A Sin of the Wealthy Mega Churches?

Tonight I was reading an article written by Dr. Steven Lambert:  He wrote this:

….while the world and worldly-minded Christians judge such rogue preachers on the premise of financial malfeasance, moral failures, and their sundry legal violations, God Himself is judging many prominent ministries against a much loftier standard, having to do with attitudes of ascendancy and elitism manifest in their blatant lack of compassion and benevolence toward the thousands of other, lesser-known ministries in this country whose missions and ministry endeavors are no less worthy of financial support than their own.

Few of the “mega-ministries” that began emerging in the 1950s and ’60s have shown significant desire to “share the wealth” with other worthy ministries. When they have contributed to other ministry organizations, often a major part of their motivation is to curry some sort of favor and/or reciprocation from the receiving minister and/or his/her ministry organization. What makes this the height of hypocrisy is that these are the same well-known and well-healed ministers who constantly, and in some cases obsessively, demand sacrificial benevolence of their supporters toward their own coffers.

Do you believe this is true...that the Church in the New Testament, shows by example one part of the Church body helping another part which is in need? I think it does. And if the ultimate goal of the whole Church body is to spread the Gospel, make disciples, and to care for those within each part of the body in need (the widows, fatherless, etc) then these mega-wealthy ministries, by using their funds to just continue to build bigger and ‘better’ buildings, instead of helping smaller, poorer Churches/ministries are sinning in this matter also. I know most of them claim to send to missions/missionary groups outside of the USA, but what about those small struggling Churches and ministries inside the States?

I had never considered this as something God would frown upon or judge them for, had you?

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And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11:28-30

*note in the above that the Spirit did not signify that those in need come to where the abundance was, but signified the offering/abundance be sent to the other house churches.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.1John 3

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.2Cor.9:1-5

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 1 Cor.16:1-3