I visited my Pastors house that was six times the size of our small apartment. His wife did not work and he was the pastor of our large protestant church. Why is it that the bible teaches us not to surround ourselves in the riches of the world and yet the pastors I have met and see on TV are shamelessly flaunting their wealth?
2007-12-20 08:05:37 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hey Socko, what you just did is make assumptions. the reason i have a small apartment is because Im in school to become an RN. but thanks for playing
2007-12-20 08:44:08 · update #1
You have hit the bull's eye, my friend.
Christianity is more about the pastors and less about Christ. So I always laugh at the Christians.
If you fail in getting a job anywhere, join Theology.
They will teach you how to preach, read THE BOOK and speak in public.
They provide the best ground for teaching where you will not have shoes and tomatoes hurled at you for your nervousness or failures. (In church, everyone wears the halo)
Over time, you become a well-trained graduate and may also get a few votes to get promoted.
Then you suddenly realise the ease with which you can be rich and have power.
.. If that isn't the miracle in the house of God, what is??
The miracle-preachers should have some miracles done unto them first - or else how will they market their wares??
In India, I know a family of preachers who preach from their verandah to people that the hand of God is coming and healing all ills and absolving people of all sins. From nothing, they own a lot of land today.
It's a good career option if you seriously consider it.
2007-12-20 08:20:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not all churches are well enough off to have a large parsonage. My cousin lives in a modest, built-on house in a small desert town. The carpet is so worn out that you have to be careful not to trip over the ripped up parts and the A/C so unreliable that the fuse switches get thrown at least three times a week. The kids are accustomed to donated clothes and the cars are barely kept running at times. My cousin's wife has part time jobs cleaning houses and as a teacher's aide. They are some of the hardest workers I've ever seen.
Not all have been blinded by money and/or power. Maybe it's time to find another church?
2007-12-20 16:28:24 · answer #2 · answered by Aravah 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a great question and I've wondered the same thing. I know for me, our priests give up all their possessions and only own what they need. They do get a stipend to spend, but they don't own a large house and such, the priests live in dorm-like rooms and don't own a lot because if they're moved they don't have a lot to pack or carry.
I know I went to my boyfriend's pastor's house and I couldn't believe it. His wife doesn't work, he owns three cars and two motorcycles along with three acres of land and a huge house and he's got seven children.
That tells me he should be giving that back to their church, I mean yes they should get paid for their work, but not that much when they're preaching poverty...
2007-12-20 16:29:08 · answer #3 · answered by Aleria: United Year Of Faith 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you get an education and work hard to move up from your apt. You sound a bit jealous.
The pastor has an education and probably works hard with a large congregation and all their needs.
Many pastors live in small homes.
Don't put all pastors in with the TV types.
2007-12-20 16:26:17 · answer #4 · answered by Ruth 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Most of the pastors I've met live quite modestly. In fact, I've met many pastors who have day jobs, in addition to their ministry. For many, the ministry pays nothing at all. But I see your point, and if a pastor's getting wealthy off of the ministry alone, it's probably a warning sign.
2007-12-20 16:11:35 · answer #5 · answered by solarius 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
1. Most pastors work for less than minimum wage-even though most have a professional masters degree.
2. You should identify which "protestant" you are talking about. Lumping them all together is like saying all catholics are pedophiles, or all blacks are criminals. There is a tremendous difference in what is labeled "protestant" (so called). Some Methodist draw very large salaries, and many Pentecostal/Charismatics (Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar) make millions.
2007-12-20 16:24:46 · answer #6 · answered by Higgy Baby 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Being comfortable is not always greedy... I know poor people who are greedy.
A hint- many of the people you see on TV flaunting their wealth and talking about God.... aren't real pastors. They are celebri-pastors. Half of them don't even believe in the Bible!
2007-12-20 16:09:21 · answer #7 · answered by peacetimewarror 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"The Bible teaches us not to surround ourselves in the riches of the world"?
We ARE surrounded by a world created specifically for us to meet both our needs and our wants. God approves and even delights in it when we enjoy what He has lavishly given us...and expects Every One of us to have.
Now, when a person worships the abundance and not the Giver of it, there's a problem. Hoarding it is equally dumb.
Be careful of those who teach that you can't be truly happy without being truly miserable. (Sounds like a Hebrews 12:15 deal. i.e. "My life stinks; I'll convince others that theirs should too.")
2007-12-21 11:14:25 · answer #8 · answered by Tolstoyevsky 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't that the truth. One of my ex clients was a pastor for this huge church on top of a hill (more like a mountain!). And their home was humungous in this posh security gated community...golf course, tennis court...And naturally they had a three car garage, built in pool and spa. And they were soooo rude, I dumped em as my clients!!!
2007-12-20 16:19:35 · answer #9 · answered by zen 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are absolutely right, I don't have an answer for this, but I see why so many young people turn their backs from Christianity, my husband is one of them, and I don't know what to do, he sees pastors/priests as vulchers.
2007-12-20 16:11:51 · answer #10 · answered by acia 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋