Do "Prosperity Preachers" Prey On Hope?

Senate Probe Shines Light On Televangelists' Message That God Will Shower The Faithful In Riches

(AP)  The message flickered into Cindy Fleenor's living room each night: Be faithful in how you live and how you give, the television preachers said, and God will shower you with material riches.

And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Fla., area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Only the blessings didn't come. Fleenor ended up borrowing money from friends and payday loan companies just to buy groceries. At first she believed the explanation given on television: Her faith wasn't strong enough.

"I wanted to believe God wanted to do something great with me like he was doing with them," she said. "I'm angry and bitter about it. Right now, I don't watch anyone on TV hardly."

All three of the groups Fleenor supported are among six major Christian television ministries under scrutiny by a senator who is asking questions about the evangelists' lavish spending and possible abuses of their tax-exempt status.

The probe by Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has brought new scrutiny to the underlying belief that brings in millions of dollars and fills churches from Atlanta to Los Angeles - the "Gospel of Prosperity," or the notion that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches.

All six ministries under investigation preach the prosperity gospel to varying degrees.

Proponents call it a biblically sound message of hope. Others say it is a distortion that makes evangelists rich and preys on the vulnerable. They say it has evolved from "it's all right to make money" to it's all right for the pastor to drive a Bentley, live in an oceanside home and travel by private jet.

"More and more people are desperate and grasping at straws and want something that will alleviate their pain or financial crisis," said Michael Palmer, dean of the divinity school at Regent University, founded by Pat Robertson. "It's a growing problem."

The modern-day prosperity movement can largely be traced back to evangelist Oral Roberts' teachings. Roberts' disciples have spread his theology and vocabulary (Roberts and other evangelists, such as Meyer, call their donors "partners.") And several popular prosperity preachers, including some now under investigation, have served on the Oral Roberts University board.

Grassley is asking the ministries for financial records on salaries, spending practices, private jets and other perks. The investigation, coupled with a financial scandal at ORU that forced out Roberts' son and heir, Richard, has some wondering whether the prosperity gospel is facing a day of reckoning.

While few expect the movement to disappear, the scrutiny could force greater financial transparency and oversight in a movement known for secrecy.

Most scholars trace the origins of prosperity theology to E.W. Kenyon, an evangelical pastor from the first half of the 20th century.

But it wasn't until the postwar era - and a pair of evangelists from Tulsa, Okla. - that "health and wealth" theology became a fixture in Pentecostal and charismatic churches.

Oral Roberts and Kenneth Hagin - and later, Kenneth Copeland - trained tens of thousands of evangelists with a message that resonated with an emerging middle class, said David Edwin Harrell Jr., a Roberts biographer. Copeland is among those now being investigated.

"What Oral did was develop a theology that made it OK to prosper," Harrell said. "He let Pentecostals be faithful to the old-time truths their grandparents embraced and be part of the modern world, where they could have good jobs and make money."

The teachings took on various names - "Name It and Claim It," "Word of Faith," the prosperity gospel.

Prosperity preachers say that it isn't all about money - that God's blessings extend to health, relationships and being well-off enough to help others.

They have Bible verses at the ready to make their case. One oft-cited verse, in Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians, reads: "Yet for your sakes he became poor, that you by his poverty might become rich."

Critics acknowledge the idea that God wants to bless his followers has a Biblical basis, but say prosperity preachers take verses out of context. The prosperity crowd also fails to acknowledge Biblical accounts that show God doesn't always reward faithful believers, Palmer said.

The Book of Job is a case study in piety unrewarded, and a chapter in the Book of Hebrews includes a litany of believers who were tortured and martyred, Palmer said.

Yet the prosperity gospel continues to draw crowds, particularly lower- and middle-income people who, critics say, have the greatest motivation and the most to lose. The prosperity message is spreading to black churches, attracting elderly people with disposable incomes, and reaching huge churches in Africa and other developing parts of the world.

One of the teaching's attractions is that it doesn't dwell on traditional Christian themes of heaven and hell but on answering pressing concerns of the here and now, said Brian McLaren, a liberal evangelical author and pastor.

But the prosperity gospel, McLaren said, not only preys on the hope of the vulnerable, it puts too much emphasis on individual success and happiness.

"We've pretty much ignored what the Bible says about systemic injustice," he said.

The checks and balances central to Christian denominations are largely lacking in prosperity churches. One of the pastors in the Grassley probe, Bishop Eddie Long of suburban Atlanta, has written that God told him to get rid of the "ungodly governmental structure" of a deacon board.

Some ministers hold up their own wealth as evidence that the teaching works. Atlanta-area pastor Creflo Dollar, who is fighting Grassley's inquiry, owns a Rolls Royce and multimillion-dollar homes and travels in a church-owned Learjet.

In a letter to Grassley, Dollar's attorney calls the prosperity gospel a "deeply held religious belief" grounded in Scripture and therefore a protected religious freedom. Grassley has said his probe is not about theology.

But even some prosperity gospel critics - like the Rev. Adam Hamilton of 15,000-member United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in suburban Kansas City, Mo. - say that the investigation is entering a minefield.

"How do you determine how much money a minister like this is able to make when the basic theology is that wealth is OK?" said Hamilton, an Oral Roberts graduate who later left the charismatic movement. "That gets into theological questions."

There is evidence of change. Joyce Meyer Ministries, for one, enacted financial reforms in recent years, including making audited financial statements public.

Meyer, who has promised to cooperate fully with Grassley, issued a statement emphasizing that a prosperity gospel "that solely equates blessing with financial gain is out of balance and could damage a person's walk with God."

[efian2004]

Giving to God is a privalage. The tenth belongs to God even the Jews honor this principle. This is not just an American ideal. This has been going on since Able gave of the fruit of the ground.Further more this is an issue of faith. If you dont belive than dont give I am a christian and I belive. That you reap what you sow. This principle
governs this whole universe. You work 40 hrs a week giving your preciuos time to an employer who can careless about you but you wont give to God who wakes you up in the morning to go to that job. People spend millions of dollars at fast food chains buying food that poisons your body but you wont give to God who gives you life everyday. That is amazing im not blind to the fact that there are crooked so called preachers out who are praying on people. But not all preachers are that way. And I think it is wrong for people to make outlandish generalizations, when they have no proof anyhow to validate there acusations. I give to God with an expectancy for him to give back to. No money does not fall out of the sky. God gives men the power or the knowlege to get wealth. Ideas for new inventions. Ideas for books. Resources and connections that lead to prosperity.
This is what true preachers preach. Honor God with your substance and he will bless you with more.

[VXSYN41]

There are some ministers that do take advantage of their followers and that is such a shame. However, we need to know that some ministries do good things for those in needing situations. So let's not condem those who do right. I think sometimes that along with other organizations the church should not be exempt, but until the tax laws change we need to deal with what we have. On another note, if you're not a believer in the Word know this, that there are scriptures that teach you to give and you will prosper. I don't give to the church, but I do give in other ways and it comes from the heart. With that comes a reward for doing good. It may not be money but in other aspects of my life. So don't judge it unless you know it. I applaud Pastor Dollar for his teachings. He is one of a few that teach the the right thing and do it well.

[cfin5]

......and verse 3 says---- And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not...............Sounds like these guys today for sure.

[cfin5]

The answer to the article is "YES". The very book that they claim to honor talks about them and their doom,.....2 Peter 2:1-3---But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

[kailumego1]

ToolMangler "30%", more like 10% are dutiful Christians, the majority believe all you have to do is attend weekly Church service, say you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and tithed 10-20%[offerings] and that constitutes being a "Christian", none of which, these individuals, have a clue about God''s desires for "humankind".

These so-called Christians[evil-incarnated] have the audacity to pontificate to others about righteousness, while secretly, surreptitiously, and dubiously performing underhanded deeds against thy neighbor, e.g. lying, rumoring, gossiping, devious maliciousness, backstabbing, cold-calculating debauchery, se[xual] perversions, etc. etc. etc. etc.

These individuals, the so-called messengers of God that pray upon the ignorance and egotism of others to buttress their agenda, the religious dogmatic authoritarians [right-winged extremists groups] that preach hate and condemnation towards those who don%u2019t share in their %u201Cwicked philosophy%u201D, and the %u201Cgreedy capitalists merchants%u201D disguised as men/women of the clothe who pray upon the spiritually disenfranchised will have their day of reckoning.

[kailumego1]

And these so-called "men of God", are nothing more than "false prophets" mesmerizing charlatanry, counterfeiters, dubious impostors, "money-grubbing leeches or "who[res]--that have cheated and stole millions from egoistic and desperate individuals that are blinded by their own self-aggrandizement and hopelessness--to seek God individually, but would rather place their spiritual solace in an imperfect man/woman, than God.

The egoistic/self-aggrandized so-called Christians seek the affirmative blessings from a quack minister, because he/she knows that if a real man/woman of God was to look upon his/her so-called "good-deeds", he/she would render a stern warning instead of an affirmative blessing, e.g. the father/mother that abandons his/her child/responsibilities, the self-righteous dogmatic authoritarian that thinks his/her demented path is the right way to salvation, the one that preaches the word of God in one breath, while casting a stone to murder, rape, pillage, and deprecate others, because of religious, racial, ethnic differences, the one that supports senseless wars, genocide, lynching, etc, the greedy bureaucrat, the money grubbing leech that uses his/her authority to misguide individuals for his/her own materialistic/opportunistic gains.

[VXSYN41]

Everyone has an indiviual relationship with God and how they want to help those in need is their choice. You don't have to give to the church or these ministers you just have to have a giving heart. God will take it from there. Are you serious? To me it seems that you don't know anything about the Word and what God wants from us. Yes, God will take care of these thieves. But who are we to judge? However, I do understand your point of view.

[kailumego1]

And for the hopeless wanderer, most individuals suffer from "malignant-victimeousness" they "duck and dodge" the work that God has instructed for them to do, and substituted it for the rude-merciless pontification of a Charlatan, rather than seek God personally and render him/herself at his mercy, e.g. a man/woman who jumps in and out of dysfunctional abusive relationships avoiding God''s guidance and instruction to seek spiritual and psychological help in order to "free" his/herself from this bondage, the chronic unemployed that constantly complains about his/her financial predicament, but fails to seek remedy, e.g. career change, financial counseling, get retrained, go to school, etc.

Those individuals that say they believe in God, but really don''t know him at all, the silent voices of stern warnings and spiritual redemption you ignore, because you would rather be fooled by a "wicked-deceiver" than to listen to your own inner-spirit.

Those individuals that think giving "money" alone will pay for their salvation, of which they don''t have to apply themselves to doing "good-works", or being kind and thoughtful to others. I knew from an early age that there was something wrong with a so-called man of God praying upon the blind obedience of people to further his materialistic agenda. And this type of Charlatanism has long-reached black churches, e.g. T.D. Jakes ministries.

[jspires]

"And many false prophets will arise and lead you astray" (Matthew 24:11). It always amazes me the extent to which Evangelicals shy away from the actual Gospels. I guess it''s because neither Mark, Matthew, Luke, nor John talk about what kind of Lear jet Jesus would fly...

[l8c6]

Is it written Jesus said after the resurrection perhaps that wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there in their midst?

Doesn''t leave much need for a stadium sized mega church with an admission fee to get in.

[l8c6]

These freaks have been performing their hideous shows for years.

They''re like ideological drug pushers.

These crooks are having their heaven on earth while a sucker is born every day.

[michellem99-2009]

Tool love yer post. I THINK THE CHRISTIANS ARE THE ONES WHO DON''T ROB YE OF YER MONEY. Yer give if ye can afford to and ye check them out,This is my my view my walk with Jesus is Him and me and not some fly by nite church that all they want is money. I told this one gent* ye worried saving every body yer walk starts with ye..*A christian he/she don''t brag,don''t force their church on ye AND they don''t preach at ye..I do believe in God..My Dad said this to me on the subjuct of money as he is poor *if yer asking for money I don''t have it.* I never once asked Dad for MONEY. Tool and crzmeat peace of Christ be with ye and yers..Ye are good people..

[toolmangler-2009]

30% of the Christians (est) really mean it when they say "I am a Christian" and they put action to their words (quietly).. 10% are clueless, 40% are trying to ''alibi'' their way into heaven by claiming Christianity, 10% are fundamentlist (clueless also) and 10% are the thieves that invade every function of society (feel good, send me your money or god''ll do sometning horrible, preachers) they too shall have their ''reward''.

[Con Mohrat]

Religion - the last refuge of the scoundrel

[Krazcarl]

Michelle99..you have a lot of class...

[redbarron73]

But, if you pay that electric bill instead of sending me your $, God will curse you with scroliosis simplex #4

[redbarron73]

But wait. You will also receive this beautiful prayer hanky.

And, if you call today, I will include this thimble full of holy water.

[redbarron73]

Just send me a check for $100 and all your wildest dreams will come true........honest.......really........Jesus told me so.

[redbarron73]

Posted by mefm at 12:38 PM : Dec 28, 2007




WHAT?!!!

[michellem99-2009]

crzmeat.yep. they hold yheir paws out and thet demand it no ifs ands or butts..I was a mormon..nasty.. I meant my friend..he was in need of food..I made a chioce to feed him or give to the church...*Where is your money Sister M* mormons call their members sister/brother. I said *there aint no money for ye as the buck does stop as a person needs it far worse than ye do*. They were pissed. I walked and we left them for good. If a church said they will help ye with yer needs. They lie. Yer walk. Yer don''t give them yer money as yer earnt it. Oh yes they prey and I mean prey on the seniors,handicapped,poor,homeless..They are not Christ centred but money centred..greed.. Yer got a brain use it as yer eyes ears..Yer daily living comes first over some greedy preacer/church. Ye and yer.

[Krazcarl]

Hang them all by the river so we''ll have a place to dump the bodies, when my poor mom was dieing these creatures fed on her grief and got some of her cash,Did they send a card show up for the funeral no they were to important and yes that stinker Jerry Fallwell was one of them. I''ll supply the rope free there just new age Joseph Smiths and should be exterminated or taxed and imprisioned.