Saddleback Pastor Requests Nearly $1 Million in 2 Days

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren, who generated controversy for giving the invocation at President Barack Obama's inauguration, is asking followers to donate nearly $1 million by the year's end.

Pastor Warren posted a letter on the Saddleback Church's Web site late Wednesday, appealing to parishioners to help fill a $900,000 deficit.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-saddleback-money,0,2741252.story

Ever since reading George Mueller's book about how he prays for his finances, I've been having a hard time not looking different at people who ask for money.

I know this is my own problem and own conviction but should Rick Warren, or anybody, be asking for this much money? I'm not sure if even I'm in the wrong here but this article is my pet peeve.

Ever since reading George Mueller's book about how he prays for his finances, I've been having a hard time not looking different at people who ask for money.

As have had I.

Paul did take up collections occasionally for different reasons though right. I have yet to settle on this.

Your right...Paul did. But he was also a tent maker who didn't want to ask certain people for an offering for certain reasons.

$900,000 should be a rather easy number for them to fill considering the size and socio-economic background of his church.

Very revealing. It appears these "believers" are more reliant on man and money than on God.

You can be assured of one thing, and that is when any minister is begging for money, using the methods of the world to raise money, and promising the saints a reward if they will sow into their ministry, it is not of God.

If God is in it, then He will surely supply the need.

Mike

What a privilege for Rick Warren!

To be a beggar for Jesus.

While the heathens mock us and say, "Where is the power of your God?"

While the heathens mock us and say, "Where is the power of your God?"

Which should make us weep.

Two things...

One, what does a church actually do with 1 million dollars?

Two, Zac Poonen doesn't believe in preachers asking for money either. I only say that because he is a pastor (or an elder!) but he will not let any elder of his church or churches that he helps start ask for money OR a salary.

These are very good by Zac Poonen...

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=15951&commentView=itemComments]What Jesus Taught About Money (mp3)[/url]

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=15952&commentView=itemComments]What Jesus Taught About Money (video)[/url]

If God supported the work they wouldn't have to plead with flesh for money.

'cmon..almost a million dollars? Sounds like this church is living WAY above its means.

Maybe they need it for those important last-minute year-end expenses like "love bonuses" and "love gifts" for those who worked so hard to raise money for the church the entire year?

The reason I talk about Zac Poonen is that right now he is one of two preacher's I'm listening to right now!

But Zac also said that years ago when they were thinking about building a church (or buying?), that the Lord told him (paraphrased),
[i]"As long as you have ONE RUPEE in your bank account, you are NOT to ask the congregation for any money. You use your money first because I called you, not them."[/i]

(removed last comment to make it less negative)

Brothers and sisters, I feel that we are being far too cyncial in our comments. We are taking spiritual cheap shots at this situation. God is not glorified in this activity. Let the Lord judge, and us be silent.

I agree with KingJimmy.

Some math might illuminate this a little. Saddleback Church is reported to have an attendance of about 20,000 according to Wikipedia. This would mean that in order to reach the 900,000+ each family would have to give about $180 or each individual about $45. Considering the standard of living in California this is not an exorbitant amount to ask. He is probably just asking that the congregation give their Sunday amount (or tithe) early. His message indicates where the money will go and much of it is charities, food pantries etc., which fell behind due to a decrease in Christmas giving.

Anyway, a little perspective might help us to think a little less negatively about the situation.

Perhaps Rick Warren ought to take tips from Joel Olsteen on how to do it right?

God's prophets always made fun of false prophets, its a Biblical thing to do.

God's prophets did make fun of false prophets, but usually it was to their face, not behind their back. And it was never over trivial matters such as this.

1 Kings 18:27...

And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."

If I was granted the opportunity, I would mock Rick Warren to his face.

And as for the trivial matters....

Are you aware of how many starving people are being devoured by wolves in the 3rd world because of preaching exported from Rick Warren and Joel Olsteen?

They are being told that if they come to Jesus they will have a happy life, their pigs won't die, their wives won't have miscarriages, they'll get a BMW... this is NO trivial matter.

The wolves look at the preaching of these men, and say, they must be doing something right, they have the biggest churches in the wealthiest nation, so the wolves, instead of pleading and begging for offerings like Rick Warren and Joel Olsteen, demand and prophesy for money.

==========edit===========

Have you read Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life? He grants people salvation without a call to repentance, no call to picking up a cross, no denial of self... He tip-toes around the exclusivity of redemption through Jesus Christ when interviewed by secular media... Why else do you think he was invited by Barack Obama to speak at his congressional whatever?