It seems the recent financial collapse is inspring greater outrage against those who preach the prosperity gospel.
From Belief.net, a blog post titled To the Christian Leaders of America:
For the last thirty years, selfishness and private greed in the material world has been mirrored and supported by individualistic and privatized spirituality. We have been bombarded by the heresy of the 'me first', self help, prosperity Gospel. David Van Biema just wrote a startling piece in Time magazine as to how the the Prosperity Gospel played a role in the subprime mortgage crisis as predatory lenders fed upon poor congregants' magical belief that God had provided them with a home they could not afford. Once the economic reality crashed in on their spiritual fantasy, it caused them more poverty, heart ache, and a spiritual crisis to add to their financial one. Perhaps now the world will recognize the prosperity preachers for the snake oil salesman that they are.
Notice the especially harsh language. It is now becoming much more acceptable to criticize Pastors who preach the prosperity gospel. I like it.
YES! Let’s pray that more and more people stand up and say enough. I hope we see some of the mega ministries collapse and their fearless leaders revealed for what they really are.
I watched a little piece on CNN headline news today. There were talking about how churches are definitely feeling the crunch as giving has gone way down, nation wide. People are finally starting to realize that it’s either the pastor’s retirement or theirs. Not that pastor’s don’t deserve a good retirement, they just don’t need one in Cabo in a $1 million dollar beach front condo, while their parishioners work till they are 70.
But if you ask any CBC member – they will tell you they are not part of the prosperity gospel – they truly dont believe they are.
Try reading the Bible to them in regards to Tithing – they will agree but still espouse Franks teachings about it. Try defending drinking alcohol just like Jesus did – they DONT get it and wont until they leave that atmosphere of control.
Really? I didn’t know this. Wow, that place resembles a cult more and more.
Not in my friends/family circles anyway
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I’ve seen the same thing with other MFI churches. Sad.
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It’s like asking a bigot if he’s bigoted. Of course, he’s not bigoted because he’s right and you’re wrong.
Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I just didn’t realize the denial was so strong.
While City Bible has certainly toned down the Prosperity rhetoric over the last few years, there was a time, when it was all they preached. And given Pastor Franks’ connection to ORU, it just seems obvious that what he’s been preaching for the last 10 years is the prosperity gospel.
What are the five stages of grief again? And which one is denial.
Uh-oh. The City Church in Seattle has competition:
http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue3443.html
God’s Embassy Church is launching its 1000 Millionaire Club next week.
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Absolutely brilliant. What better, quicker way to make money is there then start a “club” of 1,000 millionaires tithing 10% to you? And just think of the offerings! I might have to start my own millionaire club.
Not only that, but Mr. Adelaja provides some scintillating quotes, such as:
Which means exactly…?
Oh, right:
…a kind of Christian wealth pool for building bigger churches with bigger TV screens and better sound systems so that the church can become even more irrelevant to the rest of society, and…
as we all know, the best way to stop corruption is to throw more money at it!