Cover of Black Enterprise that came through the mail:
"The Business of Faith:" 'Black Megachurches are turning pastors into CEOs of multimillion-dollar enterprises.'
"The line between church and business is often blurred as ministries grant pastors oversight powers of both for-prift and nonprofit ventures....By embracing the gospel of entrepreneurship and sound business practices, [***] says he's answering God's calling. 'Economically empowering minorities is a crictical part of my mission'... [***] represents a growing number of black megachurch ministers who pursue business interests while shepherding the ecclesial flock... In today's encironment, many pastors function as CEOs, developing & executing strategic plans that utilize financial and human resources to achieve objectives..."
"To secure the flow of revenue for his far-reaching endeavors, Jakes employs what he calls the three Ps: partners, corporations that help fund programs and initiatives; products, items that are sold to the public for proceeds, which are returned to the church; and people, congregants who make significant contributions to the church. [Blank] also receives its share of corporate sponsorship. Unlike traditional church revivals, last year's wildly popular MegaFest conference was financed by major coprorations such as Coca-Cola, St. Joseph's Aspirin, and American Airlines. These compaines provide financial assistance in exchange for the opportunity to promote their product lines."/Black Enterprise

"And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:"
"And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;"
"And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." /John

"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,"
"And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."/Matthew

"Church resources are buttressed by the tithing of millions across the globe, philanthropic contributions, as well as sales from tapes of [***]'s sermons. 'The parishioners we see today are vastly different from the ones 25 years ago. They have more money and are more diverse,' [***] says. 'We are pastoring to the equivalent of a small city. That power is in part a reflection of the size and sophistication of many modern, large churches.'"

How would Jesus Christ reply? Who's greater, this pastor, or my Lord Jesus Christ? I have nothing against pastors: I'm not one. I'm not anointed or called to lead a flock or anything. But I know my Lord, and His will be done. What would Jesus do about this? Drive them out! If only I could do something. I heard Chuck Missler say one day, 'You have something more powerful than the ballot box. It's called the prayer closet.' Lets pray for these crooked people, that the Lord will have mercy on them in the day of Judgement.

The Holy Spirit showed me something. I once heard a wise pastor look straight into the TV screen on the television and say, 'If you send your tithes to us, and I know its your tithe, I'm going to send it back to you. Don't send your tithes here. I'm not your pastor. And don't send me letters about visiting you in your hospital. I'm in Florida, for goodness' sakes! You need to go to your pastor!' ...or something to that affect... It's pretty close to what he said. Greatest thing I'd ever heard come from the television in a while.

It's funny because we've just looked at their works. We haven't even gone into what they're preaching yet. But from their works I can see their faith - they're not preaching the right Gospel. How can you live by the Gospel that says it's the power of salvation to die to running your own life, living for worldly goods, putting yourself and your family in your heart, and forsaking all to please God and own a $45 million dollar sanctuary and multimillion dollar business and whatnot? I'm no judge. I have no part in saying what they should and should not do, Jesus does. I just better make sure my own works are gold, silver, and precious stones rather than wood, hay, stubble, before my Lord puts the fire to my devotional life. Even if I am judging them, like Jesus said, it's a righteousness judgement - it's by the Father (John Chatper 8, Verses 15 and 16).