Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

So Mark, What salary cap do you think the Pastor should have??

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

Having money is not my issue Matt. I know some pastors in the UPC who did quite wealthy because they invested right and lived very frugal. they also gave a lot back to build their churches and to world missions. They didn't Strive to become rich at the expense of ministry nor did they get money by milking people with gimmciks like the charismatics are known for.

Again, it's not having money, I just don't believe that this who serve in the vocation of a minister, an humble servant, should be flashy. It's a horrible testimony to the world. And I'm not saying everyone has to hunch around like mother theresa either. I think the ministry in general (pentecost) has preached moderation in everything but lifestyle which leave the sinner scratching their heads

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

Yea

I have had preachers try to justify to me why them and others wore 2,000 to 3,000 suits and wore alligator shoes. Frankly, I can't see it. Jesus talked about animals having a place to rest and he didn't even have a place to lay his head. I can't see Jesus walking around like some do.

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

StMark... this is true.

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

Just letting the alligator rest on his feet!!!

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

That was comical and the situation is comical.

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

It's all a matter of the heart. I think you can have nice things if you are in balance, which is the key to every part of our lives. Personally I wouldn't want to be led by a pastor who was always broke and wondering where his next meal was coming from. Pastors are notorious for being bad money managers; we have fought hard to prove this wrong.

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

You are right Mark. I do not believe having money is the issue either, though I would gladly take a little bit (or a big lot) more :D.

I really think we live in a different generation that our dad's did. They both started a church (my dad started in a storefront) and labored hard to see it survive. When finances did start coming in, while they to a degree enjoyed the fruit of their labors, they continued to pour it back into the church, and Gods work in general. Their values seemed to be different than the current brand of preachers. The church was a vehicle to build the kingdom, and was not used for personal gain and self serving motives. I don't know about your dad, but my dad took very few vacations. He felt his duty was to be at the church every time it was open, whether he was preaching or not. It was his life. Of course, the few vacations we did take was combined with camp meetings, so even in those few times we did go somewhere on vacation, it was not really a vacation.

Todays preacher takes more R&R vacations than I have seen in years. Between golf, hunting trips, fishing trips, camping trips, and cruises, I have to wonder when they take the time to lay on their faces and pray. But I guess that is another subject for another time.

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

Re: Lavish Lifestyle Ministry Spending
 

I can see the same thread if they had had internet two thousand years ago...

"That Jesus is living WAY too high on the hog! I mean have you seen the robes he wears???!!!! The most expensive ones available! Seamless absolutely seamless, you KNOW that aint right. He's a wine bibber and a glutton! I don't think its right for all those people to be giving him their money and supporting his ministry when he was given such wealth at his very birth!!!!! A woman actually brought a beautiful alabaster box.. a work of exquisite art and smashed it and broke it so the outrageously expensive perfume inside could be poured over his feet. HIS FEET I SAY!!!! Why wasn't that sold and given to the poor is what I'd like to know! He should be giving all that to the poor!!!

I say...RICH IS BAD, POOR IS GOOD!!!!!"