THE THREE MOST FRAUDULENT CHARITIES WILL HAVE AN APPEAL FOR CHILDREN, PEOPLE WITH CANCER and OUR FIRST RESPONDERS / SERVICE PERSONNEL
SOUND-A-LIKE NAMES ARE OFTEN CHOSEN
TOP TEN CORRUPT CHARITIES
and not just for humans .... so watch out for the appeal to animal lovers
many non-profit pet rescue shelters aren't charities at all
ONE ALSO NEEDS TO BEWARE OF FOUNDATIONS
Foundations are often used by past or present sports stars ...like ex-NBA sometimes great Kermit Washington
KERMIT WASHINGTON PLEADS GUILTY
There are many other celebrities that get involved in starting foundations these days where they play sport, are in the music or film industry, etc..... that you really need to research the foundation before giving to it... and let's not forget politicians
corrine brown foundation fraud
Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown at 70+ years of age was sent to prison with over $800,000 of fraud
feds investigating clinton foundation
Supposedly the FBI has been investigating the Clinton Foundation for several years now using at least some of their vast amount of personnel.
Meanwhile, just a few years ago ex-Wall Street analyst Charles Ortel who investigated insurance giant AIG and GENERAL ELECTRIC and found massive amounts of fraud in those businesses took it upon himself out of curiosity to look into the Clinton Foundation. It took him just 15 months to come to the conclusion it was the largest case of fraud he had ever seen, citing the many different avenues used to raise money
charles ortel the clinton foundation
You can find many long videos of Charles Ortel going into long explanations... but that is not my purpose here. I simply want to use this information to show that even people at the top of the political world should not be immune from YOUR SCRUTINY before sending them your money.
However, before passing judgment ...do your DUE DILLIGENCE remember that term when I head into my final group that could be filled with financial charlatans.
To due YOUR DUE DILIGENCE on ministries... you can turn to www.ministrywatch.com s well as what I have done here using YOU TUBE
To do YOUR DUE DILIGECE where charities are concerned...you have several sites including www.charitynavigator.com
I AM NOT TELLING ANYONE TO NT BE CHARITABLE WITH THEIR GIVING ...BUT I AM WARNING THEM THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR GIVINNG GOES TO GOOD CAUSES ..NOT PADDING SOMEONE BAMK ACCOUNT.. and I AM INCLUDING TV MINISTIRES OF ALL TYPES WHETHER THEY PREACH THE PROSPERITY GOSPELS OR NOT
ANYONE CAN CREATE A SLICK VIDEO APPEAL FOR IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN or PEOPLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS ETC.... BUT UNLESS THEY HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY MECHICISMS YOU'LL NEVER KNOW HOW YOUR MONEY IS USED.
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In this next section, being a struggling but growing Christian I found this most difficult area to discuss ... some of the reasons why is because it is such an important part of many people's lives around this country, and second I enjoy some of the ministry that comes from some of the TV ministers I am about to go after.... and not all of them are truly charlatans... just overly compensated servants of Jesus ... They've allowed money to corrupt them somewhat from their original purpose in my estimation
DID YOU KNOW ? The Bible has over 2000 references to money and over 100 of those refer to making sure you show responsibility and provider to your own family One such scripture is
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
.... as an insurance agent and a father, I take that to mean whether or not you are healthy or even after you die ( with a limited time period for continued provisions )
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ...no matter what faith you are and even if you are an atheist .. to read the scriptures for yourselves and to learn more about Jesus. Do not rely solely on someone else to tell you what they mean ... like with anything including everything else I have shown you in my business site .. other people can manipulate you and lead you astray. You can factor in what others try to teach you...but after all, it is your life and your family's lives at stake.
If you are looking to put the money you don't need for you and your family to good use .. look no further than your local churches (whether you attend them or not). Local churches often tend to be active in their local communities helping people. Local churches often are affiliated with missionaries that do work that helps people in other nations and in our own.
Most importantly, most local churches do not waste money on exorbitant salaries, and gaudy lifestyles.
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The facts are the PROSPERITY GOSPELS and SEED (as in MONEY) FAITH have only been around for a relatively short period of time ( about 70 years) and therefore more of a creation / interpretation of one or more modern men that today many more men and women are using to serve what I feel is themselves more so than Jesus. or their congregations..
HOWEVER, CORRUPTION in the Christian Church has been around for a long, long time. It did start with Evangelicals or the Prosperity Preachers. You need only to research the long history of the Catholic Church know that up to including present day..
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I am not criticizing the Christian faith or anyone that attends such churches. But, I am simply stating facts brought about by some Christian leaders over the years. Men and Women are flawed human beings. Money and Power are corrupting influences. Unfortunately, like a moth to a flame, many people are attracted to people who have money and power and are influenced by them. It can cost them / YOU dearly..
I am not a fan of any SIZED CHURCH or TV MINISTRY ...which do not practice what they preach... and that is not limited to just the Christian faith. or even to a charitable organization. I do believe that any place of faith that preaches love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ would do well to lead by example and not become a home of intolerance and cliques:
Today's TV Ministries often become nothing more than a little preaching, some entertaining wrapped around or followed by selling of products or asking for donations as if they are a weekly or even 247 telethon like Jimmy Swaggert's Ministry (Jimmy and his family criticize the Prosperity Preachers, but are they any better? I mean 24 / 7 of their ministry? Of course, there is one program called CAMP MEETING with David Cerillo and that A-HOLE as John Oliver called Mike Murdock. which shows the same program over and over and over again and has done so for years. Yet, apparently, like Peter Popoff who was once disgraced by a national expose on his corruption it must still work and bring in money..lots of it. BTW.. I wrote Petor Popoff over a year ago asking for my MIRACLE WATER. Never sent him a dime like Oliver did with Tilton...but since he sends prepaid envelops I would send him a short note asking for his help from time to time. His ministry continues to this day sending me small worthless items and asking for MY BEST FINANCIAL GIFT. Funny, until you think how many other people do send him something oR even more than just a little. Never once did I receive an answer to any questions I asked.
Speaking of TV magazine exposes. here's one from 1991 and ABC's Primetme
I believe that if you follow those 3 suggestions ...not only will you be part of a crusade to deter ministry financial charlatans, your money meant to help people WILL be better used for such a purpose.... and that includes those orphanages and drinking well problems you saw, TV MINISTRIES aren't the only ones that do good works abroad as well as preach the REAL GOSPELS.
When you pickup a phone ... call your local ministries and find out how they are helping others and what you can do to help too...besides just giving of your money., I am sure they are looking for people to volunteer to help others in your community. Also, if you need people to pray for you.... I am sure that they will have people do that as well, without asking for money and who may actually ask to come and sit and talk with you or even provide you some help you in person. Isn't that what Christ really wants? Matthew 18:20 Wherever two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.
ANYONE CAN CREATE A SLICK VIDEO APPEAL FOR IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN or PEOPLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS ETC.... BUT UNLESS THEY HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY MECHICISMS YOU'LL NEVER KNOW HOW YOUR MONEY IS USED.
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In this next section, being a struggling but growing Christian I found this most difficult area to discuss ... some of the reasons why is because it is such an important part of many people's lives around this country, and second I enjoy some of the ministry that comes from some of the TV ministers I am about to go after.... and not all of them are truly charlatans... just overly compensated servants of Jesus ... They've allowed money to corrupt them somewhat from their original purpose in my estimation
DID YOU KNOW ? The Bible has over 2000 references to money and over 100 of those refer to making sure you show responsibility and provider to your own family One such scripture is
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
.... as an insurance agent and a father, I take that to mean whether or not you are healthy or even after you die ( with a limited time period for continued provisions )
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ...no matter what faith you are and even if you are an atheist .. to read the scriptures for yourselves and to learn more about Jesus. Do not rely solely on someone else to tell you what they mean ... like with anything including everything else I have shown you in my business site .. other people can manipulate you and lead you astray. You can factor in what others try to teach you...but after all, it is your life and your family's lives at stake.
If you are looking to put the money you don't need for you and your family to good use .. look no further than your local churches (whether you attend them or not). Local churches often tend to be active in their local communities helping people. Local churches often are affiliated with missionaries that do work that helps people in other nations and in our own.
Most importantly, most local churches do not waste money on exorbitant salaries, and gaudy lifestyles.
Interpretation of The Scriptures
I've been known to make some analogies, people don't often agree with ... Here's one for your consideration... All attorneys and judges end up studying the same laws ..yet how they interpret them after they pass the determines how they use them.
Scriptures in any Holy Book and interpreted differently by those who study the scriptures and then are put in a position of leading others. In some instances, in both situations those interpretations are construed differently from their original purpose by the writer.
That is why I encourage everyone of all faiths to read the scripture they follow and try not to be influenced by anyone else to come to your own conclusions and then follow that path you think is best,
PROSPERITY PREACHERS
TV MINISTRIES
AND MEGA CHURCHES
I ASK THAT YOU NEVER JUDGE CHRIST by anything other than what is written about Him by people who knew Him best....and not by the interpretation of other men and women who may indeed have an ulterior motive or were taught by others who had ulterior motives or just handed along their beliefs to others.
TV MINISTRIES
AND MEGA CHURCHES
This is a very touchy subject...but please do not dismiss me if you believe in the prosperity gospels and thus give your money to the prosperity preachers, give to a TV ministry or attend and give to a Mega Church. This section is NOT about Christianity.. It is about your money and your family's financial security.
What bothers me and has for decades is how some church leaders can live a life of luxury at the expense of their followers.MEGA CHURCHES and TV MINISTRIES , might preach the gospels as many have done for centuries,,, but the more money needed to feed ministry will still result in misuse of funds including bloated salaries They become in part like what is wrong with the government
I did some research... Here are parts of two articles related to the Congregation's responsibility to THEIR SENIOR PASTOR .. In any ministry, the senior pastor should be the highest compensated from the congregation's offerings... but should not be overly compensated..
{consider that a TV ministry that reaches out across America would have a congregation that included an abundance of senior citizens ... which would significantly lower the average income ...but in America where the typical working American in 2016 earned $30,000 a year (half more and half less) where the median household income in 2018 under President Trump has jumped to $61,000* .... whereas in 2016, it was $57,000+
However, 'most' ministries whether they are on TV or not. Whether they are in a small church or a mega church or not, Whether they teach the prosperity gospels or not... The average wage earner in any congregation taking into account seniors on limited income is not going to be on average no more than $35,000 per person. Why? All you have to do is look at the makeup of any church ...understand the statistics of what seniors(seniors usually do comprise a significant portion of any congregation) earn on average and how much on average they have in savings multiplied by the interest they earn off of that and I don't if 20% of your congregation is in the top 10% of all wage earners ...seniors will drive down the overall average. In 2016 to qualify for the top 1% of all wage earners, one needed $ 250,000 of annual income for the top 5% $130,000 and the top 10% $90,000
* Please remember household incomes takes into account all wage earners in a home. Not just one
Bible Answer
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN I believe Christ wants you and me successful in our endeavors unless what we do is unethical....
ARE YOU RISKING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE BECAUSE YOUR CHURCH LEADER IS USING GUILT IN ORDER TO GET YOU TO TITHE MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD ...OR BECAUSE YOU THINK GOD WILL REWARD YOU AND YOUR FAMILY (With Wealth and Good Health) .....then you need to read the NEW TESTAMENT without anyone else's influence that could possibly misguide you.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Here is an article written by David W. Jones I copied from Google. Who is Mr. Jones?
David W. Jones is professor of Christian ethics and Associate Dean for Graduate Program Administration, and director of the Th.M. program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He is co-author of several books, including Health, Wealth & Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ? (Kregel, 2010)
I did some research... Here are parts of two articles related to the Congregation's responsibility to THEIR SENIOR PASTOR .. In any ministry, the senior pastor should be the highest compensated from the congregation's offerings... but should not be overly compensated..
The Church’s Responsibility to Its Pastor
Salary and Wages
Matthew 10:10 says, “The worker is worthy of his support.” The Bible makes it clear that people who sow into people’s lives spiritual things should be able to do so in hope of reaping material rewards (1 Corinthians 9:6-14, Romans 15:26-27). People in the ministry face pressure in spiritual and natural realms most can never comprehend. The last thing they need is the financial burden of figuring out how they’re going to survive.
Pastors should make as much as any professional in the church or community. Paul said, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). It’s clear from the context that “double honor” is referring to money or salary. If you take the average salary of the congregation, the pastor who works hard at preaching and teaching should make twice that. Churches that have a small budget should at least try to pay the pastor the average salary of the congregation.
However, 'most' ministries whether they are on TV or not. Whether they are in a small church or a mega church or not, Whether they teach the prosperity gospels or not... The average wage earner in any congregation taking into account seniors on limited income is not going to be on average no more than $35,000 per person. Why? All you have to do is look at the makeup of any church ...understand the statistics of what seniors(seniors usually do comprise a significant portion of any congregation) earn on average and how much on average they have in savings multiplied by the interest they earn off of that and I don't if 20% of your congregation is in the top 10% of all wage earners ...seniors will drive down the overall average. In 2016 to qualify for the top 1% of all wage earners, one needed $ 250,000 of annual income for the top 5% $130,000 and the top 10% $90,000
* Please remember household incomes takes into account all wage earners in a home. Not just one
Ministry Expenses
Pastors should not have to take money out of their personal finances to do their job properly. Any expenses they need to minister effectively should be reimbursed over and above their salary. Below are a few types of ministry expenses that can be reimbursed.
- Auto expenses. If the church isn’t able to provide a car for the pastor, along with the expenses to operate the car, it should reimburse his mileage. The IRS has a set amount that’s allotted per mile. Your pastor should receive at least that amount.
- Conference expenses. There are usually one or two conferences per year in most denominations and fellowships. The pastor and his wife should attend these for their personal enrichment, to rekindle vision, for training, and accountability. This is an expense the church or ministry should take care of. If the church doesn’t have a credit card, receipts should be kept and everything that isn’t prepaid should be reimbursed.
- Housing. The IRS says pastors can receive a housing allowance above their salary that is nontaxable. The only thing that must be paid on it is social security or self employment tax, unless they have been exempt from social security. The church or ministry should cover the pastor’s housing expenses above their salary. An accountant should be consulted to fully utilize this benefit.
- Insurance. Insurance should be provided for pastors like any other professional. Many pastors and their families have suffered immense hardship and financial strain because they didn’t have health care. The church should do its best to provide comprehensive health care for their pastor. Also, the pastor’s family must be taken care of if unexpected tragedy strikes. God will bless the church and people who take care of the person God has given to shepherd them. The church should provide a term or universal life insurance policy on both the pastor and his wife. Make sure the value is sufficient to take care of the family in case of an untimely death.
- Retirement. A retirement plan like a 401K, IRA or insurance policy should be taken out in the pastor’s name. Some churches put retirement plans in the church’s name and the pastor is eventually left with nothing. This should never happen (*but just a reminder from me Glenn ...this is not a opportunity as some businesses do to stuff the pockets of a few to avoid taxation... it should be a reasonable amount by the standards of what an average worker would receive)
This second article is from a site called
What is the church’s responsibility in caring for a pastor?
Bible Answer
By pastor, I have assumed that you mean the senior pastor. This is important since God wants each church to be governed by a plurality of elders – more than one man! The man who has been selected as the senior pastor is the elder who has the responsibility to preach on Sunday morning. A church should care for its senior pastor in four ways: financial support, accountability, respect, and submission of the congregation to the Word of God.
Financial Support
A church should care for its senior pastor financially. Jesus set the example by accepting financial support from people during His ministry. Doctor Luke records the following for us in his gospel.
. . . and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means. (NASB) Luke 8:2-3
And on one occasion the Apostle Paul willing received financial support and indicated that God was well-pleased with such a gift. And on another occasion he encouraged people to give.
But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. (NASB) Phil. 4:18Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? (NASB) 1 Cor. 9:10-11
Financial support should include a regular salary and benefits. In some churches the benefits include medical expenses, a book allowance, sometimes education, retirement, and even a life insurance policy. The Bible never tells us which ones to include. But a pastor should be paid close to the average salary of those in his congregation. In some churches, the senior pastor is paid very large amounts of money. While the Bible does not condemn this, it is hard to justify very large amounts when those who give to the church make less. The church is not a business. This statement is contrary to the modern view in some churches. But God is not interested in His church being run as a business. A business is interested in how many people come, how much money they receive, the latest program, and new ideas. God is interested in the depth of the ministry and not how many attend the church. God wants our focus on spiritual growth and holiness and not on money or numbers. God is interested in the work of His Spirit rather than new programs that discount the work of the Spirit.
Accountability
Accountability among church leaders is also important. There are some senior pastors who are not accountable to anyone – even to the other elders. The pastor is in control. In God’s model of the local church all the leaders are accountable to one another. They are accountable for their attitudes, their spiritual lives, and their conduct. How can a church care for its pastor? Another part of the answer is by holding him accountable for his actions and life. He is not above everyone. He is not more sacred. He is a redeemed sinner just like everyone else in the church. Here is a wonderful quote from Gene Getz, pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Plano, Texas.
People tend to extol human leaders, to put them on a pedestal, and – to make this item very personal and relevant – in a sense to become ‘pastor-worshippers.’ Most Christians would be horrified at this accusation. But, unfortunately, it cannot be denied. Every Christian leader must constantly strive to keep his people from becoming overly dependent upon him. He must strive to ‘equip the saints’ to minister to each other and to keep their primary loyalty centered on Christ. Unfortunately Christian leaders are human beings. To be honored and respected – both biblical injunctions – is highly satisfying psychologically. Ego-building is a pleasant experience. And it is tragic when spiritual and emotional immaturity causes a man to build a work around himself and not around the body of Christ, and particularly its Head – Jesus Christ. The work is destined for trouble, no matter how large it grows.
. . . multiple leadership in the church is a New Testament principle. The ‘one man’ ministry is a violation of this important guideline. The scriptures frequently stress the ‘mutuality of the ministry.’ No local church in the New Testament was ruled and managed by one person. Plurality of elders appears as the norm.
This also means that the minister or pastor as we conceive of him in many churches today is not ‘head of the church’ or the ‘president of the corporation.’ . . . Their flock, conditioned to such an approach, either dutifully attend each service and activity of the church and say ‘amen!’ or they react against such unbiblical approaches and leave the church to find a more pleasant pasture in which to graze. – Getz, G. A., Sharpening The Focus of the Church, Moody Press., 1974. pp. 120-121
God has also commanded the church to discipline any leader who sins, including the senior pastor.
Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning. (NASB) 1 Tim. 5:19-20
While God never intended for any leader to be “beyond reproach,” He also does not want us to be finding fault with every flaw. We all have flaws; but when we consistently sin in a certain area, then each one of us needs help. God is more concerned about our holiness than our comfort.
Conclusion:
How shall we care for our senior pastor? Hold him accountable for his actions, pay him the average wage of the congregation, lovingly respect him for his ministry of the Word of God, and submit to the teaching of the Word if you determine that he has spoken the truth. We can thank God for the faithful men who teach His Word each week. May God be honored.
Personally: Is a TV pastor a businessman / personality or are they a person of God following scriptures concerning their pay ? How about pastors not on TV? How much does your church leader make.... if you think they are worth once or twice the average income of their congregation ...does their salary confine to that amount?
Only you can decide what your church leader (s) make is appropriate...but remember both of these articles use scripture to make their point FOR THE SENIOR PASTOR . I would guess most MINISTRIES I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET exceed both of these references..as I assume would associate pastors and other church leaders may as well.
THE MONEY CHANGERS Jesus threw out of the temple seemed to have found a way into too many so called ministries these days...and it effects the value of your tithe and what it could be doing if given to a more financially responsible church
MOST LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES ARE RUN MORE ON THE ORDER OF A JESUS MINISTRY and NOT A CORPORATE BUSINESS..LIKE A MEGA CHURCH OR TV MINISTRY.
Only you can decide what your church leader (s) make is appropriate...but remember both of these articles use scripture to make their point FOR THE SENIOR PASTOR . I would guess most MINISTRIES I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET exceed both of these references..as I assume would associate pastors and other church leaders may as well.
THE MONEY CHANGERS Jesus threw out of the temple seemed to have found a way into too many so called ministries these days...and it effects the value of your tithe and what it could be doing if given to a more financially responsible church
MOST LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES ARE RUN MORE ON THE ORDER OF A JESUS MINISTRY and NOT A CORPORATE BUSINESS..LIKE A MEGA CHURCH OR TV MINISTRY.
NOW... I DO NOT SEE IN EITHER ARTICLE WHERE THE BIBLE SAYS THEY WANT PASTORS TO BE RICH ...DO YOU? I DO NOT SEE WHERE IT IS THE CHURCH'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE A LIFE OF LUXURY RELATED TO A PASTOR'S HOUSING OR THEIR POSSESSES OR BY ACCESS TO A CHURCH'S POSSESSIONS?
SHOULD A CHURCH /MINISTRY OWN A LARGE HOME / MANSION TO HOUSE THEIR SENIOR PASTOR? I would say the answer is no, and therefore it only goes to reason, I would think that any ministry who has one or more such homes , airplanes etc and provides a large allowance for travel , clothing and other things would be going against the teachings of the Bible...but what do you think? Because, if you agree with me then why would you ever give to a ministry that allows for this to occur?IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN I believe Christ wants you and me successful in our endeavors unless what we do is unethical....
ARE YOU RISKING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE BECAUSE YOUR CHURCH LEADER IS USING GUILT IN ORDER TO GET YOU TO TITHE MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD ...OR BECAUSE YOU THINK GOD WILL REWARD YOU AND YOUR FAMILY (With Wealth and Good Health) .....then you need to read the NEW TESTAMENT without anyone else's influence that could possibly misguide you.
Any business needs enough money to pay the bills to survive....just as we need adequate money to pay our bills. When what we currently do for income doesn't meet out needs,,, we may go to our bosses and ask for them to pay us more money .... they may not want to do that or they may not actually be able to afford to give us a raise........so we have a few alternatives.... reduce our expenses, work a 2nd job or change employment, Christ did not give us any set standard on how much to tithe (at least that is my understanding) read your Bible and /or watch DID THE APOSTLES COLLECT TITHES Christ did often talk about both money and false apostles.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Here is an article written by David W. Jones I copied from Google. Who is Mr. Jones?
David W. Jones is professor of Christian ethics and Associate Dean for Graduate Program Administration, and director of the Th.M. program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He is co-author of several books, including Health, Wealth & Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ? (Kregel, 2010)
.... 5 ERRORS of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Editors’ note: Previously: “Prosperity Gospel Born in the USA” (Russell Woodbridge) The following is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in the 9Marks Journal on the prosperity gospel.
More than a century ago, speaking to the then-largest congregation in all Christendom, Charles Spurgeon said, “I believe that it is anti-Christian and unholy for any Christian to live with the object of accumulating wealth. You will say, ‘Are we not to strive all we can to get all the money we can?’ You may do so. I cannot doubt but what, in so doing, you may do service to the cause of God. But what I said was that to live with the object of accumulating wealth is anti-Christian.”
Over the years, however, the message being preached in some of the largest churches in the world has changed—indeed, a new gospel is being taught to many congregations today. This message has been ascribed many name, such as the “name it and claim it” gospel, the “blab it and grab it” gospel, the “health and wealth” gospel, the “prosperity gospel,” and “positive confession theology.”
No matter what name is used, the essence of this message is the same. Simply put, this “prosperity gospel” teaches that God wants believers to be physically healthy, materially wealthy, and personally happy. Listen to the words of Robert Tilton, one of its best-known spokesmen: “I believe that it is the will of God for all to prosper because I see it in the Word, not because it has worked mightily for someone else. I do not put my eyes on men, but on God who gives me the power to get wealth.” Teachers of the prosperity gospel encourage their followers to pray for and even demand material flourishing from God.
Five Theological Errors
Russell Woodbridge and I wrote a book titled Health, Wealth, and Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ? (Kregel, 2010) to examine the claims of prosperity gospel advocates. While the book is too wide-ranging to summarize here, in this article I’d like to review five doctrines we cover in it—doctrines on which prosperity gospel advocates err. By discerning these errors regarding key doctrines, I hope you will plainly see the dangers of the prosperity gospel.
1. The Abrahamic covenant is a means to material entitlement.
The Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12, 15, 17, 22) is one of the theological bases of the prosperity gospel. It’s good that prosperity theologians recognize much of Scripture is the record of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, but it’s bad that they don’t maintain an orthodox view of this covenant. They incorrectly view the inception of the covenant; more significantly, they erroneously view the application of the covenant.
In his book Spreading the Flame (Zondervan, 1992), Edward Pousson stated the prosperity view on the application of the Abrahamic covenant: “Christians are Abraham’s spiritual children and heirs to the blessings of faith. . . . This Abrahamic inheritance is unpacked primarily in terms of material entitlements.” In other words, the prosperity gospel teaches that the primary purpose of the Abrahamic covenant was for God to bless Abraham materially. Since believers are now Abraham’s spiritual children, we have inherited these financial blessings. As Kenneth Copeland wrote in his 1974 book The Laws of Prosperity, “Since God’s covenant has been established and prosperity is a provision of this covenant, you need to realize that prosperity belongs to you now!”
To support this claim, prosperity teachers appeal to Galatians 3:14, which refers to “the blessings of Abraham [that] come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.” It’s interesting, however, that in their appeals to Galatians 3:14 these teachers ignore the second half of the verse: “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Paul is clearly reminding the Galatians of the spiritual blessing of salvation, not the material blessing of wealth.
2. Jesus’s atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty.
In his Bibliotheca Sacra article “A Theological Evaluation of the Prosperity Gospel,” theologian Ken Sarles observes how the prosperity gospel claims that “both physical healing and financial prosperity have been provided for in the atonement.” This seems to be an accurate observation in light of Copeland’s statement that “the basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief, and poverty on Jesus at Calvary.” This misunderstanding of the scope of the atonement stems from two errors prosperity gospel proponents make.
First, many who espouse prosperity theology have a fundamental misconception of the life of Jesus. For example, teacher John Avanzini proclaimed on a TBN program, Jesus had “a nice house,” “a big house,” “Jesus was handling big money,” and he even “wore designer clothes.” It’s easy to see how such a warped view of the life of Christ could lead to an equally warped misconception of the death of Christ.
A second error that leads to a faulty view of the atonement is misinterpreting 2 Corinthians 8:9, which reads, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.” While a shallow reading of this verse may lead one to believe Paul was teaching about an increase in material wealth, a contextual reading reveals he was actually teaching the exact opposite principle. Indeed, Paul was teaching the Corinthians that since Christ accomplished so much for them through the atonement, they should empty themselves of their riches in service of the Savior. This is why just five short verses later Paul would urge the Corinthians to give their wealth away to their needy brothers, writing “that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack” (2 Cor. 8:14).
3. Christians give in order to gain material compensation from God.
One of the most striking characteristics of the prosperity theologians is their seeming fixation on the act of giving. We are urged to give generously and are confronted with pious statements like, “True prosperity is the ability to use God’s power to meet the needs of mankind in any realm of life” and, “We have been called to finance the gospel to the world.” While such statements may appear praiseworthy, this emphasis on giving is built on motives that are anything but philanthropic. The driving force behind this teaching on giving is what prosperity teacher Robert Tilton referred to as the “Law of Compensation.” According to this law—purportedly based on Mark 10:30—Christians should give generously to others because when they do, God gives back more in return. This, in turn, leads to a cycle of ever-increasing prosperity.
As Gloria Copeland put it in her 2012 book, God’s Will is Prosperity, “Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000. . . . In short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal.” It’s evident, then, that the prosperity gospel’s doctrine of giving is built on faulty motives. Whereas Jesus taught his disciples to “give, hoping for nothing in return” (Luke 10:35), prosperity theologians teach their disciples to give because they will get a great return.
4. Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity.
Whereas orthodox Christianity understands faith to be trust in the person of Jesus Christ, prosperity teachers espouse something quite different. “Faith is a spiritual force, a spiritual energy, a spiritual power. It is this force of faith which makes the laws of the spirit world function,” Copeland writes in The Laws of Prosperity. “There are certain laws governing prosperity revealed in God’s Word. Faith causes them to function.” This is obviously a faulty, perhaps even heretical, understanding of faith.
According to prosperity theology, faith is not a God-granted, God-centered act of the will. Rather, it is a humanly wrought spiritual force, directed at God. Indeed, any theology that views faith chiefly as a means to material gain rather than justification before God must be judged inadequate at best.
5. Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity.
Prosperity gospel preachers often note we “have not because we ask not” (James 4:2). They encourage us to pray for personal success in all areas of life. As Creflo Dollar writes, “When we pray, believing that we have already received what we are praying, God has no choice but to make our prayers come to pass. . . . It is a key to getting results as a Christian.”
Prayers for personal blessing aren’t inherently wrong, of course, but the prosperity gospel’s overemphasis on man turns prayer into a tool believers can use to force God to grant their desires. Within prosperity theology, man—not God—becomes the focal point of prayer. Curiously, prosperity preachers often ignore the second half of James’s teaching on prayer: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James. 4:3). God does not answer selfish requests that do not honor his name.
Certainly all our requests should be made known to God (e.g., Phil. 4:6), but the prosperity gospel focuses so much on man’s desires that it may lead people to pray selfish, shallow, superficial prayers that don’t bring God glory. Further, when coupled with the prosperity doctrine of faith, this teaching may lead people to attempt to manipulate God to get what they want—a futile task. This is far removed from praying “Your will be done.”
False Gospel
In light of Scripture, the prosperity gospel is fundamentally flawed. At bottom, it is a false gospel because of its faulty view of the relationship between God and man. Simply put, if the prosperity gospel is true, grace is obsolete, God is irrelevant, and man is the measure of all things. Whether they’re talking about the Abrahamic covenant, the atonement, giving, faith, or prayer, prosperity teachers turn the relationship between God and man into a quid pro quo transaction. As James Goff noted in a 1990 Christianity Today article, God is “reduced to a kind of ‘cosmic bellhop’ attending to the needs and desires of his creation.”
A lot of pastors have become extremely wealthy preaching these prosperity gospels..often at the expense of people who can afford to give as much as they do to the these pastor's church in the hopes that they too will see greater wealth and better health. But what did Jesus say about tithing? I found this next video interesting on several levels
Jesus Doesn't Want You To Tithe
Even many pastors who do not preach the Prosperity Gospels seem to refer to that 10% amount from the OLD TESTAMENT when speaking about tithing.. One has to wonder. WHY IS THAT?
Trying to choose which FINANCIAL CHARLATAN . PROSPERITY PREACHER video to use isn't easy... but I have chosen these two charlatans to start
$58 Seed
What slime balls ... They (Mike Murdock and David Curillo) have run this same show every day on ION TV for years where I live Mike says he wants 300 people to commit to a $58.month financial seed for a year because God spoke to him and said he would bless these people......Do the math.. 300 x $58 x 12 montha = $208,800 he and Curillo are asking for 365 days a year for a total of $76. 2 Million.iif they got their plea everyday..and then Murdock says "I am not asking for this so I can personally profit. If I am may God stick the tongue to the roof of my mouth so I can not speak."
and this one because in a way ...it represents more than just a prosperity preacher, it represents the guilt and this guy pressure many churchgoers are put under that led my father to take his family out of church and impacted me that his children ended up staying away from church except occasionally for many decades. Please, feel free to be angry at anyone who would put you under any type of similar sales pressure just to line their own pockets. I know this happens in the financial services industry, the auto industry and many others ...when they want to shame you into a BUY decision right now. Please note, this preacher references OLD TESTAMENT when talking about tithing ...not only that....his growing wealth depends on the generosity of others...so of course, his viewpoint is tainted to say the least.
If you Can't Tithe Don't Come Back
A good effective speaker can lead many people almost anywhere, especially if their audience is desperate for help. SAY WOW ! What if he is half wrong?. Barack Obama was and is still a very good speaker "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor" as he sold America the most expensive health care insurance ever..One I might add Nancy Pelosi didn;t even want Congress to read before voting on it (DO YOUR RESEARCH) and " Manufacturing jobs are never coming back to America" (his excuse for so many jobs lost overseas or to our south and his averaging only 6,000 full-time jobs added per month during his entire presidency) Yes, I know I provide unusual analogies, but yet Ramsey has gotten millions of people to pay for his drivel of the obvious (pay more than the monthly minimum on your debt and you reduce debt faster .... but avoid what he did to have it all go away suddenly using bankruptcy), provide half-truths, and false impressions on acaual investment growth and Obama got elected by a nation twice with his schtick even as it caused America to sink ever closer to economic collapse, socialism and globalization...
I don't want to blur the message...let me just remind you with Jesus there was no set minimum percentage of income or even any requirement to tithe.Hold on church leaders... there are bills to pay and the senior pastor should be paid a decent wage representative of their congregation, I am not saying do not support the good deeds of a church..or provide for a decent living for the senior pastor.
Some pastors will use NEW TESTAMENT references to pressure you like Luke 5:38
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." ~Luke 6:38
Here is how one former WORD OF FAITH / PROSPERITY PREACHER explained it,
Having worked at a Word of Faith church in the television ministry for several years, I've heard numerous pastors, evangelists and church leaders use Luke 6:38 for anything related to sowing and reaping. Do you need to convince your congregation that God will bless them if they tithe? Do you want more people to give into your latest growth project or your evangelistic outreach? Well, Luke 6:38 applies to all things related to sowing and reaping, right? After all, it's one of the Laws of Reciprocity! You get what you give! You reap what you sow!
The problem with that type of relaxed view of Scripture is that not only is Jesus not talking about material giving in this passage, but we are cheapening the meaning and value of what Jesus is saying by taking it out of context.
Just take a look at the passages that surround verse 38.
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."
Let's consider how incredibly deep this verse is in its proper context. If we totally deleted verse 38 from this passage, there would be no question that Jesus is talking about forgiving others. He says, "be merciful… don't judge… don't condemn… forgive" which is basically like saying the same thing over and over again. Then he drops the verb "give." Is he, out of nowhere, suddenly talking about money or material things in this conversation?
No. Jesus is instructing those who follow Him to "give" forgiveness and an uncondemning attitude in the same amount we desire to be forgiven. We are to be as merciful as God is to us while judging, condemning and forgiving others in the same way we desire to be judged, condemned and forgiven by God.
It's freeing to know that God wants to give me more forgiveness than I can handle. How can you and I focus on "giving" forgiveness to those around us in a way that is pleasing to Him?
You often hear about SOWING A SEED referred to as giving money to a ministry
Luke 8:5-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
DO YOU THINK JESUS WOULD SAY YOU ARE SOWING INTO FERTILE GROUND IF YOU GIVE MONEY TO A MINISTRY ....WHERE THE CHURCH LEADERS LIVE VERY WELL AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE IN A CONGREGATION INCLUDING THOSE SHUT-INS WATCHING ON TV?
If you do, then continue to do so ... Obviously it doesn't bother those who follow Copeland or one of the many others who preach the Prosperity gospels. But if you think church leaders should live more representatives of the people they say they are their flock then you shouldn't tithe there
Putting aside the Prosperity Preachers who preach a false gospel by all accounts of real theologians.. let's take a look at just two other TV Pastors ... Pat Robertson age 87 as I write this according to Google had a 2017- 2018 had a salary and earnings of $100 million and a net worth between $200 million and $1 Billion...... Seems he could have lived very well off his net worth for many years... and how much of his income and other earnings could be used to benefit others. Why support him or his son Gordon $50 million net worth by donating to the 700 club.
David Jeremiah Net worth about $ 100 Million or more draws a salary at age 76 as of this writing of $1.5 Million a year according to Google.
How representative is either of these or in fact any TV Minister of the people that send them money because they 'think' and have often be 'manipulated' to believe this is what Christ would want them to do.
Jeremiah and the Stanley's (Charles and Andy) are better than many... but still hardly representative of the people that support them. The Stanley's financial information couldn't even be accessed with a Google. Of the all four mentioned here... only Andy's program does not include any sales pitch for books or trinkets
Speaking of books and trinket but no Prosperity Gospels ... Back in the 1980's Jimmy Swaggart's ministry was making $150 million a year. These days his ministry which includes his wife, his son Donnie and his grandson Gabriel are on 24/7 .. All Google would say is that Jimmy's Net Worth is only $1.5 Million but as any rich person will tell you if you shelter your money you can do amazing things.to make yourself look less rich... I have a millionaire friend who is currently receiving Medicaid.coverage, while he travels the world.
Donnie supposedly makes a salary of $370,000 but once again.... what does the ministry own that he uses (cars, homes, etc,) Gabriel's income like the Stanleys' was hidden.
and if you get them on TV you know it is part worship, a lot of singing, plenty of selling like a Home Shopping Channel for Christians and a lot of a Christian version of a Jerry Lewis Telethon to raise money.
WOULD JESUS WEAR A ROLEX RAY STEVENS
It is obvious what I think, but only you if you are a true Believer will stand before God and have to account for your actions ....same as me who rarely gives to churches because I so rarely attend services for most of the last three decades except around holidays.. BUT, my conscious and my desire to serve both people with their finances and to serve this fellow Jesus Christ who I have only just started to get to know better has led me to stick my neck out and risk irritating a lot of people from financial gurus, to mutual fund salespeople to insurance people to Christians,
I'll say the following until the day I die "Give what you can afford to a church or to a charity as long as you first make sure you have provided for your family /// and if you are giving to a ministry... or a charity ... you need to understand how your money is used and just how many people are being helped. We hate to see our tax dollars used without accountability why would we not want good use of our charitable dollars. If you don't care how they are used,... then please send me money so I can lead a nice lifestyle and I will provide a good message, maybe even traveling around the globe to do so and I will do the occasional charitable act. If you send me enough money, I will even hire and pay a few people to do those charitable acts for /with me or get to work for me as a volunteer.
BEING A NUMBERS GUY... I try to look at all areas that people spend their money and make them at least think if what they are spending money on is necessary, In this area, I am not saying do not support your local ministry. I am only saying do not forget to look at how it effects you and your family's your overall financial security.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
If you and / or your spouse were significantly injured or ill or died... how would this effect members of your household? Can you rearrange your finances to make sure your family is provided for without dipping into your giving or do you need to look at that area of your finances as well? If you are a Christian, remember there is no requirement from Jesus on how much to give in tithes.
My ex-mother- in-law was Catholic and her brother rose to be a monsignor, When I tried to discuss the Bible one day she told me she never read the Bible on her own because she said that was not what the priests wanted anyone to do. I took her at her word and the man in the video above seems to confirm that, I see it as a reason, not to be careful about basing your religious beliefs based on other people's teachings... and to encourage you to read the scriptures and determine for yourself.
Have you read the scriptures on your own,,,, or are your faith beliefs based only on your parents or from someone else? Much as what happens in politics?
ON YOU TUBE.Ex-Mormon Gives Most Incredible Testimony ...You will hear the story of one young man who intermingled with people of other Christian faiths and left his Mormon church and then just by having his family read the scriptures and listen to a new set of Christian beliefs eventually led them to leave the MORMON CHURCH as well.
I am no Biblical expert, and although I consider myself a Christian, I don't see myself as some righteous Christian. In fact I often refer to myself as not one of God's greatest works because I am a flawed person who is just trying to do some good in the world. So, let's hear some more words from Jesus (Movie Style) about Wealth and other things ...and then go watch a Prosperity Preacher on a video...... take note of those who sell ( and it is SELL) Special Bibles, or books almost on a monthly basis or some other trinket.... or encourage you to send in your best gift (money) with your prayer requests.//or ask you to support their missionary projects or other projects ...that you will never be able to verify where the money actually goes.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Your family finances could be better off and your day of judgment may come out better as well. I am not saying don;t listen to a church leader only listen more to your own interpretation of what you read and related to the overall benefit of you and your family.
Here's a more more humorous look at the Prosperity Preachers
Televanglists: Last Week Tonight John Oliver
Here's another article you can find with a GOOGLE concerning SEED FAITH
In the 1970's, television evangelist and United Methodist preacher Oral Roberts pioneered a principle he called "seed faith." It uses the familiar concept of planting (sowing) and harvesting (reaping), coupled with misapplied and misinterpreted Scriptures, in order to encourage financial support toward a particular Christian ministry (in this case, his own!). This seed teaching, adopted by some Charismatic Protestant ministries, helped give birth to the greater Word of Faith movement.
The logic of this belief is deceptively simple. It is taught that giving money to a religious cause is like planting a seed towards God. Those who contribute will receive blessings from the Eternal in direct proportion to the amount of money they give (or 'sow'). Those who give only a small amount of support can expect to receive only a small blessing. Those who contribute or pledge to give as much as they can (even beyond what they can afford), however, can expect an abundant blessing from the Lord.
The appeal of the seed faith teaching, according to the book "Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion," is "with those who feel disenfranchised from the system of prosperity which many in the Western world enjoy" (pages 190 - 191).
One major false assumption of seed faith revolves around the idea that the Bible promises prosperity and health in this life if only the right "key" or "formula" is utilized. Although Scripture promises prosperity (Revelation 21:7) and healing (verse 4) in the resurrection, no such guarantee exists for this life. In fact, there are times when it is God's WILL that a believer suffer for his sake (1Peter 3:14, 17, 4:16, 19). (end)
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The facts are the PROSPERITY GOSPELS and SEED (as in MONEY) FAITH have only been around for a relatively short period of time ( about 70 years) and therefore more of a creation / interpretation of one or more modern men that today many more men and women are using to serve what I feel is themselves more so than Jesus. or their congregations..
HOWEVER, CORRUPTION in the Christian Church has been around for a long, long time. It did start with Evangelicals or the Prosperity Preachers. You need only to research the long history of the Catholic Church know that up to including present day..
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I am not criticizing the Christian faith or anyone that attends such churches. But, I am simply stating facts brought about by some Christian leaders over the years. Men and Women are flawed human beings. Money and Power are corrupting influences. Unfortunately, like a moth to a flame, many people are attracted to people who have money and power and are influenced by them. It can cost them / YOU dearly..
I am not a fan of any SIZED CHURCH or TV MINISTRY ...which do not practice what they preach... and that is not limited to just the Christian faith. or even to a charitable organization. I do believe that any place of faith that preaches love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ would do well to lead by example and not become a home of intolerance and cliques:
Pastor Acting Homeless Tests The Hearts
Today's TV Ministries often become nothing more than a little preaching, some entertaining wrapped around or followed by selling of products or asking for donations as if they are a weekly or even 247 telethon like Jimmy Swaggert's Ministry (Jimmy and his family criticize the Prosperity Preachers, but are they any better? I mean 24 / 7 of their ministry? Of course, there is one program called CAMP MEETING with David Cerillo and that A-HOLE as John Oliver called Mike Murdock. which shows the same program over and over and over again and has done so for years. Yet, apparently, like Peter Popoff who was once disgraced by a national expose on his corruption it must still work and bring in money..lots of it. BTW.. I wrote Petor Popoff over a year ago asking for my MIRACLE WATER. Never sent him a dime like Oliver did with Tilton...but since he sends prepaid envelops I would send him a short note asking for his help from time to time. His ministry continues to this day sending me small worthless items and asking for MY BEST FINANCIAL GIFT. Funny, until you think how many other people do send him something oR even more than just a little. Never once did I receive an answer to any questions I asked.
Speaking of TV magazine exposes. here's one from 1991 and ABC's Primetme
My Hope is that by exposing FINANCIAL CHARLATANS (of course that is only my opinion unless you agree is to prevent people from making financial decisions that are not only harmful to you and your family's financial security but prevents these type of people from getting any richer at THE EXPENSE of those who are gullible, desperate or influenced by greed.
GULLIBILITY
You just saw how some ministries use poverty and children to raise money that goes mainly for hose at the top of the pyramid with very little going to those the money was intended for. In fact, the same thing can be said of those charities and foundations I showed you, Here's another TV Ministry... The James Robison and family Ministry which has been criticized but still remains on TV.. A good message, a littl good work and a whole lot of money for those at the top. GOOGLE: BEWARE OF JAMES ROBISON MINISTRY
Water For Life 5,000 Wells
0:
and here is something one just has to see to believe concerning gullibility
YOU CALL THIS THE GOSPEL
Creflo Dollar Tithe or Die ...3
That's right a good manipulator can rail against and then turn the tables and manipulate you using half truths and lies
Today with modern technology, it is quite easy to manipulate people. SORRY TO LEAVE YOU HANGING... Here's the next part of the video
WHETHER it's my financial site or my political site... all I try to do is present FACTS IN EVIDENCE ...known as truth... In this site, I do appeal to you understanding the facts in evidence concerning health statistics, concerning average annual returns experienced by average mutual investors, concerning government programs like Social Security Income, Social Security Disability Income, Medicare and Medicaid, As for your employer benefits .... like a traditional defined benefit program... if you have one... I can only tell you what the trend is as a whole and that like Social Security and Medicare ..promises get broken. FACTS IN EVIDENCE (TELLING THE TRUTH) can guide you in a direction ... but is hardly manipulation...
Justin Peters is a preacher in a wheel chair who travels around the country in a small van exposing false teachers... He has his own ministry which you can look up and get information about on line. Here's Justin..
Justin Peters is a preacher in a wheel chair who travels around the country in a small van exposing false teachers... He has his own ministry which you can look up and get information about on line. Here's Justin..
False Teachers Exposed
You, can help Justin and you could help me towards objectives we share. HELPING FAMILIES. simply by sharing my financial site. Did you hear Justin say " These people are counting on your biblical ignorance, so you can fall for their schemes" THAT IS MY EXACT MESSAGE WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FINANCES.
Like Dangerous Dave, Gary Keesse and Ephren Taylor each who raked in millions from trusting Christians AND OTHERS counting on THEIR IGNORANCE about FACTS IN EVIDENCE I have given you, individuals and families helped people like this who can speak scripture or put on a dog and a pony show to make themselves rich. You may get a little something for your money... but you'll be the rare person indeed if you ever get what they want you to think you will get for your patronage... That goes for ANY TYPE OF CHARLATAN
GOING A LITTLE OFF TRACK WITH THIS NEXT PART / ANALOGY: My mother's family lived in Germany during Adolf Hitler and the Nazi's reign. The Nazi took control of a whole nation thanks to a controlled educational system that both dumbed down the nation and made the youth think in one direction. They also had the media and their propaganda machinery (their version of Hollywood do the same...control information and use half truths. That is occurring right here in America to some extent... in our churches, in our financial industry and in our political system.
For two solid years the mainstream media, one political party, Liberal college professors and the Entertainment industry have been trashing Donald Trump calling him a racist, a sexist , a xenophobe. Yet, the man has been anything but in his past actions before he ran for President and even since. He has said some things when first heard but not in context can be made to sound awfully bad...THAT'S CALLED MANIPULATION. In my political site, I show FACTS IN EVIDENCE concerning the DELIBERATE DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICA, FACTS CONCERNING PEDOPHILES WE HAVE HAD IN POWER and HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VOTER FRAUD and much more. MANIPULATION is a powerful weapon in the hands of the wrong types of people and can easily be used against TOO TRUSTING OF A DUMBED DOWN SOCIETY as well as against those supposedly highly educated. But how highly educated is anyone if they can be made to hate based on the manipulation by others with a political agenda.
GOING A LITTLE OFF TRACK WITH THIS NEXT PART / ANALOGY: My mother's family lived in Germany during Adolf Hitler and the Nazi's reign. The Nazi took control of a whole nation thanks to a controlled educational system that both dumbed down the nation and made the youth think in one direction. They also had the media and their propaganda machinery (their version of Hollywood do the same...control information and use half truths. That is occurring right here in America to some extent... in our churches, in our financial industry and in our political system.
For two solid years the mainstream media, one political party, Liberal college professors and the Entertainment industry have been trashing Donald Trump calling him a racist, a sexist , a xenophobe. Yet, the man has been anything but in his past actions before he ran for President and even since. He has said some things when first heard but not in context can be made to sound awfully bad...THAT'S CALLED MANIPULATION. In my political site, I show FACTS IN EVIDENCE concerning the DELIBERATE DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICA, FACTS CONCERNING PEDOPHILES WE HAVE HAD IN POWER and HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VOTER FRAUD and much more. MANIPULATION is a powerful weapon in the hands of the wrong types of people and can easily be used against TOO TRUSTING OF A DUMBED DOWN SOCIETY as well as against those supposedly highly educated. But how highly educated is anyone if they can be made to hate based on the manipulation by others with a political agenda.
For those of you who watch THE 700 CLUB .....Former producer Terry Heaton from the 1980's and 1990's said that multi-millionaire Pat Robertson was more worried about making money than he was about providing a good message back in those days and I see no evidence that things have changed. You can find that with both with a Google and a You Tube
TODAY, THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO SHAME.. SORT OF LIKE POLITICIANS WHO USE ANOTHER 'PUBLIC SERVANT' POSITION TO GET RICH OR RICHER....why do we allow up to $100's of millions or even billions of dollars be spent trying to elect people who will then not truly represent the people they supposedly are elected to serve? When you use the scriptures to fleece people and provide them 'false hope' it seems even worse to me and a slap in the face of Christ... by both the person doing such a thing and the people financially supporting such a person,
Mr. Businessman -Ray Stevens
A title of a short book I once bought for an Adult Sunday School class to study and discuss was WHO ARE YOU WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING ... which begs the question who is anyone who you listen to when no one is looking and what do they really believe
NO ONE IS PERFECT.... BUT WE CAN BE MORE CONSISTENT and HONEST... Be that same person when doing business or when no one of real importance in your life is really looking as you are when they are or when you are in church. God sees all.
To those of you who are Christian, whether you attend church or not... here are my suggestions on how to use the money intended to serve God the best.
NO ONE IS PERFECT.... BUT WE CAN BE MORE CONSISTENT and HONEST... Be that same person when doing business or when no one of real importance in your life is really looking as you are when they are or when you are in church. God sees all.
To those of you who are Christian, whether you attend church or not... here are my suggestions on how to use the money intended to serve God the best.
- Find a good local ministry and give your offerings there even if you don't attend the church...like a person who sits at home watching and sending money to TV Ministries.
- Give to a TV ministry no more than you would pay for NETFLIX or HULU, etc, (about $ 5 to $10 a month )
- Never purchase a book or other item from a TV ministry. Instead purchase the same item from a local Christian store or borrow a book from a local library or a local church, Not only will that connect with more Christians in your community, it can also provide income for Christians in your area who then pay taxes back into your area.
I believe that if you follow those 3 suggestions ...not only will you be part of a crusade to deter ministry financial charlatans, your money meant to help people WILL be better used for such a purpose.... and that includes those orphanages and drinking well problems you saw, TV MINISTRIES aren't the only ones that do good works abroad as well as preach the REAL GOSPELS.
When you pickup a phone ... call your local ministries and find out how they are helping others and what you can do to help too...besides just giving of your money., I am sure they are looking for people to volunteer to help others in your community. Also, if you need people to pray for you.... I am sure that they will have people do that as well, without asking for money and who may actually ask to come and sit and talk with you or even provide you some help you in person. Isn't that what Christ really wants? Matthew 18:20 Wherever two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.
money and faith are two personal subjects that people often do not want to discuss even within their own families at times ... BUT, by failing to do it can lead to financial hardship or ruin for an individual and / or a family
NO MATTER WHAT FAITH YOU HAVE OR DON'T HAVE .... ONE DAY WE ALL WILL DIE ..AT LEAST ONCE .... (in my case, as I write this I have been declared dead three times already by medical personnel ...but somehow am still here to provide you the information I hope will help you and your family .and please the almighty at least somewhat... because I do want to have a nice life beyond this one if it is possible. During my three brief encounters with death, I was not as fortunate to either have an experience such as this man recalls. But when death does come, remember no matter what you believe, there will be consequences to your decisions while you are alive. Will your financial decisions benefit you, your family, others? Will those decisions impact your life beyond the grave? Those are all questions worthy of thought.
this man died during surgery, met God & asked him, "What's the meaning of life?"
Ian McCormack - Lifetime Atheist - Dies
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HOW AT RISK ARE YOU OR YOU'RE FAMILY FINANCIALLY IF YOU SUDDENLY ENCOUNTER AN UNEXPECTED EVENT .... HOW AT RISK ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IF THE EVENTUAL HAPPENS TODAY, TOMORROW, SOONER THAN YOU ARE READY FOR OR EVEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE READY FOR DEATH?
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