A while back the question does God care if I’m rich or poor? was asked. I don’t know that we reached a consensus on whether God cares, but the Senate does. And as reported by CBS News in Atlanta, Dr. Creflo Dollar has released financials indicating his World Changers Church took in $69 million in 2006. The Dr. maintains, though, that his lavish lifestyle comes from his own business and private monies and not on the heels of parishioners’ tithes.
I understand the appearance of impropriety. But, it is not de facto inappropriate for Dollar, Jakes, Hinn, the Copelands, Paula White or any other “prosperity” preacher to have large salaries and live luxurious lifestyles. These ministers have congregations in the thousands of people. As one of my co-workers puts it, they bring peace to the lives so many people. Pastors are paid and are often salaried. That is no secret. Why shouldn’t they be paid proportionate to the size, reach, and demands of their congregations?
Now, if there is improper use of church funds or dealings that would call into question a church’s tax-exempt status, that should be investigated. But, if a congregation or board of trustees/deacons decides to offer a gift or large salary to its pastor, I don’t have to agree to understand that is their choice. That’s not something new. I remember “pastor appreciation” collections from when I was a toddler.
I just find it amazing that corporations can pay CEOs tens of millions of dollars to run businesses that buy cheap labor oversees, pander to the government for special protections, and often pollute the earth all while limiting their legal liability, yet we get up in arms about churches and how we believe a minister should behave, what he should drive or where she should live. Sure, an athlete can seek a $350 million dollar contract to throw a ball, but let a man or woman who seeks to bring fulfillment and light into many of our lives and appear to make a lot of money and red flags go up.
And, I get that it might look better for a pastor or priest (cause no one is even talking about the opulence of the Catholic Church yet) to live a meager or at least average existence. Scripture alludes to that. But wealth does not equal corruption or surreptitiousness. If we are suspicious of other people’s money, I believe it is an opportunity to examine the way we feel about money ourselves. Scripture speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven being at hand. Any description thereof often involves streets paved with gold and other luxuries. I am not saying that’s what we should do, but if that is one of the rewards of seeking FIRST the Kingdom and all it’s righteousness then so be it.
When asked if he was a prosperity preacher, I recently heard Joel Osteen say, “I’m certainly not a poverty preacher.” I don’t need my minister to drive a Civic for her to have credibility. That’s something I have to gauge on my own and do so without judgment. I also look for a preacher who speaks blessings into my life whether they be financial, mental, emotional or physical.
Kimberly Michelle
I don’t mind that he took in that amount. What matters to me is what he does with that money. Was that $69M before or after he put in his own 10% tithes? I don’t need my Pastor to drive a Civic but I also have a preference that they live a humble and modest lifestyle, which is opposite to the flamboyant flashy lifestyle that I see many wealthy Pastors living. If the leader of your church is supposed to be a reflection of how Jesus lived, what Jesus would do, and an interpretation of the sacred words of the bible, I just cannot see how that person is so extremely wealthy unless he is also giving that money to charities or back to the church. I look for a preacher who walks the walk as well as encouraging the congregation. And to me, walking the walk includes devoting time to missionary work and not just acquiring private monies.
November 12, 2007 at 11:58 am
ETS
GIB, I’m over here saying Amen to almost everything you’re saying! LOL.
Osteen’s response was on point. Period.
I don’t know how much is “appropriate” for a spiritual leader, but my real question is how do we determine that? Why is no one calling about Catholics? Business leaders? Or the Senate?! Why is it okay for us to make millions but our leaders can’t?
Is there really a price you can put on “spiritual health” which for many governs every other health aspect?
November 12, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Denene Brox
I saw a story about this on ABC on Sunday morning. This is such a gray area. So here’s my two cents, for what it’s worth:
I think that people who want to be pastors should live a humble life. That does not mean that they should live in poverty or never have or own nice things. BUT, think about it this way. If you’ve dedicated your entire life to helping people, why spend $70,000 on a car when you can drive a very nice car for $30,000? That $40,000 could feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc. So, when I see stories like this on the news, I just have to wonder what the real answer is. My gut tells me that Jesus lived humbly, and made Himself of no reputation, and men and women who take the job of pastoring should have the same attitude.
OK, I’ll step off of my soap box. Great post! I’m glad you wrote about this.
November 12, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Martin Lindsey
There are two key things to keep in mind here people. One is legal and the other is scriptural.
First, everything involves legal technicalities to keep practical matters as they should be. When it comes to church life, for instance, avoiding co-mingling of funds by having an entity separate from the formal church organization is how that’s done. World Changers Church is the formal body that takes care of it’s members. Their tithes most likely go to making that entity operate Sunday thru Saturday with all of its ministries and services that edify that body of people and maybe any outreach that they do as a body. That’s pretty much the standard method of opeartion for any congregation of any denomination anywhere.
Creflo Dollar Ministries is a separate entity (look at the credits on TV next time) that would most likely qualify as his business operation. And as a former banker who has opened business accounts for such entities I understand why he would have such a thing. It’s really simple. If the church members decide they no longer want him as pastor then he can still minister independently as an evangelist with conferences, workshops, broadcasts etc. He can still witness to save souls and support his family at the same time.
Joyce Meyer is a good example of this way of preaching and ministering. She’s never been anybody’s pastor. She’s a professional evangelist and her legal entity, Joyce Myer Ministries, is the only truly effective way she can do national and international ministry the way she’s done for 20-30 years.
The only way you can support the type of infrastructure that it takes to do things the right way and be transparent about it is to apply basic business principles. Again, it’s a common sense practical matter. It’s not about church being a business. It’s about doing things the right way to keep them on the up-and-up.
Secondly, the Bible demands that his preachers of the Word be taken care of. They are giving the doubters spiritual food so that their souls can be saved for eternity. They are also feeding the believers to edify them for daily living.
The specific verse addressing the need to take care of the preacher is Numbers 18:21. From the New International Version of the Holy Bible it reads like this, “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.” Read the entire chapter and you’ll get the full context of God taking care of His priests /preachers/ministers/bishops thru the resources of the people.
So stop giving the mega church leaders a hard time people. They are gaining in proportion to what they are giving spiritually. The body of members is growing and they are apparently happy to give because they keep showing up and putting their dollars in.
And I guarantee you the well known preachers give away lots more percentagewise than any of their members put in. That’s another reason they are doing so well is because they know how to give it away so the Good Lord keeps giving more to them to give away. But that’s another principle for another time.
Way to go Dr. Dollar. Hope the $69 mil doubles this year because you’re doing a great job ministering no matter what the critics say.
November 12, 2007 at 9:28 pm
UMO
I also read and heard about the investigations. Here’s my take. Since writing the “Does God Care”.. article I’ve thought some about prosperity preaching, the meaning of money, etc. My take is this, the Bible admonishes us to be content in what ever our situation is…not that we shouldn’t be striving for more but always realizing how blessed we currenlty are. I don’t have a problem with various “prosperity” ministries bringing in millions upon millions I just want to know that those dollars are going to those that need them. The question that then arises is Do Creflo, Joel, etc. NEED mansions, Bentleys, and 20K toilets??
My biggest problem with prosperity minisitries is perception…Perception from the secular world. In my humble opinion these ministers come off in a bad light because they are living such extravagant lifestyles and this turns many non-believers off.
Lastly, you can’t compare big business or any business to that of a non profit. Businesses exist SOLELY to enhance the investments of the owners. So that’s why CEO’s get paid so much. I’m no Bible wizard but I’m pretty sure preachers don’t OWN the churches—they belong to God.
November 13, 2007 at 10:04 am
GIB
few things. Martin, thanks for that info – mucho informative. and UMO, you touched on something critical for me: perception. That is the precise reason i mention us evaluating our feelings about money.
that someone perceives a wealthy minister as distasteful, extravagant, etc, is that person’s issue. no one else. that perception reveals what they feel about money and the abundance of it. David was a King of a mighty empire. And, with his wealth was able to invite others to the table. Eddie Long reportedly helped several members of his congregation open small businesses with help from his own money and contacts in the community. He has ministered and done charity work in Africa. One day I plan on having a lot of money,too, so that I an provide comfortably and easily for my family, and so I can do even more in my communities.
And in terms of the secular world, what is a minister to do? The “secular” world doesn’t have a problem with it’s athletes, CEOs, Senators, and celebrities making money. But, they have a problem with ministers, who, we assume, are children of and have inherited the Kingdom of God enjoying what it means to live God’s glory? For me that again highlights perception. Why can’t a man or woman of God be wealthy? In order to be credible a minister then has to dumb-down? I think it a misperception that anyone should have to do that (see Marianne Williamson, “Our Greatest Fear,” “Your playing small does not serve the world.”) or that experiencing abundance and victory has to go to committee and be tailored to fit what someone else thinks or perceives a man of God’s life should look like.
November 13, 2007 at 11:15 am
UMO
Once again, I’m not saying that being wealthy is a bad thing. I run a website that promotes that very concept… I’m just asking how much is too much…Could you help one extra family or one more organization if you didn’t have that $350k car? Just asking. And you are right about King David, but what about Paul or any of the first Christians? By all acounts they were NOT Ballin and faced hardships their entire existence(If you doubt this just read the New Testament, these cats had it rough) What prosperity preachers “sell” folks on is that EVERYONE is gonna be prosperous that believes in what they say, which is just not true. God’s will varies in each individuals life. I can die penniless, but I may have carried out God’s will for my life. When God speaks about abundance he means HIS definition of abundance not ours.
On your note about perception, I disagree. Our role as Christians is to be outward examples of God’s light. If we are supposed to set ourselves from the world by our actions, how can we so freely take in what the world defines as bounty? We should be preaching to the world about what God’s love, grace and peace can do for your inside man vs. how many things God can provide you with….in my opinion
November 13, 2007 at 12:24 pm
GIB
interesting. but, i disagree. what prosperity preachers are selling is a new idea. for so long we were taught we were unworthy and barely deserving of God’s goodness. Constant and perpetual sinners who only by the Grace of God are spared utter damnation and suffering. The new “teaching” represents a paradigmatic shift in the approach and reading of scripture. If we think victimization we will live victimization. if we think “barely get by” we will live barely get by. If we think and do God’s work and his abundance, that is what we will live. No, it doesn’t have to mean a Bentley. But, what it will mean is we have a recognition that God is a God of abundance and not lack. Meaning there is enough for everyone. I don’t have to begrudge Creflo his Bentley or Willie Gary his private jets. Why? Because as long as I focus on the Kingdom, and not somebody else, I will have the abundance due me. That may translate in many different ways, but I can be at peace knowing it is coming.
The world cannot define bounty for me. Scripture already has. Food, clothing, desires – all these things will be added unto me, it’s already been written. So that’s why I am not surprised when I see it “added unto” those who in thought, word and deed I see doing Kingdom work. I just don’t see why that can’t be an outward example of God’s light?
November 14, 2007 at 9:16 am