A friend of mine, good man I've worked beside daily for the past eighteen years, told me about his pastor's sermon this past Sunday...
All about the shiney new Bentley The Lord had handed him the keys to, and how you too might could get one if you've got enough faith and "plant your seeds in the right soil" (give money to my church).
From what I hear, you also have to "always be right with God so as not to be denied your abundance" (not having missed a tithe when your numbers come up in the holy lottery). You must give in order to receive, you see. Sounds more like investing than giving.
Gotta hand it to him; pastor does practice what he preaches on receiving. His collection agency..... er, "elders" call, text and email to announce special offerings on his birthday, his Wife's, their aniversary, etc. I didn't ask my friend if they had one for Columbus day. He says they pass the plate at every Bible study or other minor church function. They also have what they call an "impact" offering one weekend per month where everyone is encouraged to dig deeper. Members get to wave their cash and shout the dollar amount as they come up to the front of the church to be fleeced.
Like always, I told my bud he's a sucker for giving cash to a money-grubber who calls himself a pastor. He actually agreed with me (1st time) and is now thinking about looking for another church. I guess maybe I finally made a dent in him after almost two decades of bending his ear about wolves and sheepskins.
A quick google for my friend's church also revealed that a Bentley is the new status symbol for the black mega-church pastor...
http://www.hicktownpress.com/the-bentley-expensive-status-symbol-for-pastors/
