White Washed Tombs

Someone help me understand. What is it with American ministers of African descent, with big city churches, who choose to live lives of luxury?

I don’t get it.

A fleet of half-million dollar cars? Homes in the hills (River Hills, that is)? Tax exemptions and millions in aid from the federal government (faith-based initiatives)?

It’s not Biblical.

I also don’t understand the idea of minister as political power broker. It all smacks of worldliness, materialism, and idolatry. 

It bothers me. 

I’ve got nothing against wealth. I’m allergic to poverty. But when it comes to emulating the life of Christ (as a minister of Christ is supposed to do), this example of “minister as millionaire” is, well… un-Christ like. Or in other words…

anti-Christ.

Instead of lining up outside the Marcia P. Coggs Center for flood relief vouchers, maybe the starving water-logged citizens of inner city Milwaukee should have lined up outside the Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, or Christian Faith Fellowship COGIC.  Maybe they should line up outside Bishop Sedgwick Daniels’ house, or at Pastor Darrell Hines’ million dollar home, or near their fleet of luxury cars, or at the hangar where the Christian Faith Fellowship Lear jet will be housed!

I mean, birds of a feather should flock together.  It’s instructive that they don’t.

The church (and these wealthy ministers) was the last place the refugees of “extreme poverty” thought to go.  It’s the culture, stupid… 

The culture of government dependency and religious duplicity.

Comments

[A. Maurice]

JTH,

They worship the same God that the White, Mega Churches do. Joyce Meyers, Joel Osteen and others aren't catching city buses either. If you don't like something as you claim, speak up about all these men and women of the cloth that appear to have a flamboyant lifestyle.

If you don't, you come across as someone that hasn't done his homework and is taking a quick score approach for your audience. That link about CFFC is from 2007 JHT... surely you can find some more recent source of information.

The IRS is investigating many of these ministries and are looking to shut down some loop holes. This is big business in 2008... the days of chicken dinner sales and car washes for the building fund are long gone.

People support and give to things they believe in... if those followers felt they were being hustled, they wouldn't be there for long.

[James T]

A. Maurice,

Welcome to the National Conversation.

Joyce Meyers, Joel Osteen... I don't know these people. The two people that I mentioned are in my own backyard. As for the dated link, I think you missed the first one in the post which was from yesterdays Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

You are right about one thing though, people do support and give to things they believe in. However, they don't always leave once they find out they're being hustled.

Just look at Barack Obama.

[dad29]

It was also interesting to read that the Bishop found $80K for McGee's legal defense fund.

[TheIdealVoice]

Don't ever put Darrell Hines and Daniels in the same sentence. They go about things very differently on any number of elements of their ministries and it has been fashionable for awhile for struggling black ministers to take pot shots at both(even though I am not a big Daniels fan). Between the two, there are two schools, two youth centers, a credit union and senior center. Thats a lot more than most community groups can produce in about a decade, and it is of course conservatives like yourself James that condemn the Government from building any of those things themselves .Daniels of course accepts money from the GOP, while Hines turned down half a million from Cheney in person.

[James T]

TIV,

Oh and this justifies the life styles of the rich and famous? O.k. My Bad.

[Ben]

James-
If you are offended by these greedy false prophets you should check out The Wittenburg Door http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/
They check up on a lot of these rich televangelist crooks by checking out their holdings and even going through their trash. They also provide Christian satire. It is run by Christians who agree with you that "minister as millionaire" is un-Christ-like.

[Ben]

James-
If you are offended by these greedy false prophets you should check out The Wittenburg Door http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/
They check up on a lot of these rich televangelist crooks by checking out their holdings and even going through their trash. They also provide Christian satire. It is run by Christians who agree with you that "minister as millionaire" is un-Christ-like.