Comments on: Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists

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

[wackymom-2009]

I don''t expect ministers to live in poverty, but come on now, owning homes all over the USA, driving Rols Royces, Lexus, and owning many other expensive cars, taking lavish trips on there own private jets, using minstry money to buy expensive gifts, and purchases for there offices, Joyce Meyers had two vases, mind you two vases that she paid over 19,000 dls. for!!!! she decorated her main headquarters at a cost of over 5 million dls.!!!! she pays the salary for 2 pilots full time to shuffle her all over the country on her private jet, she and all her children, and there spouses live on "ministry" property free of charge, drive fancy cars that the "ministry" bought, her home alone is 10,000 square feet, her clothes are tailor made....and the list could go on, about her and all the othere named on this list to be investigated...ministers need to live a humble but good life or they become corrupt like any one else, they are human, these people on this post calling them the annointed ones, and don''t touch them or God will get you is a bunch of ***!!! They are no better in Gods eyes then the little old lady that sends these crooks a check every month!!! In fact God is probably very sad, and angry at the same time by what He sees in the mega "ministries" all around this country. Maybe this investigation is a God send to clean His house of these corrupt ministers.

[bossladymom]

Of course there are plenty of dishonest people in the world, in ANY profession. But it continues to floor me when people in ministry positions are seemingly NOT ALLOWED to be prosperous.
A lot of the ministers (not all of them, but a lot) in these mega churches, especially the ones that are predominantly African American, are bi-vocational. They write books, they work in other ways other than standing in a pulpit each Sunday. So they make money. The people who contribute to the churches know what they''re doing.
It always angers me when people who "work for God" are expected to live in poverty. I know that is a extreme word to use, these people are nowhere close to even living middle class, but I hope my point is fairly clear.
It''s not up to the Senate to say what is appropriate for these people. I say while we''re at it, let''s investigate everyone who is living a little too prosperously for our taste.

[bossladymom]

Of course there are plenty of dishonest people in the world, in ANY profession. But it continues to floor me when people in ministry positions are seemingly NOT ALLOWED to be prosperous.
A lot of the ministers (not all of them, but a lot) in these mega churches, especially the ones that are predominantly African American, are bi-vocational. They write books, they work in other ways other than standing in a pulpit each Sunday. So they make money. The people who contribute to the churches know what they''re doing.
It always angers me when people who "work for God" are expected to live in poverty. I know that is a extreme word to use, these people are nowhere close to even living middle class, but I hope my point is fairly clear.
It''s not up to the Senate to say what is appropriate for these people. I say while we''re at it, let''s investigate everyone who is living a little too prosperously for our taste.

[bossladymom]

Of course there are plenty of dishonest people in the world, in ANY profession. But it continues to floor me when people in ministry positions are seemingly NOT ALLOWED to be prosperous.
A lot of the ministers (not all of them, but a lot) in these mega churches, especially the ones that are predominantly African American, are bi-vocational. They write books, they work in other ways other than standing in a pulpit each Sunday. So they make money. The people who contribute to the churches know what they''re doing.
It always angers me when people who "work for God" are expected to live in poverty. I know that is a extreme word to use, these people are nowhere close to even living middle class, but I hope my point is fairly clear.
It''s not up to the Senate to say what is appropriate for these people. I say while we''re at it, let''s investigate everyone who is living a little too prosperously for our taste.

[bossladymom]

Of course there are plenty of dishonest people in the world, in ANY profession. But it continues to floor me when people in ministry positions are seemingly NOT ALLOWED to be prosperous.
A lot of the ministers (not all of them, but a lot) in these mega churches, especially the ones that are predominantly African American, are bi-vocational. They write books, they work in other ways other than standing in a pulpit each Sunday. So they make money. The people who contribute to the churches know what they''re doing.
It always angers me when people who "work for God" are expected to live in poverty. I know that is a extreme word to use, these people are nowhere close to even living middle class, but I hope my point is fairly clear.
It''s not up to the Senate to say what is appropriate for these people. I say while we''re at it, let''s investigate everyone who is living a little prosperously for our taste.

[revrafael]

If you are a Christian and reading this blog, DON''T STOP NOW. Don''t believe a drop of the lather being foamed about "speaking death" upon these "anointed."

Use your minds and ignore the fear-mongerers who are hysterical about their heroes being found out for what they really are and start paying far more close attention to what''s been going down. Judgment is coming to the House of God. Open your Bible and minds and don''t be like the rest of the lemmings who mindlessly follow "the anointed" who are just as carnal and frail as you, but who somehow managed to make it to the top of an UNgodly evangelical food chain.

Only those terminally deluded by the mind control vocabulary of these "prosperity" ministers into thinking accountability is an attack should be so narrow minded as to demand you stop THINKING and DISCERNING.

As a Pentecostal Christian minister, I strongly support and applaud the efforts of Senator Grassley and others to demand this accountability. If the Church won''t do it, then God will use the State to do so. Our God is still an Awesome God, who reigns from Heaven above. If it makes Paula sweat, Joyce cluck, Benny whine, Kenny gripe and Eddie curse SO BE IT!

For more information on the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of prosperity gospel teaching, visit our website at spiritwatch.org/strange.htm

[creatr]

Just one more example of federal government busybodies meddling where they have no constitutional authority!

Support the Champion of the Constitution! Learn about and support and vote for the Honorable Dr. Ron Paul for president, and we will ELIMINATE the IRS and all of these communist-style "investigations" that do NOTHING productive whatsoever!

http://ronpaul2008.com
or just google "Ron Paul"
http://truthrealm.com

[redblood007]

Be very careful with this attack upon the anointed that are called and choosen to deliver the WORD. As we fastly approach the last of the last days, do not allow your own judgement to cast you into condemnation because you have allowed satan to direct your path. These, and many more, are doing the assigned work that it takes to teach the Gospel to the broken and afflicted that would never set foot into the conventional church building in their own neighborhood. Let''s just give praise that the Word is getting out and Souls are being saved. Before you go any further, take the time and listen and receive the teaching these anointed bring forth. Perhaps it is time for you to study and know the WORD more that the teachers and preachers.

[kranberry-2009]

Trinity Foundation and Ole Anthony are a borderline cult themselves - a cult of personality - his personality, his rules, and his authority. Read this investigative story about Ole Anthony and then decide if they have the spiritual authority to appoint themselves as "watchmen of the offering plate".
Link here:
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2006-08-03/news/the-cult-of-ole/

The IRS is certainly strong enough to investigate any company, person, or non-profit organization they deem questionable. They do it daily, even at the risk of death and armed standoffs.

ABC television used Ole Anthony-sourced information in the past to do news stories of their own and felt the sting of having to deal with the consequences. Let''s see if the CBS team can double-check everything they''ve received and avoid the pain.

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
Money is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.

[agarwal1]

I WILL SINCERELY PRAY FOR YOU.

GIVE ME $5.00 AND I WILL SAVE YOU FROM ALL YOUR SIN. I AM GOD''''''''S SON. GOD WILL LISTEN TO ME AND ONCE I TELL HIM TO FORGET YOUR SIN, HE WILL FORGET YOUR SIN.

ALSO IF YOU GIVE ME ADDITIONAL $10.00 THEN I WILL HAVE YOU A SPACE IN HEAVEN.

SEND ME MONEY SO THAT I CAN SAVE YOU FROM YOUR SINS AND GET YOU SPACE IN HEAVEN.

[reformedmind]

More tragic than the lavish spending and living (which is characteristic of false teachers) is the false doctrine''s they promote. The apostle John said, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting." (2 John 10) Jesus even spoke of these in Matt. 7: 15-16a, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep''s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." Test the spirits!! 1 John 4: 1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." If there were more discernment in the church, these ministries would not exsist.

[laciejones07]

May God help us all!! If you are a Christian and reading this blog, STOP NOW!! BEGIN PRAYING FOR THESE LEADERS THAT GOD WILL KEEP THEM STRONG! Let''s also pray that God will have mercy on all who are speaking out against God''s people! The Bible says that no weapon formed against God''s elect shall prosper! Begin speaking this over these ministries and BELIEVE GOD FOR THIS PROMISE. AND REMEMBER THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO GOD''S CHILDREN, THEY TRIED TO KILL JESUS AS WELL, BUT HE ROSE, AND SO WILL THESE 6 MINISTRIES!!!!

[brianbwb-2009]

To tuckerndfw

There are the strong bodied, they are not in danger of physical advantage taken of them.

There are also the strong minded, who are not easily fooled.

There are also amongst us the weak bodied, and weak minded. They are always in danger of being disadvantaged in a dog-eat-dog condition.

The strength, or weakness is neither fortune or a fault, it is a human condition.

Don''t blame the weak, or the feeble minded, blame those who steal from them what little they have.

[filmjoyce]

Eddie Long...his unsaved driver said he would pick him up and drop him off at his mistresses houses...the Eddie Wrong is a pimp. They need to look at TDFake and Juanita Bynum too. After not paying her taxes on her homes she still is on TBN doing the begathon. These people are really given over to the "powerful delusion" that was prophecied would happen in the last days...and you ppl defending them are delusional too.

[rogez92]

t. This investigation is being driven by an organization in my area that is trying to make a name for itself by ''taking down'' a ministry. Where''s the investigation into the ''perks'' that these Senators are getting on the taxpayers'' dime? Oh wait, we tried that and these same politicians threw a fit! These ministries do more for communities and individuals than any of the people on this blog who want to criticize them, and certainly the federal government. I don''t see any of you talking about CEO''s or others who use their ''foundations'' to fund their houses and cars; these ministers are also great business minds, do real estate and sell their books and products effectively. They should be brought into congress to help them find out how to use our money more effectively, not investigated by them.

[rogez92]

This is a violation of the first amendment. This investigation is being driven by an organization in my area that is trying to make a name for itself by ''taking down'' a ministry. Where''s the investigation into the ''perks'' that these Senators are getting on the taxpayers'' dime? Oh wait, we tried that and these same politicians threw a fit! These ministries do more for communities and individuals than any of the people on this blog who want to criticize them, and certainly the federal government. I don''t see any of you talking about CEO''s or others who use their ''foundations'' to fund their houses and cars; these ministers are also great business minds, do real estate and sell their books and products effectively. They should be brought into congress to help them find out how to use our money more effectively, not investigated by them.

[gapeach912]

Well I''m not God but I know that He knows all & sees all. If there is any wrong doings on their parts then they will be punished. For anyone that knows the Word knows that he who knows the Word & does wrong is judged more harshly by the Lord than the one who knows not. So for this I say that I have watched many of these shows since I''m working most Sunday mornings & truly I''ve received the Spirit & been blessed. But I do believe that anyone that has a church that can ride around in Bentley''s and RR''s shouldn''t have anyone in their congregation walking. Since I''m a member of a smaller congregation & I know that my pastor during the time that I didn''t have provided for me & my children. Actually the entire congregation did the same. I''m not speaking of hand-me-downs either. But through my lifetime, I''ve done better & I know that if I give to my church that the money is going to go to another individual like myself. My pastor drives a Cadillac Escalade. But all of our members have cars. Not that they could all afford one. But I know that God allowed my pastor to look out for me and he is doing the same for the rest of our congregation. This is what a prosperous church does. It gives to those in need. NOT THE ONES OUT IN THE STREET BUT THE ONES THAT SIT IN FRONT OF YOU & SAY AMEN TO YOUR EVERY WORD. To all of the messengers of GOD I say be blessed & may you stay blessed. Since I know that my Lord will continue to bless me no matter what. Thank you Lord in the NAME OF JESUS! AMEN!

[sevenangel]

But remember, God did say BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY...it didn''t just pertain to have lots of babies. To prosper and to give back properly is to give back into the Kingdom of God and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to win souls. If anyone is misappropriating funds then shame on them. Who are we to judge? Judge not that you might not be judged. If anyone is doing wrong then they will be exposed. If we want to help them in any way, pray for them and not talk about them. You will be no better than they are. Just my thoughts....don''t hate me for em.
God Bless
sevenangel

[tracysrock]

where does a christian draw the line of acceptable income. renter? land owner? small business owner? corporate executive? the more i have, the greater position i am in to give to those who have need, and motives are definitely the key

[carlaborden]

Oh this is Rich!!!! You mean to tell me that the people that insist that I pay taxes regardless of how much I make and over spend my tax dollars and social security by BILLIONS are investigating and judging people who receive money from people who are voluntarily giving it to them!!!! The ONLY thing they are concerned about is potentially missed revenues that they could be spending. Don''t fool yourself into thinking this has anything to do with Religion because it doesn''t! Or that some bleeding heart Senator is concerned about the poor the only concern is "Why didn''t we think of that?!"