|
|
Oct 9, 2007
overturning the tables A couple of weeks ago, I was working on organizing our sound equipment and making some upgrades. Eventually, there are a lot of upgrades I want to make, but its one of those projects that will take some time and money. I ordered some direct boxes and cables on-line, and it was expensive, but under $200 dollars. However, I also wanted to pick up a few other things, just as cable ties, some storage boxes for our cables and connectors, and some extention cords. But, since I had spent so much on the direct boxes and cables, I was reluctant to make some of these purchases. I was spending the ministries money, which is money that people donate. Could I really justify spending any more money. I ended up spending about $20.00, but decided to wait on the rest (which is really only about $20.00 more dollars). I mention this in the wake of the scandal at Oral Roberts University, which I was tipped off to by slacktivist. There are actually a couple of scandals involved here, including a non-profit endorsing a political candidate, Richard Roberts, the president of the univeristy forcing teachers to do his children's homework, and excessive spending by Roberts and his wife. Some of the spending allegations include $29,411 for the daugthers spring break trip (using the university jet, and billed as an "evangelistic trip"), a couple of horses paid and cared for by the school but for the personal use of Roberts' children, and $39,000 dollars charged at one Chico's clothing store by Mrs. Roberts (there wer charges at other stores as well). For a family working in ministry, this type of excessive spending is problematic enough. On top of that, their charging it to a ministry organization predominately funded by donatations is both problematic and unethical. But, what bothers me most is how arrogant they are in doing so. Mrs. Roberts, in defending her clothing purchases says, "As long as I wear it once on TV, we can charge it off." I have little doubt that this loophole is in place (although there is evidence that many of the purchases do not actually fall into this hole). But, it's a loophole that allows her to use ministry funds to her own personal gain. One reson is this is a problem is that she spent $39,000 in less that a year on clothes, and I guarantee that this is more that a significant number of the donors EARN in one year. Many of these donations probably come from churches in which very few memebers make this much in one year. They give it in the hopes that it will be used to make a difference in God's kingdom. There are those who say that it's their own fault that they were suckered into the scam. That is NOT an acceptable respons. Roberts (as well as his father, Oral) consistently tell people that "God told me to (fill in the blank) and he wants you to donate to the cause." And if somebody doesn't know better, it is up to those of use who do know better to take up for them. Because this is the type of behavior that caused Jesus to turn tables over. And this was they type of behavior that caused Jesus to tell people that they were in danger of Hell. He didn't tell the prostitutes or tax collectors that they were going to Hell. Rather, it was the religious elite when they exploited the people that they were given the task of sheparding that caused Jesus to get angry. Over the past couple of weeks, I've had a few discussions about gay marraige (since a judge made it legal in Iowa for a few days). I've discussed how the church should respond. And, it's a tough issue in some ways. Obviously, homosexuality is a sin. Gay marraige is wrong. However, one thing that I've held to throughout these discussion is that whenever Jesus approached people like this, he was compassionate. He held to the truth, but he was compassionate. Jesus could pull it off. Not being Jesus, we have trouble doing both as perfectly as he did. We aren't as wise, and we aren't as authoritative. So, in a situation such as this, I advise people that if the are going to err, to err on the side of compassion. Because as I read the gospel, I find that the warnings against erring on that side are much less harsh than erring on the other side. I think if you are truely loving and compassionate (and aren't simply hiding behind that so that you don't have to get your hands dirty) I think you will be okay. However, in situations such as what is going on with the Roberts, I advise the opposite. We must get angry over this. We cannot allow this to happen. These people are stealing from what was given to God (I Samuel 2:12-36), exploting the poor (all over the place), and promoting a false gospel (I John 2:18-27). I think Jesus would weep over gay marraige, but would be furious over these name it and claim it preachers. I think to be "Christ-like," we should do the same. posted
by Unknown @ 1:19:00 PM |
