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Churches when looking for leaders in their Parish should hang these on their volunteer board ------and that includes all Churches including Mega



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Jae ---why didn't you quote the whole phrase of airclean33's quote above -----all you did was pick a piece of it to suit your own agenda ----

here is the whole quote ------ Why don't GODS Church act, as they have been told? In the Church's beginning , it was one, with only ONE Leader That being The Christ."

Most churches today have themselves as the head of the Church in my experience -----God is left out in the cold ----He is never prayerfully ask what He wants for His Church ---committees sit around and discuss what they want to do -----The only time you here about God in the church maybe is in a sermon and a piece of scripture reading and communion -----Christ for the most part is obsolete ------

Obviously you haven't been involved in a "real" church. At ours, we start and end every meeting with a prayer.
 
And, if my beloved Rev said, "Bette, we need a private jet for me", I'd say "Susan, we need the parking lot re-paved first"...

Unfortunately for your Rev. Susan, she doesn't own her own ministry. Apparently that's what megachurch pastors due to join the jetset.
 
Sometimes I wonder about the Mega churches......is it just that the pastor refuses to do another church plant if the church is getting too large or do they think that it's partly to do with themselves (rather than God) and their preaching style that people come? I always wondered why a pastor would allow a church to grow to 30,000.....I mean isn't there more of a chance of the community becoming less personal and effective?
I may be wrong.....has anyone here ever belonged to a mega church?

One could loose their thoughts in such large spatial organizations ... and perhaps later wake up to what was lost ...
 
In God we are all retained (confined) to God's imaginary potential of creation ...

Tis a universal constant ... wildly spread ... but many of the fixated can't focus that far ... yet we can't escape eternity ... a big concept ... mores expressed ... Cos Moe logically! Tis the opposite side of the line ... a kind of weird vale ... dippy?
 
Unfortunately for your Rev. Susan, she doesn't own her own ministry. Apparently that's what megachurch pastors due to join the jetset.


Religious possession -ism?

Just a word to raise awareness of things that probably can be classed as non-physical ... possibly energetic? Absolutely shocking like insulin treatment for imposing catatonics ... the market does it with overuse of corn sugar ... and it also makes people swell ... before the solar bust-out ... then the implosion! Tis humbling even in deep spaces ... like the points of mind ... they need something to spontaneous scatter them ...
 
BetteTheRed -----Obviously you haven't been involved in a "real" church. At ours, we start and end every meeting with a prayer.

Obviously you don't know the difference between saying a prayer at a meeting and having the Holy Spirit direct all aspects of the Church ----that includes everybody from the Pastor to all groups ----The Holy Spirit directs the people and the people follow the Holy Spirits instructions ----the Holy Spirit speaks and directs BetteThe Red -----and only those who are Born from above will have that direction ------If the Holy Spirit is not indwelling in the people ---the direction is from the world not God -----

The Church belongs to Christ not man ------man is running the Church not God -------you will be hard pressed to find a Church that relies totally on God's direction ------God appoints His people not man ------there is no requirement to be a Child of the most high God to be a leader in the Church and that should be mandatory in my opinion ------just because you say I am a Christian doesn't mean you are really a True Christ--ian who has Christ in you ------

Jesus said ---
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

unsafe says ----Jesus Christ is that rock -----but He has be taken out of directing and the Churches are struggling to stay alive because man is in charge ------the Rock became pebbles scattered about by man and most of even the pebbles are lost now in most churches ---


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unsafe says
But one day soon the Mighty Rock will be back in full reign until then the pebbles will be scattered ---------
 
I love virtue-like churches ... speaking of unknowns ... and crazy experiences with people that say personality activities didn't happen ...
 
7 Surprising Reasons Why These Pastors Need Private Jets—Just, Wow.

Pastors Explain Why They Need Private Jets - One Mile at a Time

Mega Church Pastors: Private Planes

I have shared the links because I think that it is interesting to hear the arguments made by those who claim they need the private jets. Whether you think it is fair to critique the ministry having a jet or not it is interesting to hear why a jet is considered necessary.

The third link (church lady) is interesting in that it makes it very clear that most of the preachers who made the list subscribe to the prosperity gospel in one form or another. In short, the prosperity gospel is essentially a pyramid scheme set up with a thin veneer of Christianity. A fact which becomes obvious when you notice a) how big these ministries are and b) how the money stays near the top. If all things were held in common then nobody would have too much and nobody would have too little.

I'm less concerned about televangelists than I used to be.

One passage that has helped with that is Luke 16: 19-31 which turns prosperity gospel and the word/faith movement upside down.

It is also interesting to note that the principle proponents of this brand of Christianity are almost entirely based in the US.
 
7 Surprising Reasons Why These Pastors Need Private Jets—Just, Wow.

Pastors Explain Why They Need Private Jets - One Mile at a Time

Mega Church Pastors: Private Planes

I have shared the links because I think that it is interesting to hear the arguments made by those who claim they need the private jets. Whether you think it is fair to critique the ministry having a jet or not it is interesting to hear why a jet is considered necessary.

The third link (church lady) is interesting in that it makes it very clear that most of the preachers who made the list subscribe to the prosperity gospel in one form or another. In short, the prosperity gospel is essentially a pyramid scheme set up with a thin veneer of Christianity. A fact which becomes obvious when you notice a) how big these ministries are and b) how the money stays near the top. If all things were held in common then nobody would have too much and nobody would have too little.

I'm less concerned about televangelists than I used to be.

One passage that has helped with that is Luke 16: 19-31 which turns prosperity gospel and the word/faith movement upside down.

It is also interesting to note that the principle proponents of this brand of Christianity are almost entirely based in the US.

Disconnected self-important-ism?

May be related to autonomic forces and autism ... a binary folly ... about things like mind that some believe to be dark and abstract in hue ... so as you can't see that jet colour ... except by contrast ... azure as we're out there ... blues?

Can you imagine country folks songs based on wings and honkey tonk residence ... close to the h'AUM ... a Hommer? Words that cannot be connected without a giggle ... that funny prickle down the spine of the myth ... neurological! Maybe ... perhaps not ... MU cuss?
 
Like I said above -----God will deal rightly with anyone who uses HIS name for their own benefit ----Not us -----


We can critique all we want to but all it is doing is nothing except taking focus off God and His work in us -------


The Government needs to make Churches accountable for their spending stop allowing tax exempt laws for these organizations ------so if there is abuse it can be accounted for -----I only posted a few paragraphs ---read all

Taxpayers Pay for Televangelists' Lavish Lifestyles Churches Damaged by Lack of Oversight and Disclosures
Taxpayers Pay for Televangelists' Lavish Lifestyles Churches Damaged by Lack of Oversight and Disclosures | CharityWatch

Private jets. Million dollar vacation homes. Luxury cars. If the CEO of your favorite charity was enjoying these perks, you would probably be outraged and never donate to it again. Fortunately, the IRS requires most charities to file financial statements that show they are spending the public's money for charitable purposes, not private gain. This financial disclosure is the cornerstone of wise giving. Without it, the public would have no idea how charities are spending donor money.

Churches*, synagogues, and mosques, however, do not have to follow these same rules. They do not have to file annual reports with the IRS or state charity regulators, which allows them to avoid being rated by AIP. They do not even have to notify the IRS when they form. They receive the same tax benefits as other charities-including tax-exempt status and the ability to accept tax-deductible contributions-with none of the reporting obligations or oversight.

This kind of spending should be worrisome not just to the supporters of these churches but to all taxpayers. This is because one of the tax benefits bestowed on ministers is the "parsonage allowance," which allows ministers to exclude the rental value of their homes from their taxable income. This statute was adopted in 1954 out of concern for clergy, most of whom were making less than $2,500 annually, according to the Committee. Although a lot has changed since 1954, this tax provision has not, and today's millionaire and billionaire televangelists are still able to take advantage of it. The Committee reported that some churches allegedly ordain friends, family members, and employees solely for the purpose of getting them the income tax exclusion. Currently, there is no limit on the number of residences for which a minister can receive a parsonage allowance, meaning a minister can exclude the rental value of a second home or a vacation home from his or her taxable income.


Weak Response from the Government
Despite discovering these widespread instances of lavish spending-the type that would not be tolerated at other tax-exempt organizations-the recommendations made by the Committee were incredibly watered down, in AIP's opinion. Instead of calling for beefed up laws and requirements that would hold churches accountable, the Committee made the hollow call for more self-regulation amongst churches. Senator Chuck Grassley, who spearheaded the Committee's review, formally asked the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability, a trade association for religious organizations, to consider how to address issues of transparency and accountability amongst churches. Grassley stated, "The challenge is to encourage good governance and best practices and so preserve confidence in the tax-exempt sector without imposing regulations that inhibit religious freedom or are functionally ineffective."

For many politicians, the idea of taking a strong stance on reform is too risky because they do not want to be perceived as anti-religion by voters. But expecting churches to be accountable and not live lavishly off of tax-exempt funds should not be perceived as anti-religion. Benny Hinn, one of the televangelists who cooperated with the Committee, even claimed that the Committee's inquiry ultimately had a positive effect on his ministry. In a letter to Senator Grassley, he wrote, "…although I might not have initially invited this far-reaching examination of our ministry, I do believe it has made us stronger, more vigilant, and ultimately more accountable to our congregants, members, and partners. Accordingly, this exercise has caused us to look more closely at the manner in which we have conducted business and has heightened an awareness of self-reforms that are the basis of the accompanying document."

unsafe says
Here is the problem in a nut shell ----Politics ------

For many politicians, the idea of taking a strong stance on reform is too risky because they do not want to be perceived as anti-religion by voters.

unsafe says
So if you don't allow the abuse ----you don't get voted in -------The world's way in a nut shell ---power --greed and stature
 
BetteTheRed-- Are you not the one ,who said you have no belief ,in Heaven or Hell". Just wondering who are you praying to?

Seconding RevJohn's query. What does the contents of a particular belief in the afterlife have to do with the object of one's prayers?
 
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