Would Jesus drive a Benz or a Beemer?
Typically, Sunday morning in many households, is a time for getting up early, putting the kids (as well as ourselves) in our "Sunday best" and trodding off to our place of choice for worship. Whereever we go, whatever the denomination, one thing remains constant. We always feel better about ourselves, our family, our lives and we try our best to "live the message". We sit and we listen to the pastor, the preacher, the rabbi, the minister, the prophet, the "whoever", and as human nature would lead us to believe, we hold this messenger in higher regard than our own parents or anyone else we look at as an authoritative figure. Do we ever stop to think about our own personal relationship with "the Man upstairs" (as my mom affectionately refers to Him on occasion)?
Better yet, am I the only one that is disturbed by the growing popularity of these "mega-congregations"? Churches that have 10, 20, even 30,000 members….3 or 4 services….leaders that live in mansions, have private jets and drive cars that cost more than your average home. How is it that the man who has been "called" to deliver the message- to "serve", ends up living larger than the majority of his/her flock? Is it just me, or is there something drastically wrong with this picture? Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying that these churches do not serve a meaningful purpose for some if not a great deal of followers. My issue lies with the fact that many of these houses of worship are now branching out into arenas that, only a few short years ago, were considered private business ventures. I understand that the church must make money in order to survive and continue to fund various outreach programs but what about when is it too much? Where I live, there is one of those mega-churches that recently announced the purchase of a "convention center and market place". Still under the umbrella of "non-profit", this church, like many others, will continue to operate this new acquisition as it has been with the proceeds going to the church. Church schools I can understand. Neighborhood ministries I can understand. Churches running businesses? Help me with this.
Let's us not forget about the leaders of these vessels of worship. Many of them have expensive cars, huge homes, teams of support staff at arms reach and all the while they are "committed" to being servants of the Lord? How are you a "servant" with a 7 figure income? I'm not saying they need to live like a paulper but since when is "bling" acceptable in the pulpit? I often find myself watching one of the very popular pastors on Sunday mornings because I happen to like most of the messages that he spews. My mom once told me that you must always separate the message from the messenger, take the "good" out of it and disgard the rest. The bottom line is, we must always remember that these men and women are just that- men and women. Just like you and me, they ALL have their flaws. They ARE human. Your relationship with God is not necessarily defined by your relationship with your church. Something to think about....
dk
Typically, Sunday morning in many households, is a time for getting up early, putting the kids (as well as ourselves) in our "Sunday best" and trodding off to our place of choice for worship. Whereever we go, whatever the denomination, one thing remains constant. We always feel better about ourselves, our family, our lives and we try our best to "live the message". We sit and we listen to the pastor, the preacher, the rabbi, the minister, the prophet, the "whoever", and as human nature would lead us to believe, we hold this messenger in higher regard than our own parents or anyone else we look at as an authoritative figure. Do we ever stop to think about our own personal relationship with "the Man upstairs" (as my mom affectionately refers to Him on occasion)?
Better yet, am I the only one that is disturbed by the growing popularity of these "mega-congregations"? Churches that have 10, 20, even 30,000 members….3 or 4 services….leaders that live in mansions, have private jets and drive cars that cost more than your average home. How is it that the man who has been "called" to deliver the message- to "serve", ends up living larger than the majority of his/her flock? Is it just me, or is there something drastically wrong with this picture? Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying that these churches do not serve a meaningful purpose for some if not a great deal of followers. My issue lies with the fact that many of these houses of worship are now branching out into arenas that, only a few short years ago, were considered private business ventures. I understand that the church must make money in order to survive and continue to fund various outreach programs but what about when is it too much? Where I live, there is one of those mega-churches that recently announced the purchase of a "convention center and market place". Still under the umbrella of "non-profit", this church, like many others, will continue to operate this new acquisition as it has been with the proceeds going to the church. Church schools I can understand. Neighborhood ministries I can understand. Churches running businesses? Help me with this.
Let's us not forget about the leaders of these vessels of worship. Many of them have expensive cars, huge homes, teams of support staff at arms reach and all the while they are "committed" to being servants of the Lord? How are you a "servant" with a 7 figure income? I'm not saying they need to live like a paulper but since when is "bling" acceptable in the pulpit? I often find myself watching one of the very popular pastors on Sunday mornings because I happen to like most of the messages that he spews. My mom once told me that you must always separate the message from the messenger, take the "good" out of it and disgard the rest. The bottom line is, we must always remember that these men and women are just that- men and women. Just like you and me, they ALL have their flaws. They ARE human. Your relationship with God is not necessarily defined by your relationship with your church. Something to think about....
dk
posted by Darryl Krush at 11:32 AM
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