TV church made $69 MILLION last year?!?!

exactly! he is "slicker" than a used car salesman lol! just look at his fantastic showbiz name...DOLLAR!

Haha, I remember what my European history teacher used to say: "When has organized religion done what it's supposed to?"

MntlWard, to call someone a scammer without evidence is very unwise. I think that the problem here maybe the fact that people are under the assumption that ministers/preachers are not suppose to be rich. While I know that most churches have become more like corporations, the fact remains that God's promises for prosperity are also for the preachers/ministers. True, Jesus commanded his followers to abandon all and follow Him. If you read that chapter further, you would have discovered that Jesus also told His followers they would be rewarded not just in His kingdom, but also in this life! In John chapter 14, Jesus promises his followers that whatsoever they ask in His name, that shall they receive! (Yes Lord, I believe) And the New Testament also stresses "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. ..." Luke 6:38. It is neither sinful nor criminal to accumulate wealth (and wealth is not limited to material possessions). If the members or contributors are giving offerings and tithing out of their own free will, then I find no fault in Creflo Dollar's wealth. However, I do admonish preachers/ministers to always look out for those who, in an attempt to impress, give way beyong their capabilities. Unless there are cases of outright extortions and/or intimidation into giving, I hereby say that, Creflo Dollar is simply blessed.

There is nothing wrong with a minister/preacher being wealthy! If a church is filled with wealthy members who tithe and give offerings, then it should be of no surprise to see the preacher/minister living wealthy out of their earnings. Infact, if you pay attention to Biblical texts, you will find that ministers, such as priests, were never poor! And what a minister/preacher decides to do with his or her earned income should not be anyone's business, just like what you or I earn should not be anyone's business! I will only fault a minister if he or she were living out of church money rather than his or her rightfully earned income.

Sure, it's all up to free choice. If people want to send their money to a televangelist, then let them. But when these leaders benefit financially from a supposed non-profit organization, as churches are supposed to be, then that's wrong, both morally and legally. This is the justification used by the senator - he might be skimming money. The members who send the church money aren't sending money so he can buy a mansion, they're sending money to further the church's message. Moreover, ministers can be rich. When they become rich because of their church, then that's when it becomes a scam. I'm pretty sure that's what the other responses meant.

Fine. I've already conceded there is nothing wrong with how ministers use their money, and I never said that they cannot be rich. Dollar said he has money because of investments and real estate ventures. That's perfectly acceptable. But the point you're missing, perhaps, is that he is benefiting directly from the church. Looking at church records, the "church" "BOUGHT" him a Rolls Royce. He even admitted that the church did so. If that's not benefiting off the church, I don't know what is.

Who says that the monies made by churches have to all go to charity? Soccermom, these ministers, the honest or dishonest, are professionals: They spend their time caring for their various churches (though degree of care may be questioned); and therefore, should be compensated. And what they each do with their earned money is none of our business, just like what you and I do with our money should not be anyone's business!

If the ministers are taking money from the church (supposed non-profit organization), is it okay for them to be rich in that case?