Why do Black preachers dress in expensive clothes, drive expensive cars and live

1. 82

   tHErEDpILLposted 12 years ago

   Why do Black preachers dress in expensive clothes, drive expensive cars and live in expensive homes?
   
   i am not being racist or stereotypical here, this is a fact.  I am a black man and I can tell you that this is a fact.  Most of them do.  But why?  Shouldn't they be using this extra money they seem to have on something more...I don't know righteous?  I think most religious "leaders" are charlatans, no matter what the race.  how do you guys feel?

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2. 84

   bethperryposted 12 years ago

   I reckon I may not be the right person to answer this as I've known one black minister and a black priest and neither dressed overboard or outrageously. They were just nice men.

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3. 60

   Dee aka Nonnaposted 12 years ago

   What you have described happens to take place in several religions or demonations and there are "preachers" of other races that do the same....let's not forget the private planes and limo's.  Why does it happen, I don't know...I can even imagine, but the vast majority of the true men and women of God are just everyday kind of people following a passion and a calling.

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4. 66

   Cathy Iposted 12 years ago

   Sorry..you are indeed stereotyping your own race.  You are also contradicting yourself as your question says..."Why do black preachers..." and then in your explanation you say "Most of them do". 
   
   You said this is a fact but you did not provide any information to support that statement. I know Black priests do not live that lifestyle and I know pastors who don't live that lifestyle.  However, I have read of pastors of other races who live such lifestyles...Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart and others.
   
   Maybe you are hanging out in the wrong churches.

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5. 60

   LittlePaydayposted 12 years ago

   "i am not being racist or stereotypical here, this is a fact"
   
   oh but indeed sir, you are, you are also generalizing an entire group of people of which I'm sure you have not had the opportunity to meet on an individual basis.

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6. 61

   cooldadposted 12 years ago

   I don't think you are being racist at all, I think you are being observant.  I had a friend I grew up with whose dad was a black preacher in a church in the ghetto.
   
   In the early 90's he made about $80K a year.  He had more mustard-colored suits than I ever knew existed.  I didn't even realize that mustard was a suit color until then.  Every member of their church was dirt poor.  That never made sense to me.
   
   Like Ice Cube once said, "church ain't nothin' but a fashion show."

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7. 44

   thomasczechposted 12 years ago

   Black preachers are not the only ones. Turn on the television and watch some of the TV evangelists and you will see them all in fancy clothing and if you dig further they all have fancy homes and cars. Yes Plural. One must be careful to stereotype any race, also it is important to show facts ie: name some of them. Tell us where you have seen this and who thay are and where from etc.

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8. 63

   leroy64posted 12 years ago

   I heard heard the lifestyle justified by most evangelists, and a few pastors, by saying that money was a sign of God's blessing and they should not be ashamed of displays of wealth.  For the record, I grew up in an penecostal church that was mainly white.  I cannot find the biblical verses that back that up or condem it.  Honestly, I would refrain from making judgements on this until I knew the pastor in question.  Churches do have ways of addressing questionalble behavior, if you don't like what is going on you can leave, or withhold the tithe or dump the pastor.  It's your church, the pastor rarely stays for more than a few years, at least modern pastors don't.

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9. 0

   ExoticHippieQueenposted 12 years ago

   I don't think this problem can be confined to only black preachers.  I see many white preachers living the same lifestyle.  Names escape me at the moment.  It does seem very hypocritical to live a lavish lifestyle as a follower of Jesus. You don't have to be poor, but sitting on jeweled chairs, living in mansions is contrary to the simple faith and lifestyle of a Christ-follower.

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10. 76

    daskittlez69posted 12 years ago

    I do not believe it has anything to do with having dark colored skin.  I do believe that the ones that are putting on a show.  And when I say show I mean they are not true men of God.  There is a preacher that doesn't live all that far from me.  They have a huge church and she bought mansions for herself and one for each of her 3 kids.

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11. 61

    lostdogrwdposted 12 years ago

    they learn to do that from white preachers who do the same and  before they did. they feel good for the fool who  give them there money and look at them  to get with God and learn God way instead of READING THE BIBLE   and learn for them self.

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12. 0

    Old Empresarioposted 12 years ago

    Hey, I say at least you can see where all of the tithe money is going. I say the same thing about Catholic Cathedrals where at least you can see where that money is being spent as well. The churches I worry about are those where the preacher dresses modestly. Does a shabbily-dressed preacher mean he's just spending the money on vacations, drugs, and prostitutes? Never trust a politician. Never trust a banker. And never trust a preacher. Just remember that at the end of the day, he's running a tax free for-profit business. So with that, I don't mind if he wants to flaunt it a little.
    
    Oh, yeah; I almost forgot to say my obligatory statement of "It's not just black preachers that do it".

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13. 72

    Darrell Robertsposted 12 years ago

    I would suggest taking a second look.  I know some really humble black preachers.  I am not a priest, but if I had to defend what you see, I would suggest:
    
    Nice cloths attract other people. You want to have a nice congregation where people see you as the leader, then one may think that the nice expensive cloths will encourage the congregation to believe God is generous. ok that is a stretch, but I am trying:)
    
    The big car is to aid the congregation with transportation, you konw taking the elderly home, and making sure they are comfortable.
    
    The big home is for the nice Sunday dinner after church where the congregation and the family have personal time with thier leader. (That is possible). 
    
    Who knows except the individual.  I know there are some charlatans, but if they knew the real rules about leadership and religion, they woudl know that they will have a not so pleasant fate in the end. 
    
    I hope this helps.
    Best wishes

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14. 91

    Kylyssaposted 9 years ago

    I have no idea but I suggest you take a look at some white preachers, too.  The phenomenon isn't color-restricted.
    
    I've also known quite a few black pastors who dressed nice, neat and tidy, but not expensive.  They'd wear suits but suits from Sears or somewhere like that and off the rack, not tailored or custom made.

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