What do you think about Christian priests and preachers that have become wealthy from their religion?

Question

Like Christian televangelists or Catholic Bishops who ride expensive BMW's or Mercedes?

What do you say about JW "elders" (in their 40's) that suddenly became rich?

Why did Buddah have to walk all his life and the Dalai Lama goes around in fancy planes and cars?

Does Allah approve of the Al Saud's family monetary wealth?

Answer 1

They are hypocrites. No one should profit from religion.

Answer 2

Well, If I ever was to meet an Elder who sudenly became wealthy I would be happy for him and want to know his secret. Most of the Elders I know who are financialy stable are because of investments and retirement policies. The Bible shows us that being a leader in belief does not constitute a right to be given money. While we should ALL beconcerned with the needs of others. We Witnesses do not pay our Elders.

Answer 3

Remember, a church is a not for profit money maker.

If you are a head of a church, usually that is your 9 to 5 job. Believe it or not, the average person likes to see their Pastor/Reverend/Minister/Priest etc.. driving a nice car and living in a nice house. For some reason its a sign of security that the church itself is doing we financially.

From a more business aspect, the government seperates church from state, yet as a non profit organization a church can loose government funding by not dancing to the beat of the governments music. The more successful and profile imaged churchs play the game better then your dinky building fund having churchs' who are probrably really spreading good message uch better then most.

Answer 4

I think organized religion is nothing but a business endeavor. Many profit from it and others go broke for it. As long as there are people out their willing to give their last penny to 'the church', there will be rich men riding in their expensive cars and their fancy suits preaching about one thing or another.

Answer 5

In the Bible, we are are told "you received free, give free" matt10:8 Those holding positions in the congregations should serve the congregation out of love not for profit. they shouldnt get paid for it. Jehovah's Witness elders do not get paid a cent for their work no matter how long they serve as an elder. neither do their pioneers (full-time ministers)

compare that with catholics. a recent study showed that 80some% of catholic churches interviewed had cases of priests or those in their clergy stealing money from their parishiners. 11% showed embezzlement of $500,000 or more!
Matt 21:12 And Jesus entered into the temple and threw out all those selling and buying in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 And he said to them: “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but YOU are making it a cave of robbers.”

it is clear that God does not approve of such ones supposedly taking care of the congregation to be benefiting materially from it like these ones who were making money off the people who were coming into the temple to worship God.

Answer 6

I say that one of two things is true.

A) They have been very faithful with what God has given them, and God has given them more to be faithful and giving with, or

B) They aren't really interested in God or anyone else other than themselves, and they are playing people for fools.

God rewards those that are faithful to him with their resources by giving them more, but not more to just spend on what they feel like. They are given more to give to others and do God's work. There is a vast difference. Wealth by itself is indifferent. Money isn't the root of all evil, the love of money is. The question is what are those who are wealthy doing with that wealth. If they are buying fancy cars and planes, then they probably aren't being faithful with it.

Answer 7

Do you think that King David was wrong to be wealthy?

As long as the source of the wealth is God, and thanksgiving is given to God - there is no problem. In certain situations, wealth is needed to be an effective messenger in a global society. that being said, wealth and power can be quite corrupting (see David).

the problem is when such people manipulate others, lie and swindle.

Answer 8

You're hitting all the 'sacred cows' at once here!

The purpose of religion is to take assets away from individuals and groups and concentrate it in the hands of a few, while offering platitudes and an afterlife (for which the purveyors cannot be held accountable) as compensation.

Answer 9

Solomon states how meaningless and empty it is to acquire riches. He had seen how the acquisition of money had brought misery.
This striving after money was an evil. Money and possessions become idols to serve....but they will only destroy. All will be lost.
Solomon emphasized this by referring to a person who had carefully treasured up or hoarded his wealth and then lost it all through some misfortune.
Jesus echoed this sentiment in Luke 12:16-21, when he said, "The land of a certain rich man was very productive. 17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, >What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' 18 And he said, >This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 >And I will say to my soul, ASoul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' 20 But God said to him, >You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' 21 So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
As a result of such loss a man would have nothing to leave his son (Ecc. 5:14). Hoarding wealth may thus even bring harm (i.e., "misery") to its owner (v. 13). This is worse than accumulating wealth without knowing who will control it later (2:17-23).
In addition, in verses 15-17, Solomon argued that even if wealth were not lost but kept throughout life, one could not "take it with him."
Everyone enters the world with nothing, and leaves it with nothing (cf. Ps. 49:17).
Since a person cannot take any fruits of his labor with him when he dies, he really gains nothing from his labor.
All his effort is as wasted as if he had toiled for the wind. Solomon called this too . . . a grievous evil ("a depressing misfortune"; cf. 5:13).

Answer 10

It is wrong if they use Gods money for wealth solely for themselves, however, God does allow them to use His money to forge a comfortable living within humble circumstances.

All the extra wealth should be directed to help Gods kingdom on Earth. What are these Earthly kingdoms? Orphanages, health crises, families, Christian Jobs, impoverished people, people in Crises, to name a few, and most importantly to maintain the Church and those that seek out God.

BEWARE of those individuals who are not spreading their wealth (Gods) on these Earthly ventures, and are using it to build their selves up to be rich as they are wolves in sheep's clothing or better yet demons in the flesh.

RD

Answer 11

I have serious problems with proselytization...

I also have serious problems with people who use religion to get rich. At some point, any individual or organization will act to preserve its wealth and power rather than promote its spiritual or altruistic agenda. I have BIG problems with that - that is why I think tele-evangelical ministries are seriously dangerous and misguided. If you want to do good - donate your money to a battered women's shelter or an animal shelter... "God" or his representives shouldn't need your money.