Very typical of those type, unfortunately.More or less the reason I left my parents church. Pastor Ralph retired, and the new guy was a pretentious ****, whom didnt live by the words he preached. Then he brought this high profile missionary in, whom was the same way if not worse. That was the last day I went to church with my parents. Very short version of the story, the pastors sermon was about giving back to God so that God (the church) could reach out and help others in the community. (All community projects were halted after pastor Ralph retired) then the missionary gave his sermon about how we should live without, and give as much as we can, and when we think were giving enough give more. We should be humble and live without to give to the church, our vehicles and clothes should be modest, we should do without the finer things in life. He kept it up for nearly an hour. After the sermon my dad went tor speak with the new pastor, through their conversation my dad told the pastor that he was unimpressed with the says sermon, and if he wanted his flock to live how he preached, he should live the same. The pastors reply was I am man of God, I work his will, therefore what you contribute is for me as it is for God and the church. Wile leaving we saw the missionary guy getting into his truck. A brand new (at the time) loaded ford f350. Every option I could think of was on it as well. I was livid. These are the men that just told us to live like the homeless to support the church in the name of God. I havent been back since that day, and shortly there after they lost a lot of patronage because if the new preachers ways. Sad really, Ralph was an excellent man, knew the word of God and inspired you with everything he taught. He was humble, and lived within his means, served his community and took care of his flock. I have yet to find another preacher I like quite as much as him.
Interesting too. I have a handful of lifelong friends who became a part of a “church” as an adult (often due to a spouse). They are totally normal when we hang out but it’s very clear that the fellow “church” members (even recent ones) rank higher on their list than anyone except maybe their immediate family.
I’ll never trust people in blind faith like that. Fair weather or singular focus friends depart as quickly as they arrive.