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Everybody's getting Mercedes

I was reading another blog and there was a post about this pastor of a church of 5000. His name is Clint Brown and apparently is a well know worship song writer. I have never heard of him.

He is getting or just recently was divorced. There has been some criticism due to his excessive lifestyle - I think he made a lot of money from some of the songs he wrote and albums he sold. The church recently bought him a 500 000 "parsonage" in a gated community.

Now half a million sounds like a lot of dough and it is, but in Vancouver it is basically an average (and almost entry level) price for a home. But check out what else this guy spent his money on:

  • 3 mercedes benz
  • porche carrera
  • hummer
  • ford f-150 pickup
  • vw beetle
  • 2 harley davidson motorcycles
  • $8800 spent in a jewelery store in NYC
  • $1000 - victoria's secret
  • $10000 - shoe store in Dallas
  • $1000 - wine shop in Dallas
  • $70 000 - in one year on women's clothing
In comparison I own the following:

  • bus tickets
  • 1 bike
  • running shoes
  • i have never entered a victoria's secret
  • i haven't bought new dress shoes in over 4 years
  • ok - i buy wine, but i've never spent more then 17 bucks on a bottle
  • every year i buy felicia something from banana republic for her birthday - usually around $100
Obviously, I'm in the wrong church - I need to get me down to Florida and start driving a hummer, wearing some bling, some nice shoes and ladies clothes while chugging some fine wine.

"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."

Material products in themselves are not evil. A Merceds Benz is not evil - it is our attitude towards material goods. Unfortunately in our culture it is almost impossible to divorce our feelings towards the status that certain items give us from simple utilitarianism.

Your designer jeans are more then pants for your legs - they actually reveal your standing in society. If they are no name jeans from cost-co - you are a poor social loser. If they are $300 No Religion jeans then you are part of the exclusive club of winners.

You are not your clothing, your car, your condo or your hair-cut. Believe it and live out of that understanding.

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