+ Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is fighting the good fight on 'non-profit' 'ministries'.
+ Follow-up to my donation solicitation skepticism, which seemed to touch a nerve with a few people: don't forget: it's well established that wealthy people give less of their income as a percentage than less-wealthy people. Of course, it should be the opposite.
6 comments:
Boy you're on a roll now..
It seem that whether you're on the right.."non-profit ministries" or on the left, "limo-liberal media types," when some people get control of a lot of money, they begin to think the smell of all that money can mask to odor of their dirty laundry.
Do you know of R. B. Le Tourneau? he was a Christian "industrialist" who ended up tithing 90% of his income. Burkett, the Christian money management prophet, promoted the idea of being being careful to spend just what one really needs, keeping track of one's spending, so that there would be more to give the Kingdom. There is surely hucksterism in secular non-profit and Christian NGO realm. The Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability's seal of approval is one thing to look for regarding Christian, non-Catholic non-profits. But then there is Jesus story of the "widow's mite", where the poor woman gives all she has to the Temple, an institution so permeated with corruption and greed that in a few more decades God permits its destruction by Rome. But Jesus holds her up as an example of great faith. Jesus is always upsetting a reasonable approach to things.
Did not plan to comment on a comment BUT Paul you got that 110% correct. Kept it rather simple too. ;~)
hg: not sure why i'm so worked up ;-)
Paul: don't know Le Tourneau. do know Burnett, and ECFA. both solid, though Burnett's a little rigid for me.
Jesus goes past all of our structures and rubrics to 'where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'. and then our earthly 'treasure' will pretty well take care of itself.
like GSR said: simple. but intense ;-)
I have heard about R.G. Le Tourneau all my life, as a great Christian businessman with a peculiar view of tithing, i.e, "I get to keep 10%, the Lord gets the rest", which got my attention. In 1960 Prentice-hall published his autobiography, "Mover of Men and Mountains". (PH usually published business books.) Although I had heard of this book, I had never read it. So after your post, I went to the library, checked out an old copy, and am reading it. It is fascinating and very well written. I'm nearly half-way through it. I would recommend it.
thanks, Paul. our library doesn't have it, but i'll put it on my list
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