I am praying for a way to take Scientology down. But looking at them and the mega churches, we have to keep in mind that 60% of churches have less than 100 members, 94% under 500 members. The majority of pastors have a second secular job.

A few gargantuan bad apples are casting a shadow on small, run-on-a shoestring congregations.

That wouldn’t get rid of it. I think ultimately the teaching function of preachers will move to actual schools where issues can be debated, and the future church will be all about Christian community without the hierarchy, dogma, and career Christians. Then giving will be direct to the needy and ministry the work of the people rather than the fleecing of those same people.

I agree; the damn has broken. The failure cascade begins now.

I thought of Scientology, too! I’m beginning to think the only way to stop the financial abuses is for all churches to lose tax exempt status.

The specific clip of MacDonald is at 50:30. There is another at 44:21. If you have the time, watch the entire video, in increments if need be, because it explains how these church growth administrators like Bill Hybels, Mark Driscoll, Steven Furtick, Andy Stanley, Rob Bell and MacDonald (they’re not pastors) lost their way due to the influence of Rick Warren. I pray they all repent and find their way back to God, or that God will destroy their ability to influence and mislead others.

Well, in the case of Scientology, the reges would have taken Mancow into a room and attempted to work him over. Of course they’d go for the memorabilia, that would be easy. But then they’d be all into, “can you mortgage your house? can you take out a 2nd? do you have a 401K you can raid? what about getting another credit card or two?” The Sea Org people from Finance are a scary bunch. They will talk about how if you don’t help Ron now, you won’t be helping to clear the planet, you will be slowed on going up the bridge and this could affect your eternity. And no, I’ve never, ever been a Scientologist, never even been in a church of Scientology, but I’ve read far too many accounts of people who were basically taken for everything they owned by the greedy and rapacious cult of greed and power, the gold standard. Compared to them, James MacDonald is a piker. Maybe he should have threatened Mancow’s salvation a bit more for better results!

That’s a very long video — do you have a timestamp you can give us?