The grandson of late pastor Dr. Charles Stanley is facing backlash for putting his grandfather's personal items up for sale on eBay.
Matt Brodersen, the youngest child of Stanley's daughter, Becky, shared that after his grandfather died two weeks ago, family, friends and employees came together to "go through his stuff and find things that we would keep."
While Brodersen plans to keep his grandfather's clothes and passport, among other things, he is auctioning off Stanley's pocket watch, which has the letters "CFS" for "Charles Frazier Stanley" engraved on it, and a signed framed painting of the late pastor.
"I'm a human being who has bills to pay, and you know how the economy is," the 29-year-old said in a YouTube video called "My Grandpa's Stuff."
"So, I don't really have shame in selling some of his stuff. I'm actually really happy that two of his fans are going to get to have a collection of some of his very personal items that were found in his office and in his desk that were there when he passed away. I think that's really special or sweet to be able to pass that on. And whoever wins is going to help me pay my bills, which I desperately need right now. I'm not afraid to admit that," he added.
According to The Christian Post, Broderson put Stanley's pocket watch up for $499.99 on eBay, while the signed portrait is going for $615. The portrait – which already has nine bids on it – also comes with coins from Stanley's coin collection. Broderson labeled the coins "bonus gifts."
Broderson's video was met with sharp criticism, with many accusing him of exploiting Stanley's death.
"I promise you, I have a bunch of my grandpa's stuff that you don't see that I'm going to keep and cherish and hold on to forever," Brodersen said in his defense. "Why not let my grandpa's fans have a chance at winning his items that were in his office, the very office that he was actually sleeping in when he passed away?"
As Christian Headlines previously reported, Brodersen recently shared how his late grandfather called him and encouraged him to seek God rather than commit suicide.
"He said, 'I don't want to talk to you very long on the phone. I just want to ask you one question. 'Why don't you give Jesus another try?'" Broderson recalled. "I don't remember exactly what happened after that, but it meant the world to me. I just started crying and crying and crying after that phone call, and I decided I didn't want to die."
Related:
Charles Stanley’s Grandson Shares How His Grandfather Saved Him from Suicide
Photo courtesy: ©Department of Defense/Sgt. Nancy Lugo/Public Domain
Video courtesy: ©FriendsWithMatt
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
