Ah, but Congress can get behind almost anything if it means votes.  Remember when they crowned "Rev." Moon the new Messiah in a Senate office building?

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No, I haven't read Lamb, Mattloch.  Didn't know about it.  May have to put it on my stack.

The likes of the Rev. Dollar demonstrate the fruits of biblical interpretation gone bad. What could account for such a serious lapse in their intelligence? Pride? Yes, certainly. Here's more: http://www.spiritdaily.com/...

The max wage for a pastor at my church and other churches in the Central California Conference From Bakersfield to San Francisco is max around 40k a year

Here is a Scripture completely directed to this:

1 Timothy 6:3-10:  "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Others...

Luke 12:32-34:  "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Jesus was poor and unattractive to the world.  If He was rich, how might we be saved?  He was the perfect man, the exact representation of God, (Hebrews 1:3 )  and had not a care about money.  He was the Son of God!  He lived destitute, with not a place to lay His head.  He experienced all what we experience (or are able to experience).  No one can claim God does not know what their life is like.  He is able to comfort all in all sufferings.

2 Corinthians 8:9:  "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. "

Luke 12:13-21:  Someone in the crowd said to him (Jesus), "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Revelation 3:14-22:  "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
      These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

The Magi who gave Jesus gifts recognized His authority and power.  They were overjoyed by Him and worshiped Him.  Why would they worship Him?  For they knew He was the Messiah, where they would find their salvation and a glorious hope.  They gave their greatest treasures to Him, for they knew who He was.  Did Jesus really concern Himself with gold, incense, and  myrrh?  No, this revealed His power, authority, glory, and dominion.  (These gifts were given to kings, and Jesus was indeed the King of Kings.  This did not mean He was rich.  On earth, He was poor.)