Megachurch Leaders are in it for the money?

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I live in the Houston area, and I know that one of our area’s biggest Megachurches is the Lakewood church. Most religious non-Catholics I meet up with have some sort of affiliation with Olsteen’s church. They seem to take offense when I tell them that he’s a sham. I just remember how his wife was forcefully removed from a plain for her coarse attitude and language towards the flight attendants and then the situation with Katrina last year when thousands of people were forced to evacuate and Houston played a key role in housing a multitude of people. Where was the Lakewood Church with it’s brand new “Oasis of Love?” In the local Houston newspaper, he made it clear that the new church would not be very supportive of these evacuees; however I do remember several evacuees from Louisiana approach me asking for directions to several of the Catholic Churches in the area. It still makes me feel good to know that there was a tremendous outreach from our local Catholic churches.
 
Damascus said:
To be clear, I did not say that. My neighbor contends that it has happened. I am not an expert on the financial aspect of the leaders and if there is truth to it or not. I do seem to recall a few that had been living some pretty luxurious lives. Now, is it wrong for them to make money doing something they love? Hmm, I just dont know. Good question. Where and how do they make that call?
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Oh sorry… I didn’t mean YOU were saying they were in it for the money… I just meant in general, how could anyone (me included) know what their motives were?

But I agree… living in the lap of luxury isn’t the answer to “what would Jesus do?”
 
Shawdude,

You make me remember another reason to be proud to be a Catholic. Thanks brother.🙂
 
Any large church with money should be using the excess for projects to help the poor and spread the gospel. More money means more ability to help. I wouldn’t attend any megachurch where the pastors had heated doghouses and fancy cars gained from the church.
 
Damascus said:
But Eden, what if they love the money with all their hearts? Will that get them off the hook with God?:confused:
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According to the Gospel of Prosperity, God loves the pastors of megachurches so much that he gave them lots of money. If they go bankrupt or something, that is a sure sign that God doesn’t love them anymore. :rolleyes:
 
Eden said:
According to the Gospel of Prosperity, God loves the pastors of megachurches so much that he gave them lots of money. If they go bankrupt or something, then we can be assured that God doesn’t love them anymore. :rolleyes:
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Ohh, kinda like “BY THEIR DOLLARS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM”
paragraph 1 verse 1 on How to go to Hell as fast as you can Manual ?

I go by the Bible baby. It says FRUIT. Not $$$$
 
Anybody else finding this thread mean-spirited? Don’t we have enough sins of our own to worry about?
 
Syele said:
Any large church with money should be using the excess for projects to help the poor and spread the gospel. More money means more ability to help. I wouldn’t attend any megachurch where the pastors had heated doghouses and fancy cars gained from the church.
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I agree. And to boot, there most likely isnt a poor soul there suffering from the dreaded diareaha problem that efflicts ones that eat cheap proccessed foods and not the good stuff.👍
 
On Prosperity

According to Word-Faith theology, financial prosperity and wealth was also included in the Atonement. This is based on an interpretation of the words of the Apostle Paul: “Yet for your sakes he became poor, that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Critics believe Paul was speaking of spiritual riches, rather than material prosperity. Faith proponents support their view by arguing that the context is the giving of material wealth.

It is often taught that Jesus and the apostles were rich (although they were most likely aescetic Essene Jews), and therefore believers should expect the same financial success. Supporters such as Kenneth Copeland have argued that Prosperity Gospel is validated by the teachings of the Apostle John: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). Copeland posits that “as the seeds of prosperity are planted in your mind, in your will and in your emotions…they eventually produce a great financial harvest." Critics argue that interpreting the salutation of John at the beginning of the epistle as a promise of prosperity is not consistent with New Testament teaching.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith

http://bestsmileys.com/scared/4.gif
 
mercygate said:
Anybody else finding this thread mean-spirited? Don’t we have enough sins of our own to worry about?
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Mean spirited to worry about my poor neighbor who is disenchanted with money grubbers disquised as angels from God?

Lets worry about the victims here please. I am.
 
21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be. 22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. 24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. 25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.

26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not. 27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be. 28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. 29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.

28 “Wheresoever”… The coming of Christ shall be sudden, and manifest to all the world, like lightning: and wheresoever he shall come, thither shall all mankind be gathered to him, as eagles are gathered about a dead body.

29 “The stars”… Or flaming meteors resembling stars.

30 “The sign”… The cross of Christ.

31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them. 32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh. 33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors. 34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

35 “Shall pass”… Because they shall be changed at the end of the world into a new heaven and new earth.

36 But of that day and hour no one knoweth, not the angels of heaven, but the Father alone. 37 And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark, 39 And they knew not till the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then two shall be in the field: one shall be taken, and one shall be left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill: one shall be taken, and one shall be left. 42 Watch ye therefore, because ye know not what hour your Lord will come. 43 But know this ye, that if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. 44 Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. 45 Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season.

46 Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing. 47 Amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming: 49 And shall begin to strike his fellow servants, and shall eat and drink with drunkards: 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not, and at an hour that he knoweth not:

51 And shall separate him, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
mercygate said:
Anybody else finding this thread mean-spirited? Don’t we have enough sins of our own to worry about?
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I wasn’t responding to be mean-spirited. I find the “prosperity gospel” to be a truly evil teaching.
 
Eden said:
On Prosperity

According to Word-Faith theology, financial prosperity and wealth was also included in the Atonement. This is based on an interpretation of the words of the Apostle Paul: “Yet for your sakes he became poor, that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Critics believe Paul was speaking of spiritual riches, rather than material prosperity. Faith proponents support their view by arguing that the context is the giving of material wealth.

It is often taught that Jesus and the apostles were rich (although they were most likely aescetic Essene Jews), and therefore believers should expect the same financial success. Supporters such as Kenneth Copeland have argued that Prosperity Gospel is validated by the teachings of the Apostle John: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). Copeland posits that “as the seeds of prosperity are planted in your mind, in your will and in your emotions…they eventually produce a great financial harvest." Critics argue that interpreting the salutation of John at the beginning of the epistle as a promise of prosperity is not consistent with New Testament teaching.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith

http://bestsmileys.com/scared/4.gif
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Private interpretation of Holy Scripture does it again! Another “victory” for the innovators.
 
dosdog,

Your post is wonderful. I just need some clarity on your interpretation of the verses you so kindly typed out for us here.

As you know, you can hand 2 men a bible and you will get 2 interpretations of it if it is left up to them to do so.
 
Damascus said:
dosdog,

Your post is wonderful. I just need some clarity on your interpretation of the verses you so kindly typed out for us here.

As you know, you can hand 2 men a bible and you will get 2 interpretations of it if it is left up to them to do so.
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drbo.org/chapter/47024.htm
ewtn.com/faith/Teachings/chura4.htm

Go directly to these exposes:
John Bevere, Markus Bishop, Juanita Bynum, Morris Cerullo, Kim Clement, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Hagin, Marilyn Hickey, Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Browne, T.D. Jakes, Bishop Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, Miles Munroe, Steve Munsey, Mike Murdock, Joel Osteen, Rod Parsley, Peter Popoff, Fred Price, Oral Roberts, R.W. Shambach, Robert Schuller, Karl Strader, Robert Tilton, Paula White
deceptioninthechurch.com/word-faith.html
 
dosdog,

That is a sobering wake up call. I never realized. I always read these threads here about how there really are not that many protestant denominations, but I have to wonder if Megachurch is considered a Denomination or not? Or are they all individual denominations of sorts? So confusing. Do they all have the same “mission” statement? Or a (forgive me for using the old fashioned term here) Creed? I believe…

Oh well. I am glad she is not there I guess. Maybe she will look into something.

She did not even go to her husbands funeral because it was in a Church. Oh well. At least she thinks about Jesus so thats good.
 
I’ve been thinking about this mega church phenomina ever since that pastor was exposed for doing meth and seeing a male prostitute on the side. I sincerely do think that these churches end up being conducted as businesses. They are very much growth oriented and thrive on what is termed “sheep stealing”. They do this by instituting attractive “ministries” to attract new members from other churches. They are run like pyramid scemes, making recruiting new members the highest spiritual calling there is. They are an example of American style religious capitalism, often rags to riches stories.
 
St_John said:
I’ve been thinking about this mega church phenomina ever since that pastor was exposed for doing meth and seeing a male prostitute on the side. I sincerely do think that these churches end up being conducted as businesses. They are very much growth oriented and thrive on what is termed “sheep stealing”. They do this by instituting attractive “ministries” to attract new members from other churches. They are run like pyramid scemes, making recruiting new members the highest spiritual calling there is. They are an example of American style religious capitalism, often rags to riches stories.
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The funny thing is that they are going to have their wake up call soon. Its not going to last forever. Too many too soon too fast. Glutted market. All offering the same product line. ITs gonna be Wal Martish.
 
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