Pastor draws flak for gifting wife $200K Lamborghini Urus for anniversary

“Two weeks after drawing praise for allowing congregants in need to take cash directly from his offering baskets, Pastor John Gray of Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina, is drawing flak for gifting his wife a Lamborghini Urus for their eighth wedding anniversary.” - CPost

Discussion

I’m gifting my wife a new couch this Christmas. I guess I’m not in the same league as Pastor Gray …

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Bet the insurance premiums alone would buy any car I’ve ever owned.

But he’s a cheapskate. Should have got her this one: https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/brand/masterpieces/aventador-coupe

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Doesn’t every pastor gift his wife a Lamborghini on their 8th anniversary? :^)

Seriously, no surprise that Gray’s previous job is with Joel Osteen, and I might infer that he’s into the prosperity “gospel”. My take on the car; beyond being a kick in the teeth to poorer congregants, do I really want to own something that I have to worry about all the time? Where an inadvertent scratch or dent seems to lead to legal action? Where 99 out of 100 garages have absolutely no clue about how to fix it?

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

7. Being wealthy is not a sign of God’s approval.

"Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason."

Odometer reading on the newest car my family owns: 212, 816.

So, it’s a classic. I would probably trade it for a Lamborghini, though, if anyone has one they, you know, want to get rid of.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

I question this guy’s discernment. I mean, a Lamborghini Urus? No! If you’re going to buy a Lamborghini, buy a real Lamborghini.

Apparently this follows him making a “faith deposit” on it in February. In other words, his gift to his wife is being treated the same way they do fundraising in those circles. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am, and maybe I should be glad I can still be surprised. I’m not 100% cynical? I thought I was pretty close!

To be honest, I’m surprised that in a theological tradition where pastors see themselves as entitled to expensive toys as a sign of God’s grace, they don’t more often do the Swaggart/Bakker/Hinn and see themselves as entitled to beautiful women. It also strikes me that in a situation where prosperity is seen as the seal of God’s approval, any financial downturn is going to wreak havoc on faith, relationships, and more—even more than it usually does.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

He who lives by the dollar, dies by the dollar.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

I question this guy’s discernment. I mean, a Lamborghini Urus? No! If you’re going to buy a Lamborghini, buy a real Lamborghini.

Personally, I’d rather get nice RAV4 and put a nice sized deposit on a house rather than drop that kind of money on any Lamborghini. Plus there would probably be a little money left over as well for some Logos books. :)

"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells

If he was to get his wife a “real” Lamborghini, wouldn’t that be a tractor?

Seriously, my guess is he got the Urus for three reasons. First, as a rebadged VW/Audi with a Lamborghini V8, it’s half the price of the sportscar versions or less. Second, the Grays’ two kids aren’t exactly going to do well with the sportscar, either. Finally, both parents are quite frankly obese, and the higher SUV stance is going to be far easier for them to get in and out.

But to that effect, I’d have to recommend to them that if they want fine Italian craftsmanship in a gift for each other, they ought to consider bicycles with Campognolo components. Which might be something I’d consider if someone dropped that kind of money in my lap, at least after I paid off the mortgage and such. Except for the fact that I am also a person of some heft, and that doesn’t tend to work well with 700 x 23mm. Maybe a carbon fiber cross bike with 700 x 32s. Might just have to suffer with Shimano Ultegra or something. :^)

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.