No he does'nt. But He does require them to "not be greedy for filthy lucre". No problem with a pastor being blessed with a decent house, a decent vehicle, decent clothes, a nice vacation or two during the year, and the ability to put his kids through college. Mansions, Rolls, Armani, first class flights to timeshares in Vail -- well that's just outrageous.
Even worse, this reinforces the external view of "hypocrisy in the church" that makes the work that other, genuine, modest workers for Jesus do with joy and much less compensation. Some of the hardest workers for God I have seen around the world were pretty darned poor and at times, dirty. Can't be helped when the nearest running water is a two hour drive from where you live and work.
“No problem with a pastor being blessed with a decent house, a decent vehicle, decent clothes, a nice vacation or two during the year, and the ability to put his kids through college. Mansions, Rolls, Armani, first class flights to timeshares in Vail — well that’s just outrageous.”
Yes it is outrageous. The answer is not for Congress to take control of churches or limitations on what individuals can give to the church of their choice. God seems to have handled these cases in his time.
“Even worse, this reinforces the external view of “hypocrisy in the church” that makes the work that other, genuine, modest workers for Jesus do with joy and much less compensation.”
Those that hate God will use anything to attack his church. Yes these instances give them ammo and these instances waste millions that could go to help spread the Word. In the scheme of things these millions are a minor foot note compared to the $$ our government wastes. The BILLIONS of dollars wasted by Grassley and company could do so much more good if they weren’t spent on pork.
“Some of the hardest workers for God I have seen around the world were pretty darned poor and at times, dirty.”
Each to their own calling. Our rewards will be granted when we go home and not on this earth. The books will be balanced and those spending their fortune here will answer to God when they reach the accounting.