List of Christian evangelist scandals
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This is a list of scandals related mostly to American Christian evangelists. (Roman Catholic clergy and high-profile leaders from New Religious Movements are not within the scope of this list.)
Contents
[hide]
* 1 List of Christian evangelists involved in scandals
o 1.1 Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s
o 1.2 Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s
o 1.3 Billy James Hargis, early 1970s
o 1.4 Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s
o 1.5 Jim & Tammy Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, 1986 and 1991
o 1.6 Peter Popoff, 1987
o 1.7 Morris Cerullo, 1990s
o 1.8 Mike Warnke, 1991
o 1.9 Robert Tilton, 1991
o 1.10 W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003
o 1.11 Roy Clements, 1999
o 1.12 John Paulk, 2000
o 1.13 Paul Crouch, 2004
o 1.14 Douglas Goodman, 2004
o 1.15 Kent Hovind, 2006
o 1.16 Ted Haggard, 2006
o 1.17 Paul Barnes, 2006
o 1.18 Lonnie Latham, 2006
o 1.19 Gilbert Deya, 2006
o 1.20 Richard Roberts, 2007
o 1.21 Earl Paulk, 2007
o 1.22 Coy Privette, 2007
o 1.23 Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007
o 1.24 Michael Reid, 2008
o 1.25 Joe Barron, 2008
o 1.26 Todd Bentley, 2008
o 1.27 Tony Alamo, 2008
o 1.28 George Alan Rekers, 2010
* 2 Senate probe
* 3 See also
* 4 References
[edit] List of Christian evangelists involved in scandals
[edit] Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s
Main article: Aimee Semple McPherson
One of the most famous evangelist scandals involved Canadian-born Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s, who allegedly had an extramarital relationship and faked her own death as a cover. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury could neither prove that a kidnapping occurred, nor that she had faked it. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage, became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this she was cut out of her mother's will. Aimee Semple McPherson died in 1944 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.
[edit] Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s
Main article: Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee was an American closeted gay Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" in the late 1960s and 1970s who despite his "hippie" appearance had notable success as a minister and evangelist. Frisbee was a key figure in the Jesus Movement and was involved in the rise of two worldwide denominations (Calvary Chapel and the Vineyard Movement). Both churches later disowned him because of his active homosexuality, removing him first from leadership positions, then ultimately firing him. He eventually died from AIDS in 1993.
[edit] Billy James Hargis, early 1970s
Main article: Billy James Hargis
Hargis was a prolific author and radio evangelist. Hargis formed American Christian College in 1971 in order to teach fundamentalist Christian principles. However, a sex scandal erupted at the College, involving claims that Hargis had had sex with male and female students. Hargis was forced out of American Christian College's presidency as a result. Further scandals erupted when members of Hargis' youth choir, the "All American Kids", accused Hargis of sexual misconduct as well. The college eventually closed down in the mid-1970s. Hargis denied the allegations publicly.
[edit] Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s
Main article: Marjoe Gortner
Gortner rose to fame in the late 1940s as a child preacher, but he had simply been trained to do this by his parents and he had no personal faith. He was able to perform "miracles" and received large amounts of money in donations. After suffering a crisis of conscience, he invited a film crew to accompany him on a final preaching tour. The resulting film, Marjoe, mixes footage of revival meetings with Gortner's explanations of how evangelists manipulate their audiences. It won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, but was never screened in the Southern United States due to fears that it would cause outrage in the Bible Belt.[1]
[edit] Jim & Tammy Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, 1986 and 1991
Main articles: Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker
Swaggart's confession where he declared to his congregation on television, "I have sinned against you, my Lord", became an iconic image of the 1980s[2]
In 1986, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart began on-screen attacks against fellow televangelists Marvin Gorman and Jim Bakker. He uncovered Gorman's affair with a member of Gorman's congregation, and also helped expose Bakker's infidelity (which was arranged by a colleague while on an out-of-state trip).[3] These exposures received widespread media coverage. Gorman retaliated in kind by hiring a private investigator to uncover Swaggart's own adulterous indiscretions with a prostitute.[4] Swaggart was subsequently forced to step down from his pulpit for a year and made a tearful televised apology in February 1988 to his congregation, saying "I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness."[5][6]
Swaggart was caught again by California police three years later in 1991 with another prostitute, Rosemary Garcia, who was riding with him in his car when he was stopped for driving on the wrong side of the road. When asked why she was with Swaggart, she replied, "He asked me for sex. I mean, that's why he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a prostitute."[7]
[edit] Peter Popoff, 1987
Main article: Peter Popoff
A self-proclaimed prophet and faith healer in the 1980s, Popoff's ministry went bankrupt in 1987 after magician and skeptic James Randi and Steve Shaw debunked his methods by showing that instead of receiving information about audience members from supernatural sources, he received it through an in-ear receiver.[8]
[edit] Morris Cerullo, 1990s
Main article: Morris Cerullo
A number of incidents involving California-based televangelist Morris Cerullo caused outrage in the United Kingdom during the 1990s. Cerullo's claims of faith healing were the focus of particular concern. At a London crusade in 1992, he pronounced a child cancer sufferer to be healed, yet the girl died two months later. Multiple complaints were upheld against satellite television channels transmitting Cerullo's claims of faith-healing, and a panel of doctors concluded that Cerullo's claims of miraculous healing powers could not be substantiated. Cerullo also produced fund-raising material, which was condemned as unethical by a number of religious leaders, as it implied that giving money to his organisation would result in family members becoming Christians.[9]
[edit] Mike Warnke, 1991
Main article: Mike Warnke
Warnke was a popular Christian evangelist and comedian during the 1970s and 1980s. He claimed in his autobiography, The Satan Seller (1973), that he had once been deeply involved in a Satanic cult and was a Satanic priest before converting to Christianity. In 1991, Cornerstone magazine launched an investigation into Warnke's life and testimony. It investigated Warnke's life, from interviews with over one hundred personal friends and acquaintances, to his ministry's tax receipts. Its investigation turned up damaging evidence of fraud and deceit. The investigation also revealed the unflattering circumstances surrounding Warnke's multiple marriages, affairs, and divorces. Most critically, however, the investigation showed how Warnke could not possibly have done the many things he claimed to have done throughout his nine-month tenure as a Satanist, much less become a drug-addicted dealer or become a Satanic high priest.
[edit] Robert Tilton, 1991
Main article: Robert Tilton
Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the 1980s and early 1990s through his paid television program Success-N-Life. At its peak, it aired in all 235 American TV markets. In 1991, Diane Sawyer and ABC News conducted an investigation of Tilton. The investigation, broadcast on ABC's Primetime Live on November 21, 1991, found that Tilton's ministry threw away prayer requests without reading them, keeping only the money or valuables sent to them by viewers, garnering his ministry an estimated $80 million USD a year. In the original investigation, one of Tilton's former prayer hotline operators claimed that the ministry cared little for desperate followers who called for prayer, saying that Tilton had a computer installed in July 1989 to make sure that the phone operators were off the line in seven minutes. Tilton sued ABC for libel in 1992, but the case was dismissed in 1993, and Tilton's show was off the air by October 30, 1993.
[edit] W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003
Main article: W. V. Grant
Grant is an evangelist who was imprisoned for tax evasion in 1996. After restarting his ministry upon release, a TV investigation found that claims of healing he made at a 2003 revival in Atlanta were false.
[edit] Roy Clements, 1999
Main article: Roy Clements
Clements was a prominent figure within British evangelical christianity. In 1999, he revealed he was in a homosexual relationship with another man, resigned his pastorship, and separated from his wife. He had written a number of well-received books which were withdrawn from sale when the news broke.[10]
[edit] John Paulk, 2000
Main article: John Paulk
John Paulk (no relation to Earl Paulk) is a former leader of Focus on the Family's Love Won Out conference and former chairman of the board for Exodus International North America. His claimed shedding of homosexuality is also the subject of his autobiography Not Afraid to Change. In September 2000, Paulk was found and photographed in a Washington, D.C. gay bar, and accused by opponents of flirting with male patrons at the bar. Later questioned by gay rights activist Wayne Besen, Paulk denied being in the bar despite photographic proof to the contrary. Initially, FoF's Dr. James Dobson sided with Paulk and supported his claims. Subsequently, Paulk, who himself had written about his habit of lying while he openly lived as a homosexual, confessed to being in the bar, but claimed he entered the establishment for reasons other than sexual pursuits. Paulk retained his Board seat for Exodus, however he did so while on probation. Paulk did not run again for chairman of the board of Exodus when his term expired.
[edit] Paul Crouch, 2004
Main article: Paul Crouch
Paul Crouch is the founder and president of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, or TBN, the world's largest evangelical Christian television network, as well as the former host of TBN's flagship variety show, Praise the Lord. In September 2004, the Los Angeles Times published a series of articles raising questions about the fundraising practices and financial transparency of TBN, as well as the allegations of a former ministry employee, Enoch Lonnie Ford, that he had a homosexual affair with Crouch during the 1990s. The Times spoke with several sources that claimed that other evangelists such as Benny Hinn, Jack Hayford, and Paul's son Matthew were aware that an affair had taken place. TBN denied the allegations, claiming that Ford's claims were part of an extortion scheme and that the Times was a "left-wing and anti-Christian newspaper" for publishing the articles. In 2005, Ford submitted to and passed a lie detector test on the ION Television program Lie Detector.
[edit] Douglas Goodman, 2004
Douglas Goodman, an evangelical preacher, and his wife Erica were pastors of Victory Christian Centre in London, England. The church was one of the largest in the United Kingdom. He came into notoriety when he was jailed for three and a half years for the sexual assault of four members of his congregation in 2004. VCC was closed by the Charity Commission, but his wife Erica started a new church, Victory to Victory, in Wembley. Douglas has upon his release resumed full pastoral ministry alongside his wife.[11][12][13][14][15]
[edit] Kent Hovind, 2006
Main article: Kent Hovind
Kent Hovind is an American Baptist minister and Young Earth creationist. He is most famous for creation science seminars, in which he argues for Young Earth creationism, using his self-formulated "Hovind Theory." He has been criticized by both the mainstream scientific community and other creationists. In 2006, Hovind who also has a reputation as a tax protestor had been charged with falsely declaring bankruptcy, making threats against federal officials, filing false complaints, failing to get necessary building permits, and various tax-related charges. He was convicted of 58 federal tax offenses and related charges, for which he is currently serving a ten-year sentence.[16]
[edit] Ted Haggard, 2006
Main article: Ted Haggard
Ted Haggard was the pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado and was the president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) from 2003 until November 2006. Haggard's position allowed him occasional access to President George W. Bush. In 2006 it was alleged that Haggard had been regularly visiting a male prostitute who also provided him with methamphetamine. Haggard admitted his wrongdoing and resigned as pastor of New Life church and as president of the NAE. The high-profile case was significant also because it immediately preceded the 2006 mid-term elections and may have even affected national voting patterns[citation needed]. In January 2009, Haggard admitted to a second homosexual relationship with a male church member on CNN-TV and other national media, and when asked, would not directly answer a question about his other possible homosexual relationships.[17]
[edit] Paul Barnes, 2006
Main article: Paul Barnes
Paul Barnes is the founder and former senior minister of the evangelical church Grace Chapel in Douglas County, Colorado. He confessed his homosexual activity to the church board, and his resignation was accepted on December 7, 2006.[18] He started the church in his basement and watched it reach a membership of 2,100 in his 28 years of leadership. This scandal was notable because it was similar to Ted Haggard's (above), it occurred in the same state (Colorado) and around the same time (late 2006).
[edit] Lonnie Latham, 2006
Main article: Lonnie Latham
In 2006, Latham, the senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church and a member of the powerful Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, was arrested for "offering to engage in an act of lewdness" with a male undercover police officer.[19]
[edit] Gilbert Deya, 2006
Main article: Gilbert Deya
Kenyan-born Deya moved to the United Kingdom in the 1990s and started a number of churches. He claims to have supernatural powers that allow him to make infertile women become pregnant and give birth. However, police investigations in the UK and Kenya concluded that Deya and his wife were stealing Kenyan babies. Deya was arrested in London during December 2006 and as of April 2010 he is currently fighting extradition to Kenya.[20]
[edit] Richard Roberts, 2007
Main article: Richard Roberts
In October 2007, televangelist Richard Roberts (son of the late televangelist Oral Roberts), was president of Oral Roberts University until his forced resignation on November 23, 2007. Roberts was named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging improper use of university funds for political and personal purposes and improper use of university resources.[21]
[edit] Earl Paulk, 2007
Main article: Earl Paulk
Earl Paulk (no relation to John Paulk) was the founder and head pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, Georgia from 1960 until the 1990s. A number of women from the congregation came forward during the 1990s claiming that Paulk had sexual relations with them. Some of these claims have subsequently been proven correct. Moreover, Donnie Earl Paulk, the current senior pastor of the church and nephew of Earl Paulk, had a court-ordered DNA test in 2007 which showed that he was Earl's son, not his nephew, which means that Earl and his sister-in-law had had a sexual relationship which led to Donnie's birth.[22]
[edit] Coy Privette, 2007
Main article: Coy Privette
Privette is a Baptist pastor, conservative activist, and politician in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Privette was president of the Christian Action League and a prominent figure in North Carolina moral battles. In 2007, Privette resigned as president of North Carolina's Christian Action League and from the Board of Directors of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, following revelations on July 19 that he had been charged with six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution.[23]
[edit] Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007
Main article: Thomas Wesley Weeks, III
Weeks married fellow evangelist Juanita Bynum in 2002, but they separated in May 2007. In August 2007, Weeks physically assaulted Bynum in a hotel parking lot and was convicted of the crime in March 2008. The couple divorced in June 2008 and Weeks remarried in October 2009.[24]
[edit] Michael Reid, 2008
Main article: Michael Reid
Bishop Michael Reid (born 1944) is a Christian evangelist in Essex, England and founder of Michael Reid Ministries who resigned from the role of pastor at Peniel Church in April 2008, after admitting to an eight-year extra-marital sexual relationship. The scandal was widely reported online[25][26][27] and in UK newspapers.[28][29] He has since re-developed an itinerant evangelistic ministry and has been speaking at a number of churches in the UK and overseas.
[edit] Joe Barron, 2008
Joe Barron, one of the 40 ministers at Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in the United States with 26,000 members, was arrested on May 15, 2008 for solicitation of a minor after driving from the Dallas area to Bryan, Texas, in order to allegedly engage in sexual relations with what he thought to be a 13 year-old girl he had met online. The "girl" turned out to be an undercover law enforcement official.[30][31][32]
[edit] Todd Bentley, 2008
Main article: Todd Bentley
Canadian Todd Bentley rose to prominence as the evangelist at the Lakeland Revival in Florida, which began in April 2008. Bentley claimed that tens of thousands of people were healed at the revival, but a June 2008 investigation by ABC Nightline could not find a single confirmed case. Bentley took a short break after the program was broadcast, but returned to leading the meetings. However, in August 2008, he stepped down permanently when it was revealed he was separating from his wife, Shonnah, and was in a relationship with Jessa Hasbrook, a member of his staff.[33]
[edit] Tony Alamo, 2008
Main article: Tony Alamo
On September 20, 2008, FBI agents raided Tony Alamo Christian Ministries headquarters as part of a child pornography investigation.[34][35] This investigation involved allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse and allegations of polygamy and underage marriage. According to Terry Purvis, mayor of Fouke, Arkansas, his office has received complaints from former ministry members about allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and polygamy since the ministry established itself in the area, and in turn, Purvis turned over information about the allegations to the FBI.[36] Investigators at the scene plan to conduct a search of ministry headquarters and the home of Alamo and interview children present on the compound. In late July 2009, Alamo (who had a previous conviction for tax evasion in the 1990s) was convicted on ten counts of transporting minors across state lines for sexual purposes, sexual assault and other crimes. On November 13, 2009, he was sentenced to the maximum punishment of 175 years in prison.[37][38]
[edit] George Alan Rekers, 2010
Main article: George Alan Rekers
Penn Bullock and Brandon K. Thorp of the Miami New Times reported on May 4, 2010, that on April 13, 2010, George Alan Rekers, a far-right Christian leader was encountered and photographed at Miami International Airport returning from an extended overseas trip with a twenty-year-old "rent boy", or gay male prostitute, known as "Lucien". Given his opinion on homosexuals and homosexual behavior, the scandal surrounds Rekers' decision to employ a homosexual escort as a traveling companion, and how that runs contrary to Rekers' public stances on such issues.
Rekers claimed that Lucien was there to help carry Rekers' luggage as Rekers had allegedly had recent surgery, yet Rekers was seen carrying his own luggage when he and Lucien were spotted at the airport.[39] On his blog, Rekers denied having sex with the man.[40]
[edit] Senate probe
In 2007, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) opened a probe into the finances of six televangelists who preach a "prosperity gospel".[41] The probe is expected to investigate reports of lavish lifestyles by televangelists including: fleets of Rolls Royces, palatial mansions, private jets and other expensive items purportedly paid for by television viewers who donate due to the ministries' encouragement of offerings. The six under investigation are:
* Kenneth Copeland and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas;
* Creflo Dollar and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga;
* Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas;
* Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga;
* Joyce Meyer and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo; and
* Randy White and ex-wife Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa.[42]
[edit] See also
* Garner Ted Armstrong
* Elmer Gantry
* Televangelism
* List of convicted religious leaders
[edit] References
1. ^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Marjoe Gortner and the film Marjoe.
2. ^ Fessing up:The Art of the Public Grovel: Sexual Sin and Public Confession in America. Christian Century, Jan 13, 2009
3. ^ "Transcript: Interview with Jessica Hahn". Larry King Live (CNN). 2005-07-14. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/14/lkl.01.html. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
4. ^ Swaggart Is Barred From Pulpit for One Year, New York Times, 1998-03-30, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6D7143EF933A05750C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all, retrieved 2008-04-17
5. ^ King, Wayne (1998-02-22), Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step Down, New York Times, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE0D71F30F931A15751C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all, retrieved 2008-04-17
6. ^ Swaggart, Jimmy. "Reverend Jimmy Swaggart: Apology Sermon". americanrhetoric.com. http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jswaggartapologysermon.html. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
7. ^ "Swaggart Plans to Step Down". The New York Times. 1991-10-15. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5DA1E3BF936A25753C1A967958260. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
8. ^ Randi, James (1989). The Faith Healers. Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-535-0 page 141.
9. ^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Morris Cerullo
10. ^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Roy Clements
11. ^ "Scandal in the second biggest Pentecostal church in Britain". http://www.rickross.com/reference/clergy/clergy322.html. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
12. ^ "Disgraced Dougles Goodman out of prison and back into the pulpit. Is this right?". http://jesusblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/disgraced-douglas-goodman-out-of-prison-and-back-into-the-pulpit-is-this-right/. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
13. ^ "Downfall of a preacher man". BBC News. 2004-05-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3020832.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
14. ^ "Scandal in the church". http://chiefshepherd.com/2008/03/scandal-in-the-church/. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
15. ^ "Fall from grace". http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090621/news/news4.html. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
16. ^ Hovind v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2006-143, CCH Dec. 56,562(M) (2006).[1]
17. ^ "Disgraced pastor Haggard admits second relationship with man", CNN-TV Larry King, January 29, 2009.
18. ^ "Pastor of 2nd Colorado evangelical church resigns over gay sex allegations". Seattle Times. 2006-12-12. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003473739_webcolopastor12.html. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
19. ^ Lonnie Latham scandal
20. ^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Gilbert Deya
21. ^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Richard Roberts
22. ^ J. Lee Grady, It’s Time to Blow the Whistle on Corruption, Charisma Magazine, October 19, 2007
23. ^ Moral activist Privette arrested
24. ^ References for this section can be found in the main articles on Thomas Wesley Weeks, III and Juanita Bynum
25. ^ BBC blog, accessed 11 April 2008
26. ^ Talk To Action blog, accessed 11 April 2008
27. ^ HYPOCRISY IS THE GREATEST LUXURY, BEFOREiFORGET blog 9th April 2008
28. ^ "Bash Bishop is a Jerry Sinner", The Sun, 9th April 2008
29. ^ "Bishop who preached family values finally admits: I am an adulterer", The Daily Mail, 10th April 2008
30. ^ Eiserer, Tanya, and Sam Hodges, Minister at Prestonwood Baptist charged in Internet sex sting, Dallas Morning News, retrieved 2008-05-17
31. ^ Police say Texas minister caught in Internet sex sting, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 16, 2008, retrieved 2008-05-17
32. ^ CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/16/minister.sex.sting.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest.
33. ^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Todd Bentley
34. ^ FBI agents raid Arkansas ministry in child porn probe. (September 20, 2008). KCAL News (Los Angeles, California). Retrieved September 20, 2008.
35. ^ Evangelist's compound raided in child porn case
36. ^ Gambrell, J. (September 20, 2008). [2] Freedom Communications, Inc. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
37. ^ United Press International (UPI) http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/24/Tony-Alamo-convicted-of-sex-charges/UPI-37741248464065/
38. ^ http://www.ktbs.com/news/alamo-gets-maximum-175-year-sentence
39. ^ [3]Miami New Times, "Christian right leader George Rekers takes vacation with "rent boy"", May 4, 2010 issue
40. ^ "MISLEADING INTERNET REPORTS ABOUT PROFESSOR GEORGE REKERS". WordPress.com. May 5, 2010. http://professorgeorge.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/misleading-internet-reports-about-professor-george-rekers/. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
41. ^ "Grassley seeks information from six media-based ministries". 2007-11-06. http://grassley.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=15b0ac11-1321-0e36-ba95-dfc2c00db9c2&Month=11&Year=2007. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
42. ^ Sen. Grassley probes televangelists' finances
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_evangelist_scandals"
Categories: Christian evangelicalism | Religious scandals | Protestantism-related lists
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
10-6-2010, How Pastors Get Rich
How Pastors Get Rich
an article by Cultwatch Director Mark Vrankovich
This article exposes the secret methods certain pastors use to get rich off God's people. Have you ever wondered how some pastors start a church and then become wealthy living in flash houses and driving luxury cars? Well this article exposes how they do it, extracting money from their congregations to fund their lifestyles. Here are the secrets they definitely do not want you to know.
Important Note: As you read please remember that very few pastors use the techniques you are about to discover. The great majority of Christian pastors do not earn much money even though they work hard at their jobs. Most Christian pastors would find these techniques repugnant. Please do not make the mistake of tarring the many good pastors with the brush reserved for the spiritually corrupt few.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Multilevel Marketing Pattern
Books
DVDs
Hyped Conferences
The Christian Speaking Circuit
Pastor Owned Businesses that Feed Off the Flock
The Honor the Pastor Scam
High Pressure Offerings
Cathedral Building Wars
Siphoning Cash into Property
Excessive Wages
Perks
Nepotism
Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine
The Carrot and the Stick
Summary
Why you should read this Article
You will discover the secret techniques that certain pastors use to transfer money out of your pocket and into theirs.
You will understand the overall pattern behind their tricks.
You will learn enough to protect your friends and family.
You could gain thousands of dollars (or pounds or euros), literally. Reading this article can set you free. Free to keep more of the money that you have worked hard for. Money you can take and invest in genuine works of God, or in toys for your kids, or perhaps something shiny for your spouse.
Finally, reading this article can help you please God more, since you will no longer be investing in ungodly works.
Introduction
Like Judas reaching into the money bag, the sad reality is that a small minority of Christian pastors steal from God's people. As Christians we hate to face this truth, but I believe we must, because it is our duty to protect our less aware brothers and sisters - keeping them from these thieves.
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. - 2 Corinthians 2:17a
Here exposed are the secret techniques used to fleece money from God's people. Don't be naive thinking that these schemes have spread throughout the world by accident. These techniques are talked about and shared behind closed doors by the clique of pastors who employ them.
It's big business. Some of them laugh at us like con-men laughing at their marks. Seriously, if you don't believe that there are men like that, then watch the 1972 documentary Marjoe. You'll soon realize that these wolfs in sheep's clothing have been a blight on Christianity throughout its history.
I will start by outlining the primary pattern that underpins these modern schemes. Then I will drill down, listing each technique one by one, exposing how they work. Finally, at the end, I will outline the biggest monetary scam of all.
First let's discover the primary pattern behind their methods...
The Multilevel Marketing Pattern
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" - John 2:13-16
We've all been approached at some time by a friend caught up in the hope of multilevel marketing. The business they are pushing is simple, sell toothpaste or web sites or whatever, and then recruit people under you doing the same, taking a cut from their sales. Soon you will be so rich that you can buy a flash European car and give stacks of money to Godly causes.
That is the dream. The proof the dream works is embodied in the wealth of the dream's leaders. Do you see how rich our leaders are? They made all their money by following the dream, proving that you can too. Except, that it's a lie.
Coming up is the key to the pattern, are you ready? These leaders did not become wealthy by following the dream, instead they became wealthy by building up a group of people who believe passionately in the dream, and then selling dream-promoting wares to this captive audience.
I will say it again, because you need to understand this pattern. They did not become rich by selling toothpaste; they became rich by hyping dream-promoting books, tapes, DVDs, and conferences to their own private market of dream believers.
This same pattern is practiced by some Christian leaders and their churches. The dream is the prosperity gospel. Their captive market is their congregation. The products are, well you guessed it: books, tapes, DVDs, and conferences, and t-shirts, and most ominously spiritual rewards and the prevention of spiritual punishments.
These leaders use their faked "success" to promote a distorted gospel which basically says: "tow the line obeying the leaders buying whatever we tell you to buy, and donate money whenever we tell you to donate, and then God will pour riches into your life." They tell us that they became successful by following this dream, but in reality they became rich by sucking money out of those caught up in the buzzing environment where this distorted gospel seems real.
Let's drill in and discuss some of the products and techniques they use to line their pockets with money that ought to have stayed with God's people or gone to legitimate good works. You are about to discover how these spiritual vampires feed...
Tip: A clue that you are caught up in one of these churches is if you hear things like, "This is your spiritual home, you can't go to another church. You must be loyal." They are very jealous about protecting their market, and do not want to lose one of their paying customers to another church. Some even try to prevent their patrons leaving by making them sign contracts or "covenants", like a mobile phone company locking you into a two year term. But the Bible does not teach that Christians are bound to their local church organization, this idea is foreign to Scripture.
Books
The first product is the leader's book. Let's be honest, many of these books are below par. Like bad business books they have one good idea, if that, and then are padded with motivational sayings and anecdotal stories of how the leader obeyed the dream and so God hosed him down with wealth. The theological content is basically non-existent. These books would tank on Amazon or in a real bookstore, but hyped to their captive market they sell like hot cakes.
Your Counter Strategy: Buy the book if it's got good reviews or if your friends have read it and liked it. In other words treat it like you would any other book. Avoid buying it if the pastor or speaker has hyped it during his talk and especially if there is a lot of peer pressure from the group to buy. Be aware that conferences and seminars are designed to emotionally hype these products. If you've ever been to a high pressure time-share sales session, then you will know what it's like. If you're feeling the hype, then cool off for a few days, buying the book later if you still want to.
DVDs
Next comes the ever popular DVD. Most of which are videos of the leader preaching in his church on a certain topic. Let me ask you a question, is it ethical for a leader who has been paid by his church to prepare and deliver a sermon, to then take that performance and sell it back to his own church members for a healthy profit? I'm not talking here about paying for reproduction costs or the money going into church funds. I'm talking about DVDs being sold at the same cost as a movie DVD and the profit going into the leader's own pocket.
And like the books most of these DVD's are awful, not worth the money paid. Minimal content with gallons of fluff. Some are so bad that my friends and I have been in hysterics, like the preacher whose proofs for his latest invented doctrine is to slap the bible he's carrying and say, "It's bible, it's bible!".
But, these DVDs are hyped and hyped, and the captive audience buy stacks of them. In the worst money hungry churches you're expected to buy them, and it is noticed if you don't.
Your Counter Strategy: The same as for a hyped book. Is it good? Do you still want the DVD after the hype has dissipated? Then buy it, otherwise save your money.
Hyped Conferences
The hype for these conferences start months before hand. Other church members look at you strangely if you are thinking about not going. What, you can't afford the huge entry fee? What's wrong with you, don't you love God? Don't you want to be blessed? Don't you want to be successful and wealthy? Don't you want to be part of us? Because you won't be, unless you go to THE CONFERENCE!
Each speaker is completely amazing. The next best thing to the second coming.
He's built a church up from nothing to one with thousands of people. She's the most Godly woman in the universe who is the best wife ever with the best kids and the best lifestyle, and she's the pastor's wife too. He's from overseas. She's a corporate CEO. Wow. It's going to be awesome. It's going to be triple awesome! It's going to be mega massive triply awesomely awesome!
The spiritual reward for going is implied to be life changing. The conference fee is nothing, compared to the fire-fighting-bomber worth of blessings and wealth God will dump on your head from upon high.
And Jesus had conferences too, don't forget, like the Sermon on the Mount, where He charged, oh, he didn't charge anything for that spiritual teaching. In fact it was free wasn't it? Hmmm. Well, often the first-movers can't figure out how to monetize their success, we can't blame Jesus for that, can we? Gosh, if only He had some books to sell at the back...
Understand, I'm not against conferences. I'm against overly expensive hyped conferences that deliver hardly any lasting value to their attendees; Conferences that are linked to your standing in your church, and supposedly what God thinks of your commitment to Him.
And why are they so expensive? Where does all that money go? Well, in the next section you're going to find out...
Your Counter Strategy: Hire a hotel room, and sit there reading your Bible with a few Christian friends - trust me, spiritually you'll get more out of it and it'll cost less. Realize that you don't need the sugar high of a conference to get closer to God. Deprogram yourself from the idea that conferences are like a spiritual hot-point you just have to be at. See the hype for what it is. Be led by the Spirit to conferences, not pulled by the fear of losing your church friends and God's blessing.
The Christian Speaking Circuit
If you have a big market (congregation) and are willing to let others come and sell there, then your fellow pastors will invite you to come and sell into their markets (congregations) too. The bigger your own market, the larger the markets that will open their doors to you - as long as you are willing to reciprocate. Quid pro quo.
There is a Christian speaking circuit, just like there is a motivational speaking circuit. The circuit has no formal structure like say a football league, but rather is like an exclusive network or an old boys club.
Young speaking-cubs sweat blood to be allowed into the circuit. These wannabes practice hard and desperately seek in-circuit patrons because the financial rewards are significant. Revenue flows in four ways: from sales of products, from special "love offerings" taken for the speaker, from various perks, and from the formal payments (honorariums) for speaking.
Not all visiting church speakers are on the circuit, the difference is in the amount of money their visit extracts. There is nothing wrong with a speaker's flights and accommodation being paid for, along with the speaker receiving a fair payment for his time. But if the amounts are excessive and the perks extravagant, then that is an unacceptable waste of the Lord's money.
Some speaker's egos are so ripe that they demand business or first class flights, expensive chauffeured cars, five star hotel accommodation, gourmet dining, and the right to bring a small entourage along with them (at the church's expense). Their fees can be enough to buy a family car, and then they have the audacity to expect a special "love offering" to be made for them. The sales of their books and DVD's are carefully planned, and the hosting pastors are expected to hype their products.
Of course the hosting pastor will then get the same treatment later at the visiting speaker's church, including his own big fat love offering. If the visiting speaker does not have a church, then the hosting pastor will expect a cut from the speaker's product sales.
These Sunday service speaking engagements are the bread and butter, to the glamour and super-liquidity of the hyped conferences. Only the true speaking-circuit superstars get to keynote at these hype-fests. The speakers at these conferences are like sharks in a feeding frenzy, seeking to boost their profit margins with the over inflated prices of their products. Their speaking fees and perks are why these conferences cost so much, and can sometimes even run at a, ahem, cough, "loss".
It is unbelievable what some of these speakers expect from the Body of Christ. I would not like to be in their shoes when they finally meet our Lord, or for that matter anywhere within the blast radius.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't go to these conferences. Demand transparent accounting to the whole church of all costs of visiting speakers, and for that matter transparency about any income your pastor is earning while speaking at other churches and conferences. No pastor earning reasonable fees from away engagements would have a problem with this, assuming of course he is on leave when he speaks and not double dipping.
Pastor Owned Businesses that Feed Off the Flock
Another way bad pastors extract money from their captive market is to set up a business, and then get their congregation to patronize their business.
Businesses like: bookshops, counseling, gyms, production firms, computer consulting, cinemas, business coaching services, supermarkets, building firms, music festivals, music studios, real-estate firms, and many more. The bookshop is the most common, often located inside the church itself.
Members in the church who show loyalty to their pastor's businesses are rewarded, often with increased standing in the church. Members who refuse to use the pastor's businesses are frowned upon.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't frequent these types of businesses. Ask questions about who owns them, and where their customers are from, if eighty percent or more of the customers come from the pastor's church then that indicates where its marketing is targeted.
The Honor The Pastor Scam
Money focused churches tend to be run on cultic patterns. One of these cultic patterns is the division of the church into exclusive rings: the all-powerful pastor perched at the center, the inner-ring of sycophants around him consisting of the pastor's lieutenants and the church's privileged class (the rich, the famous and the very pretty), and the outer-ring of the ordinary folk who would love to be in the inner-ring, but are not.
The power of those in the inner-ring is determined by the amount of favor the pastor bestows upon them.
To get more favor the inner-ring will employ many favor-currying measures, one of which is a scam called "Honoring the Pastor". It works this way, the inner-ring will figure out what the pastor would like, say for his birthday. Then the inner-ringers will squeeze the outer-ringers for the money to buy this item.
Using this method pastors have been "given": diamond rings for their wives, cash gifts, jet skis, luxury cruises, motorbikes, cars, holidays, boats, and a myriad of other expensive luxury items.
Are the pastors complicit in this game? Of course they are. They couldn't demand the gift openly themselves, but seek plausible deniability by having their inner-ring lieutenants do the work. Of course they could refuse the gift when it is presented, and make it clear that they don't want the Lord's money spent on such things again, but they never do. These pastors exchange their favor, for cash from their congregation.
Your Counter Strategy: Unless it's something reasonable like a bunch of flowers for the pastor's wife, don't give to this sort of fund raising.
High Pressure Offerings
Another way the pastor uses his inner-ring to extract cash, is via high pressure offering talks in the church services.
One of the church's inner-ring will take the Sunday offering, which in these money focused churches can turn into a mini-sermon. These inner-ring members are competing against each other's past high scores. At stake is their standing with the pastor and hence their standing in the church. If they rake in the cash then their position is secure, but if they score low then no matter what excuses they have they know the pastor will blame them.
In the extreme money focused churches it is made known who gave the most and who gave the least, and in these churches the giving will not be in secret but people will be expected to come up the front so that everyone can see how much they give. Or people will be watched to see if they put anything in the offering container as it is passed down the aisles.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Your Counter Strategy: If you feel you are being compelled to give then don't give a penny, no matter how much pressure is applied.
Cathedral Building Wars
Like the cathedral building wars in the middle ages where cities and countries vied against each other to build the most impressive cathedral. The pastors of these money focused churches fight to own the most impressive church to top their rival pastors - their egos demand that they are the king of the heap.
The most impressive churches require the most magnificent buildings, the most professional entertainment in their services, the best church programs, and the best conferences, the best websites, the best radio and TV programs, and the most members. All this costs a lot of money.
And just like in the days of old these self anointed church kings seek to tax their subjects to fund their private war.
Understand that these cultic churches ultimately exist to serve their pastor's insecure egos, and their congregation suffer under their madness. This type of church culture breeds a harsh environment where people are discarded as soon as they are no longer useful. This is a dysfunctional ethos entirely alien to that of Jesus's teachings.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't help fund these monuments to the pastor's pride and prestige, these pet projects, these grandiose visions. Realize that these churches are not focused on Jesus, but are centered around the narcissistic pastor and what he desires most. Don't be part of this game. Surely we are accountable to God to how we spend our money. Surely then it is our duty as Christians to give that money to true Godly works that bear real fruit for the Kingdom.
Siphoning Cash into Property
Is it ethical for the pastor (or his company or trust) to own property that the church is paying for? Of course not.
Another variation on this scam is the church trust being controlled by the pastor and his family, so they control both the church's cash and property.
Some of these pastors are very clever in how they hide the money trail. But ultimately if church money is paying for an asset the pastor owns, except via his wages of course, then it is almost certainly wrong. Imagine the furor if a politician was caught siphoning off government money into property or assets owned by himself.
Your Counter Strategy: Check who owns your church's property. If it is a trust or company then find out who owns and controls that entity. Then look at what your pastor owns directly or indirectly, and who is paying for those assets. Stop giving to that church until any unethical dealings like these are stopped and the money repaid.
Excessive Wages
The Bible teaches that the spiritual worker deserves to be paid:
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." - 1 Timothy 5:17-18
I believe it is reasonable to assume that Paul the Apostle meant only fair wages, not excessive wages, and that Paul would have agreed with what Peter the Apostle wrote:
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. - 1 Peter 5:1-3
Obviously one of the ways greedy pastors can extract money from God's people is via excessive wages. The amount of which they will often decide themselves, or have conferred on them by their sycophants (via the church board, or the church wages review committee, for example).
No honest pastor would have a problem with his congregation knowing how much their church pays him, or at least what range his wage fell in, like say "between $50,000 and $60,000". This is normal. Openness regarding the pastor's stipend has been a practice of the Christian church for hundreds of years, and continues today. Only those pastors who have an excessive wage would be reluctant to let the amount become public knowledge.
If your pastor refuses to be open about his wage then be very suspicious. It is likely he knows that the amount would be considered excessive. If it is excessive, then watch him dodge the issue like a sweaty politician.
Be even more suspicious whenever you hear a pastor's wage being justified by comparing him to a CEO. If you hear this CEO nonsense then you can instantly know two things: first, the pastor's wage is massive; second, you are being scammed. A pastor is not a CEO no matter how big his church empire is; a CEO runs a for monetary-profit organization, a pastors serves the people of God - they are not the same thing.
By the way, if the pastor claims to be a CEO, then you must be a shareholder. Shareholders have full rights to the accounts, including how much their "CEO" is earning.
Your Counter Strategy: Find out how much your pastor is paid. If he will not reveal the information then stop giving to that church until it is revealed. Especially stop if you hear any of this "CEO" rubbish.
Perks
Expensive leased cars, holidays, clothing allowances, spending money, restaurant meals, hotels, flights, and expense accounts, are some of the perks demanded by these luxury smitten pastors.
Some say that if they are preaching the "prosperity gospel", then they have to appear prosperous to "walk their talk". But of course that is a deception. They are using God's money to misrepresent how wealthy they are, to help prove their false teaching works. Despicable.
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. - 2 Corinthians 4:2
What is worse, many of these churches make their members complicit in this deception. Members are instructed to wear expensive clothes and groom themselves in the manner expected of the rich. They are encouraged to buy (or lease) the most impressive car they can afford. Members are required to appear happy and successful. The excuse given is that the appearance of success breeds success, but this is nonsense, more likely it breeds significant debt. The real reason the leaders want their church members to appear successful is to trick others into thinking that the prosperity dream that they preach really works.
Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving money in protest, until the excessive perks are removed. Ignore any pressure to live beyond your means.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Nepotism
A church isn't a family business you know; it is a family, but it's not a business.
Are the pastor's relatives high up in the church? Are they the ones with the most powerful positions? Then that is nepotism. A good church will choose the very best people for the job, while a bad church will reward those closest to the pastor with the lucrative positions of power.
If you see nepotism, then that is a sign that something is very wrong.
Your Counter Strategy: Yup, you guessed it - stop giving to that church until the pastor's little family fiefdom is disassembled.
Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine
This is the big daddy. This is their sacred cow. This is the beating heart of their evil empire. The crown jewel. The Death Star. The one ring to bill them all. The pot of gold. Their matrix (into which they want to plug you). Their Wizard of Oz. Their magic spell. Their special power. Their secret recipe with the eleven herbs and spices. Their Golden Goose. The very air upon which they breathe!
Question this doctrine and watch these money hungry pastors bare their fangs. This is a teaching that they will bear no compromise on. Tithing, or at least their own version of tithing, is their one true love.
Here are some bullet points about tithing that these money hungry pastors don't want you to know:
* The New Testament Church did not tithe.
* The New Testament does not teach tithing for Christians.
* Their favorite Malachi verses cannot be used for Christians since Christians are not under the law of Moses.
* Abraham's one off tithe of his war booty did not set up a precedent for Christians to regularly tithe their income.
* The version of tithing they teach cannot be found in Scripture (see below).
* The "Storehouse" in Malachi cannot be equated to your local church organization.
* There are plenty of rich (money wise) Christians who do not tithe. This would be impossible if their version of tithing was true.
* The New Testament teaching is that you decide how much to give, and there are no rules about where it goes. You cannot be compelled to give.
It may come as a surprise to learn that their tithing doctrine is a combination of twisted scriptures and wishful thinking, as opposed to solid Biblical exegesis reflecting a central thrust of New Testament teaching. Here is their tithing doctrine stated in a nutshell:
"Christians must give ten percent of their gross income only to their church organization. If they do, then God will bless them for any offerings they make to the church organization beyond this ten percent. But if they do not give ten percent gross, then they are stealing from God and God will curse them."
There are variations of this teaching, and sometimes it is called a "principle", but the above definition contains the core essence of this doctrine.
It is vital to grasp that tithing is not for Christians. Tithing was part of the old law (of Moses) which was fulfilled (completed) by Jesus. You know that Christians are not under the law of Moses don't you?
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. - Romans 7:6
know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. - Galatians 2:16
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." - Galatians 3:10
New wine should not be put into old wine skins, nor should new unshrunk cloth be used to patch an old garment; if you think you need to obey the law of tithing then you need to obey the whole law (or you will be cursed, Galatians 3:10).
What is more, this tithing doctrine they teach isn't found in either the New or Old Testament. Tithing in the old testament does not match what these pastors preach - this unique tithe teaching is of their own invention.
This is such an important subject that Cultwatch has a special website TithingDebate.com dedicated to setting Christians free from this fake doctrine. There are free books to download and articles to read. Make sure you read our article "Should you give? New Testament Giving Supported!", because Cultwatch is not anti-giving. If you think tithing is for Christians today, then you need to read TithingDebate.com
Tip: If you are struggling to feed your family or buy them clothes, then understand that you do not need to give to the church. You can still do so if you choose, but you should not feel under compulsion since your family is more important. Also understand that if you are poor then that does not mean God is cursing you, or that you have done something wrong; this is an erroneous teaching these greedy men promote to guilt you into giving. Remember, your duty is to your family first. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8
Tip: Churches that push this erroneous tithing doctrine will often try to enforce tithing via written agreements (called covenants), and also by monitoring what people give (so they can compel them to give more if they are not meeting the ten percent target). First, grasp that these "covenants" are illegitimate and not worth the paper they are printed on, because they contain false doctrine (like tithing) and set up the pastors as a false authority over you. God would not be party to a covenant that contains falsehoods, therefore God was not party to the covenant you were pressured to sign, therefore you are free from this burden. It is as if you never signed it. Second, recording what you give and using that information to pressure you to give more is wrong, the Bible implies that our giving is best done in secret so that only we and God know what we gave. Don't go to a church where they monitor what you give. (note: some churches voluntarily let you record what you have given via a numbered envelope system for tax purposes. Done correctly, no one in the church will know what you gave. There is nothing wrong with this kind of recording.)
Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving to that church until they change their ways. That doesn't mean to stop giving to Godly works, we would encourage you to give as the Holy Spirit prompts you and as you decide. But it is valid to protest false doctrine by refusing to fund the system that promotes that false doctrine.
The Carrot and the Stick
These pastors are not only money hungry, but often power hungry too. They commit the sin of the Pharisees and appoint themselves as middle men between God and you. They seek to replace the Holy Spirit in your life. They "lord it over" their flocks. Read Cultwatch's articles on the "Super Apostles" here if you want to find out more.
Using the connection they claim to have with God they threaten you with the stick of spiritual curses if you disobey them, and dangle the carrot of spiritual blessings if you comply. They seek to dominate your life; often implying that they have say in where you work, where you fellowship, who you marry, and of course, when, where, and how much you should give.
This is a false spiritual authority not supported by Scripture. In fact I believe it to be quite devilish (the desire to control and dominate others).
In these pastor's prosperity teaching, obeying the pastor and giving money are the two pillars necessary for a successful Christian life. If you sit back and think about it, you will quickly see what a con it is.
These men want to be at the head of everything, they want to dominate you, they want to be seen as the big man, and some even secretly desire adoration (almost worship). This is the opposite of true Christian leadership:
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. - Luke 22:24-27
I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. - 2 Corinthians 1:23-24
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. - Mark 10:42-44
Threatening people with curses if they do not obey or donate is spiritual extortion. It is contrary to the nature of grace and the person of Jesus.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't be afraid of these men. Ignore their bluster. Grow a backbone and stand up to them. And if you give, then give to honor God and not out of fear of punishment or greed for financial gain. Memorize this verse: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Summary
I believe many church goers would be shocked if they could comprehend the real attitude their pastor has towards them. From my experience with both the cults and these money focused churches, it is my impression that instead of being looked upon with love, these pastors see their congregation as farm animals to be milked.
It is my prayer that this article will set you free from this kind of spiritual bondage. I hope now you will be able to spot this counterfeit Christian life and be able to transition into a closer walk with Jesus; a walk built on love, trust and grace, not fear.
To summarize what we have learnt about the methods money hungry pastors use to feed off their flock: We discovered the multilevel marketing pattern that these often ex-salesmen (not theologians) model their churches. We examined some of the products they sell into their captive market like books and DVDs. We unhyped the hyped conferences, and exposed the christian speaking circuit. Next we talked about how spiritually dishonest pastors set up their own businesses that their followers are expected to patronize. After that came the scam of "honoring the pastor" with gifts of luxury items. We delved into the high pressure offering mini-sermons that are designed to guilt people into giving. We examined how most of the money gained is used to build the pastor's modern day cathedrals, projects that their fragile egos demand. We exposed the scam of siphoning the church's cash into properties and assets owned by the pastor. We covered the obvious points of excessive wages and extravagant perks, and that was followed by the not so obvious problem of nepotism. Their big daddy came second to last - their fabricated tithing doctrine was exposed for what it is, a fraud. Finally we discussed the spiritual carrot and stick of the false authority that the pastors claim.
There are other methods these guys use to extract money from churches. Revisit this article regularly to discover these methods in future updates.
Realize that a number of churches follow the patterns that this article exposes. However there are many good churches who do not practice these methods. If you have been hurt by these practices then feel free to give up on these twisted money-focused environments, but please do not give up on Jesus.
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. - 2 Corinthians 2:17. Therefore, can we conclude that men who peddle the word of God for profit are not sent from God?
Feel free to think this one through for yourself.
Please link to this article, and email the link to your friends and family. Help us get the word out there.
CW Article Version 1.1
an article by Cultwatch Director Mark Vrankovich
This article exposes the secret methods certain pastors use to get rich off God's people. Have you ever wondered how some pastors start a church and then become wealthy living in flash houses and driving luxury cars? Well this article exposes how they do it, extracting money from their congregations to fund their lifestyles. Here are the secrets they definitely do not want you to know.
Important Note: As you read please remember that very few pastors use the techniques you are about to discover. The great majority of Christian pastors do not earn much money even though they work hard at their jobs. Most Christian pastors would find these techniques repugnant. Please do not make the mistake of tarring the many good pastors with the brush reserved for the spiritually corrupt few.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Multilevel Marketing Pattern
Books
DVDs
Hyped Conferences
The Christian Speaking Circuit
Pastor Owned Businesses that Feed Off the Flock
The Honor the Pastor Scam
High Pressure Offerings
Cathedral Building Wars
Siphoning Cash into Property
Excessive Wages
Perks
Nepotism
Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine
The Carrot and the Stick
Summary
Why you should read this Article
You will discover the secret techniques that certain pastors use to transfer money out of your pocket and into theirs.
You will understand the overall pattern behind their tricks.
You will learn enough to protect your friends and family.
You could gain thousands of dollars (or pounds or euros), literally. Reading this article can set you free. Free to keep more of the money that you have worked hard for. Money you can take and invest in genuine works of God, or in toys for your kids, or perhaps something shiny for your spouse.
Finally, reading this article can help you please God more, since you will no longer be investing in ungodly works.
Introduction
Like Judas reaching into the money bag, the sad reality is that a small minority of Christian pastors steal from God's people. As Christians we hate to face this truth, but I believe we must, because it is our duty to protect our less aware brothers and sisters - keeping them from these thieves.
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. - 2 Corinthians 2:17a
Here exposed are the secret techniques used to fleece money from God's people. Don't be naive thinking that these schemes have spread throughout the world by accident. These techniques are talked about and shared behind closed doors by the clique of pastors who employ them.
It's big business. Some of them laugh at us like con-men laughing at their marks. Seriously, if you don't believe that there are men like that, then watch the 1972 documentary Marjoe. You'll soon realize that these wolfs in sheep's clothing have been a blight on Christianity throughout its history.
I will start by outlining the primary pattern that underpins these modern schemes. Then I will drill down, listing each technique one by one, exposing how they work. Finally, at the end, I will outline the biggest monetary scam of all.
First let's discover the primary pattern behind their methods...
The Multilevel Marketing Pattern
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" - John 2:13-16
We've all been approached at some time by a friend caught up in the hope of multilevel marketing. The business they are pushing is simple, sell toothpaste or web sites or whatever, and then recruit people under you doing the same, taking a cut from their sales. Soon you will be so rich that you can buy a flash European car and give stacks of money to Godly causes.
That is the dream. The proof the dream works is embodied in the wealth of the dream's leaders. Do you see how rich our leaders are? They made all their money by following the dream, proving that you can too. Except, that it's a lie.
Coming up is the key to the pattern, are you ready? These leaders did not become wealthy by following the dream, instead they became wealthy by building up a group of people who believe passionately in the dream, and then selling dream-promoting wares to this captive audience.
I will say it again, because you need to understand this pattern. They did not become rich by selling toothpaste; they became rich by hyping dream-promoting books, tapes, DVDs, and conferences to their own private market of dream believers.
This same pattern is practiced by some Christian leaders and their churches. The dream is the prosperity gospel. Their captive market is their congregation. The products are, well you guessed it: books, tapes, DVDs, and conferences, and t-shirts, and most ominously spiritual rewards and the prevention of spiritual punishments.
These leaders use their faked "success" to promote a distorted gospel which basically says: "tow the line obeying the leaders buying whatever we tell you to buy, and donate money whenever we tell you to donate, and then God will pour riches into your life." They tell us that they became successful by following this dream, but in reality they became rich by sucking money out of those caught up in the buzzing environment where this distorted gospel seems real.
Let's drill in and discuss some of the products and techniques they use to line their pockets with money that ought to have stayed with God's people or gone to legitimate good works. You are about to discover how these spiritual vampires feed...
Tip: A clue that you are caught up in one of these churches is if you hear things like, "This is your spiritual home, you can't go to another church. You must be loyal." They are very jealous about protecting their market, and do not want to lose one of their paying customers to another church. Some even try to prevent their patrons leaving by making them sign contracts or "covenants", like a mobile phone company locking you into a two year term. But the Bible does not teach that Christians are bound to their local church organization, this idea is foreign to Scripture.
Books
The first product is the leader's book. Let's be honest, many of these books are below par. Like bad business books they have one good idea, if that, and then are padded with motivational sayings and anecdotal stories of how the leader obeyed the dream and so God hosed him down with wealth. The theological content is basically non-existent. These books would tank on Amazon or in a real bookstore, but hyped to their captive market they sell like hot cakes.
Your Counter Strategy: Buy the book if it's got good reviews or if your friends have read it and liked it. In other words treat it like you would any other book. Avoid buying it if the pastor or speaker has hyped it during his talk and especially if there is a lot of peer pressure from the group to buy. Be aware that conferences and seminars are designed to emotionally hype these products. If you've ever been to a high pressure time-share sales session, then you will know what it's like. If you're feeling the hype, then cool off for a few days, buying the book later if you still want to.
DVDs
Next comes the ever popular DVD. Most of which are videos of the leader preaching in his church on a certain topic. Let me ask you a question, is it ethical for a leader who has been paid by his church to prepare and deliver a sermon, to then take that performance and sell it back to his own church members for a healthy profit? I'm not talking here about paying for reproduction costs or the money going into church funds. I'm talking about DVDs being sold at the same cost as a movie DVD and the profit going into the leader's own pocket.
And like the books most of these DVD's are awful, not worth the money paid. Minimal content with gallons of fluff. Some are so bad that my friends and I have been in hysterics, like the preacher whose proofs for his latest invented doctrine is to slap the bible he's carrying and say, "It's bible, it's bible!".
But, these DVDs are hyped and hyped, and the captive audience buy stacks of them. In the worst money hungry churches you're expected to buy them, and it is noticed if you don't.
Your Counter Strategy: The same as for a hyped book. Is it good? Do you still want the DVD after the hype has dissipated? Then buy it, otherwise save your money.
Hyped Conferences
The hype for these conferences start months before hand. Other church members look at you strangely if you are thinking about not going. What, you can't afford the huge entry fee? What's wrong with you, don't you love God? Don't you want to be blessed? Don't you want to be successful and wealthy? Don't you want to be part of us? Because you won't be, unless you go to THE CONFERENCE!
Each speaker is completely amazing. The next best thing to the second coming.
He's built a church up from nothing to one with thousands of people. She's the most Godly woman in the universe who is the best wife ever with the best kids and the best lifestyle, and she's the pastor's wife too. He's from overseas. She's a corporate CEO. Wow. It's going to be awesome. It's going to be triple awesome! It's going to be mega massive triply awesomely awesome!
The spiritual reward for going is implied to be life changing. The conference fee is nothing, compared to the fire-fighting-bomber worth of blessings and wealth God will dump on your head from upon high.
And Jesus had conferences too, don't forget, like the Sermon on the Mount, where He charged, oh, he didn't charge anything for that spiritual teaching. In fact it was free wasn't it? Hmmm. Well, often the first-movers can't figure out how to monetize their success, we can't blame Jesus for that, can we? Gosh, if only He had some books to sell at the back...
Understand, I'm not against conferences. I'm against overly expensive hyped conferences that deliver hardly any lasting value to their attendees; Conferences that are linked to your standing in your church, and supposedly what God thinks of your commitment to Him.
And why are they so expensive? Where does all that money go? Well, in the next section you're going to find out...
Your Counter Strategy: Hire a hotel room, and sit there reading your Bible with a few Christian friends - trust me, spiritually you'll get more out of it and it'll cost less. Realize that you don't need the sugar high of a conference to get closer to God. Deprogram yourself from the idea that conferences are like a spiritual hot-point you just have to be at. See the hype for what it is. Be led by the Spirit to conferences, not pulled by the fear of losing your church friends and God's blessing.
The Christian Speaking Circuit
If you have a big market (congregation) and are willing to let others come and sell there, then your fellow pastors will invite you to come and sell into their markets (congregations) too. The bigger your own market, the larger the markets that will open their doors to you - as long as you are willing to reciprocate. Quid pro quo.
There is a Christian speaking circuit, just like there is a motivational speaking circuit. The circuit has no formal structure like say a football league, but rather is like an exclusive network or an old boys club.
Young speaking-cubs sweat blood to be allowed into the circuit. These wannabes practice hard and desperately seek in-circuit patrons because the financial rewards are significant. Revenue flows in four ways: from sales of products, from special "love offerings" taken for the speaker, from various perks, and from the formal payments (honorariums) for speaking.
Not all visiting church speakers are on the circuit, the difference is in the amount of money their visit extracts. There is nothing wrong with a speaker's flights and accommodation being paid for, along with the speaker receiving a fair payment for his time. But if the amounts are excessive and the perks extravagant, then that is an unacceptable waste of the Lord's money.
Some speaker's egos are so ripe that they demand business or first class flights, expensive chauffeured cars, five star hotel accommodation, gourmet dining, and the right to bring a small entourage along with them (at the church's expense). Their fees can be enough to buy a family car, and then they have the audacity to expect a special "love offering" to be made for them. The sales of their books and DVD's are carefully planned, and the hosting pastors are expected to hype their products.
Of course the hosting pastor will then get the same treatment later at the visiting speaker's church, including his own big fat love offering. If the visiting speaker does not have a church, then the hosting pastor will expect a cut from the speaker's product sales.
These Sunday service speaking engagements are the bread and butter, to the glamour and super-liquidity of the hyped conferences. Only the true speaking-circuit superstars get to keynote at these hype-fests. The speakers at these conferences are like sharks in a feeding frenzy, seeking to boost their profit margins with the over inflated prices of their products. Their speaking fees and perks are why these conferences cost so much, and can sometimes even run at a, ahem, cough, "loss".
It is unbelievable what some of these speakers expect from the Body of Christ. I would not like to be in their shoes when they finally meet our Lord, or for that matter anywhere within the blast radius.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't go to these conferences. Demand transparent accounting to the whole church of all costs of visiting speakers, and for that matter transparency about any income your pastor is earning while speaking at other churches and conferences. No pastor earning reasonable fees from away engagements would have a problem with this, assuming of course he is on leave when he speaks and not double dipping.
Pastor Owned Businesses that Feed Off the Flock
Another way bad pastors extract money from their captive market is to set up a business, and then get their congregation to patronize their business.
Businesses like: bookshops, counseling, gyms, production firms, computer consulting, cinemas, business coaching services, supermarkets, building firms, music festivals, music studios, real-estate firms, and many more. The bookshop is the most common, often located inside the church itself.
Members in the church who show loyalty to their pastor's businesses are rewarded, often with increased standing in the church. Members who refuse to use the pastor's businesses are frowned upon.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't frequent these types of businesses. Ask questions about who owns them, and where their customers are from, if eighty percent or more of the customers come from the pastor's church then that indicates where its marketing is targeted.
The Honor The Pastor Scam
Money focused churches tend to be run on cultic patterns. One of these cultic patterns is the division of the church into exclusive rings: the all-powerful pastor perched at the center, the inner-ring of sycophants around him consisting of the pastor's lieutenants and the church's privileged class (the rich, the famous and the very pretty), and the outer-ring of the ordinary folk who would love to be in the inner-ring, but are not.
The power of those in the inner-ring is determined by the amount of favor the pastor bestows upon them.
To get more favor the inner-ring will employ many favor-currying measures, one of which is a scam called "Honoring the Pastor". It works this way, the inner-ring will figure out what the pastor would like, say for his birthday. Then the inner-ringers will squeeze the outer-ringers for the money to buy this item.
Using this method pastors have been "given": diamond rings for their wives, cash gifts, jet skis, luxury cruises, motorbikes, cars, holidays, boats, and a myriad of other expensive luxury items.
Are the pastors complicit in this game? Of course they are. They couldn't demand the gift openly themselves, but seek plausible deniability by having their inner-ring lieutenants do the work. Of course they could refuse the gift when it is presented, and make it clear that they don't want the Lord's money spent on such things again, but they never do. These pastors exchange their favor, for cash from their congregation.
Your Counter Strategy: Unless it's something reasonable like a bunch of flowers for the pastor's wife, don't give to this sort of fund raising.
High Pressure Offerings
Another way the pastor uses his inner-ring to extract cash, is via high pressure offering talks in the church services.
One of the church's inner-ring will take the Sunday offering, which in these money focused churches can turn into a mini-sermon. These inner-ring members are competing against each other's past high scores. At stake is their standing with the pastor and hence their standing in the church. If they rake in the cash then their position is secure, but if they score low then no matter what excuses they have they know the pastor will blame them.
In the extreme money focused churches it is made known who gave the most and who gave the least, and in these churches the giving will not be in secret but people will be expected to come up the front so that everyone can see how much they give. Or people will be watched to see if they put anything in the offering container as it is passed down the aisles.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Your Counter Strategy: If you feel you are being compelled to give then don't give a penny, no matter how much pressure is applied.
Cathedral Building Wars
Like the cathedral building wars in the middle ages where cities and countries vied against each other to build the most impressive cathedral. The pastors of these money focused churches fight to own the most impressive church to top their rival pastors - their egos demand that they are the king of the heap.
The most impressive churches require the most magnificent buildings, the most professional entertainment in their services, the best church programs, and the best conferences, the best websites, the best radio and TV programs, and the most members. All this costs a lot of money.
And just like in the days of old these self anointed church kings seek to tax their subjects to fund their private war.
Understand that these cultic churches ultimately exist to serve their pastor's insecure egos, and their congregation suffer under their madness. This type of church culture breeds a harsh environment where people are discarded as soon as they are no longer useful. This is a dysfunctional ethos entirely alien to that of Jesus's teachings.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't help fund these monuments to the pastor's pride and prestige, these pet projects, these grandiose visions. Realize that these churches are not focused on Jesus, but are centered around the narcissistic pastor and what he desires most. Don't be part of this game. Surely we are accountable to God to how we spend our money. Surely then it is our duty as Christians to give that money to true Godly works that bear real fruit for the Kingdom.
Siphoning Cash into Property
Is it ethical for the pastor (or his company or trust) to own property that the church is paying for? Of course not.
Another variation on this scam is the church trust being controlled by the pastor and his family, so they control both the church's cash and property.
Some of these pastors are very clever in how they hide the money trail. But ultimately if church money is paying for an asset the pastor owns, except via his wages of course, then it is almost certainly wrong. Imagine the furor if a politician was caught siphoning off government money into property or assets owned by himself.
Your Counter Strategy: Check who owns your church's property. If it is a trust or company then find out who owns and controls that entity. Then look at what your pastor owns directly or indirectly, and who is paying for those assets. Stop giving to that church until any unethical dealings like these are stopped and the money repaid.
Excessive Wages
The Bible teaches that the spiritual worker deserves to be paid:
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." - 1 Timothy 5:17-18
I believe it is reasonable to assume that Paul the Apostle meant only fair wages, not excessive wages, and that Paul would have agreed with what Peter the Apostle wrote:
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. - 1 Peter 5:1-3
Obviously one of the ways greedy pastors can extract money from God's people is via excessive wages. The amount of which they will often decide themselves, or have conferred on them by their sycophants (via the church board, or the church wages review committee, for example).
No honest pastor would have a problem with his congregation knowing how much their church pays him, or at least what range his wage fell in, like say "between $50,000 and $60,000". This is normal. Openness regarding the pastor's stipend has been a practice of the Christian church for hundreds of years, and continues today. Only those pastors who have an excessive wage would be reluctant to let the amount become public knowledge.
If your pastor refuses to be open about his wage then be very suspicious. It is likely he knows that the amount would be considered excessive. If it is excessive, then watch him dodge the issue like a sweaty politician.
Be even more suspicious whenever you hear a pastor's wage being justified by comparing him to a CEO. If you hear this CEO nonsense then you can instantly know two things: first, the pastor's wage is massive; second, you are being scammed. A pastor is not a CEO no matter how big his church empire is; a CEO runs a for monetary-profit organization, a pastors serves the people of God - they are not the same thing.
By the way, if the pastor claims to be a CEO, then you must be a shareholder. Shareholders have full rights to the accounts, including how much their "CEO" is earning.
Your Counter Strategy: Find out how much your pastor is paid. If he will not reveal the information then stop giving to that church until it is revealed. Especially stop if you hear any of this "CEO" rubbish.
Perks
Expensive leased cars, holidays, clothing allowances, spending money, restaurant meals, hotels, flights, and expense accounts, are some of the perks demanded by these luxury smitten pastors.
Some say that if they are preaching the "prosperity gospel", then they have to appear prosperous to "walk their talk". But of course that is a deception. They are using God's money to misrepresent how wealthy they are, to help prove their false teaching works. Despicable.
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. - 2 Corinthians 4:2
What is worse, many of these churches make their members complicit in this deception. Members are instructed to wear expensive clothes and groom themselves in the manner expected of the rich. They are encouraged to buy (or lease) the most impressive car they can afford. Members are required to appear happy and successful. The excuse given is that the appearance of success breeds success, but this is nonsense, more likely it breeds significant debt. The real reason the leaders want their church members to appear successful is to trick others into thinking that the prosperity dream that they preach really works.
Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving money in protest, until the excessive perks are removed. Ignore any pressure to live beyond your means.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Nepotism
A church isn't a family business you know; it is a family, but it's not a business.
Are the pastor's relatives high up in the church? Are they the ones with the most powerful positions? Then that is nepotism. A good church will choose the very best people for the job, while a bad church will reward those closest to the pastor with the lucrative positions of power.
If you see nepotism, then that is a sign that something is very wrong.
Your Counter Strategy: Yup, you guessed it - stop giving to that church until the pastor's little family fiefdom is disassembled.
Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine
This is the big daddy. This is their sacred cow. This is the beating heart of their evil empire. The crown jewel. The Death Star. The one ring to bill them all. The pot of gold. Their matrix (into which they want to plug you). Their Wizard of Oz. Their magic spell. Their special power. Their secret recipe with the eleven herbs and spices. Their Golden Goose. The very air upon which they breathe!
Question this doctrine and watch these money hungry pastors bare their fangs. This is a teaching that they will bear no compromise on. Tithing, or at least their own version of tithing, is their one true love.
Here are some bullet points about tithing that these money hungry pastors don't want you to know:
* The New Testament Church did not tithe.
* The New Testament does not teach tithing for Christians.
* Their favorite Malachi verses cannot be used for Christians since Christians are not under the law of Moses.
* Abraham's one off tithe of his war booty did not set up a precedent for Christians to regularly tithe their income.
* The version of tithing they teach cannot be found in Scripture (see below).
* The "Storehouse" in Malachi cannot be equated to your local church organization.
* There are plenty of rich (money wise) Christians who do not tithe. This would be impossible if their version of tithing was true.
* The New Testament teaching is that you decide how much to give, and there are no rules about where it goes. You cannot be compelled to give.
It may come as a surprise to learn that their tithing doctrine is a combination of twisted scriptures and wishful thinking, as opposed to solid Biblical exegesis reflecting a central thrust of New Testament teaching. Here is their tithing doctrine stated in a nutshell:
"Christians must give ten percent of their gross income only to their church organization. If they do, then God will bless them for any offerings they make to the church organization beyond this ten percent. But if they do not give ten percent gross, then they are stealing from God and God will curse them."
There are variations of this teaching, and sometimes it is called a "principle", but the above definition contains the core essence of this doctrine.
It is vital to grasp that tithing is not for Christians. Tithing was part of the old law (of Moses) which was fulfilled (completed) by Jesus. You know that Christians are not under the law of Moses don't you?
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. - Romans 7:6
know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. - Galatians 2:16
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." - Galatians 3:10
New wine should not be put into old wine skins, nor should new unshrunk cloth be used to patch an old garment; if you think you need to obey the law of tithing then you need to obey the whole law (or you will be cursed, Galatians 3:10).
What is more, this tithing doctrine they teach isn't found in either the New or Old Testament. Tithing in the old testament does not match what these pastors preach - this unique tithe teaching is of their own invention.
This is such an important subject that Cultwatch has a special website TithingDebate.com dedicated to setting Christians free from this fake doctrine. There are free books to download and articles to read. Make sure you read our article "Should you give? New Testament Giving Supported!", because Cultwatch is not anti-giving. If you think tithing is for Christians today, then you need to read TithingDebate.com
Tip: If you are struggling to feed your family or buy them clothes, then understand that you do not need to give to the church. You can still do so if you choose, but you should not feel under compulsion since your family is more important. Also understand that if you are poor then that does not mean God is cursing you, or that you have done something wrong; this is an erroneous teaching these greedy men promote to guilt you into giving. Remember, your duty is to your family first. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8
Tip: Churches that push this erroneous tithing doctrine will often try to enforce tithing via written agreements (called covenants), and also by monitoring what people give (so they can compel them to give more if they are not meeting the ten percent target). First, grasp that these "covenants" are illegitimate and not worth the paper they are printed on, because they contain false doctrine (like tithing) and set up the pastors as a false authority over you. God would not be party to a covenant that contains falsehoods, therefore God was not party to the covenant you were pressured to sign, therefore you are free from this burden. It is as if you never signed it. Second, recording what you give and using that information to pressure you to give more is wrong, the Bible implies that our giving is best done in secret so that only we and God know what we gave. Don't go to a church where they monitor what you give. (note: some churches voluntarily let you record what you have given via a numbered envelope system for tax purposes. Done correctly, no one in the church will know what you gave. There is nothing wrong with this kind of recording.)
Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving to that church until they change their ways. That doesn't mean to stop giving to Godly works, we would encourage you to give as the Holy Spirit prompts you and as you decide. But it is valid to protest false doctrine by refusing to fund the system that promotes that false doctrine.
The Carrot and the Stick
These pastors are not only money hungry, but often power hungry too. They commit the sin of the Pharisees and appoint themselves as middle men between God and you. They seek to replace the Holy Spirit in your life. They "lord it over" their flocks. Read Cultwatch's articles on the "Super Apostles" here if you want to find out more.
Using the connection they claim to have with God they threaten you with the stick of spiritual curses if you disobey them, and dangle the carrot of spiritual blessings if you comply. They seek to dominate your life; often implying that they have say in where you work, where you fellowship, who you marry, and of course, when, where, and how much you should give.
This is a false spiritual authority not supported by Scripture. In fact I believe it to be quite devilish (the desire to control and dominate others).
In these pastor's prosperity teaching, obeying the pastor and giving money are the two pillars necessary for a successful Christian life. If you sit back and think about it, you will quickly see what a con it is.
These men want to be at the head of everything, they want to dominate you, they want to be seen as the big man, and some even secretly desire adoration (almost worship). This is the opposite of true Christian leadership:
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. - Luke 22:24-27
I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. - 2 Corinthians 1:23-24
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. - Mark 10:42-44
Threatening people with curses if they do not obey or donate is spiritual extortion. It is contrary to the nature of grace and the person of Jesus.
Your Counter Strategy: Don't be afraid of these men. Ignore their bluster. Grow a backbone and stand up to them. And if you give, then give to honor God and not out of fear of punishment or greed for financial gain. Memorize this verse: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Summary
I believe many church goers would be shocked if they could comprehend the real attitude their pastor has towards them. From my experience with both the cults and these money focused churches, it is my impression that instead of being looked upon with love, these pastors see their congregation as farm animals to be milked.
It is my prayer that this article will set you free from this kind of spiritual bondage. I hope now you will be able to spot this counterfeit Christian life and be able to transition into a closer walk with Jesus; a walk built on love, trust and grace, not fear.
To summarize what we have learnt about the methods money hungry pastors use to feed off their flock: We discovered the multilevel marketing pattern that these often ex-salesmen (not theologians) model their churches. We examined some of the products they sell into their captive market like books and DVDs. We unhyped the hyped conferences, and exposed the christian speaking circuit. Next we talked about how spiritually dishonest pastors set up their own businesses that their followers are expected to patronize. After that came the scam of "honoring the pastor" with gifts of luxury items. We delved into the high pressure offering mini-sermons that are designed to guilt people into giving. We examined how most of the money gained is used to build the pastor's modern day cathedrals, projects that their fragile egos demand. We exposed the scam of siphoning the church's cash into properties and assets owned by the pastor. We covered the obvious points of excessive wages and extravagant perks, and that was followed by the not so obvious problem of nepotism. Their big daddy came second to last - their fabricated tithing doctrine was exposed for what it is, a fraud. Finally we discussed the spiritual carrot and stick of the false authority that the pastors claim.
There are other methods these guys use to extract money from churches. Revisit this article regularly to discover these methods in future updates.
Realize that a number of churches follow the patterns that this article exposes. However there are many good churches who do not practice these methods. If you have been hurt by these practices then feel free to give up on these twisted money-focused environments, but please do not give up on Jesus.
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. - 2 Corinthians 2:17. Therefore, can we conclude that men who peddle the word of God for profit are not sent from God?
Feel free to think this one through for yourself.
Please link to this article, and email the link to your friends and family. Help us get the word out there.
CW Article Version 1.1
Monday, June 7, 2010
7-6-2010, An Open Letter to Pastors and Christian Leaders
Monday, June 7, 2010
An Open Letter to Pastors and Christian Leaders
To brothers and sisters from other churches, especially from AOG churches, please PRINT A COPY for your Pastors and Leaders to read.
This is an Open Letter addressed to Pastors and Christian Leaders. By now we believe the Calvary Church Crisis (CCC) is no longer confined to Calvary Church members and friends alone. It is now known all over Malaysia and abroad. While we have received many encouragements and support from the general Christian community, we also understand that there are many Pastors and Christian Leaders who does not agreed with the TTG people for using the public channel to seek justice for Calvary Church members. Our appeal to you is that you will read this Letter with an open mind and answer the questions with all honesty as unto God.
AFTER THAT, try to place yourself in our shoes as Ordinary Members in the Church, who have supported the Church with your TIME, your TALENTS and your FINANCES and to find your Pastors have abused your trust and have lied to you - WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME?
If for the past two years you have run around looking for help from Pastors, Christian Leaders and even looked to the Christian Organizations in and out of the country to help but no one cared enough to do something - WHO ELSE CAN YOU GO TO?
If you are just an Ordinary Member who have been serving and supporting your Church and your Pastors since becoming a Christian, then together with other faithful Christian brothers and sisters many whom you did not know before, feel this strong passion in your heart to stand up for what is right - not just as a Christian but as a person in general living in a community - WOULD YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE SATANIC?
If all you are asking for is that Truth, Transparency and Good (Godly) Governance is practiced in the Church - DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO BECOME THE NEXT PASTOR?
****************************************************
Dear Pastors and Christian Leaders in Malaysia,
What is happening in Calvary Church must grieve our Lord Jesus and you, as a pastor, must be deeply saddened too. But before you throw bricks at the concerned members perhaps you should ask why and how this came about. What is this really all about? Some have condemned us for bringing Christianity into disrepute. Are Christians to cover up our internal wrongdoings and sins or are we to deal with it openly, decisively and righteously? The Catholic Church covered up the sexual abuses within their Church for more than 30 years. Well, it is now fully exposed and the cover up made it all the more sordid. Just as we would not judge all pastors by what we have experienced, we ask that pastors not judge us without knowing what we have gone through.
This Open Letter is to set the record straight and to give pastors a better understanding of the situation in Calvary Church. A complete chronology of events is beyond the scope of this letter. However, such information is available either from the worldwide web or from any of the concerned members. Then you can judge rightly and perhaps more fairly.
We had not intended to make it public. We had tried to keep it within the Kingdom of God. But we discovered that all those who had advised us, to keep it within the Kingdom of God, were more interested to keep things under wraps than solving the underlying problems. We found no help from the Christian leadership in this country. The religious establishment is dominated by pastors. From where can aggrieved members seek help? Therefore we had to seek redress from the civil court. When we were “sacked” from membership, we knew we could not hope to get help from any Christian organisation or Christian leader. We had to make the protest ourselves.
Please allow us to ask you a few questions to put things in perspective. Would you, as a pastor, do the following?
#1 - Set up a personal ministry, under yours and your family’s control, and then divert funds from missionary offerings into your personal ministry without the knowledge of the members?
#2 - Make a collection from the congregation for an overseas disaster relief and then not send it to the victims but divert the collection into your own personal ministry?
#3 - Misrepresent the nature of your personal ministry to gain membership in NECF?
#4 - Remove key ministries which are integral to the wholeness of the Church from out of the Church ownership, calling them independent, and placing them under the control of your children and their spouses?
#5 - Place your children and their spouses in high positions in these “independent” ministries and remove their job evaluations, salaries and other terms of employment from the purview of the Board of Deacons?
#6 - Remove whole families from the Church membership roll if one of them is deemed to be against you in any way?
#7 - Remove members from serving, some from leadership positions, because they voted for a resolution which you did not favour?
#8 - Require that all other pastors in the Church declare love gifts received and exempt yourself and your wife and children from this requirement?
#9 - Allow yourself and your family special privileges not available to other pastors in the Church?
#10 - Ensure that all copies of the Minutes of the Board of Deacons’ meetings are destroyed except for the copy under your sole custody?
#11- Devise a structure that you would have veto power over all decisions made by the Board of Deacons, Committees and Sub-committees in the Church?
#12 - Devise a process whereby on the surface there is free and fair elections of deacons whereas in effect you control the entire process ensuring that the Board of Deacons is completely under your control?
If you would not, then you can empathise with us on what we are facing. The main and real issue is about absolute power in one man’s hands and the lack of check and balance in the Church. Transparency and Good Governance must be practised in our Church.
If there is no Accountability and Transparency in our Church, then we have no right to ask for the same from the government or the world. For we would have lost our moral authority to impact the world and to be its transforming agent, and we ought to be cast out and stamped underfoot like salt that has lost its saltiness.
Posted by CALVARY TODAY at 12:18 PM 1 comments
Labels: Church in Public Media, Church Legal Issue
An Open Letter to Pastors and Christian Leaders
To brothers and sisters from other churches, especially from AOG churches, please PRINT A COPY for your Pastors and Leaders to read.
This is an Open Letter addressed to Pastors and Christian Leaders. By now we believe the Calvary Church Crisis (CCC) is no longer confined to Calvary Church members and friends alone. It is now known all over Malaysia and abroad. While we have received many encouragements and support from the general Christian community, we also understand that there are many Pastors and Christian Leaders who does not agreed with the TTG people for using the public channel to seek justice for Calvary Church members. Our appeal to you is that you will read this Letter with an open mind and answer the questions with all honesty as unto God.
AFTER THAT, try to place yourself in our shoes as Ordinary Members in the Church, who have supported the Church with your TIME, your TALENTS and your FINANCES and to find your Pastors have abused your trust and have lied to you - WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME?
If for the past two years you have run around looking for help from Pastors, Christian Leaders and even looked to the Christian Organizations in and out of the country to help but no one cared enough to do something - WHO ELSE CAN YOU GO TO?
If you are just an Ordinary Member who have been serving and supporting your Church and your Pastors since becoming a Christian, then together with other faithful Christian brothers and sisters many whom you did not know before, feel this strong passion in your heart to stand up for what is right - not just as a Christian but as a person in general living in a community - WOULD YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE SATANIC?
If all you are asking for is that Truth, Transparency and Good (Godly) Governance is practiced in the Church - DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO BECOME THE NEXT PASTOR?
****************************************************
Dear Pastors and Christian Leaders in Malaysia,
What is happening in Calvary Church must grieve our Lord Jesus and you, as a pastor, must be deeply saddened too. But before you throw bricks at the concerned members perhaps you should ask why and how this came about. What is this really all about? Some have condemned us for bringing Christianity into disrepute. Are Christians to cover up our internal wrongdoings and sins or are we to deal with it openly, decisively and righteously? The Catholic Church covered up the sexual abuses within their Church for more than 30 years. Well, it is now fully exposed and the cover up made it all the more sordid. Just as we would not judge all pastors by what we have experienced, we ask that pastors not judge us without knowing what we have gone through.
This Open Letter is to set the record straight and to give pastors a better understanding of the situation in Calvary Church. A complete chronology of events is beyond the scope of this letter. However, such information is available either from the worldwide web or from any of the concerned members. Then you can judge rightly and perhaps more fairly.
We had not intended to make it public. We had tried to keep it within the Kingdom of God. But we discovered that all those who had advised us, to keep it within the Kingdom of God, were more interested to keep things under wraps than solving the underlying problems. We found no help from the Christian leadership in this country. The religious establishment is dominated by pastors. From where can aggrieved members seek help? Therefore we had to seek redress from the civil court. When we were “sacked” from membership, we knew we could not hope to get help from any Christian organisation or Christian leader. We had to make the protest ourselves.
Please allow us to ask you a few questions to put things in perspective. Would you, as a pastor, do the following?
#1 - Set up a personal ministry, under yours and your family’s control, and then divert funds from missionary offerings into your personal ministry without the knowledge of the members?
#2 - Make a collection from the congregation for an overseas disaster relief and then not send it to the victims but divert the collection into your own personal ministry?
#3 - Misrepresent the nature of your personal ministry to gain membership in NECF?
#4 - Remove key ministries which are integral to the wholeness of the Church from out of the Church ownership, calling them independent, and placing them under the control of your children and their spouses?
#5 - Place your children and their spouses in high positions in these “independent” ministries and remove their job evaluations, salaries and other terms of employment from the purview of the Board of Deacons?
#6 - Remove whole families from the Church membership roll if one of them is deemed to be against you in any way?
#7 - Remove members from serving, some from leadership positions, because they voted for a resolution which you did not favour?
#8 - Require that all other pastors in the Church declare love gifts received and exempt yourself and your wife and children from this requirement?
#9 - Allow yourself and your family special privileges not available to other pastors in the Church?
#10 - Ensure that all copies of the Minutes of the Board of Deacons’ meetings are destroyed except for the copy under your sole custody?
#11- Devise a structure that you would have veto power over all decisions made by the Board of Deacons, Committees and Sub-committees in the Church?
#12 - Devise a process whereby on the surface there is free and fair elections of deacons whereas in effect you control the entire process ensuring that the Board of Deacons is completely under your control?
If you would not, then you can empathise with us on what we are facing. The main and real issue is about absolute power in one man’s hands and the lack of check and balance in the Church. Transparency and Good Governance must be practised in our Church.
If there is no Accountability and Transparency in our Church, then we have no right to ask for the same from the government or the world. For we would have lost our moral authority to impact the world and to be its transforming agent, and we ought to be cast out and stamped underfoot like salt that has lost its saltiness.
Posted by CALVARY TODAY at 12:18 PM 1 comments
Labels: Church in Public Media, Church Legal Issue
Saturday, June 5, 2010
5-6-2010, Rich religions pose new woes
Rich religions pose new woes
SPECIAL REPORTS
Saturday, 05 June 2010 Super Admin
A couple sold their condo so they could contribute to “a new home for God”, but the arrival of ultra-modern, high-tech, mega-bucks religion has also left many Singaporeans uneasy.
By SEAH CHIANG NEE, The Star
AS SINGAPORE was waking up one recent morning, investigators were swooping on the homes of a senior pastor and 16 others related to a charismatic church.
The commercial crime officers searched the office of the controversial City Harvest Church (CHC) and carted away a large amount of financial records and computers.
The 17, including 45-year-old Senior Pastor Kong Lee, were taken away for questioning as part of a government investigation into complaints of misuse of church funds.
It is one of the biggest investigations of a religious institution here in recent years. No one, however, has been arrested.
CHC is the latest of a series of controversies involving high-profile leaders of religious or charity bodies in Singapore.
Since 2004, three of them – a Catholic priest, a top Buddhist monk, and a national charity figure – had been convicted and jailed. This has made the Kong Lee investigation a top story here.
CHC, which has 33,000 followers, shocked the country in April when it announced that it had bought a S$310mil stake in the premier Suntec Singapore building.
The authorities said the raids had nothing to do with that, and an official of the Council of Churches said the inquiry was neither “related nor initiated due to the Suntec deal”.
The central figure of the mega-church is the evangelistic Kong Lee, a type of Christian preacher that long flourished in America but is only now appearing in predominantly Buddhist Singapore.
These preachers conduct services in ultra-modern surroundings with high-tech lights and rock music to spread their faith, and in the process have turned religion into a mega show-business.
The controversy over CHC is the latest of several in recent years involving money collected by religious and charity organisations.
Details of the raids were sparse, but unconfirmed reports said that Kong Lee was picked up in his posh Somerset condo at 6 am on Monday and questioned for 18 hours.
The office premises at Suntek were raided at 7am as soon as a staff opened the door. It was searched and a large number of documents and computers taken away.
How can a 45-year-old man raise so much money and do such a mega-deal, something that even tycoons cannot?
Has economic pressure pushed more Singaporeans towards religion for spiritual solace or is it the hypnotic environment and the sleek preaching? No one really knows for sure.
For an answer, I watched several videos of how the man worked his magic on the crowd as he appealed for building funds.
In a plush auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, he mesmerised his followers.
Amid colourful lights and loud music that resembled a pop concert rather than a religious gathering, Kong Lee appealed to housewives and families to help him build “a new home for God”.
Schoolchildren were asked to donate their Lunar New Year ang pows. In the background a giant screen flashed photographs of people putting money into a box.
The pastor took the microphone to thank recent contributors, who included a couple selling their 5-room public flat to downgrade to a 3-roomer, to offer S$20,000 to the church building.
Another was a young man who sold his favourite motorcycle and donated the entire proceedings. With each name mentioned, the audience cheered.
It led a cynic to comment: “They have turned religion into show business, like America’s TV evangelism.”
There are several other mega-churches with evangelical and fund-raising abilities, posing potential problems for this multi-religious country.
One is The New Creation Church, which plans to invest S$280mil to build a mega-complex with a lifestyle-entertainment-cultural theme.
With some 22,000 members, the church raised eyebrows when it was reported that its charismatic preacher was paid a salary of S$500,000 in the last financial year.
The investigation into CHC came seven months after a top Buddhist monk, Venerable Shi Ming Yi, was convicted of misusing donated money and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment (reduced to six on appeal).
The 2009 trial of the English-educated, high-living Buddhist monk who owned three properties and loved luxurious cars showed how far the money culture had spread in Singapore.
In his trial, the 48-year-old monk told the Court that “we live in a modern world ... no longer like what it was in the past”.
When asked to elaborate, the monk said: “If people earn more, they will spend more. Many religious people, not just myself, are very different now.”
Other high profile prosecutions were:
> Catholic priest Father Joachim Kang was sentenced to seven-and-half years’ jail in 2004 for embezzling S$5.1mil in church funds.
> T.T. Durai, former National Kidney Foundation CEO, a public charity, was jailed for three months for falsifying invoices.
Singaporeans blame the greed on a materialistic society rather than just the priests and monks, who are also humans like us.
However, some call for a strict separation between religion and business.
One writer had a message for entrepreneurial pastors: “If you want to make money, go and become a businessman; don’t do it by pretending to offer your parishioners a service. It will destroy their trust.”
SPECIAL REPORTS
Saturday, 05 June 2010 Super Admin
A couple sold their condo so they could contribute to “a new home for God”, but the arrival of ultra-modern, high-tech, mega-bucks religion has also left many Singaporeans uneasy.
By SEAH CHIANG NEE, The Star
AS SINGAPORE was waking up one recent morning, investigators were swooping on the homes of a senior pastor and 16 others related to a charismatic church.
The commercial crime officers searched the office of the controversial City Harvest Church (CHC) and carted away a large amount of financial records and computers.
The 17, including 45-year-old Senior Pastor Kong Lee, were taken away for questioning as part of a government investigation into complaints of misuse of church funds.
It is one of the biggest investigations of a religious institution here in recent years. No one, however, has been arrested.
CHC is the latest of a series of controversies involving high-profile leaders of religious or charity bodies in Singapore.
Since 2004, three of them – a Catholic priest, a top Buddhist monk, and a national charity figure – had been convicted and jailed. This has made the Kong Lee investigation a top story here.
CHC, which has 33,000 followers, shocked the country in April when it announced that it had bought a S$310mil stake in the premier Suntec Singapore building.
The authorities said the raids had nothing to do with that, and an official of the Council of Churches said the inquiry was neither “related nor initiated due to the Suntec deal”.
The central figure of the mega-church is the evangelistic Kong Lee, a type of Christian preacher that long flourished in America but is only now appearing in predominantly Buddhist Singapore.
These preachers conduct services in ultra-modern surroundings with high-tech lights and rock music to spread their faith, and in the process have turned religion into a mega show-business.
The controversy over CHC is the latest of several in recent years involving money collected by religious and charity organisations.
Details of the raids were sparse, but unconfirmed reports said that Kong Lee was picked up in his posh Somerset condo at 6 am on Monday and questioned for 18 hours.
The office premises at Suntek were raided at 7am as soon as a staff opened the door. It was searched and a large number of documents and computers taken away.
How can a 45-year-old man raise so much money and do such a mega-deal, something that even tycoons cannot?
Has economic pressure pushed more Singaporeans towards religion for spiritual solace or is it the hypnotic environment and the sleek preaching? No one really knows for sure.
For an answer, I watched several videos of how the man worked his magic on the crowd as he appealed for building funds.
In a plush auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, he mesmerised his followers.
Amid colourful lights and loud music that resembled a pop concert rather than a religious gathering, Kong Lee appealed to housewives and families to help him build “a new home for God”.
Schoolchildren were asked to donate their Lunar New Year ang pows. In the background a giant screen flashed photographs of people putting money into a box.
The pastor took the microphone to thank recent contributors, who included a couple selling their 5-room public flat to downgrade to a 3-roomer, to offer S$20,000 to the church building.
Another was a young man who sold his favourite motorcycle and donated the entire proceedings. With each name mentioned, the audience cheered.
It led a cynic to comment: “They have turned religion into show business, like America’s TV evangelism.”
There are several other mega-churches with evangelical and fund-raising abilities, posing potential problems for this multi-religious country.
One is The New Creation Church, which plans to invest S$280mil to build a mega-complex with a lifestyle-entertainment-cultural theme.
With some 22,000 members, the church raised eyebrows when it was reported that its charismatic preacher was paid a salary of S$500,000 in the last financial year.
The investigation into CHC came seven months after a top Buddhist monk, Venerable Shi Ming Yi, was convicted of misusing donated money and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment (reduced to six on appeal).
The 2009 trial of the English-educated, high-living Buddhist monk who owned three properties and loved luxurious cars showed how far the money culture had spread in Singapore.
In his trial, the 48-year-old monk told the Court that “we live in a modern world ... no longer like what it was in the past”.
When asked to elaborate, the monk said: “If people earn more, they will spend more. Many religious people, not just myself, are very different now.”
Other high profile prosecutions were:
> Catholic priest Father Joachim Kang was sentenced to seven-and-half years’ jail in 2004 for embezzling S$5.1mil in church funds.
> T.T. Durai, former National Kidney Foundation CEO, a public charity, was jailed for three months for falsifying invoices.
Singaporeans blame the greed on a materialistic society rather than just the priests and monks, who are also humans like us.
However, some call for a strict separation between religion and business.
One writer had a message for entrepreneurial pastors: “If you want to make money, go and become a businessman; don’t do it by pretending to offer your parishioners a service. It will destroy their trust.”
Thursday, June 3, 2010
3-6-2010, Jesus foretold that there will be false prophets, who will plaque the church
STTeam
Administrator
City Harvest activities not affected by investigations
Yesterday, 05:24 AM
ACTIVITIES at City Harvest Church will continue as planned this weekend despite an ongoing probe involving individuals and companies linked to it.
Full Story
STTeam
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Old
Eagle_2OO4
Yesterday, 07:22 AM
Jesus foretold that there will be false prophets, who will plaque the church because they can easily deceive with false claims & mighty works (Matthew 7:22, 24:24 & Revelation 19:20). "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Eagle_2OO4
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Old
Eagle_2OO4
Yesterday, 07:23 AM
By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down & thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them." (Matthew 7:15-20)
Eagle_2OO4
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Old
Eagle_2OO4
Yesterday, 07:24 AM
Christians must examine the way that these false prophets live & the message that they bring. Their character & behaviour must conform to Jesus & His teachings.
Eagle_2OO4
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Old
kennyticks2010
Yesterday, 07:31 AM
The members of the congregation are innocent members. Show compassion as the authorities have to allow them to continue to worship GOD! Pray Christian believers for good news!
kennyticks2010
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Old
btaycngwm
Yesterday, 08:55 AM
Maybe the leaders are honest. But in any group there will always bound to be people not. If a Judas in a group of 12 disciples personally selected by Jesus then, what makes one thinks in a megagroup there will not even be one 'Judas'? I hope I'm wrong but I shouldn't surprise if not.
btaycngwm
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pangheekiat
Yesterday, 09:19 AM
In the name of God, MONEY Flows..........
Naive, Naive and again Naive
pangheekiat
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spfairley
Yesterday, 09:27 AM
@btaycngwm,
Jesus did not make a mistake (selecting Judas) like men do. Jesus chose the apostle - Judas "knowing" that Judas would (one day) betray Him.
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. (John 13:26)
spfairley
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Old
Matthew.lee
Yesterday, 09:37 AM
Will City Harvest Church provide audited accounts to show transparcy please? There is nothing to hide if the sums are in order!
Matthew.lee
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Old
HC022
Yesterday, 09:37 AM
Let's keep an open mind and not just blindly follow the crowd or a single person. The church leaders may be faithful, righteous and godly in their ways in the past. But people do change and the love and greed of money may be the lure. So let's not blindly support the church by let's support the truth! The truth will indeed set you free.
HC022
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Warning: Any user who posts offensive or irrelevant comments will be banned from this Discussion Board. All comments are limited to 400 characters.
Administrator
City Harvest activities not affected by investigations
Yesterday, 05:24 AM
ACTIVITIES at City Harvest Church will continue as planned this weekend despite an ongoing probe involving individuals and companies linked to it.
Full Story
STTeam
Send a private message to STTeam
Find all posts by STTeam
Old
Eagle_2OO4
Yesterday, 07:22 AM
Jesus foretold that there will be false prophets, who will plaque the church because they can easily deceive with false claims & mighty works (Matthew 7:22, 24:24 & Revelation 19:20). "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Eagle_2OO4
Send a private message to Eagle_2OO4
Find all posts by Eagle_2OO4
Old
Eagle_2OO4
Yesterday, 07:23 AM
By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down & thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them." (Matthew 7:15-20)
Eagle_2OO4
Send a private message to Eagle_2OO4
Find all posts by Eagle_2OO4
Old
Eagle_2OO4
Yesterday, 07:24 AM
Christians must examine the way that these false prophets live & the message that they bring. Their character & behaviour must conform to Jesus & His teachings.
Eagle_2OO4
Send a private message to Eagle_2OO4
Find all posts by Eagle_2OO4
Old
kennyticks2010
Yesterday, 07:31 AM
The members of the congregation are innocent members. Show compassion as the authorities have to allow them to continue to worship GOD! Pray Christian believers for good news!
kennyticks2010
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Old
btaycngwm
Yesterday, 08:55 AM
Maybe the leaders are honest. But in any group there will always bound to be people not. If a Judas in a group of 12 disciples personally selected by Jesus then, what makes one thinks in a megagroup there will not even be one 'Judas'? I hope I'm wrong but I shouldn't surprise if not.
btaycngwm
Send a private message to btaycngwm
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Old
pangheekiat
Yesterday, 09:19 AM
In the name of God, MONEY Flows..........
Naive, Naive and again Naive
pangheekiat
Send a private message to pangheekiat
Find all posts by pangheekiat
Old
spfairley
Yesterday, 09:27 AM
@btaycngwm,
Jesus did not make a mistake (selecting Judas) like men do. Jesus chose the apostle - Judas "knowing" that Judas would (one day) betray Him.
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. (John 13:26)
spfairley
Send a private message to spfairley
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Old
Matthew.lee
Yesterday, 09:37 AM
Will City Harvest Church provide audited accounts to show transparcy please? There is nothing to hide if the sums are in order!
Matthew.lee
Send a private message to Matthew.lee
Find all posts by Matthew.lee
Old
HC022
Yesterday, 09:37 AM
Let's keep an open mind and not just blindly follow the crowd or a single person. The church leaders may be faithful, righteous and godly in their ways in the past. But people do change and the love and greed of money may be the lure. So let's not blindly support the church by let's support the truth! The truth will indeed set you free.
HC022
Send a private message to HC022
Find all posts by HC022
Warning: Any user who posts offensive or irrelevant comments will be banned from this Discussion Board. All comments are limited to 400 characters.
2-6-2010, Not an ordinary church
Jun 2, 2010
Not an ordinary church
By Melissa Sim
This rock theme is even extended to City Harvest's church services, which some members say are akin to attending a rock concert. -- ST PHOTO: MALCOLM KOH
CITY Harvest Church is somewhat different from an ordinary place of worship - it uses stars and pop culture to stay relevant, counts a number of prominent business leaders among its congregation and its events have links all around the world.
Even founder Kong Hee calls himself a businessman on the church website and, together with his singer wife Ho Yeow Sun, owns two companies.
One is International Harvest, which company records say is a provider of corporate training services and motivational courses.
The other is fashion firm Skin Couture, which has three boutiques - Ed Hardy at Heeren, Skin at Great World City and Christian Audigier at Ion. Clothes sold are described as 'glam rock'.
This rock theme is even extended to City Harvest's church services, which some members say are akin to attending a rock concert.
Church members have been known to go as far as adapting Lady Gaga or Black Eyed Peas songs for concerts and celebrations, swopping original lyrics for some of a more religious nature. These shows are complete with full-scale sets, costumes and coloured lighting, which go beyond an amateur production.
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
2-6-1010, - City Harvest followers rally - CHURCH MEMBERS PROBED
Jun 2, 2010
CHURCH MEMBERS PROBED
City Harvest followers rally
Facebook group set up; prominent members showing their support
By Carolyn Quek & Ang Yiying
Churchgoers meeting for bible study at the church's Boon Lay grounds yesterday said they were not worried. --PHOTO: NP
CITY Harvest churchgoers rallied around their leaders a day after news that Pastor Kong Hee and 16 other church members were being investigated for allegedly misusing church funds.
Followers said they were praying and confident that the church of 33,000 worshippers would ride out the storm. A group pledging support has been set up on Facebook.
But the probe has begun to take a toll.
City Harvest's church in Kuala Lumpur announced on its Twitter site yesterday that its service with Pastor Kong this weekend has been cancelled. No reason was given.
On Monday, police from the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) called in 17 church members for questioning at the Cantonment Complex, and also took away files and documents from their homes for investigations.
Churchgoers meeting for bible study at the church's Boon Lay grounds yesterday said they were not worried.
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
carolynq@sph.com.sg
ayiying@sph.com.sg
Additional reporting by Mou Zongxiao and Bryan Toh
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