Genival decided to sell his home and give the proceeds to the church.

Please enjoy the rest of this article right here! Just click the link and enjoy the light!!!
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/12/1/article_02.htm

Answer 9

One of the reasons I don't attend most denominational churches is fraudlent behaviour on the part of "ministers".

Answer 10

its about time thay got some money back off the corupt churches thay can do it to the ones that rip people of on t.v as well