I’m convinced that the
carnal, cunning, conniving, crooked crooks that Jesus drove out of the
I’m absolutely certain that if Jesus returned today He would walk into the vast
majority of these television studios and overthrow the cameras, lights,
monitors, and soundboards. He would unplug the microphones and scatter the
makeup colors around as He went about destroying the stages and backdrops.
Several years ago now, a nationally know prophetic voice was told by the Lord,
“I’m sick and tired of the prosperity message”. If that was true then,
how much more today. As far back as 1986, the top seven media evangelists
took in over 750 million dollars. Now with the increased manipulation of ‘seed
faith teaching’ that amount has no doubt been dwarfed by comparison.
Only a few days ago I was appalled as I watched and listened as Pastor
Steve__________ zealously twisted and distorted the Scriptures to his own
advantage. This ‘brother’ dared to distort the most sacred truth of all
Scripture. He used The Day Of Atonement, that day when Jesus Christ the Lamb of
God shed His blood for the sins of the world, to teach that how we give financially determines how God will respond to us throughout
the coming year. My blood boiled as I listened. This ‘brother’ had
finally crossed the line and was now on the verge of blaspheming the atoning
work of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not to mention lining his own
pockets with the proceeds. He might as well have been selling indulgences by
inferring that God’s favor toward us was based on our giving rather than God’s unmerited grace and forgiveness
through the gift of
His Son. What made
matters worse was that this same ‘charlatan’ was the guest of one of the
nation’s best known charismatic personalities. Within a day or so he was
teaching the same message on a local Christian telethon. Neither the evangelist
nor the network sought to correct his aberrant teaching – after all, the show
must go on and that takes money, so how you raise it doesn’t seem to matter
anymore.
Why does almost every single Christian program have to end with some type of
‘seed faith teaching’? If these men and women of faith really believed what they taught,
they would practice what they preach and teach; after all what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Imagine how shocked you would be if your favorite televangelist and covenant partner were to send you a check in their next mailing for the
amount of $1,000.00 with a personal note telling you he/she just wanted to sow into your life. Perhaps then I could
believe that these men/women really believe and practice what they teach. Not only that, but they
would never have to appeal for money again as God’s return to them would result in a hundredfold increase.
At least that’s what they would have us
to believe.
On a recent ministry trip to the Northwest, I was told by a pastor friend that
his church had received a call from a well known and anointed teacher in the
Body of Christ. The caller was asking them for a contribution towards the
purchase of a jet for their ministry. What a far cry from what the Apostle Paul
taught when he prefaced his teaching on ‘sowing and reaping’ with these words;
“For this is not for the ease
of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality.” (II Cor. 8:13-14) Many pastors measure their success in terms
of numbers –the larger the church the more successful their ministry.
Itinerant ministries, not being able to brag about size, seem to fall for the
notion that having one’s own jet is how success is
determined. (Once it was the Rolex watch) By the way,
if you love and appreciate this fine teacher, pray that he won’t get the desires of his heart - it will only
lead to the leanness of his soul.
This is one man’s attempt to appeal to the Body of Christ. Stop pandering to
these moneychangers. These men and women live like kings while spending your
money to buy mansions and jets for themselves. They dine in the finest
restaurants, wear the latest designer fashions and then have the audacity to
tell you that you can live the same way as long as you give to their ministry.
I opened my Bible the other day to Zechariah’s wonderful prophecy concerning
the first coming of Jesus, our great and glorious King. Listen to his
words; ‘Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and endowed with
salvation, humble, and mounted
on a donkey, even on a colt the foal of a donkey.’( Zechariah
9:9 ) What a far cry from the televangelist who comes high and mighty and traveling on his own
jet!
If you are as sick and tired as I am about this waste of God’s money, then for
heaven’s sake STOP SUPPORTING THESE PEOPLE. Give your money to your local
church. There are tens of thousands of needy missionaries who barely have
enough support to keep themselves alive. They are laboring long and hard under
some of the most difficult and trying conditions. They would rejoice at the
thought of an extra $10-30 dollars a month support. These are the real heroes of whom the world is not
worthy. Help put these MONEY LOVING TELEVANGELISTS OUT OF BUSINESS and SAVE
ANOTHER MISSIONARY FROM EXTINCTION.
Together we can make it happen. Please forward this to as
many people as you know.
Thanks.