Comments on: money’s growing like grass(ley) – prosperity pastors still under scrutiny http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/ Atlanta restaurants, arts, culture, and life from an urban bohemian perspective Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:01:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Honey Holman http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-3638 Honey Holman Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:34:36 +0000 http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/#comment-3638 I don't deny that often people in power have a hard time handling that...Abraham Lincoln even made statements to the fact that authority is a true test of a man's character. There have been instances where church leaders, as in any organization, have misused money/other property. I have to agree with some of the other statements about process. This investigation should take place through proper channels (i.e. IRS) if it is necessary, and not be the results of someone's personal mission. How would you like it if an elected official, like say your mayor, decided to launch an investigation into your business "just in case there might be something wrong". A mayor alerting IRS and going through legal channels would be different than just requesting that all your records be made available to him/her. Also, scripture addresses money quite a bit, and says the love of money is the root of evil, not money itself. I think most of these ministries have still shown that it is their heart to love people. I'm not saying there isn't a chance that someone misused funds, but couldn't you say that about every single human and every organization? Do we randomly start investigating every person and demanding records? Is this happening because people have the expectation that pastors should have to wear shoes from K-mart and buy used cars? Jesus rode a donkey in order to fulfill a prophecy. If the prophetic word in Isaiah had said the Messiah would ride into town on a camel or chariot, it would've been so. It's easy for us to think of riding a donkey as being a status of being poor, because we compare it to driving cars now. Don't you think the poorest people would have to walk and couldn't afford a donkey in Jesus' time? If you peruse the scripture well, Elijah wasn't necessesarily homeless. God told him to go camp out for a while so he could show him that He was the provider for Elijah. The widow fed Elijah so that God could bless the WIDOW and show her the same lesson...she was blessed for obeying and all her needs were met. Elijah wasn't starving and wouldn't have died if she didn't do it. It was a lesson in obedience and not living in meek means. I think most instances related to money in the Bible show that the true downfall comes when people make money thier god. If these ministries make their records avaialbe to their members (who are in fact the ones doing the giving) then let the members look into it and pray to know the truth. God gives us wisdom and expects us to be wise. If it must be investigated by the government then at least let the process deemed in the law be followed and not a blatant disregard for rights and the freedoms that the church is guaranteed. I don’t deny that often people in power have a hard time handling that…Abraham Lincoln even made statements to the fact that authority is a true test of a man’s character. There have been instances where church leaders, as in any organization, have misused money/other property.

I have to agree with some of the other statements about process. This investigation should take place through proper channels (i.e. IRS) if it is necessary, and not be the results of someone’s personal mission. How would you like it if an elected official, like say your mayor, decided to launch an investigation into your business “just in case there might be something wrong”. A mayor alerting IRS and going through legal channels would be different than just requesting that all your records be made available to him/her.

Also, scripture addresses money quite a bit, and says the love of money is the root of evil, not money itself. I think most of these ministries have still shown that it is their heart to love people. I’m not saying there isn’t a chance that someone misused funds, but couldn’t you say that about every single human and every organization? Do we randomly start investigating every person and demanding records? Is this happening because people have the expectation that pastors should have to wear shoes from K-mart and buy used cars?

Jesus rode a donkey in order to fulfill a prophecy. If the prophetic word in Isaiah had said the Messiah would ride into town on a camel or chariot, it would’ve been so. It’s easy for us to think of riding a donkey as being a status of being poor, because we compare it to driving cars now. Don’t you think the poorest people would have to walk and couldn’t afford a donkey in Jesus’ time?

If you peruse the scripture well, Elijah wasn’t necessesarily homeless. God told him to go camp out for a while so he could show him that He was the provider for Elijah. The widow fed Elijah so that God could bless the WIDOW and show her the same lesson…she was blessed for obeying and all her needs were met. Elijah wasn’t starving and wouldn’t have died if she didn’t do it. It was a lesson in obedience and not living in meek means.

I think most instances related to money in the Bible show that the true downfall comes when people make money thier god. If these ministries make their records avaialbe to their members (who are in fact the ones doing the giving) then let the members look into it and pray to know the truth. God gives us wisdom and expects us to be wise. If it must be investigated by the government then at least let the process deemed in the law be followed and not a blatant disregard for rights and the freedoms that the church is guaranteed.

]]> By: MSdream77 http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-276 MSdream77 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:57:37 +0000 http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/#comment-276 I think that it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. But I do believe that Copeland is correct in fighting for his rights, and also for wanting the government to use the process that is already in place for such an investigation. The IRS is the agency that would normally handle this type of situation, not a single Senator. Here is a good read I want to pass along... http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13003 I think that it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. But I do believe that Copeland is correct in fighting for his rights, and also for wanting the government to use the process that is already in place for such an investigation. The IRS is the agency that would normally handle this type of situation, not a single Senator. Here is a good read I want to pass along…
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13003

]]> By: Paul http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Paul Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:02:48 +0000 http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/#comment-154 It's not the the pastor, he is just a man. Many say they are called but called to what? I think they can keep their stuff without going to hell if they call themselves motivational speakers. Other than that, they ain't gettin my money. I will pay the rent for some poor family and fill up the tank of some stranded traveler, but support some pimp....Ah ain't! This is a risk I am willing to take. Jesus preferred to ride on a donkey when he could have used an arabian horse. Why are we so silly to pay into this foolishness. My former pastor is about to go to jail because of this greedy selfish non God fearing crap....Pastor Ron Sailor Jr of "Christ the King Baptist Church" in Dacula GA. I felt something was wrong and told my wife we had to go....she was reluctant but followed my lead....now we look at the news and go "Thank God" we listened and left. My dad in Chicago is going through the same thing....so he fills up members cars on Sunday with Gas and grocery to go and visit and feed the sick and shut in. He puts a dollar in the basket. He understand lights need to be paid. The common day church is so foolish and silly ....that is those caught up in prosperity. If people would read the bible, there would be a lot less of these rich preachers out there. It’s not the the pastor, he is just a man. Many say they are called but called to what? I think they can keep their stuff without going to hell if they call themselves motivational speakers. Other than that, they ain’t gettin my money. I will pay the rent for some poor family and fill up the tank of some stranded traveler, but support some pimp….Ah ain’t!
This is a risk I am willing to take. Jesus preferred to ride on a donkey when he could have used an arabian horse. Why are we so silly to pay into this foolishness. My former pastor is about to go to jail because of this greedy selfish non God fearing crap….Pastor Ron Sailor Jr of “Christ the King Baptist Church” in Dacula GA. I felt something was wrong and told my wife we had to go….she was reluctant but followed my lead….now we look at the news and go “Thank God” we listened and left. My dad in Chicago is going through the same thing….so he fills up members cars on Sunday with Gas and grocery to go and visit and feed the sick and shut in. He puts a dollar in the basket. He understand lights need to be paid.
The common day church is so foolish and silly ….that is those caught up in prosperity. If people would read the bible, there would be a lot less of these rich preachers out there.

]]> By: Haramjada http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Haramjada Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:46:21 +0000 http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/#comment-141 There's probably nothing wrong with the gov't asking for an honest accounting of a minister's finances, but I just don't like the implications of this because it can be interpreted as a breach of the separation of church and state. I'm not saying it is a breach, per se, but it can certainly be seen as one. There’s probably nothing wrong with the gov’t asking for an honest accounting of a minister’s finances, but I just don’t like the implications of this because it can be interpreted as a breach of the separation of church and state. I’m not saying it is a breach, per se, but it can certainly be seen as one.

]]> By: Robert Blessing http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Robert Blessing Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:19:03 +0000 http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2008/03/31/moneys-growing-like-grassley-prosperity-pastors-still-under-scrutiny/#comment-139 Intent is a very hard thing to uncover. If these ministers were acting in a predatory manner on their congregations, then I hope their abuses are uncovered. But in the end, they will have to answer to God. Will be hard to hide behind non-profit status then. Intent is a very hard thing to uncover. If these ministers were acting in a predatory manner on their congregations, then I hope their abuses are uncovered. But in the end, they will have to answer to God. Will be hard to hide behind non-profit status then.

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