I was playing around on the county tax assessors website tonight and saw that my pastor live in a 600k house. Granted the church is a couple thousand but this seems very excessive. Could somebody biblically justify him drawing a salary from the church that would allow him to live in a house like that. I should add that the guy is only 35.

Maybe he married a sugar mama?

Maybe he has been very good with his money. Maybe he inherited a chunk of change. Maybe he bought the house when it was worth far less.

I don't understand why people who have no problem with an elder or deacon or member of the church buying an x for some reason have a problem with the preacher buying an x.

Also, by your logic, the pastor should not own a car or live in the US...because Americans who own cars are in the top 3% of the wealthiest people in the world....

[This message has been edited by diehard03 (edited 11/2/2010 7:30a).]

Is he an established author or speaker? I know many pastors make money from other venues and actually take very little or nothing from their churches because they don't need to.

That he is, at minimum, tone deaf.

I know an optometrist who refused to buy a car any more expensive than a Lincoln because he didn't want his patients thinking that he was overcharging them so he could buy a more expensive car.

It's hard to judge the Pastor, however, without knowing the median home prices in the area.

In Silicon Valley, a $600,000 home is a fixer-upper; in South Texas it would be a mansion.

It doesn't necessarily bother me. What if he inherited some money or invested well? Should I begrudge him what he earned? Besides, it's just material stuff, that stuff is all temporal.

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my pastor live in a 600k house

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Do he live there or do he just stay there?

As most on here have said, I think it all depends on where his income lies. If he is in a $600k house and lives a very comfortable life with the matching cars to go in that $600k house, and all his income is from the church he pastors, I think you have a right to feel uncomfortable.

I have to agree with macarthur on this. If he draws his income directly from the church.. that's a bit much. Talk to him about it, if he's truly a godly pastor he will understand your concern

You guys may be right about the different ways he is affording the house. I don't really care that he has super expensive house as much as I worry that the money I donate is going to his house rather then the church.

the church and his house are up here in the Oklahoma City area. the avg house here is probably about 200k.

Possibly the house is owned by the church and provided as a parsonage?

Well, if it's Lifechurch, the pastor has 6 kids, and has written a half dozen books, homeschools his kids (I think), entertains frequently at his home, and has a church of over 23,000 people.

i would be very uncomfortable, no matter how he came about the money. Downsize and give more to charity...be an example for your parishioners.

I would not recommend confronting the pastor about it. The pastor gets 100s of complaints on stupid stuff all the time. They feel frustrated that people let little things distract from the message he's giving. This is not uplifting to the pastor.

A better strategy is to get closer to God yourself so you can discern if his message is true.

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i would be very uncomfortable, no matter how he came about the money. Downsize and give more to charity...be an example for your parishioners.

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Ultimately, our goal is to be more like Jesus, not more like our pastors. They aren't called to a deeper connection to God than we are. They are only people to...and they need as much grace as we do.

I'd pay more tithes. He probably needs the extra help with the mortgage!

Plus, I'd be more concerned if he's spending more than 20% of his take-home on PITI than I would be about the value of the home. In other words, a $100K salary and a $600K home with a $2500/month mortgage would raise a serious red flag.

I once had a pastor who was independently wealthy, had a huge house, and put his entire paycheck in the plate every month. The only reason I know he did that is because my father was the treasurer.

If I was worth $10 million and in full-time ministry, I might stay in my $170K home, but I'd have a maid, a yard man, a chef, some more reliable baby sitters, and a newer car. Would I be judged for buying back more time for ministry by employing 4 people? Probably - that's how it goes.

Isn't there the story of the rich young man asking Jesus what he must do to be saved?

Alright Thad...show us how its done - sell everything you have since by virtue of just being a middle class American you are top 10% weathliest person in the world.

I mean, apparently your salvation is riding on it.

The appearances rightfully create the discomfort.

One does not like to think a pastor lives high on the hog for counseling and pastoral services. In my mind as an outsider, it would be discomforting to see such luxurious living, especially in light of how our Lord lived.

I seem to remember something about rich people heaven and a camel

Religion is a business. Some crook gets ni front of a crowd preaching about some mythical magic man in the sky, and people donate thousands! Of course they'll take anything they can get.

Mopar, if you get upset seeing him live in a 600K house, goodness knows what your reaction would be if you ever saw the Vatican. Oy!

CS,

Jesus loves you and wants you to repent, or you will die in your sins.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any remuneration for writing that.

It's fine, he just won't go to heaven.

Man in heaven and just like the man at the north pole, both created to make people behave and spend their money.

No, I'm not going to heaven. And neither are you. There is no heaven.

Ro thats a good pont about the Vatican. It reminded me of something from my own childhood. I am an atheist now but grew up in a catholic family and attended catholic school and church. One of the Nuns, the principal of the Catholic School was retiring after something like 60 years of service and a party was thrown for her. The parents had all chipped in to buy her a piece of jewelry. I believe it was a nice watch. She was very grateful but had to turn it down because she was not allowed to have anything over a certain dollar amount per the rules of her order. The watch was returned for something less valuable I remember. I also remember the priests to this day have to have what car they buy approved or at least are given a certain amount to purchase a vehicle. I was told this was because priests are expected to live a humble lifestyle. Looking at the Vatican however and even Bishop's palace's I would say the farther up you go the more you can spend.

Please keep in mind this was my experience with a small town Catholic church and I have no idea if this is the norm all around.

[This message has been edited by Bearkat06 (edited 11/4/2010 3:10p).]

bearkat are you from garden city?

Nah Bremond Texas

The Pope lives at the Vatican. His apartment that he lives in is very plain and ordinary. There is a big church, art museum, and worldwide HQ of the Catholic Church attached to it, but where he lives is pretty spartan.