This particular newstory left me stumped all week on what side to take. You see as a professional with Finance and Accounting background, I'm a huge advocate of the industry's core principle of "full disclosure" when it comes to a company's finances. However, I also understand the law of separation of church and state, and that the church has a leeway on how it chooses to spend its finances as it sees fit.

But in the center of all that, I'm a Christian who's been exposed to some teachings of these preachers been probed by the Senator for their financial statements. I was not surprised by one individual out of the six because I seriously questioned the person's moral obligation on how the church's revenue was been disbursed a couple of months ago. But to go after the other top five made me wonder if this wasn't an unfair target for one person's indiscretions.

I don't have a problem with these preachers' "gospel of prosperity" neither do I think you have to look or act impoverished to prove your spirituality. But in the same token, I believe some of these Ministers who preach the prosperity gospel might have missed the mark when it comes to being balanced. The main reason they came (or should have come) into preaching was to help "the least among us" not to tell the world how much your wedding, house, and designer duds cost.

Some of these ministers justify their finances and extravagant lifestyles based on their other ventures such as speaking engagements and book deals. But let's not kid ourselves, they would not have got such sweet deals if it wasn't for the notoreity that came from preaching on the pulpit. So if the Ministers are unapologetic with displaying the fruits of their labor, then they should have nothing to hide about their fiscal responsibility; actually they should be glad to fully disclosed that.

Sent by Moji | 10:42 AM ET | 11-12-2007

You wondered who would be reporting to the senator since only church members contribute to the pastor. Please let me tell you: it would be the spouses, parents, siblings, and friends who see these people going into debt and are unable to do anything about it since as a non-member they are told they cannot understand they are not part of the chosen and are not part of the elect. These people who believe when told (in a myriad of ways) that big money contributions are required for big redemption.

Alas it appears that Sen. Grassley is not looking at the twilight zone of Christian tele-evangelists-those who require a waiver that all money is a personal gift to the pastor to go for her or his personal use and is therefore for not a tax detectable. If the California inquiry into Eugene Scott in the 70s is any indication, this will all come to nothing. There will be no reform either by the government who will be discouraged by the separation of church and state or by the fellow pastors who will NOT, WILL NOT reform or say the slightest criticism of their fellow brethren out of the same fear. There is no one to regulate the "churches" that are not attached to a central authority. They will eventually meet up with the ultimate central authority. At least that is what I am waiting for.

The frustration of trying to communicate with someone who believes you to be unworthy because you do not believe in the church of XXX because they are the only ones who know the truth is like speaking to a drug addict who is focused on their fix.

Sent by Gary B. | 9:03 AM ET | 11-13-2007

I do not think a Senator should get involved. He's bringing in politics---never good; However, I do think if their church members question the spending, they should be the ones to conduct an investigation...not a Senator from "Iowa". He has nothing to do with the intention of my gift to my church. If I have a problem with my how my gift was spent, I think my church should answer to me...again, not a Senator from Iowa---or anywhere else.

Sent by Nicole | 11:06 AM ET | 11-13-2007

The Tele-evangelists preach a "prosperity gospel" which entices listeners to give and/or pledge. Their unbilibcal message entices listeners to give so they will in turn recieve a mulitiplied amount back to them. This is not a Biblical truth. If it were, why are not those who are being persecuted for their faith througout the world financially prospered??!! Hello, is anyone listening? This manipulative strategy lines their pockets with lots of money so they can buy airplines, jets, mansions, etc, etc. The only respected evangelist & minister who has not lived like this and has not misused the money which has come in for his ministry is Billy Graham.

Sent by Maureen | 9:48 PM ET | 11-26-2007

I agree that the Tele-evangelists and others should explain where their money is spent. I look at the church members who are so far in debt that they are not sure what to do. The preacher teaches about getting out of debt but he/she is not doing anything to help their members to get out. The entire time they are living a life of luxury and bragging about it. Is this what GOD intended, I Dont think so!

Sent by Kelley from NC | 2:42 PM ET | 11-29-2007

who is the one that is prospering ? is it the people that is giving to the church? or the pastors ? there are people that have been giving to these churches for years and still praying to GOD when in need of food ect.When a pastor starts out , you can see him anytime ..[some of them] but when the church is built up , aperson can't even get in touch with them...MONEY becomes their god and FAME.. GOD always speaks in THE WORD about the pastors, priest prophets ect..and the things that they do ...The churches is a den of theives.

Sent by the prophet of old | 6:28 PM ET | 11-29-2007

I understand that there must be accountability in the church. I also believe that it is the church that must give an account for herself. However, if congregations have bought into unbiblical idea that only the pastor/preacher is God's annointed then maybe it will take Ceasar to sheild some light on the fact that some religious leaders are fleecing the flock and that the "gospel of prosperity" is only applicable to the pastor/preacher and not the many members of these congregations. When I'v attempted to discuss the potential wrong-doing of a pastor/preacher, I normally get "I'll let God deal with his preacher. Sin is sin regardless of who committs it. Any Christian has the right to call sin what it is even when it is found among us as clergy. The church should be the one monitoring herself. We have a calling to the highest standard - The Word.

Sent by Minister Rayfield Evins, Jr. | 1:20 PM ET | 12-06-2007