I found this very interesting article about how some of the high-flying icons of the prosperity gospel living in camp tithe have run into financial turbulence as of late.
• In Fort Worth, Texas, a review board ruled December 7 that Kenneth Copeland Ministries' $3.6 million jet did not have tax-exempt status. The ruling came after the ministry, whose 1,500-acre campus includes a $6 million church-owned lakefront mansion, refused to release the salaries of Copeland, his wife, and others.
• In suburban Atlanta, Georgia, a sheriff's deputy served an eviction notice November 14 at Bishop Thomas Weeks III's Global Destiny Church. Court documents indicate the bishop, the ex-husband of televangelist Juanita Bynum, owed half a million dollars in back rent. The church has lost roughly half of its 3,400 members since Weeks and Bynum's 2007 fight in a hotel parking lot, in which Weeks was accused of pushing, choking, and beating his then-wife.
• In Tampa, Florida, Without Walls International Church—which once attracted 23,000 worshipers—has shrunk drastically after co-pastors Randy and Paula White announced in 2007 they were divorcing. The church faces an uncertain future after the Evangelical Christian Credit Union began foreclosure proceedings November 4 and demanded repayment of a $12 million loan on the church's property.
• In suburban Minneapolis on November 18, Living Word Christian Center pastor Mac Hammond won the first stage of a court battle with the Internal Revenue Service to keep his salary private. Yet in 2008, he was forced to put his private jet up for sale and cut Living Word's hour-long television show in half to save money amid falling contributions.
J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine had this to say. "I believe the charismatic movement, of which I am a part, is in the midst of a dramatic overhaul. God is shaking us." Grady predicts the movement will look much different in a few years as it refocuses on evangelism and overcoming what he calls the distraction of "materialism, flashy self-promotion, and foolish carnality." In his view, the notion that "God blesses us so we can be a blessing" is biblical. What is needed, he believes, is a shift to a more selfless movement where people "realize that God wants to bless us so that we can feed the poor, lift up the broken, and transform society. We need that kind of prosperity," he said.
We've all been saying this for a long time, but it looks like some in the mainstream Christian world are finally starting to realize it as well. You can only preach health and wealth without results for so long. When you tell people to give, give, give but only the person who is doing the telling is prospering, people will eventually wake up. Throw in tough economic times and the wheels begin to fall off. The more of these false prophets that go away, the better off we all will be.
It is quite interesting to see buildings and property that belonged to God being repossesed! Maybe it will finally occur to some of these folks that God doesn’t live in a house made with hands. ( See Stephen’s defense in Acts 7:48-60.)
Perhaps some of them may even become Apostles….”I do not posses silver and gold….” Like Peter in Acts 3:6.
Studying Acts was one of a series of things that finally made me see how far off base our ‘leadership’ is! Acts 2:45, “and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.” !!!!Huh???? Today’s gospel is always trying to buy property and take money from the people! That’s only 180 out from the original.
Excellent point(s), WHS. Reminds me of this story:
Thomas Aquinas was summoned by the Pope to come to Rome. The Pontiff showed him the glory of Rome and said, “Look Thomas. We can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none!’” Thomas replied, “Yes, your Holiness, but neither can we say, ‘Rise up and walk.’”
-joe
I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that yes, God does bless some people so they can be a blessing. And I believe that God curses some people, so that they can be a blessing.
“Matthew 5:45 – so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Wow, Cat.
I am in tears upon reading your use of N.T. Scripture and feel so blessed by it. Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou. One wonders what can be next…..except perhaps quotes from the Old Testament???
-joe
This is such a EXCELLENT point! Why do churches today insist on buy, buy, buy, when in scripture it was all about sell and give?
Man are we messed up or what!?!
MY interpretation of the Gospel was that it was meant for the whole world–not to be interpreted just for a capitalistic society or America. Does the Prosperity message apply to the “Untouchables” in India? Will they be driving pink Cadillacs anytime soon? I think living in a capitalistic society is a privilege but not a right. The poor in another country are not less of a Christian just because their socio-economic structure works against them.
“Matthew 5:45 – so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.â€
Cat: Your confused. the Sun and the Rain create harvests. These are 2 blessings not one blessing one curse.
Sorry I could not disagree more the Christ removed the curses of the OT … All of them! We do not live by or against Curses.
Not to cause this excellent thread to detour, but I can’t resist asking, is this need for cash flow why Paula White was recently seen holding hands with Benny Hinn during a 3-day stay in Rome (where Benny registered at the hotel as David Solomon)? Maybe if they merge ministries they can keep all their combined assets and continue to live off the tithes and huge offerings of unsuspecting people. I agree with you, Reformer, that the exposing of all that needs to come to light can only do the body of Christ good at this point.
This may seem like a damage control article, but here’s what Charisma printed about the Hinn/White hook-up.
[Comment ID #38136 Will Be Quoted Here]
David Solomon?! Haha! Who does he think he is? And, I’m afraid this topic has officially gone on a detour… sorry.