Hey scripture Bird, I'm just amazed, really amazed however, I saw in the news of a European Mega-church Pastor, 30.000 members in his assembly, 65 countries. He stood up one morning out of the blue and said he was converting to be a catholic. Strange things are going on, God is cleaning house!
List Of Ten Riches Pastors In The World
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Hey scripture Bird, I'm just amazed, really amazed however, I saw in the news of a European Mega-church Pastor, 30.000 members in his assembly, 65 countries. He stood up one morning out of the blue and said he was converting to be a catholic. Strange things are going on, God is cleaning house!
It is certainly an interesting time to be alive, I'll say that.
I had a few insights myself today and I am ever amazed at how God delivers his messages to us in ways we may miss if we don't pay attention.
The last days? Yes, I'd say they are upon us. But when time as we calculate it is not as that which is in God's province, one never knows if what we are seeing are the birth pains of the end times or what. Either way, all we can do is hope we're prepared. And pray for those who appear not to be.
I had a few insights myself today and I am ever amazed at how God delivers his messages to us in ways we may miss if we don't pay attention.
The last days? Yes, I'd say they are upon us. But when time as we calculate it is not as that which is in God's province, one never knows if what we are seeing are the birth pains of the end times or what. Either way, all we can do is hope we're prepared. And pray for those who appear not to be.
Whether many of these rich pastors are saved is between them and God, but they are not fit to be pastors.
But, Joyce Meyer nor any other pastor is "tax exempt." They pay income tax just the same as anyone else. Further, they don't live in any more luxury than the heads of many big businesses or big secular charities.
Agreed.
IRS Topic 417 - Earnings for Clergy
(sic)"....However, amounts received directly from members of the congregation, such as fees for performing marriages, baptisms, or other personal services, are generally earnings from self-employment for income tax purposes. Both the salary you receive from the congregation and fees you receive from members of the congregation are subject to self-employment tax."
(sic)"....However, you can request an exemption from self-employment tax for your ministerial earnings, if you are opposed to certain public insurance for religious or conscientious reasons. You cannot request exemption for economic reasons. To request the exemption, file Form 4361 (PDF), Application for Exemption From Self-Employment Tax for Use by Ministers, Members of Religious Orders and Christian Science Practitioners, with the IRS.
These mega-pastors are not self-employed, so the optional exemption (primarily Social Security) doesn't apply to them. Even it did apply, self-employment taxes are a working man's tax and are insignificant to millionaires. SS is designed something like forced savings that you get back when you retire, so other than having better use for your SS contributions, you'll get that money back. Also, every industry has its "tax breaks", such as every government employee (teachers, cops, etc.) don't pay SS tax.
If a man or a woman is saved, do they not contract with Christ to become His bond-servant? If we can agree that the corporeal body, the mind, and the spirit is then to be the property of Christ by the salvation contract, then can we also agree that all personally owned possessions are also His as well? For what does the Christian man or woman truly own on earth? I would say nothing but a contract of salvation which mandates a life of loving obedience, wherewith we are custodians of Christ's property on earth.
Thus can we agree that any ministry large, small, rich or poor, are not the properties of men but belong to Christ? If I agree with a given ministry to give voluntarily as the Spirit leads, then is not the recipient ministry then in custodial-possession of new property which was freely given, which still remains the property of God? Is it not our individual duty to judge the stewardship of each ministry regardless of wealth levels, and then simply not support it if it falls to stagnation or goes amiss?
Thus I hesitate when criticism is cast to ministry just because they are large or wealthy
If I go to my pastor and say, "I according to scripture cheerfully give you this new expensive gold watch because it blesses me to give it to you.", then is the paster then in sin to receive it? Must the pastor then say, "I cant receive it in order to stay in Gods will."
If you agree that the expensive gift is acceptable, then at what high price value on the watch will determine when it becomes sin?
If you agree that the expensive gift is sin instantly, then at what low-price value is any gift without sin?
If you see no sin at all then who on earth has a right to judge the gift to be sin if the giver and the pastor are both at peace with the gift?
Thus can we agree that any ministry large, small, rich or poor, are not the properties of men but belong to Christ? If I agree with a given ministry to give voluntarily as the Spirit leads, then is not the recipient ministry then in custodial-possession of new property which was freely given, which still remains the property of God? Is it not our individual duty to judge the stewardship of each ministry regardless of wealth levels, and then simply not support it if it falls to stagnation or goes amiss?
Thus I hesitate when criticism is cast to ministry just because they are large or wealthy
If I go to my pastor and say, "I according to scripture cheerfully give you this new expensive gold watch because it blesses me to give it to you.", then is the paster then in sin to receive it? Must the pastor then say, "I cant receive it in order to stay in Gods will."
If you agree that the expensive gift is acceptable, then at what high price value on the watch will determine when it becomes sin?
If you agree that the expensive gift is sin instantly, then at what low-price value is any gift without sin?
If you see no sin at all then who on earth has a right to judge the gift to be sin if the giver and the pastor are both at peace with the gift?
1.Bishop David Oyedepo
Bishop David Oyedepo is a Nigerian Preacher, Christian Author, Founder and Presiding Bishop of Winners Chapel known as Living Faith Church World Wide. Has been hailed as the wealthiest preacher in Nigeria with a total net worth of $150 million. His Ministry Winners Chapel International owns three Private Universities, four private jets and Churches in almost all the African Nations, the United States and England. After the foundation of the Living Faith Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has evolved to be one of the largest congregations in Africa and has a flourishing mission in New York United States.
2.Bishop T. D Jakes
Bishop Jakes lives in a $1,700,000 mansion, he has been called America's best preacher and has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine. He is a writer, preacher and movie producer. Thomas Dexter "T. D." Jakes, Sr. is the bishop/chief pastor of The Potter's House, a non-denominational American mega church, with 30,000 members, located in Dallas, Texas. T.D Jakes wears custom made suits and sports a diamond ring the size of a coin. This man of God has been endowed with a $150 million net worth.
Read More at
http://www.everydaydevotional.com/2014/03/meet-ten-richest-pastors-in-world.html
A far cry from Our King, his disciples and Paul.
I wonder if he would give it all away if asked.
Not that I have ever heard or seen written.
Jakes—is in lockstep with all Faith/Prosperity teachers. He fosters a give-to-get mentality, makes a habit of distorting the plain meanings of passages, and considers the spoken word to be even more powerful than the Word made flesh.
He is a "Oneness Pentecostal who does not believe in the Trinity and has said and written exactly that. Perhaps his greatest error, however, is to use Trinitarian language all the while pouring decidedly unbiblical meanings into the words.
He even goes so far as to put the following words in the mouth of Messiah Jesus:
“My hands are tied because I can’t do any more for you than what you say.”
Just something to for you to think about.
He is not alone in trying to stuff The King into a box.
Many limit his power. When he has only one limit.
During the 2012 election, BGEA removed from their website that they believe Mormons are a cult. That's as far as it went I believe.
I'm of the personal belief that a schism should not besmirch another schism.
It only leads to fighting.
There are other ways to handle the situation.
Exactly.
"Schism"????
There is NO schism and can not be one concerning the Mormon faith. It is NOT a Christian based belief therefore no schism can in fact take place.
Glomung
Account Closed
Major is right on the spot on this one. Mormon doctrine has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity.
Mormons believe there are many gods, one big god for each planet actually.
That they were once gods, and that gods breed and produce more gods.
They think Jesus is the brother of Satan.
What the publicly admit to is odd, what they privately follow is insane.
I can't imagine the younger more robust Billy Graham would have ever considered cult mormonism equal to Christianity. It makes me wonder what inducement Romney provided Dr.Graham at their meeting at the Graham home in North Carolina in order to make this happen during Romney's run for office.
Mormonism is considered, albeit loosely, a protestant form of Christianity due to the schism from the Western Rite.
Just in this forum I have seen people going after Pentecostals.
All of these denominations, whether crazy or not, are always biting one another. There are better ways to handle this.
Even if we do not agree with their dogma, the infighting shows the fallen world we are on NO higher ground than they are.
The issue always comes down to one question.
IF the Mormons told YOU that YOU were a false teaching, how would YOU feel?
I do not care if they are right or wrong, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Now is there a more peaceful way of handling it?
Remember the song?
I knew haggee was bad, but I didn't know this!
I am familiar with this teaching -- my old church taught it! Taught it during a gathering of people from all over the States and the world and made no excuses. They were ridiculous. In many ways.