You want to be a millionaire

[Clearwater AL]

So you want to be a millionaire.

Consider starting a church. Take a few Theology courses, there’s
online pay for colleges that can make you "Pastor" within months.
Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse passionate public speaking,
Rent an abandon building, (the owner may give you a break,)
come up with a catchy Christian name, hire a good sign painter,
and attend a few self promotional seminars.

It may take time but it just might work for you. Ok, you might not
become a millionaire or nationally famous but the financial rewards
within your local area just might be worth the effort and investment.

According to an affiliate of Forbes this worked out very well for
just this dozen, there was about 18 others here in the US. Here is
the millionaires dozen’s possible net worth… “Pastors”.
Again, estimates. could be a little more or less… still.

Kenneth Copeland… $460 Million.
Rick Warren… $25 million.
Jerry Falwell at death… $12 million.
(Things aren’t working out too well for his son.)
Al Sharpton… $4 million.
Franklin Graham… $10 million.
Billy Graham (before he died) 25 million.
Jimmy Swaggert… $12 million.
Benny Himm… $42 million.
Joel Osteen… $40 million.
Pat Robertson… $100 million.
Joyce Meyer… $8 million.
Peter Popoff… $10 million.

Some may remember the story when Jesus went into the Temple
and turned over the tables of the money changers and profiteers.

If Jesus were to come back he will probably start with the Vatican
and the ones above who live in mansions, have private planes,
pilots, landscape keepers, housekeepers, butlers, maids, drive luxury
cars or are chauffeured.

Yet, today food banks are severely struggling for money like never
before because of rising prices and fewer donations.
Just wonder if each of the 30 millionaire and wealthy local Pastors
in the thousands would go without some personal desire/luxury and
each would donate their 10% tithe, (instead of taking it from the flock)
the amount of money that could go to the local food banks would be
a Miracle.

What would Jesus do?

Apparently the very wealthy dozen above are skipping over, forgot,
or ignoring several things Jesus taught and preached. They are supposed
“Christians” using the name… Jesus Christ to make millions

The mega size churches are standing room only and the tithes keep
pouring in each week, some give just to be entertained by a Christian
stage performer behind a prop pulpit, some crying, some begging Super
Stars… like going to a concert.

Don’t mean to offend anyone… this has been bugging me for a long time.

 

[ShiftKicker]

I just listened to a very interesting podcast series about the Mars Hill megachurch in Seattle. It sounds like there's a real culture struggle within the Evangelical community and the larger Baptist Christian community around celebrity, wealth and the fundamentals of what you've addressed in your post. It's an interesting listen and definitely provides some more insight and details about how things have developed in the US- the history of megachurches is really interesting. It's called The Rise And Fall Of Mars Hill ( i Tunes or Google podcasts has it). Fascinating stuff.

 

[Clearwater AL]

Anti-vaccine Christian broadcaster Marcus Lamb dies at 64 after
contracting COVID 19

Don’t mean to pile on this Thread but this one took me over the top.

Marcus Lamb was an American televangelist and Christian broadcaster.
He was the CEO of the Daystar Television Network, the second-largest
Christian television network in the world. The estimated value of his
network is $230 million.

Lamb admitted on the Daystar Network that he had an extramarital
affairs with 3 women while married to his wife, she did forgive him.
Hmmm…

Lamb’s Daystar TV applied for the government’s Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP), they received $3.9 million (The network was
worth $230 million at the time). Soon after receiving the funds, his
network purchased a luxury Gulfstream Aircraft.

My “over the top” is that while all this was out there for his followers
to be aware of and know… yet the money continued to pour in.

What in hell has mesmerized the people who send this phony and his
wife money right up to diagnosis and death. And all the other people
who plow their money to these other TV, Radio and Mega Church actors.

There… now I feel better.