This Makes Me Mad...
So I've been over at digg.com looking through the listings and I came across this article from usatoday.com.
The gist of it is that some big-shot tele-evangelist is building himself a nice cosy $4M (US dollars!) house, while people within the ministry are being laid off.
To quote (the italics and bold font are my additions)-
The thing that pisses me off the most about this is the fact that, like the article says, they derive their revenue...
As a really basic definition, it says that if you give all your money to the church, then God will repay you ten-fold. They twist scripture to make it fit their msg and hundreds of people fall for it, handing over their hard-earned money in the belief that they will be repaid ten-fold..., in other words, get rich.
And then, when they don't get rich, they feel let down, used, and resent God. The Bible does talk about being repaid for the things you do for Him, but not in the way they make it sound.
It gives God, and Christianity in general a bad name. Christianity already has enough hypocrites to make it look bad that it doesn't need this aswell.
The gist of it is that some big-shot tele-evangelist is building himself a nice cosy $4M (US dollars!) house, while people within the ministry are being laid off.
To quote (the italics and bold font are my additions)-
A religious broadcaster is building a $4 million home in a gated, lakefront community in western South Carolina at the same time that the ministry has cut jobs and reset thermostats to save money in its new headquarters.
Inspiration Networks' CEO David Cerullo is building the 9,000-square-foot home on a lot that overlooks Lake Keowee, The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.
Inspiration Networks has drawn scrutiny for up to $26 million in incentives it won from South Carolina to move from Charlotte to Indian Land, S.C., in Lancaster County. The network's revenues are expected to approach $100 million, largely donations from people who are told God favors those who donate.
Cerullo has said 80 cents of each donated dollar is spent to spread the Gospel.
In addition to laying off workers, the newspaper reported, the ministry froze wages and stopped making contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts. The thermostat on the network's new building was cut to 65 degree during the winter.
The thing that pisses me off the most about this is the fact that, like the article says, they derive their revenue...
"...largely donations from people who are told God favors those who donate"In other words, they prey on people's feelings of emptiness and yearning for something more to fleece them of their money. It's called the 'prosperity gospel' and it's not a new thing.
As a really basic definition, it says that if you give all your money to the church, then God will repay you ten-fold. They twist scripture to make it fit their msg and hundreds of people fall for it, handing over their hard-earned money in the belief that they will be repaid ten-fold..., in other words, get rich.
And then, when they don't get rich, they feel let down, used, and resent God. The Bible does talk about being repaid for the things you do for Him, but not in the way they make it sound.
It gives God, and Christianity in general a bad name. Christianity already has enough hypocrites to make it look bad that it doesn't need this aswell.
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