Pastor spends stolen $$ on Porsche, etc.
- Thread starter dazed&fallen
- Start date
Railroad
Routinely Derailed
Incredible!
Everybody yields to temptation, and this pastor certainly appears to have done that. This kind of stuff can be VERY damaging to our ability to attract new Christians, and to defend ourselves against skeptics.
The following is an excerpt from the story:
The criminal investigation at First Baptist Church of Cold Spring
Jan. 23, 2004: Former church treasurer Darryl Neltner writes Kentucky State Police to say church money has been spent on gambling. He identifies up to $600,000 in what he describes as questionable transfers.
Feb. 6, 2004: Kentucky State Police detectives serve search warrants at both the church and the home of the Rev. Larry Davis, the church's pastor. Court documents say police were looking for both paper and electronic financial records.
March 10, 2004: Fifth Third Bank calls the note on the church's $4 million construction loan.
March 17, 2004: The congregation fires anyone holding a position at the church that had attended an alternative worship service, calling their behavior "un-Christian."
March 24, 2004: The congregation votes to put up more collateral to avoid a foreclosing on its year-old sanctuary.
April 4, 2004: More than 100 members of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring vote to form a new church. Members meet in a vacant sanctuary about a half-mile from First Baptist, and the new church is called Christ Baptist.
April 21, 2004: Federal law enforcement officials take over the investigation from state prosecutors.
June 2004: Just weeks after lightning strikes the steeple of Christ Baptist Church's rented building on U.S. 27, church members buy the former Rolling Hills Christian Church.
October 24, 2004: Tennessee native Randy Coleman delivers his first sermon as pastor of Christ Baptist Church.
June 7, 2005: Larry Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring, calls a meeting of his congregation. He says he will continue preaching if he is indicted.
June 8, 2005: Larry Davis is indicted on seven charges in connection with $700,000 that federal officials say he took from First Baptist Church of Cold Spring.
Everybody yields to temptation, and this pastor certainly appears to have done that. This kind of stuff can be VERY damaging to our ability to attract new Christians, and to defend ourselves against skeptics.
The following is an excerpt from the story:
The criminal investigation at First Baptist Church of Cold Spring
Jan. 23, 2004: Former church treasurer Darryl Neltner writes Kentucky State Police to say church money has been spent on gambling. He identifies up to $600,000 in what he describes as questionable transfers.
Feb. 6, 2004: Kentucky State Police detectives serve search warrants at both the church and the home of the Rev. Larry Davis, the church's pastor. Court documents say police were looking for both paper and electronic financial records.
March 10, 2004: Fifth Third Bank calls the note on the church's $4 million construction loan.
March 17, 2004: The congregation fires anyone holding a position at the church that had attended an alternative worship service, calling their behavior "un-Christian."
March 24, 2004: The congregation votes to put up more collateral to avoid a foreclosing on its year-old sanctuary.
April 4, 2004: More than 100 members of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring vote to form a new church. Members meet in a vacant sanctuary about a half-mile from First Baptist, and the new church is called Christ Baptist.
April 21, 2004: Federal law enforcement officials take over the investigation from state prosecutors.
June 2004: Just weeks after lightning strikes the steeple of Christ Baptist Church's rented building on U.S. 27, church members buy the former Rolling Hills Christian Church.
October 24, 2004: Tennessee native Randy Coleman delivers his first sermon as pastor of Christ Baptist Church.
June 7, 2005: Larry Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring, calls a meeting of his congregation. He says he will continue preaching if he is indicted.
June 8, 2005: Larry Davis is indicted on seven charges in connection with $700,000 that federal officials say he took from First Baptist Church of Cold Spring.
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
A seven-count federal indictment returned Wednesday says Davis submitted a false loan application to Fifth Third Bank, evaded federal income taxes for four years, and transferred stolen church money across state lines to buy the Porsche 911 and a minivan.
I can understand stealing mony to buy a Porsche, but you have to be a real sicko to spend it on a minivan.
Things like this are only damaging to Christians if they are focusing on a man instead of Jesus. Every man is subject to temptation and some (all?) give in at some time or another, even ministers. When a minister or prominent person that is supposed to be a man of God sins, the non-Christians and CINOs (Christian In Name Only) come out of the woodwork to proclaim how much hypocrisy is in the church.
The lesson here is don't focus or put your faith in any man (mankind); put your faith only in God. When you do that, you will never be disappointed.
The lesson here is don't focus or put your faith in any man (mankind); put your faith only in God. When you do that, you will never be disappointed.
PJay
Well-Known Member
2ndAmendment said:
Good churches are hard to find today, 2nd. Religion...well, I am confused. In asking many questions over the years, one of them being, "theres only one God, why so many different beliefs?" Answer always being no matter who you ask, "Our belief was first, then someone sitting in our church didn't like what we were saying so left and started their own church."
So I chose as you say:
I have found that every church I have ever gone to including the one I go to now has certain aspects that really do not follow the Bible. I have been given several of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. That is one of the reasons I know, not just believe, that God is real. That is why I know I have a personal relationship with Him.Homesick said:
Many denominations, divisions, of the church have error in them. They may not believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit; conflicts with the Bible that says the gifts will be given even more as we get closer to the last days. They may tacitly endorse one sin or another (very dangerous); I say if they do, find another church. The church I go to places too much emphasis on the gift of tongues which is one of the minor gifts of the Holy Spirit and Paul writes than not all have the same gifts in 1st Corinthians, so just because you don't have the gift of tongues does not mean the Holy Spirit does not indwell and empower you and that you do not have some other gift.
I think that the denominations are an influence of satan on the people of the various organizations. I call them organizations, because the Church is the body of believers and many people go to buildings every Sunday because that is what they were taught to do, but they are not members of the body of believers since they do not have a personal relationship with God.
dazed&fallen
fine artist
Toxick said:
now, now toxick. i'm sure not ALL christians are typical effing bastards.
dazed&fallen
fine artist
Toxick said:
read the thread again, pay attention this time.
Tonio
Asperger's Poster Child
Anyone who suggests that this scandal reflects badly on Christians and Christianity probably has a supersize chip on his or her shoulder. I think the scandal only reflects badly on the pastor.2ndAmendment said:
2A, thank you for pointing out that everyone is subject to temptation. Remember the televangelist scandals of the late '80s, and how they became targets of ridicule? I think people perceived the televangelists as not being humble before God, as pretending to be above temptation.