Comments on: Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists

Sen. Charles Grassley Asks Ministries To Turn Over Financial Records Within One Month

[wackymom-2009]

I know I am leaving quite a bit of post here, but this is something I think is very important, God has began cleaning His house through this senator, this has been a long time coming, and I wish him well in this investigation....also I just had a thought about all those on here defending these prosperity preachers...it is all about where your faith lies, with God or man, and undoubtably with the defenders it is with man, they think these people need to exsist so they can continue to prosper, without them all is lost...surely God can not help them achieve there desires, but these prosperity pushers can.

[mzrida]

I am not shocked at the alligations against the ministers. I used to be a follower of the Word of Faith doctrine that they preach, but praise God, He has opened my eyes! What they teach about prosperity is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn''t die for us to be rich, nor is wealth a sign of Godliness. Look at King Solomon and Job. They were alive long before Jesus made His appearance on Earth. All this doctrine teaches is that you give them money and you will be rich, but they''re the only ones getting rich. It is a shame to take advantage of the poor so that you may fill your pockets. Great gain is NOT Godliness. Godliness with contentment IS GREAT gain! All things you do in secret, God will reward you openly. I am not rejoicing that they have been exposed. I am sad because there are people that will look at Christianity and scoff because of a few that totally misrepresent Jesus'' character. I pray that they will repent, and that this will be a lesson they and others like them will never forget!

[wackymom-2009]

I''m sorry I must have missed something on the Meyers website concerning how well she shows her finanical records, could someone direct me to the page on her site that list these items, and what there tax exempt purposes are?....{a} Commode with Marble top $23,000 dls. {b}Malachite Round Table $30,000 dls. {c} Conference Table $30,000dls. {d} Reception Desk $20,741 {e} Coach $17,420 dls. {f}Pair of Dresden Vases $19,162dls. {g} French Clock $11,219 dls. all in her buisness office that no one but family, employees, and invited guest are allowed to go into because of threats on her life, yeah, by people she has ripped off I am assuming.

[twiztudd]

Who tells you that this is not God''s punishment to these people for preaching "prosperity gospels" like Creflo Dollar? *last time i checked, jesus didn''t live like a king to get his word across* God supposedly used them to get his message across right? So couldn''t God be using this Senator to them? I''m a christian, but i find it so funny how some of you guys here are calling people closed minded. People who would defend someone like Peter Popoff (do a video search on youtube to see how he was discredited) and Oral Roberts (THE GUY ASKED FOR 8 MIL AND SAID THAT GOD WOULD KILL HIM IF HE DIDN''T GET IT AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU BELEIVED HIM!) But I guess some christians will beleive anything if their pastor tells them that anything going against what they say is the devil.

[wackymom-2009]

I have to make a correction, Meyers took in 124 million in 2006...the 94 million I spoke of was in 2003, I have been reading so many articles on her they running them together...she also owns a 105,000 dl boat that she keeps parked at there 2nd home on the ocean...I will have to refresh my memory as to where it is located, as it has slipped my mind at the moment.

[wackymom-2009]

Yeah go to Joyce Meyers website, and she will spoon feed you what she wants you to know, but if you do any real unbiased research in other places you will find the devil in the details so to speak...go to Senator Grassleys senate web site and read the details of what is being investigated, all 6 letters he sent to these people are on his site for you to read...Meyers took in over 94 million dls last year, and only 10% went to chairity, she even admits it in a news article that is also on the senators website... the rest went to pay employees, which most are her own family, and close friends...I am sorry but anyone who will purchase a 23,000 dl. toilet, or 2 vases for 19,000dls for there main headquarter office can not be trusted with the money of donors...she has made many other lavish purchases for her office''s also that are listed on the senators letter to her that he will be investigating.

[nikkicatt1]

These Televanglists are just people!!! They are not GOD. Nor do they represent GOD. Has everyone forgot the *** scandals involving several so called preachers? Lets not forget Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Let''s face it, absolute power begets absolute idiocy. I give my money to better things than stupid "relegious" cults.

[hi16]

I agree with "dmizzley" when he said that most of the comments lean towards a fairly closed mind. I believe so many people take the media for what it says instead of researching. I actually did investigation on Joyce''s site, joycemeyer.org, and was able to view the financial records first hand. Seriously, what other ministry is that transparent. I was blown away at how much is given towards missions. 82% of funds brought in are given back out?! That''s unbelievable. I couldn''t think of a better ministry to partner with in reality. Thanks for the heads up CBS... I now have some amazing ground to "sow into". It''s tough to find a ministry impacting the world on such a huge scale. I''m super excited about teaming up with Joyce after reading the facts behind this. Impressive to say the least. God''s so faithful... thanks Joyce Meyer Ministries for being frugal and treating donations as God''s money for real. I''m just blown away. GodBless.

[zakcbs]

Preachers should immulate JESUS Christ. A Rolls-Royce for a preacher when you have children dying of hunger around the world? I think SACRIFICE and CONTENT have become bad words; which are the essence of a true christian.

[andor3]

"It always amazes me that any pimp, punk, actor, sports star or thug gangster rapper can have EVERYTHING and the whole world celebrates it, but if the preacher has ANYTHING it''s considered a shame"

First we are not talking about objecting to a preacher having ANYTHING--we are talking about objecting to a preacher having mansions, jets and Rolls-Royce class cars.

We object to it because they pay for those things in part with federal government tax subsidies, that is: as a taxpayer I am subsidizing their lifestyle.

If they want the lavish and large lifestyle of the rich and famous, all they have to do is pay taxes like the rich and famous.

It%u2019s awful suspicious that they are on the ORU board and couldn%u2019t help them out or figure out that something was fishy? No one has said %u201CHey, we tried the best we could but there%u2019s no way to polish this ***?%u201D I find it hard to believe that they are all so wicked to do so wrong but it%u2019s beyond conception that a group can be so incompetent with someone else%u2019s money but great with their own!

If they are hiding beneath the shelter of man%u2019s law then man%u2019s law is has jurisdiction. It is presumptuous that a 501(c) 3 status is permanent establishment since it has to be applied for like a business; they are licensed and subject to Federal and any additional state business/ charity laws. These groups want tax exempt status so they owe it to the public to show they are acting properly because they are not paying taxes like businesses but they act like businesses. They have to show they are acting correctly to keep their tax status.

[jerr11]

Sen Grassley has my respect!

I have watched these 6 clowns on TV and they stink to high heaven.

Benny Hinn esp. is the greatest con artist of them all.

There''s not a shred of sincerity in their ministry.

It''s all ABOUT MONEY!

TIME TO GET THEM TO PAY TAXES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS ENTERPRISE!

I personally think that GOD is "cleaning-up" His Church and it is greatly needed. They need accountability!!

[kritick]

I don''t believe that God meant for our tithes to be used to better the lives of our leaders. How many of us have fancy cars, jewelry and mansions for homes? When our Lord came to teach the Word, he came humbly, not as the King of Kings that He is, but as a humble servant. He himself said, That the servant is not greater than the master, nor the master greater than the servant. I believe He was trying to teach all how to be humble and live with less. We are not to store up treasures on this earth, but the greater treasures of heaven.He also said"That if a man doesn''t work then he should not eat." Does that leave ministers out!My final comment is that Jesus, himself said "Beware of those coming in my name." He tells us to beware of those preaching the Word! Also, How can anyone be sure when they tithe that the tithe is being used to further the ministries, and not the ministers pockets and lifestyles!!!

[wallacrr]

Its amazing to me how no one sees it that its stealing. Thou shalt not steal. This is not about judging christians this is about exposing people to do what they are supposed to do with millions of dollars like help the poor. This is stealing. You would think that Christians would want justice. No body is judging them but you are all right GOD will have the last say so in this whole situation.

[wackymom-2009]

Senator Grassely has the letters he sent to all these 6 "ministries" on his senate website...go check them out there quite an eye opener, there are also 2 news story articles on the site as well that are quite educational.

[denn034]

I''m troubled by the willingness of people to crucify religious and particularly Christian people here.

[krisparker]

The family of (Bonnie Parker)would like to thank Trinity Foundation (Mr.Oley and Pete Evens),who showed us there was a light at the end of the long dark tunnel that our lives had become.We will never forget the ultimate price mom(Bonnie Parker) paid to the Copeland''''s,or why she made the fatal decision all those years ago to put her life in their hands.Also we send our thanks to all that helped us through this tragedy.

[fullness1]

It always amazes me that any pimp, punk, actor, sports star or thug gangster rapper can have EVERYTHING and the whole world celebrates it, but if the preacher has ANYTHING it''s considered a shame, that is so PITIFUL. The very national newscasters who only report the news make millions however the preacher who helps to change the news by preaching the word and helping to change lives is expected to live near the poverty level.
Most of the people that are talking about the preacher will need the preacher sooner or later. I say, when you get in trouble nad need someone to pray or provide wise counsel, then call on the one that you celebrate!!!!!!!!!

[yoursong44]

We can''t play Holy Spirit in anyone''s lives. As long as you are walking your talk and living by the Word. Let the rest of the stuff go. Just go be Jesus in someone''s life.