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The Color of Money the Go$pel
Posted by Brian Thornton on April 29, 2008
This is the counsel of the blessed Jesus—”Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven!” Matthew 6:20
The treasures of most men are perishing, earthly treasures; cankered and moth-eaten treasures; treasures of vanity!
Where is your treasure?
Is it in this world—or in the eternal world?
Is it in present vanities—or in future glory?
- Matthew Mead
I have noticed some disturbing things the last couple of days, and that is the more-than-comfortable lifestyle of some of those who make their living from the gospel. Granted, Paul makes a strong case in favor of those proclaiming the gospel rightly deserving to be sustained and supported from the gospel (1 Cor. 9). But, does that justify lavish cars parked in front of the gaudy mansions of husband and wife pastor teams, private jets and 2nd & 3rd vacation homes, and a $10,000 made-to-order desk for the church office of a youth pastor?
I am reminded of Paul’s words concerning those who, “suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” – 1 Tim. 6:5-8
My thoughts keep coming back to a conclusion I don’t want to make, which is that those involved in the examples above may have godliness, but their godliness is not accompanied by contentment. We all (including myself) must always be ever mindful of not being guilty of idolatry. For idolatry can be committed even when a person gives away tens of thousands of dollars in the name of Christ, yet continues to needlessly raise his own standard of living just because he can. Brothers, these things ought not to be so.
I fear that the good news of the gospel is being peddled for profit more and more in the name of Christ and ministry (be it from the pulpit, the para-church, or the professional Christian artist), yet what is really taking place is an ever growing tide of laying up earthly treasures rather than heavenly ones, all the while becoming a bigger and bigger stumbling block to those who look up to and are influenced by these leaders of the faith. I am talking to myself as much as anyone here when I say, ask for wisdom to be a good steward of what God has given you. After all, what you have really belongs to your Master anyway, seeing as even you are not your own, but have been bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus – and are His possession.
In light of that, shouldn’t we strive to be a good and faithful slave of what He has entrusted to us while we are here for but a moment in comparison to what awaits us?
The color of the Gospel is not green, as is the testimony of so many by their lifestyles of discontent. But, it is red. Red, from the precious blood of Christ. Red, from the price of your ransom.
Steve Edwards said
I understand the point you’re making, but I’d put the lavish lifestyles of the TBN heretics in a whole different category.
Mark’s office furniture budget could be 1-percent of his income. His custom desk may have cost $10,000…but being in the millwork industry and knowing what I know, I could easily spend $10,000 on a custom, heart-pine desk, chair and credenza, which you might think would belong in a barn somewhere.
Brian Thornton said
Steve, I believe you are making my point for me.
First of all, I said nothing about doctrine or theology in my examples, nor did I mention people on TBN, so theology/heresy has nothing to do with this post. My purpose was to point out the exorbitant money being made off the gospel. Whether they have sound doctrine or not makes no difference…their income is coming from the gospel. In my opinion, every dollar made by a minister of the gospel is blood money, earned as a result of the proclamation that Christ’s blood is the due payment for our punishment and deserving of God’s wrath. That alone should cause ministers to think twice before they spend it on personal pleasures (the types of things which a great majority of us could never even afford).
Second, if Mark’s furniture budget is 1% of his income, then that is at least $1 million a year being made off the gospel (which is probably not far from the truth given the success of Casting Crowns). Again, my whole point is that this money is being made off the gospel of Jesus Christ, and my main question is, at what point has someone crossed over into absurdity and careless handling of what God is blessing them with.
Here’s a question for you:
Does someone who teaches good doctrine have any more right to a ridiculous standard of living compared to someone who teaches heresy? Are not both making money (and a lot of it) off the word of God? Is not the one sound in doctrine also bound to handle wisely and prudently what he has made from the gospel?
Here’s another thought directly relating to Mark Hall:
His CHURCH OFFICE is, according to his own words, “all” Star Wars. One article I read described it as a “shrine”. My question is, a shrine to what? He’s got a life-size figure of Darth Vader in the corner (of his office at church), and a catatonic Han Solo frozen in Carbonite encased under glass staring up at him every time he sits at his desk (at church). Seems the dark side has a pretty good hold on that office (at church), and not only in the way it is decorated, but also in how much gospel money has been sunk (and continues to be sunk) into it.
I read something one time that has really stuck with me, which stated that God does not continue to bless you with increased wealth so that you can just continue to raise your own personal standard of living. He blesses you with increased wealth so that you can then be a greater blessing to others…not so you can waste it on items of vanity.
Steve Edwards said
Brian, you’re right…you didn’t mention the TBN-ers in your post, but they’re the first ones that come to my mind who attempt to peddle “the gospel” for fun and profit.
You say theology and heresy have nothing to do with it. I hold that it has everything to do with it.
IMHO, if someone is making tons of money teaching heresy, then they’re not making money off the gospel. Those who are duped and deceived into sending these men (and women!) money are at fault for not testing everything by the Word of God. TBN types come to mind, but I know there are many others that skate around promoting the man-centered, dross-less prosperity gospel (which is NOT the Gospel), below the radar of most orothodox Christians, who do the same thing.
A former customer of mine was (may still be) a prosperity preacher…and he was what I would call one of the top 5 most unpleasant people I’ve ever met. Wealthy? Yes. Content? Not on your life. I can’t think of one spiritual fruit he displayed in all of our encounters. Yet people gave him tons of money believing that they would get something in return. That’s not the gospel.
I think of pastor/teachers like John Piper, who sell a lot of books and are well-known, who are humble in heart, and are probably making a comfortable living doing what they do. I do not believe they’re making money from their church congregations, but from their books. Pipers ministry has a “pay what you can afford” policy…and there’s more to it, I realize, but as you state, I believe he is bound to wisely handle that which has been entrusted to him from preaching and teaching the gospel.
I cannot think of someone who lives lavishly, with a “ridiculous standard of living”, who I would consider to be a sound, Biblical teacher. Many recording artists, like Steve Camp, have serious convictions about charging others for their work. I don’t know Steve Camp, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have a Star Wars shrine in his office at church…or his house.
The gospel, in the true sense, is an offense to those who are perishing. I may be wrong, but in todays world, it would be difficult to live lavishly AND preach the truth of God’s Word, the true Gospel. John MacArthur may live comfortably, but he doesn’t flaunt his lifestyle that I know of.
Bottom line is this…pastors/teachers who are committed to the Gospel of Christ, unashamedly, will not live lavishly by conviction, and by economy. Like I’ve done countless of times on a far smaller budget, they may indulge and later in life, realize a mistake was made…but I doubt they’ll fly around with their name emblazoned on their private jet.
Brian Thornton said
Great thoughts, Steve.