The Root Of All Evil

I see the press finally caught on to the absurdity of something I blogged about a few weeks ago. This is about the big, expensive shin dig that church members are throwing for their pastor's wife.

Mrs. Hilliard's gift list is well within the theology of the church, a segment of American protestantism known as 'health and wealth' churches. It is expressed concisely by Ian Hilliard in an appeal to his flock for donations to a program called Vision Builders Campaign.

'Before making your pledge consider the spiritual law of sowing and reaping,' Hilliard writes in the church newsletter. 'Jesus taught that 'he who sows sparingly will only reap sparingly, but he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.'

'What kind of harvest do you really want to experience? Dr. Bridget and I have always purposed in our hearts and stretched our faith when it comes to kingdom giving, knowing that our return will be far greater.'

It's a powerful message, and one that moves congregations to expect their pastors to display the material symbols of God's favor, the Louis Vuitton handbags and the Saks Fifth Avenue wardrobes.

For some reason, I really don't think that Jesus was talking about sowing fancy clothes and purses. I mean, that's just a humble guess on my behalf but I am sure I can get a witness from somebody out there.