Bill Maher interviews Jeremiah Cummings

[Amie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqhCHdBB3zY



What do you think about church, ministry, religious leaders living luxuriously? How far is too far? Or does it matter at all in your view?

Personally, I see a demand and desire for people to lead other people in spiritual or religious things. However, I feel suspicious when they exceed middle class. That's just me, what do you think?

Amie

[Paige]

Hmmmm,

On the one hand, I would say it is not my place to judge this guy in the interview. We each make our own decisions about how we will spend money. I would choose differently, but others would also choose differently than me. I do agree with you about that feeling of suspicion creeping up when they exceed middle class. I also wonder where the money trail leads. Like, what is the proportion of funds allocated to salaries versus ministry for the needy in the community? I had never heard of this guy before, so I really don't have a clue.

That said, he came off very poorly in the interview. I don't know if that was by design, but it sure didn't look like Bill Maher had a hard job making his points here...

[Amie]

Paige,

If it is money that I am giving someone to spend, I think it would be my business as to what it is being attributed. I don't know whether that is judging, or just making an educated decision.

He could have invested a modest salary in stocks or something and did well for himself -- for those shoes and stuffs, but if it is just my money, that is not where I would personally want to invest it. Someone else might actually want him to be in those fancy shoes and invest their money to give it to him.

Like you said, I would wonder where the money trail leads.

Amie

[Paige]

Amie,

I understand what you're saying here:

If it is money that I am giving someone to spend, I think it would be my business as to what it is being attributed. I don't know whether that is judging, or just making an educated decision.

I also know the mindset that gives the money oftentimes believes that the money they are giving is not theirs, but rather it belongs to God. It really is hard to say. I remember reading something Oswald Chambers wrote (I believe it was in his biography). His policy was to give when asked, and never mind about where it went. I don't know if I could ever go there, but I know some have and do.

Paige

[Amie]

Paige,

They believe that when the money is in their hands, before they give it, it belongs to God? That brings to mind the punchline "throw the money into the air and whatever God wants, he keeps". I can't remember the joke! lol! Even if it were perceived as belonging to God, I would still want to be as responsible with it as possible. If buying snakeskin shoes were dear to my heart, I would see contributing to that as a responsible decision. Since they are not that important to me, I wouldn't. Gosh, isn't it weird how subjective this topic can be?

When I first started the thread, I was also thinking of the Jim and Tammy Faye Baker ordeal. I think that how much I want a person to have is also related to how much I like them. I mean, I think it would bother me less that Tammy have the money than Jim. Isn't that sad? Here I am sharing my uglies for the world to see! lol!

Amie

[Paige]

Gosh, isn't it weird how subjective this topic can be?

I know! For myself, I would want to see it all go toward lifting others out of poverty, feeding the hungry, etc. Snakeskin belongs on snakes, and I stay as far away from snakes as I possibly can, lol! Also, I just wouldn't sit under the preaching of anybody who doesn't know jack diddly about what the bible has to say (which was pretty apparent of Dr. Jeremiah Cummings).

[Me Again]

the joke goes something like this - three men (I think it's a priest, a pastor and a rabbi) are talking about how much we should give to god. The first draws a circle, throws the money up in the air and says "whatever falls in the circle I keep, whatever falls outside, I give to God." The second says throws the money up and says "whatever falls outside the circle, I keep; whatever falls within, I give to God." The third guy (the rabbi?) throws the money up in the air and says "whatever God catches, he can keep."

Not my usual witty timing, but it's the best I could remember...:) LOL

[Amie]

LOL Ed! That's it!

Paige (and whoever :) ),

I was talking to Bryan last night and he pointed out that if I paid a cook at a restaurant for a service, I wouldn't then question what that cook goes home and does with that money - it's their money. The question is whether or not I am receiving the service that I paid for. Dang he is so to the meat of things imo!

I guess I wouldn't pay a cook for buying frozen and pretending to have cooked the food. I could say the same for spiritual/religious leaders. I think of our Doug when I think of someone who is honest and not pretending. Bryan said something about the importance of a leader believing in what they are teaching. Maybe it just boils down to integrity?

Amie

[Jotham]

LOL Ed! That's it!

Paige (and whoever :) ),

...I guess I wouldn't pay a cook for buying frozen and pretending to have cooked the food.

That was good Ed !

And Amie? I work for Costco...you would be surprised at just how many local resuraunts serve meals from a foundation of 'frozen' foods from our Costco Freezer selection !!



...the importance of a leader believing in what they are teaching. Maybe it just boils down to integrity?
Totally agree. You can have a laid back blue jean wearing pastor that i would gladly give my last ten bucks to help him even pay his power bill! but for myself? i'm not giving even a dime to a ministry that has a big church building or big salaried staff. . . but then i'm a rebel of a home-churched guy so i'm a bit (LOL) biased on the subject.