Chuck Smith died a rich man, Servant. He died far richer than Joseph Smith did. Ries ain't doing too bad either.
I think you have to either be a little stupid or at least have zero street smarts to get sucked into Calvary or Mormonism. Anyway, I'll let you carry on with Mak - I don't want to take away an opportunity for him to brag about his education. So, run along now. Good day.
Hi Glad,
I know the Calvary system well, and often attend a CC. I left Mormonism while attending a CC. I went CC Bible college for a year, night courses. I served and taught for over ten years at one, served in leadership and helped to start two.
That said, most CC pastors make a good living if they get past the first five years or so, but not rich...probably is the 75k to 120k a year range...and for the hours they put in that is fair.
The mega churches and larger fellowships is a different story, they do real well, but mostly on book sales, at least that's my guess. Chuck Smith was offered raises and turned them down in that he was set for life on book sales alone, at least this is what I was told.
These building are not modest in any sense of the word. The one I attend, Redlands, is huge, with a 20 plus acre campus, a elementary , jr high, and highs school. The sanctuary holds thousands with a huge balcony. Costa mesa is huge with satellite colleges all over the world. They have a Murrieta campus that is massive, a old Hot springs resort that was run down and they have put millions into it and it is impressive, I have been to many retreats there and my daughter went there for a year. Harvest with Greg Laurie is huge, he does the harvest crusades and is more or less the next Billy Graham. Bob Coy, who recently fell due to adultery, had one of the largest churches in the world with 20,000 members, and employees thousands. These mega churches are massive. As soon as Coy feel they dealt with him promptly and fired him, which was refreshing, all to often in life when things like that happen it drags on.
Most CC have solid teaching, and are not legalistic and are a great place to fellowship and worship and study the Word. You are not forced to tithe. But like anything with people they have problems. There is no being sucked into, that was a ignorant statement, although I understand. The largest problem I have with CC is that there is no accountability too and for the Sr. pastor, and that causes a us against them mentality similar to management and workers in the larger fellowships.
Anyway, right or wrong this is the truth about CC's as I see it. We both know that your problem is not with CC, but with folks that believe in God...not in a personal sense, but institutionally...is that fair?
thanks
MG