Parsonage Living?

4 thoughts on “Parsonage Living?”

1. Maybe it witnesses that they are good with managing their money, and that a worker is worth his wages.

2. I plan to write a more comprehensive post on this soon. But do you really think being good at managing home storing up wealth?

3. This seems like a low-blow. I’m guessing you know all about Pres. K’s financial status, how he used his home, what kind of investments he and his wife decided to make, and how much they contribute to worthy causes. I think that our Synodical Presidents don’t get paid enough for the kinds of pressures and responsibilites they face. I don’t begrudge anyone a larger home than I have, in face, I’m happy for anyone who can afford it and enjoy it, clergy or not.

   Are there personal choices that you and your family make that you would prefer not to have people discuss over the internet?

4. Matt,

   First, please note that I posted this not as a shot aimed solely at Pres. K, but as a matter for all of us to consider. There are plenty of sites for low blow shots on both sides. I strive to not be one.

   Secondly, I do not know all of Pres. K’s stewardship choices. And neither does the world who views the article I posted. That is my point. It is not just our overall stewardship that matters, but each choice. All the world will see is that Pres. K has a $648,000 in a neighborhood of home in the $225,000. Also, we must remember that the Pharisee overall stewardship was laudable by any standard, except the one Jesus used, which seemed to be about sacrifice rather than quantity. And finally on this point, one with great power and publicity must adhere to a very strict standard of avoiding appearance of evil. I was taken aback by the picture of Harrison playing banjo with a uber-fancy watch on his wrist as well.

   Finally, as far as your implicit absolution of anyone’s decision to buy whatever home and rejoice, I cannot agree with that. We must give witness that we desire a better home in a better land. I am not implicitly against nice home or large homes, but I do think this decision must be made with discernment as well.

   And finally there are personal choices I make that I would prefer not to be discussed in public, the sinful ones.

   All men dislike having themselves and their deeds disclosed and revealed. They all agree when you say that God is good. And who is there in the world to deny that God is just and justified in His judgment of man? Still man cannot bear to have you reprove him. No one wants to stand revealed as a murderer before the world, as a thief, as a greedy belly, or as tainted with any other vice. Now who is it that hates the light? All of us, for no one among us would like to see his true history inscribed on his forehead. But we all like to hear ourselves honored and extolled. No one of us thinks of saying: “May God be merciful to me!” If the sins known to my heart were published to the world, I would deserve the gallows. To be sure, the world now respects me. But if it really knew me, it would spit on me; for I would deserve beheading. If a person truly acknowledged this, it would tend to make him humble before God and fearful lest he look down on others. It would also make him forget his conceit. Otherwise one might be tempted to suppose that what is hidden from man is also hidden from God. – Martin Luther

   Thanks be to God for his forgiveness and grace.