StudyGrowKnow

Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy

December 4, 2010 at 5:49 PM Leave a comment

Well, actually Schuller and those who operate his “ministry” have filed for bankruptcy protection.  I would like to say at the outset that sometimes, it is necessary for people to file bankruptcy.  In fact, because this country was founded on many Christian principles, at least one is related to the modern-day bankruptcy laws from the Old Testament.

Due to the laws of the sabbatical year and the year of Jubilee (cf. Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 15), debts and debtors were released from having to pay the debt they accumulated.  While this does not excuse those who at times need to declare bankruptcy, for those who regretfully need to use it once, learn from it, and move it, it can certainly be a lifesaver.

Regarding Crystal Cathedral and their bankruptcy (Chapter 11), there is a huge question mark overhead.  One wonders how the leaders within the church arrived at the decision to simply fire people with no severance package, stop paying vendors for services rendered, and yet justify dolling out nearly one million dollars to family and friends (presumably those within the inner circle)?  How does anyone justify this much less those who profess to be Christians?

“According to the Los Angeles Times on Friday, the U.S. official overseeing the cathedral’s bankruptcy has questioned the redundant duties of some church insiders and family members and said there was ‘no justification whatsoever’ for the $132,000 housing allowance paid to Chief Financial Officer Fred Southard.” [1]

The tragedy of this whole situation is that the world is watching.  Here is what they see:  Christians ripping people off in the Name of God.  It does not matter to the world whether Schuller or anyone else associated with his ministry are in fact actual Christians.  All that matters is that the world is watching people who say they are Christians.  They see this type of activity and they laugh, shake their heads, and say, “Yep, I knew it! Another group of Christian hypocrites!”

Of course, the real problem is not simply what Schuller and those associated with his church have done.  The real problem lies in the fact that Schuller and his church have become stumbling blocks to the average person!  Jesus warned us that stumbling blocks would come, but woe to the person through whom they come!  These words in Luke 17 tell us that people will become stumbling blocks.  My pastor informed us that the phrase stumbling block, literally means someone who is a scandalous person.  These are not what we might call little offenses (though to God, no sin is “little”).  These are offenses that cause people to literally fall by the wayside.

Now think of it.  You have people in the world who tend to have a very skewed view of Christians.  For some reason, they believe that Christians should be perfect.  When we try to explain that we are not, it is seen as an excuse.  The reality of course is that no Christian is perfect in this life.  It simply will not happen, although I have talked to people who believe that Paul became perfect after becoming a Christian.  It was explained to me that God removed Paul’s sin nature.  Uh…sure.  I have also talked to Christians who firmly believe that it is possible to become sinless in this life.  Uh…okay.  While that is the goal, it is not reachable in this life.

Getting back to Schuller, the terrible thing here is that he probably will not be the last person we hear about.  For decades, those within ministry have spent millions building their little kingdoms on earth, they say for God.  Really?  Huh, I cannot help but wonder how much money He got through their venture.

When someone as high-profile as Schuller falls, he falls from a great height and hits the ground very hard.  When I say “great height,” I am not speaking in spiritual terms.  I am speaking in terms of arrogance, pride, and obviously, breaking a trust with the people who have supported his ministry over the years.

What has concerned me for some time is the way churches spend their money.  Many seem unaware that we are in a severe economic downturn.  They think that God will come through for them regardless.  I believe that as long as that individual church and its leaders continue to follow God’s specific will.  Have you noticed though how many churches are involved in building projects?  While it is possible that God is moving them to add onto their sanctuary, or repave the parking lot, some of the decisions that I personally know some churches have made not only leaves me scratching my head, but extremely frustrated.  I wonder from where they are getting their direction?

One church I know of has had water problems for years.  The water from their well is bad and the county says “you cannot allow people to drink it, so put in water bottles.”  You know the ones.  They arrive on a truck and a strong man hefts them onto his shoulders and walks them into your home or office.  In this case, the church needed to do that.

There were a number of options.  The church had approximately $850,000 in the bank.  If they used roughly $500,000, they could have connected their water to the city’s water line.  Since the church is out in the country, it would have required a good deal of work, but it could have been done.  That was one option.

The other option is to have purchased a system that would have purified the water.  The initial system would have cost around $120,000 with roughly $1500 in fees to remove the “hazardous waste” every month.  This was felt to be a waste of God’s money because of the monthly fees.

Another option was to see if the well could be expanded, drill another well, or make the current well “sleeved.”  A geologist said “no” to all three things.

The other option was to move.  This seemed to be the direction that the board opted for and so the search began.  After months, a building was located and the owner was willing to carry papers (no banks would loan that church any money).  So the church apparently put down about $630,000 and is now making a monthly payment of about $3,100…for an interest-only loan.  That loan will last for five years with a tremendously huge balloon payment at the end.  Of course, the church will need to get a new loan, or come up with the money at that time.

The main reason the church decided on this move (and by the way, the church purchased a warehouse that will need to be heavily modified before they can begin services there at a cost of about 1.5 million), was because they felt they were getting too big to stay where they currently are now.  That, coupled with the fact that the water was a problem, and to do any kind of building on the existing property meant paying over 2 million in fees and work done on the road in front of the church left few options.

But where is wisdom?  They did not want to pay $120,000 for a water purifying system and $1,500 per month because they felt it would be a waste of God’s money.  Therefore, instead they gave over $630,000 as a down payment and are now paying over $3,000 per month as interest.  None of that $3,000 each month goes to principal at all.  Some have no problem with that because of the way loans are drafted anyway.

Will this church survive?  I certainly hope so, but of course, I have no idea.  The way the economy is now, it seems that it is questionable at best whether that church will be able to come up with the needed money.

Across the U.S., churches are taking a huge hit financially.  Many are closing their doors.  Think about what the average pastor makes these days.  I read an ad a year or so ago in which a church in one of the southern states was looking for a senior pastor.  They were able to offer that new pastor a salary of over $300,000 and a 401k plan, plus other benefits.  Now, pastors are not taxed, so when they earn $300,000, they actually take home that amount.  The rest of us do not.  But the real question is why any pastor needs to make that much money?!  It is absurd!

There are churches that I personally know of with an average attendance of around 200 people and the pastor makes over $70,000 plus perks!  How is that justifiable?  How can God be happy about that, especially considering the fact that God the Son earned nothing as He ministered to people.

If God calls me to pastor a church (I hope not), I will not take one penny from that church.  It is unconscionable to me that pastors have become so greedy!

We are going to see more churches fail financially and I do not believe that is a bad thing at all.  What I see happening is people leaving churches and getting involved in home Bible studies.  It hearkens back to the first century just after the Church was born and began to grow.  People met in homes, and in small groups.  They were able to care for one another easier.

I lead a Bible study during the week and there are five of us (my wife and I included).  Five of us.  I have grown to really love these people.  My wife and I still attend church and we believe we are blessed to be at a church where the Word is expositionally preached and where love seems to be evident.  Not everyone can do that.  Some are unable to get to church, so walking a few doors away from their home for a Bible study is the answer.

Frankly, I think we will see more and more churches – certainly the really large ones – start to close their doors.  The ones that may survive are those of the emergent kind because they are telling people what the people want to hear.  Those people feel good and are willing to give if they can continue to attend that church and leave feeling good about themselves each week.

Yet that may not be the case even for emergent churches as the Crystal Cathedral proves.  Schuller’s church should have gone belly up years ago, in my opinion.  They used a ton of money to build an edifice that glorifies man, not God.  Other emergent churches are not as warped and at least build facilities that are more perfunctory and usable.

We are living in an age where time is running out for humanity and I think it appears as though God is busy separating the wheat from the tares in preparation for what is to come.  As stewards of whatever God has given us, it is extremely important for us to make wise decisions – as wise as possible.  Building a glass house is not only unwise, but arrogant.  Can you imagine standing before God having to explain why you spent the millions you spent on building a glass building?  “But Lord, I did it for YOU!”  Uh…sure you did.

By the way, I am NOT saying that people should leave their church and start Bible studies.  I am NOT teaching that.  I am simply saying for those who do not have a church home because they have been unable to find one that preaches God’s Word, or because they are not able to get to church, these people still want fellowship with God’s people.  They still want to study His Word and learn from Him.  They are Christians and they need His Word and His people.  So, I am not saying that we should leave the church to start Bible fellowships.  I am saying that is happening because of the emergent church as well as other things that create a necessity for people.

God is taking care of His people.  It seems as though He is beginning the process of separation.  Maybe He began it a while ago, while some of us were asleep in the light.  It is just becoming more obvious.

I am so excited about what God is doing and I am so excited to know that one day I will see His face!  Wow, let me just fall at His feet and worship!  May the grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit help you to become firmly ensconced in Him through His Word.

Any day now.  Any day.

[1] http://www.examiner.com/law-enforcement-in-national/cathedral-scandal-did-rev-schuller-fleece-his-flock

Entry filed under: 9/11, alienology, Atheism and religion, Demonic, dispensationalism, Eastern Mysticism, emergent church, Gun Control, Islam, israel, Judaism, Life in America, new age movement, Posttribulational Rapture, Pretribulational Rapture, Religious - Christian - End Times, Religious - Christian - Prophecy, Religious - Christian - Theology, salvation, Satanism, Sharia Law, temple mount, ufology. Tags: schuller stopped paying vendors and fired people but continued to pay himself, schuller's crystal cathedral in bankruptcy, schuller's ministry in deep trouble.