Private Jets and Pastors. I get celibacy and poverty. But I do not begrudge opulence. Or do I?
Silver Wings flying towards a sunset
Some cargo needs special handling.
I wrote a hub just yesterday about our need to exercise judgment and that no doing so is a whacko way to think. Then today I read and answered a question on “should pastors have private jets?’ Oh my the general condemnation of such a thing was quite impressive. Good to see others exercising their judgment. I just wish it was not a “Rush to Judgment”. No pastor was named. No proof was claimed.
I can tell you that my first cruise in a private jet was very cool, back around 91. It took off from Puebla Mx, and service a huge village called Cholula (where to active volcano is) It is the village that has 365 Catholic churches with many built on pyramids. I never found out the exact scoop on that jet. But I tell you I was a guest of a extremely important Bishop of the Catholic Church. He was comfortable and seemed like he owned the thing, though I know he could have. The food was all freshly flown down from the states. The leather seats and carpet were way above my paygrade. I had the impression the whole thing was financed through the church, by rich people.
Can you imagine having a Eucharist at 30k ft in a private jet with almost a private Bishop. Did I mention the Coffee and Mexican pastries were delicious and almost opulent.
We should not abuse Grace.
Do you think all preacher men should be impoverished.
Should preachers have luxuries?
Is not the beauty of nature finery enough?
There is bad, but sometimes there is good.
Well I guess I might is well let the cat out of the bag. I was working in Mexico and in spare time able to teach CPR/first aid through a church program. This brought me to the notice of the Bishop. Who then offered me a ride on the private jet back to San Diego. Not because I was a good Christian, not because I am handsome. But because I was big and strong and knew first aid.
You see the other passengers needed to be picked up and moved about. You see the other passengers were extremely sick and injured children on their way to San Diego’s children’s hospital. Maybe the doctors gave the jet to the church. You see every time that fancy private jet took to the skies, either help was brought to some in need. Or some in need were brought to help. Some day I will have a private jet, and I will make sure that whenever it can it carries a “pastor”.
Life is not always how it looks at first impressions. Having a lot by and in itself is not a bad thing by we are stewards. The more we have the more we must share that in order to be good stewards. The farmer with a large herd must work harder than the farmer with a small herd. The farmer with a large field must spend more time sewing before he can reap the harvest.
I say be opulent in the simple things and you shall have abundance.
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