Not too long ago, I wrote about Pastor John Gray who encouraged single mothers and other people in need to take money from the collection plate rather than putting any in the baskets. I said it was a generous gesture.

Now I’m having second thoughts. Especially since I know what Gray gave his wife for their anniversary: A $200,000 Lamborghini. (But don’t worry. He made a “faith deposit” first.)

Relentless Church Pastor John Gray said he would not be shamed for buying his wife a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus for their eighth wedding anniversary, reported the Christian Post. “[Eight] years. New Beginnings. New hope. New life. And for her, a new whip. I put a faith deposit down in February and God helped me to make my wife’s dream come true. Why not? She’s made mine come true! #GodIsMyWitness #BookContract #HatersBeBlessed,” the South Carolina pastor posted on social media. … The couple said that they will not apologize for the blessings they have from God. “I will never apologize for how hard we work and how we want to bless each other,” Aventer Gray said on social media.

To be clear, there’s nothing inherently wrong with purchasing an expensive car… at least if you’ve rightly earned the money to do so. People are entitled to do what they please with their earnings.

But when you’re a pastor — especially one who wants credit for being overly generous to the poor — well, let’s just say it doesn’t look good to be driving something that costs more than the homes of people in your own congregation. It seems ridiculous to quote Jesus (who lived in poverty) saying that the rich man should give up all his possessions in order to be a disciple… unless Gray just skips that section altogether.

Moreover, if Gray has that kind of disposable income, why not just donate it directly to the poor? Why make a big show out of telling people to take money from the plate — money that comes from other members of the congregation — when you can change even more lives by buying a cheaper (but still luxurious) car and donating the rest?

It’s easy to tell others to be generous when you’re the one taking the biggest share of whatever’s in those collection baskets.

