Millionaire Preachers & Parishioners? Sure, Why Not?

This poem offers a different perspective on those who have done well for themselves while devoting their professional lives to religion.

Courtesy: oneyearbibleimages.com

(LOS ANGELES) - It is easy to come down like a ton of bricks on ministers and preachers who have worldly possessions. They are often in the spotlight for things they do and over what they may own.

But what about athletes? Some are so overpaid that it is simply ridiculous.

How about movie stars? Actors make endless millions of dollars but people accept that and follow their favorite without questioning whether they live extravagant lives or do the right thing with their earnings.

Another example of course would be musical entertainers. It is standard fare to have their homes appear in Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

This poem offers a different perspective on those who have done well for themselves while devoting their professional lives to religion.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Millionaire Preachers & Parishioners? Sure, Why Not?

A friend of mine called the other day to complain,
“R.A. Vernon has a mansion and a private plane,”
Dumbfounded because he just couldn’t understand,
My reply to him was only one single word, “And?”

“I desire fruit that may abound to your account,”
Is found in Philippians 4: 17, so what’s the amount?
Sowing sparingly or bountifully,2nd Corinthians 9: 6,
This is a biblical fact of scripture, not a magic trick.

Look at the CEO of Wall Street’s Goldman Sach’s,
100 million in bonus pay, why isn’t he under attack,
Think about the billion dollar insurance giant AIG,
Perks are given in the middle of pending bankruptcy

The only reason there were complaints about the latter,
Our wallets are getting leaner, theirs were getting fatter,
And how do you reward a company like AIG that fails?
Do we set criminals free instead of sending them to jail?

If athletes can generate billions playing a game,
While movie stars live exquisitely, it’s the same,
But someone spreading the word should be ashamed,
Joyce Meyer alone brings in billions, why is that insane?

However, it is not for Joyce but the worldwide ministry,
Her funds comes not from tithes but her books, check & see,
She makes plenty more from compact discs and her DVD’s,
Athletes and entertainers fly in private jets so why can’t she?

In religious circles we are tithing of our own free choice,
Instead of donating to the state lottery some give to Joyce,
Unlike stocks where money is lost for the mortgage or rent,
Malachi 3: 10, God pours out a sure blessing for only 10%.

Her sermons spread the word of Jesus around the world,
Food, medicine, education to thousands of boys and girls,
Impoverished nations probably never able to hear or see,
And experience the wonders of a faithful gospel ministry.

I know many who criticize Creflo Dollar & Fred K.C. Price,
Plus other financially successful preachers, so who is right?
Been in churches, it’s 95 outside while inside the air is broke,
So is the church, I want to get the message not have a stroke.

I hear preachers, “you can have the world only give me Christ,”
Jesus was a healer & He took food for 1 then fed 1,000’s right?
To me this statement truly has to be some kind of unfunny joke,
John 10: 10, He came so we might have life, not be sick & broke.

There’s no issue when boxers make 50 million in one fight,
An adultery laced feature film pulls 100 million overnight,
Where is the concern when inner city youth kill each other?
Just don’t allow the gospel preached by a well-to-do brother.

Tell me if you were God, what would you honor the most?
A three point shot or someone spreading the Holy Ghost?
A home run, hole-in-one, ace serve, the intercepted pass?
Or, sincerely seeking the Lord through prayer with a fast?

Our priorities have become twisted and turned around,
Kingdom principles are rarely planted on solid ground,
When movies like, “Sex And The City” are all the rage,
Now more than ever there’s a need for souls to be saved.

The bible confirms Jesus only came for two reasons, right?
To seek & save the lost & for us to have more abundant life,
Why wait for kingdom eternity to have all the Father is worth?
As a joint heir & conqueror you can also have it now on earth.

Alas, beware of those who say seek only His face & not His hand,
“If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land,”
Isaiah 1: 19 and Deut.28, above & not beneath, head & not the tail,
The only people who say you cannot are those who tried and failed.

Why do you never hear negative from a millionaire preacher’s mouth?
While anyone in a state of lack usually seems to be of speaking doubt,
Once told someone Philippians 4: 19, “God shall supply all your needs,”
He said, God didn’t say anything about wants, is that what you believe?

Of course, to be successful you don’t have to be worth multi-mega bucks,
However, as a child of the King neither should you be down on your luck,
Recite Job 22: 28, “thou shall decree ” 1st Chronicles 4: 10, the Jabez prayer,
It is not Father God but the devil who doesn’t want you to be a millionaire.

Are there crooked preachers sure just Google, Robert Tilton who airs on BET,
Dumpsters are filled with prayer request after he takes out the checks & money,
But remember, there are also many crooked stockbrokers and attorneys as well,
So, before tithing be sure you’re not buying a first class one way ticket to hell.

Hebrews 4: 16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,”
KJV, this means that it’s perfectly okay to seek His Hand and His Face,
Faint not! Galatians 6: 9, “Keep on doing good & in due time you'll reap,”
Because Hebrews 11: 6, “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek.”

Precious metals, somethings used for currency is a funny thing,
Not with blood, sweat and tears but only money can buy a ring,
And although it takes those three to get diamonds from a mine,
Yet, hard labor by the workers is rarely paid equal to their time.

For sure there are those who demand a seed but for their own crop,
Ok, Google Dr. Tood Coontz, Dr. Robert Tilton & Dr. Mike Murdock,
It's why above all other things you must be absorbed with the word,
You alone will be held accountable by acting on what you've heard.

While we are on the subject of an amount earned or paid,
More firefighters and cops, than “stars” see an early grave,
We also need a movement to increase the salary of teachers,
So they can live in the neighborhood of Millionaire Preachers.

by Luke Easter

=============================================

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke explained what drives him to try to heal the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com