I want to like cool, hip and trendy music. I wish that my iPod was full of indie artists that no one had ever heard of. Then, when those artists got popular, I could stop liking them for going mainstream.
Unfortunately I’m not that cool. I’m a slave to female pop and anything with a catchy hook. I love Kelly Clarkson’s new album and Kylie Minogue is one of my favorite artists. I’m also embarrassed to say that I enjoyed listening to “Like a G6” by Far East Movement.
“Like a G6” is a preposterous song. It is all about popping bottles, getting drunk, drinking “sizzurp,” and feeling like a G6. G6 is shorthand for a Gulfstream 650, a private jet that costs $65 million. I’ve had some pretty good days in my life but I don’t know if I’ve ever felt like $65 million. Though if I had someone buy me a G6 jet, then I might feel pretty good.
Which is exactly what a pastor hoped would happen to him.
Creflo Dollar is a televangelist in the Atlanta area. According to his website he is also president and CEO of World Changers Church International, Creflo Dollar Ministries and Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association. I felt pretty good about my title, but Rev. Scott Higa, Associate Pastor of Student Ministries pales in comparison to what Dollar’s got going on.
Last week Dollar came under some heat when he began a campaign to raise $65 million to purchase a Gulfstream 650. Apparently he’s also a fan of Far East Movement and wanted to feel like a G6. Dollar’s organization released a six-minute video asking people to donate to “Project G650” so that it could purchase a private jet. The jet would be used to spread the gospel and Dollar’s message all over the world.
The project came under fire as soon as it was announced. Even after the page promoting the campaign was removed, the World Changers Church International site still had the option to give to the campaign. At this point that has also been removed.
I can’t speak to Creflo Dollar’s desire to spread the gospel around the world. I don’t know him and I hope that he has true motives. Unfortunately, asking people to give $65 million to buy a private jet seems a little ridiculous and tone deaf. $65 million is a lot of money, money that could be used for something better than funding a private jet.
According to Creflo Dollar’s website, his ministries have satellite campuses in six foreign countries. The average cost to fly to those countries from Atlanta is $1,400. $65 million would purchase 46,428 round trip tickets to those destinations and that $65 million doesn’t even include fuel costs.
$65 million could also be used to greatly impact the lives of children all over the world. $65 million could be used to sponsor 11,054 children through World Vision for 14 years. Over 11,000 children could be given an education, health care and proper nutrition for almost a decade and a half for the cost of a G6.
Ridiculous campaigns like this don’t do much to help the image of Christians. A lot of people already think that Christians are out of touch and only concerned with lining their own pockets. That image is based upon a small minority; most of the Christians I know are genuine people who want to make the world a better place for Jesus. And, as shocking as it may be, all of those Christians are making the world a better place without $65 million or a G6.
How do you like to make the world a better place for Jesus?
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