why is it that whenever a pastor does something that is at the very least unseemly, it’s all about free will, but when regular folks sin in such a way, it’s an affront to god?
7 Likes
You seem to be intentionally missing the point that the ‘hard-earned’ money those church members donate of their own free will isn’t going to any ‘worthwhile cause’ that their proclaimed Lord and Savior would actually approve of; it’s going to the line pockets of their pastor.
5 Likes
Says the lambo was a gift not paid for using donations. Yet I wouldn’t put it past this con artist to claim on his taxes that the vehicle is used for business purposes… therefore…
3 Likes
Whoopty fucking-do, fanboi; anyone can write a book, on any topic. That doesn’t automatically make such a person ‘wealthy’ or even financially secure.
Having merely written a book doesn’t mean it will sell well enough to pay for a luxury vehicle… and it’s highly unlikely that the proceeds from the book alone paid for the pastor’s lavish lifestyle and expenses.
Lastly, nothing you’ve posted thus far addresses the hypocrisy of the ‘prosperity gospel’ which is in direct contradiction to the teachings of the man they claim to worship. ‘Leaders of the flock’ are supposed to be pious and humble, not wealthy and ostentatious.
8 Likes
Picture yoinked! I especially like the camel’s expression of concentration, like maybe if it tries real hard it can puzzle this thing out. 
4 Likes
… as are cars customized with Lambo doors!
3 Likes
Prosperity Gospel is just the commodification of faith given form. Too bad there’s not enough Christian Anarchists around to liberate said sportscar and sell it overseas to feed and cloth the poor. :C
7 Likes
And who did the work of printing, distributing, and sell said books? It wasn’t the pastor. He extracted rent from labor just as anyone else under capitalism. And a good Christian should oppose capitalism if they believe in sharing prosperity for all.
7 Likes
I know, right? People trying to fake their way into the three comma club.
2 Likes
I’m going to file this one under “hypocrisy is the pragmatism of the righteous”, I think.
The Bible is very clear on this matter.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Ananias and Sapphira
5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
9 Likes
2 Likes
I’m a Born Again Buddhist; but then again, aren’t we all?
1 Like
I’ve personally met two people in my life I considered highly charismatic, and they were as loyal to us as we were to them (if not more so).
In later years, I reflected that I’m not certain that we’d have been much less loyal if they were just “using” us. For me, that was the power of strong charisma. There wasn’t the quid pro quo that governs most human interaction.
It also made me admire people the majority of people who have that charisma even more. The constraints on abuse just aren’t there (or at least aren’t as strong). They’re decent people because they want to be, not because they have to be.
As for Donald Trump, I think he must have some charisma, but I believe his popularity rests on leading his supporters where they already wanted to go. Someone with strong charisma can make people follow them for the sheer delight of following them, even if it’s not what his or her followers would naturally do. I don’t see that in Trump. He’s opportunely placed himself in front of the crowd with torches (and goaded them on). The people aren’t holding torches because they want to follow Donald Trump.
Charisma (at least of the sort I think we see here) is also not persuasion. I’ve noticed quick reversion to normal behaviour in the absence of the leader. My peers and I weren’t sold on working hard at school or work. We were sold on being helpful to someone we really cared about (and cared about us, thank God).
2 Likes
The “Con” in con man stands for confidence. Con Men exude confidence, gain the trust of their marks then exploit that trust. While nobody can honestly claim Trump has charisma, he does undoubtedly have an abundance of self-confidence - to the point of unfounded hyperbole. His supporters are truly just gullible dupes who don’t know yet that they’ve been swindled.
7 Likes
Apparently he really does have charisma, in person. Sociopaths often have an uncanny ability to imitate a personal connection with people. Having the total ability to lie to their faces without any guilt or twinge of conscience may have something do do with that.
5 Likes
I’ve heard this, too, from people who’ve met him. It’s an uncanny talent some people have.
4 Likes
And I’ve heard the exact opposite from people who’ve met him, but they had nothing he wanted at the time, so he didn’t feel the need to act charming to them.
6 Likes
