Christian TV’s All-Time Worst Fundraising Gimmicks
-Extracts by J. Lee Grady.
Let’s stop the hypnotism, the guilt manipulation and the high-pressure gimmicks. It’s time to reclaim our lost credibility… Here are five of my least favorite fundraising tactics. I wish all of them could be banned from the airwaves.
Gimmick #1: The magic Bible verse. You know the drill. The
evangelist quotes Psalm 37:37 and then announces that if you will
send $37.37 (“No more, no less!”) God will unleash all the blessings
of King David upon you. (Hint: The phones seem to ring more
frequently when the number seven is included in the Bible reference.)
Gimmick #2: The urgent, time-is-running-out plea. Before the
preacher asks you to reach for your wallet, dramatic music is piped
in. Then “Reverend Cheatem” talks about how the crippled man
waited by the pool of Bethesda, hoping that the angel would trouble
the waters so he could be healed. “God is troubling the waters right
now, my dear friend,” the preacher says with his eyes closed. “Go
to the phones now, before it is too late. Only those who give in this
holy, anointed moment will receive a supernatural blessing in return.”
Gimmick #3: The memorialized gift. One popular evangelist
announced on-air that she needed thousands of dollars to build a
prayer room. She promised that those who funded this noble effort
would receive recognition with special brass nameplates that
would be mounted on the wall of the facility. The implication was
that people could buy prayer coverage, sort of like a spiritual
insurance policy. (I’m not surprisedsince this woman offered
her loyal followers the status of “spiritual son” or “spiritual
daughter” if they paid a $1,000 annual fee.)
Gimmick #4: The debt-breaking anointing. One preacher who
specializes in telethons has raised millions by telling audiences
that they are just one donation away from eliminating all red ink.
All they have to do is give a sacrificial gift (usually four figures) to
the TV network in the next few minutes. If they do this, God will
wipe out their debts, no questions asked. No lifestyle changes
necessary. (This technique was especially popular before the
mortgage crisis.)
Gimmick #5: The Day of Atonement offering. This particularly odd
strategy has been popular in the last couple of years, especially
among gullible Christians who believe God blesses anything and
everything that has the word “Israel” attached to it. The preacher
announces that if you write a check to their network, and wave it
in the air before you mail it (preferably while wearing a Jewish prayer
shawl), God will forgive your sins, restore your health, bring back
your wayward children, provide angelic protection and bless you
with more than a dozen other special favors.
I still don’t know what is more outrageous: That programmers allow
such insanity on Christian television, or that gullible Christians fall
for it year after year. Hopefully, emerging leaders in the religious
broadcasting industry will restore our lost credibility by insisting
on integrity, authenticity and good taste.
READ FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones
-J. Lee Grady is former editor of Charisma and author of the
new book The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale.
Let’s not leave out the almighty “TITHE” without which God cannot bless you!
What Lee Grady has touched on here is only a symtom of the root of the problem.
The root of the problem is that segments of the Christian church tries to do God’s work by using the world’s methods. When will we learn that we must do God’s work God’s way?
Compare modern worldly “fund-raising” methods to George Mueller’s method. He sought God in prayer depending totally upon Him. In the middle of the Great Depression, literally millions of dollars was entrusted to Mueller’s ministries by God Almighty. In the midst of our world economic turmoil could it be that God is trying to get the attention of His people to turn back to depending upon Him?
Many of today’s ministers, evangelists, etc., would put many used car salesmen to shame with their manipulative tactics. Thank you for posting this important topic.
Pastor Wayne
Although I do not always agree with Andrew. Kudos to he and Lee Grady. I have been manipulation free for over 9 years in giving. I am deffinately no worse off now than when I responded to those manipulations. Now I believe when I give my motive is pure. Maybe those preachers are just getting their reward now in this lifetime.
One of the better ones is Revelation TV. They had their monthly fundraiser last night. They gave their income and expenditure figures as pie charts. They are funded by a UK registered charity so they have to provide accounts to the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission make the reports and accounts from the charities they regulate available online so there is little point in hiding anything.
The programme was not just a fundraiser but it also did a number of other things. It showcased what programmes they will be putting on next month. They looked back over the best bits from the previous month. People were asked to ring up to give money but also to give them encouragement. The idea being to show the value in what they were doing for the Chrisitian community. It was by proving their value to the audience that they encouraged people them to give. They did not use any of the gimmicks described in this article in that programme. Maybe why it is so popular.
Not only that this programme is only repeated for the next 24 hours at diifferent times of the day or night. So if you miss the evening showing you should be able to catch it the following morning or afternoon. They can do that because it is only 3 hours long. After it has been shown once at different times of the day to catch different viewers it is not seen again.
Trouble is because they have to ask for money they still get a lot of criticism. Apparently they should be aiming to survive without buying equipment, paying staff or rent etc. I know of no organisation that can do that! However they do manage to run a TV station for £1.3m a year compared to one of their competitors who recently asked viewers for £4m to cover a deficit.
Oh Man! Now what am I gonna do with all those prayer cloths!
why do christians have to have fund raisers? didn’t paul work with his hands night and day to pay his way? I want to see people like that. If you think other christians owe you a living I want nothing to due with you.
Anybody calling him/her-self a servant of God in Jesus Christ,
who ask for Money,
is a FALSE SERVANT of JESUS CHRIST.
Such a Person Testifies to the fact that Jesus Christ is not LORD OVER the MONEY in this Persons life,
or LORD at all.
Such a Person if Called to SERVICE,
do not obey the HOLY SPIRIT.
and the Holy Spirit is not with the Person nor Jesus Christ Himself.
There is no such thing in the Kingdom of God such as MONTHLY PAY as Pastors use to have.
The Pastoral system is also a FAKE CHRISTIANITY,
testifying to a FAKE APOSTOLIC SEVICE
All so called Churches or Assemblys,
who are – JURIDICAL PERSONS IN SOCIETY,
is SPIRITUAL HARLOTS with INTERCOURSE WITH THE WORLD.
Arne Strand. SWEDEN.
I can understand how some poor, sick, pained, or in debt, individual might fall for this appalling appealing!
The weakness of the article is that names have not been given. They should.
The early apostolic writers would have had no hesitation in naming those begging appeals for cash.
As another “issue” of abuse, manipulation and deceipt is “exposed”, can you really expose something that is so out in the open, the greed of men is brought to light. It is heartbreaking to see the precious and righteous work of God be teated as an avenue towards income by money motivated deceivers. In a time when all the world is being assaulted and inflicted with religious intolerance of Islam, the church is out selling herself to the highest bidders. My heart breaks and soul weeps as I se the Bride reject her Lover for false promises of our fallen world.
This has gone on long enough.Fleecing the faithful has become a criminal activity.The sooner they mend their ways the better.Thanks for the article.
I’m sure Mr Gradey will not be on TBN any time soon!
I agree that individuals should be aim to become independent before entering any form of the Christian minisitry. In fact it should not be necessary to ask for donations to run this ministry! Andrew should be able to run it from his own wealth generating activities. Too many people expect others to give them the money that they need to both live and run a ministry rather than building up their own wealth generating activities first.
Anyone who works for a TV station, church or ministry should be able to be a volunteer becaue their income comes from other sources. The TV studio or ministry headquarters should also be in the home of the founder to reduce the cost of renting premises. Sadly few people are willing to make that kind of sacrifice. Or if they do they move out to bigger premises sooner or later.
We have successfully taught people that building up wealth and a personal income is wrong.Therefore we have forced people to become dependent on others when the times comes for them to do any form of work within the Christian community.
There is a Canadian ministry that does not use this type of hype to obtain money. They are of good reputation, and have been for over 30 years. It is Crossroads Christian Ministry, also known as 100 Huntley Street. They have a daily TV broadcast, youth camps, and international aid to those in need. You may check them out on the website.
wasn’t there a guy way back there that complained too and nailed his complaint on a church door….. hmmmm Luther…MartinLuther I believe. He was mad about, among other things, this selling of indulgences in exchange for a “Get you out of hell” card.
kind of similar maybe….
I know this is on a much smaller level, but I have even told our teenagers, that if they want to go on a missions trip, that they should not solicit for funds. I am tired of people “sacrificing” a week/a month/a year of their time on everyone else’s dime and calling it ministry/missions. My theory is that if I really believe I should be doing missions/ministry, then I can also give sacrificially. If that means putting away money until I have enough, so be it.
As an example, a while back, we got a solicitation from a couple who felt called to go to Bible School. We didn’t give…afterward, I found out that their plan was to raise enough $$ so that they could go to school, all the while, continuing to own their house in a different city – the $$ that was coming in was to continue mortgage payments as well as continue to fund their retirement account, as well as the expenses of the schooling/apartment. Meanwhile, we were so busy giving to others that we hadn’t even begun a retirement account, and we were good 15 years closer to retirement age than them!
Another college student wanted money so that he could spend his summer working at a Bible camp as a volunteer as opposed to getting a paid job. So we sent $$. That was all fine, except, we were all little more than disappointed when at the end of the summer, he took a 2-week vacation overseas to Europe. Again, we could only afford to do a tenting trip with our little children!
Having said this, I do realize that we give an account directly to God for what we do. If I was giving sacrificially and with a pure motive to God’s service, he will deal with those who abused my money. I will say that even though God has blessed us financially over the past few years and we are able to hand out way more than we used to, we are much more careful who we give it to.
As far as giving to TV evangelists, I never have figured out who would be so naive as to do this…..Wait a minute….I think my mother does!!
This article is excellent and it brings to light a HUGE problem among Christianity today. However, let’s not throw every ministry into the same category.
Being co-founder and president of a fast-growing international missional organization, we believe God has called us to help connect the believer with a need; the only way we can make this happen is to present the need publicly. We don’t beg, we don’t pressure, and we certainly don’t twist scripture. But, we ask and God has always been faithful to meet those needs.
We are a totally volunteer organization, each of us working out of our respective homes while supporting ourselves independently from the ministry. No one receives a salary or personally benefits from the ministry in any way. Undesignated funds donated to us are used to help cover administrative expenses (supplies, etc). All designated donations are applied 100% to the donor’s choice of ministry outreach and/or specific program. Each Board member contributes into the ministry to cover expenses and to help fund projects and outreaches.
All that to say this … there are good Christian organizations out there who share the need and trust God to meet it. Please don’t lump us all in the same group. If the need is legitimate, if the fundraising doesn’t include begging or manipulating or pressuring, then I see no problem with making the need known and trusting God to use whomever He chooses to help meet that need, and leaving it at that.
We truly believe that if God calls, He will make a way to fulfill that to which He has called us, whether through fundraising, private unsolicited donations, or volunteers offering services. People don’t “own” ministries, they are a work of God. How we present ourselves to the public is how the public sees God.
I don’t want to be responsible to lead people to believe God is a money-monger, sheister, or big money-bags in the sky. He is God…HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, PURE, and OMNIPOTENT. Would that this ministry never diminish His Name and/or smear His reputation to such a state as have so many other ministries.
Thank you, Andrew, and thank you, Lee Grady, for telling it like it is.
Lee left let out my favorite – the Lottery Offering. The “Happy Hunters” came to our church just before they retired. They took an offering each night of the meeting and refused to let our local pastors know how much it was. The the last night after their regularly scheduled offering they took the “lottery offering”, telling everyone to take another offering envelope, put their best offering possible in it, put their name on it and put in in the plate. Then they would draw out ONE envelope, call that person forward and pray a special prayer of financial release over them. PUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s very refreshing to read something from respected Christian leadership concerning how so many Christ-followers are allowing themselves to be bamboozled by those who have no qualms using every worldly method out there to raise money for “the kingdom”.
Like Andrew Strom, my husband and I left the prophetic movement because of all the wild and wacky manifestations of the “spirit” that were becoming the norm every service – funny that nothing ever happened from Monday thru Saturday! Everything from gold flecks on one’s face, to giant angels appearing (of course, only leadership could see them), to allowing the most financially-strapped members to purchase high-dollar items that are supposed to bring healing to whomever buys and uses it. If they would just stop being star-struck and lost in the smoke and haze of awe and wonder at what God is supposedly doing, they would realize that the only one who heals is Christ Jesus because he’s the one who bought it with his blood. Why do we need a physical object the emmanates healing properties to facilitate what Christ has already promised in His Word?
We stayed for years in that stuff, beginning with the Charismatic movement, right on through to the present-day prophetic movement. It IS something we believe in, but our hearts are broken over the massive abuse we’ve seen and experienced in every church we’ve been affiliated with over the years. It took a while to catch on because we were like the proverbial frog in the pot of water; however, once we started asking questions, even as elders, we would be verbally patted on the head like children and told that we needed to “come up another level”. Sorry, I had no idea there were “levels” as Christians. A sure sign that leadership had self-identified themselves as more spiritual and therefore unquestionable concerning the decisions they make about their church body in general. We’ve seen the shaking, the falling, the laughing (even attended a R H Brown meeting) but just couldn’t get into that hysterical manifestation everyone seemed to give themselves over to like lemmings.
I never seemed motivated to attend the Toronto Blessing, nor the Brownsville revival like everyone else. When the Lakeland “revival” began, I watched some of it on God TV, who promoted it heavily. After about 15 minutes, I could no longer stand to watch it, decided I didn’t like God TV, and wondered if something was wrong with me – all of the prophetic movement says this is God, but I hate it. As an elder, I cautioned our pastors about their plans to take our entire youth group down to Lakeland, but of course, I was poo-poohed. I just didn’t have “a good feeling about it”, was all I had to offer in my defense. I was called on the carpet for speaking against God’s anointed, for bringing correction to someone who was living in open sexual sin, and for not jumping through hoops at every leadership whim. It always caught me by surprise because I thought I was following Biblical principles that every Christian was supposed to live by.
What I surmise from all this is that western Christianity is being so watered down by the world’s youth culture systems so many believers have allowed to taint their every-day lives, that they no longer use the scriptures to measure their decisions or to “test the spirits” they run across every day. They just swallow whatever they’re told by their chosen leaders and never give a thought to the wasteful self-indulgence of those leaders and tv ministries. Just as when my husband and I decided to resign as elders and leave the church we were attending, folks must ask themselves some vital questions concerning these types of ministries:
1. Is the promise of prosperity-for-offerings being conveyed as “blessings” that the Bible NEVER promises or are the scriptures used being “twisted”.
2. With all the weird manifestations happening during Sunday services and the special offerings being taken, what in your life has changed? Are the bad marriages in the church still bad? Are the financially-strapped still living from paycheck to paycheck? Who’s life has been changed in any way from giving all those offerings?
3. Where is the accountability for all those funds? Many times, a pastor will say, “Well, if you have to question how the money is being spent, you are questioning God’s anointed”. That should NEVER fly!
4. Why are those who question these ministries labeled as rebellious, trouble-makers, etc.? Why are so many of them told they are on the edge of being sexual predators or deviants? The last prophetic church we left had at least 7 sexual predators out of 150 members! We didn’t find out about that until after we left.
5. Who or what is being pushed to the center of attention – signs & wonders, mammon, or Christ? If it’s always about the signs (spiritual doors opening, rivers flowing down the aisles, spiritual ‘downloading’, towers of flames, spiritual gold dust, and other weird stuff ad infinitum) that lead to special offerings, and hardly any mention of the Christ, you’ve got problems. Just because they mention “God” doesn’t mean they’re talking about the One True Living God. There are many gods who manifest these signs.
I have left the prophetic movement, almost shamed to have been a part of what it has become. But I still believe in what our Heavenly Father wants it to be. I believe in laying on of hands, I believe you can be ‘slain in the spirit’ because it’s in the Bible. But such manifestations have been twisted and perverted so much as to be more of a side show, with pastors and leaders becoming like ring masters who announce what’s going to happen next. DON’T be a mindless follower of these spiritual pied-pipers – use scriptures to test EVERYTHING! And remember, if it doesn’t “feel” right, if you don’t have total peace in your heart, don’t allow yourself to be fooled just because you don’t want to appear different.
Remember that Jesus Christ suffered in Gethesemane and asked the Father to remove the ‘cup’ if it would be possible. Have you ever wondered what was in that cup? I feel like the Lord spoke to me once about that and gave me the answer. It was not death and suffering because Jesus always knew that was coming. I felt the Lord told me that in that cup was something Jesus feared most – what all mankind fears the most – and that is REJECTION. He knew that once he was suspended between earth and heaven, he would feel the total rejection of his creation, and the total rejection of the Father as he turned his face away from the sin that was placed on Jesus at that crucial moment. Never had Jesus experienced that type of rejection before.
We fear it as well. But if you know that our God is with us at every moment of every day of our lives, we can NEVER be rejected and therefore, able to stand in the face of those who would say we don’t belong because we won’t go along with their worldly agendas.
Enough is enough, folks; and I’ve had enough. I won’t spread gossip, and I won’t cause dissention by talking about these folks. But I also won’t stop talking about the TRUTH. In these last days, folks must make up their own minds about what they will or will not follow. But we must stand up for the TRUTH. Don’t be fooled. Only give to what God wants you to give to, not to something where some slick willy has played your emotions like the string section of an orchestra. Use your spirit man, not just your heart strings to decide. Be gentle as a dove, but wise as a serpent.
In the end, where will you really stand?
Am happy to read this article and agree with Lee Grady as I don’t like or believe in this type of fund raising either. The key word in the sentence being “believe”; some Christians do, some are taken advantage of and manipulated. I have one Christian friend who reads every book she can get her hands on that was written by almost anyone in ministry, has a good degree of intelligence and still believes all the hype, hook, line and sinker to do with sowing seeds of money. One of the things that puts me off when she starts trying to get me to do the same, is that it’s usually when she wants something out of the norm, such as a brand new car for one of her grand-daughters for example. Her husband is retired with plenty of yearly income and he has not tithed on any regular basis.
Sometimes this works for her though, and I think it’s those times when she really believes that it will. Sometimes faith and just believing strongly enough can make desires happen even if it started from a manipulative or trickster way of fund raising. So much comes down to our being different individuals with faith and belief in different things even when we’re so often lumped into one category together, frequently called sheep.
Do you know if they are doing that silly thing where they will send you a special prayer cloth (or other object) where you send it back with the check and the evangelist will put it under his pillow and the good prayer fairy will pick it up (along with any loose teeth) and take it to God where He will bless you?
Wow! It’s about time some one that has had the ears and eyes of his people say something of value. Way to go Lee! They have been telling, manipulating the people for so long now that the people think it is truth and gospel now. These men have grown in so much power of wealth through these tactics of brain washing the people through repeated messages and using gullible ambitious clergy on the air to mislead the sheep because this would cause their ministries to grow. I am afraid this is not going to go away with one or two letters from Lee Grady.
These ambitious people have lost their souls for the love of money. I feel the only way for these brothers to return to truth and righteousness is to repent remove them selves from this temptation. Then they must give away all that they have robbed from Gods people by giving it all to the poor.
What is the sense in what these wana be Christian TV super stars do? They find God in beginning and repent of all their sins of robbing, stealing, extorting, swindling, and manipulating for gain, as they come out from the world because the guilt of sin was to great! They have eternity promised but then they just fall back into the same sin they came out of because now they are stealing, robbing ,manipulating, and swindling Gods people instead of the world and now. They do it all for the gospel now so they say. Which is the greater sin? Maybe it might have been better for these to never have known the truth and used by the devil to mislead so many.
To me, this is a self-correcting problem.
You are to give to your local Church. Giving OUTSIDE your Church – - – would then be a 0 sum game.
Giving directly to almost ANYONE outside your Church, is dangerous.
And if you are sucker enough to give to the charlatans, then – - perhaps you deserve poverty.
and that will automatically solve the problem. When the suckers run out of money – - – - the Charlatans will tend to move on.
I am a farmer. If I do not keep the bins tight, then the rats move in. If I keep my bins solid and tight, the rats will move on, or starve.
My favorite was years ago on TBN, Brother Shambaw (now passed over), and not to make light, but I was actually very entertained (as well as outraged and broken hearted for everyone not watching for entertainment value).
He put a big rubber door mat on the floor and invited the studio audience to give ONLY if they stood on it, because otherwise the annointing flowing through him would surely electricute them.
Later that same night (I couldn’t turn the channel, it was amazing to me) He had a WORD that anyone who gave a certain amount (I can’t remember, but it was 4 figure), their children would not grow up to be GAY, but this was good only for the Annointed time until The Lord told him, it’s over.
I fear my interest would be sinful, except while amused, I do hurt for those taken, and the unbelievers who stay that way because of seeing such manipulations.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, “all other ground” is sinking sand!
Brother Ken
People get exactly what they deserve. When the Church fell asleep, the enemy came in a sowed tares among the wheat and then they began to suck the life out of the harvest, so that now, the harvest is destroyed, yet as Samson who did not realize that his strength had gone from him, so the Church seems to be oblivious to what is taking over in it’s midst.
The Lord keeps reminding me that judgment is about to fall on the house of God and nothing of it shall remain. A New work of the Kingdom will take it’s place and the Bride will become spotless and without blemish. I long for that day so bad that I ache. I pray that none of us will forget the greedy manipulators who practiced a form of witchcraft in the sanctuary and that God brought judgment on us for it. The worse is just ahead, let’s pray that we at least can escape the great shaking ahead.
I’m kind of surprised at some of the responses. People who might call themselves Christians have obviously never read the Bible if they think that they aren’t supposed to help other Christians or even other people who are in need and that everybody is just supposed to work extra jobs to support their own ministry. When the church in Jerusalem was going through a tough time, Paul collected offerings to take to them. I guess you didn’t read THAT part. Also, Paul said not to muzzle the ox while he is treading the grain. That means be generous to those who minister the word.
I say bravo to J. Lee Grady for pointing out the evil deceptive practices of some televangelists but some of you folks who responded with such viciousness against giving in general need salvation.
Sandy in Scotland said
“I can understand how some poor, sick, pained, or in debt, individual might fall for this appalling appealing!”
It’s not only the ones you mentioned, Sandy, it’s sometimes new babes in Christ, ones only learning to discern, that are hooked into this. They, too, are turned off by these practices, but too often believe it is just their “lack of faith” or they are still too worldly. I’ve talked to many new Christians who, rather than question these actions, always blamed themselves for not trusting enough. Makes me so mad.
I’m so glad to see it presented here. We know how to turn it off in disgust, but some think that anything that happens on Christian Tv is Christ ordained. :( This needs to be brought into the open so that new Christians can see that what they already think, is very true. We need to tell them without fear of being “judgmental”.
Blessings on the truth tellers!!!
Also – Mr. Biblepath – the church is not the place where you worship. The church is the body of Christ and extends around the entire planet. Giving to a missionary in Zimbabwe is a great and wonderful thing to do if that person is preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s up to the giver to make sure to keep proper contact with those they give to and not get hoodwinked.
However, don’t let your overprotective mentality block your blessing from supporting missions around the world. Someone in Thailand or Nicaragua, or even Austin, Texas might get saved because you made it possible for the missionary to be there with your support along with other support.
How do you think the Gospel gets to most people anyway? Someone has to tell them – and if they are far away where no one has heard the Gospel, they must be sent. And it takes money to send missionaries.
It really irks me that congregations are so stingy when it comes to foreign and even domestic missions. They hoard their finances for themselves. The church should be tithing from offerings collected to mission work – whether it is foreign or on domestic soil. If every congregation cared about people getting saved and gave to mission work, the Gospel would be in every far away corner of the earth – even in the forbidden zones.
Shame on anyone who says they shouldn’t give outside their own congregation.
Good for you, Brother Ken – you said it all in 13 words!
Just reading through all these posts so far, I get some encouragement at least from seeing I’m not the only one who’s been labelled a “spiritual iceberg” or “fake Christian” simply because I refuse to watch televangelist shows any more, or because I don’t fall down and grunt like a wounded bear or have an epileptic fit in front of the pulpit in order to receive “the annointing” (whatever that is).
Thanks to all of you, and especially Sharon Mizell for your openness and honesty and for sharing some amazing insights – especially about the Cup of Rejection – I never saw it that way before and it makes total sense to me.
I believe in this day and age, perhaps never before has the gift of discerning of spirits been so vital
Rok
Yes I have been a victim – but only once – ashamed to say. The reason is we trust. But we learn. Pray for discernment and wisdom and God will allow you to see through it.
The danger is that when we reject the false teaching that we throw out the baby with the bath water. The pendulum swings. Human nature seems to easily go to extremes.
Cling to Jesus, learn how to be intimate with Him. His beauty, His Love, His Wisdom will eclipse all that is not of Him in your heart and in your life. Hallelujah.
Lee,
Are you trying to dress up the old wine skin with a touch of respectability, or are you willing to forgo any and all man made ‘christian’ activity for a life of following Christ? Jesus Christ is a picture of the end time church…….does anything you have described fall into theis category?
Any and all unauthorized work doesn’t cut it with Jesus………He said so!
The expectation I had as a child was that anyone who did not have a job plus run a business plus get involved in the community plus spend time with their family was not doing as much as they should be doing. Problem is many people take the easy way out and only do part of what they could do and expect others to do things for them that they should be doing for themselves.
If you go into the ministry why not leave your job and just concentrate on developing your business interests. You can then avoid being a drain on the rest of the Christian community. Their gifts can then be used for more important things than your salary such as providing for the poor and needy. This may mean gaining an income from your books or pictures or DVDs or CDs.
John Wesley taught that you should try to earn all you can e.g. have a business and a job, save all you can i.e. live frugally and give all you can. He himself by the end of his life was giving away 98% of his income and living on 2%. He gave so that new churches could be built and the poor get food and clothing. Few of us manage to reach his standards!
Rok- I saw a video the other day of a machine they used on the shore near the now famous “oil leak”. It was a sand cleaner. You pour a load of sand in it and it cleans the sand. Well I was thinking that no matter what you do to the sand it is still sand! Clean it all you want to but it’s still sand. What is needed in the”church” today: Rock!
Brother Ken
Ah yes, the image that Christians present to the world is a very sad one indeed. No wonder respect is almost 0%. At a very special conference in San Destin Florida, I got to attend an afternoon meeting with just the prophets and apostles in attendance and they shared how the ministry was using the latest techniques to fleece the sheep. This meeting was a real eye opener about using deceit to control people. One person was enraged, when a recount of practices was so obviously evil, that he jumped up and said “Why doesn’t God kill that person!!?!?” A quiet voice in the back said “God would have to kill us all” and then dead silence for a while.
The problem is accountability. God’s kingdom is not this triangular apex with prophets and apostles at the top next to Jesus Christ, although that is how the pyramid is painted. Everyone in the whole world knows about pyramidal power structures. When Jeshua washed the disciples’ feet, he said “this is how it is to be in the Kingdom of God”
So we’ve lost accountability and responsibility because we’re not following God’s will and pattern. The problem won’t get fixed until we all recognize the root sin: pride.
Love does not vaunt itself or seek its own way. That’s what we’ve forgotten.
I agree with Lee’s criticism of the fleecing. But to say that we should not give is not scriptural either. Paul commends the church in Macedonia for their support so he could go and preach. In Romans 10 scripture says how shall they go unless they are sent? Giving to a ministry with a history of reaching the lost and bringing people to know Jesus Christ and then referring them to the local church is a good thing. Part of the problem is that people will only give if it looks like there is some form of special return on investment. I had a radio program on secular radio which was groundbreaking. (HolyHipHop w/a message) We were syndicated which people think means big dollars but it does not always work out that way. My syndicator went bankrupt. I sought funds to continue the work. The show was the only one of its kind and we were seeing people saved, preventing suicides and giving hope in an untapped market. But because I was only expressing a need, not selling a special anointing, and because of the attitude prevalent in many of the responses on this thread I had to abandon the show. I still hear from people who are in ministry today because of that program. Guys and gals who gave their lives to Christ in the prisons who listened to the show and are now serving God. I share this as an example that the people demand that God multiply their gift (want a gimmick) or want a certain guarantee that He is going to give them what they want or they will not give. I went to a crusade recently and there was a time set aside for this type of preaching that Lee is talking about. The ministry has been around for 35 years and in the meetings I attended the call for salvation was just incredible. No pulling punches, you need Jesus Christ and repentance. I went to another one of these meetings years ago and it was the same, but the people only want to give when there is something in it for them. Salvation is much the same way. People go to God when all else has failed with certain expectations that God should perform a certain way for them. Rather than that God has already done the greatest work and it is our duty really to go to Him and give Him back our lives which is our reasonable service. 80% of Pastors have to work and try to run their churches. Only 20% of “Christians” tithe regularly. If the numbers changed the results would change. Where the money is so is the heart. Making excuses that a pastor should work, ministers should support themselves is just a way of telling God that He has control of some parts of your life but not all. When you get to heaven and have horded your money or withheld it so the gospel could not go forth then God will say you didn’t want me to touch your money, well my Son Jesus was far more valuable than that so since your money is more valuable than My Son you take your money and go to hell.
Someone said:
“The weakness of the article is that names have not been given. They should.
The early apostolic writers would have had no hesitation in naming those begging appeals for cash.”
My reply:
The problem with this is the number of pages that would be needed to name the guilty. Also, what about those whose names were omitted? Would their omission give an impression of legitimacy?
I think highlighting the problem gives awareness of the WHOLE situation so that people can observe and discern for themselves – then if a guilty party managed to slip through the name and shame process people can at least recognize the guilt by their actions and not by someone else’s opinion.
We should not need to put our trust in others to point to what SHOULD be the blatantly obvious.
Thank you for exposing this fund-raising problem!
One year I listened to a well known christian television personality during a telethon. God told him that 3 things would happen to anyone who gave X amount of dollars. Hey, he’s a man of God right? He’s a frequent guest at fund raisers. He hears from God. So I gave the X amount of dollars and waited because within the next 3 months these 3 very cool things were going to happen. No strings were attached to the promise. As you can guess the 3 months came and went and my 3 promises never materialized.
Yes, I was gullible but it seemed like a trade. God was going to help me and I was going to further the kingdom. I only hope I furthered the kingdom and didn’t pay for a lavish new dog house for some prized pooch. If the promise to get the money was false perhaps the promise to appropriate the money was also false.
It’s a shame what is happening. Thank you
Charisma has been one of the leading purveyors for thirty-plus years of the very things Lee Grady is now speaking out about. My subscription was canceled many years ago. “Christian” TV has never been allowed in our home. (Isn’t that a shame? Think of what the medium of TV could have been used for by the saints and look at the shameful thing it has become.)
Mr. Grady’s recent articles are excellent but I have to wonder how much longer he will want to continue to profit financially from a magazine and a business that has made its own financial gain from the very ones he now writes about.
Church funds! The Tithe! Phew this is a can of worms for many just google “OT tithing” and you could spend all day and more reading the various private interpretations, thoughts, dos don’ts.
The church must have money. Some pastors can not earn a living outside the church, (helpful. wise and safe if they can)
The :mission soaks up funds.- How much is spent in administration of those same funds. Should we accept or ask funds of folk outside the fellowship? Is that wise? Should the Church offer goods and or services to outsiders for money?. Is it ok to write books on every “christian” idea we can think of, and then offer them to the general public to raise money “for the Lord’s work” ? I could go on and on.
Remember Judas was the purse carrier, and he was the thief! The love of money is a terrible task master and is turning our once beautiful planet into a deadly cesspit of pollution, in both planes – spiritual and natural.
In the world – we can do little. However in the church we can and must. be wise, and scriptural, to keep the church righteous before an unrighteous world.
Why should we ask, or even contemplate accepting from the unsaved – gifts of money? Be wary of big cheques in the offering, they have a name attached!
Seek first the kingdom of God and all these (mundane but needed things) will be ADDED to you.
To tell someone that God, can not will not provide, unless they open their checkbook is offensive to Him?
(Remember II Kings 7 “Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.” This scoffer was trampled to death in the stampede that followed Gods provision.)
The local church that i have been part of for over 45 years has never had to specifically ask any one, privately or publicly, for money. No church bazzars, fund raising dinners, internet selling, or anything of that nature. Yet we survive and help support oversees missions. This is my testimony of Him.
His name is Jehovah Jireh. If you are not in/on His side, then you will be forever chasing money – not having your needs supplied.!
Pr Michael
fat chance of them ever policing themselves my friend. These temple whores are in it for one reason and one reason alone: $$$
They once had sincere hearts for God but alas they have gone the way of Balaam. They will use their gifts for the highest bidder. It’s not only sad but it’s a STENCH in the nostrils of God. Moreover, it perpetually makes the Christian community look like a bunch of easily decieved morons because people continue to throw large amounts of money at these religious pimps. Even worse, the programs they put out is ‘spritual’ cotton candy at best: no spiritual nutrition. If you read Ezekiels prophesy about the fat sheep and the greedy shepherds: GOD is going to judge them( and IS already) !
Christian television was never meant by God to be entertainment for carnal christians. It was meant to be a Holy Ghost FLAME THROWER for the gospel of Jesus Christ! It’s really sad to think of the billions of God’s money that have been wasted on this garbage and what it could have been used for: ie missions and evengelism!
God give us revival before this whole nation falls off into hell!
Bro Steve
Can someone please tell me what the REAL problem is here or is it multi-faceted? I see more than one problem at work here.
There are some genuinely naive people who are hoodwinked by these super-duper salespeople tugging at their heartstrings and making them feel guilty etc all ‘in the name of the Lord’.
And then there’s perhaps another problem: Is it just the people trying to sell a product by implementing whatever means they are good at eg: by twisting scripture or by twisting people’s emotional arms or whatever method they use…
Or is it that some Christian people have so much greed in their hearts that they see God as some sort of Aladdin’s Lamp, Open Sesame or Make a Wish get rich quick lottery scheme?
Surely the problem is in the hearts of the people buying into this as much as it’s in the hearts of the swindlers who are trying to manipulate the people?
There is a HUGE problem out there… but isn’t it true that at the end of the day a lot of people are willingly allowing themselves to be led astray by all sorts of greed, lusts and selfish ambition which are of the flesh and not of the spirit?
Paul
I have often wondered what these ministries would do if I called them and informed them that if they would not give to me I would loose my house, my car, etc. They would offer up a prayer and maybe laugh after I hung up. I am sure they wouldn’t offer to send a cheque to cover expenses so we can survive another month without being on the streets. They expect us to live and give generously in faith. Why not these TV Evangelists? Why not be an example to their followers of what faith really is? The TV Evangelists and some preachers that use these manipulative tactics to raise funds are a real embarrassment to us as we try to minister to our unsaved adult children and unsaved friends. One of our unsaved adult children has often commented that if he were to buy a church he could make lots of money. He says he can’t believe that so many people line up to give their money away. He and his wife often frequent the casinos and we have commented on people literally lining up there to give their money away but this doesn’t seem to have the same influence as giving your money away to a so called ministry. These unscrupulous TV Evangelists and Pastors have made Jesus and his followers appear to be fools to the world! I even heard one pastor say from the pulpit that he believed that God had called him to be a minister of God but that he wasn’t going to be no poor pastor. They passed the offering plate many times during the services for one ministry or another that the church was involved in and then had members going to welfare. Could it be also, that some of these ministries that are struggling and appealing for financial aid from us have expanded far beyond what God intended?
Lee Grady ? What about what Jesus said ? “Take no thought for what you shall eat,wear ect as Your Father in Heaven will supply all your Needs”yea, I paraphrased. Jesus is Looking for 1 thing, FAITH and that cant be manipulated, purchased or “joined” for any amount of Moneys. Of Course in this day and age most dont even consider what Jesus said when it comes to Money, after all they have PAID into these ministrys Owned and Operated as Bussinesses who have promised them 100 fold blessings for giving Money to “their ministry”. I am reminded of my Lords reaction to “Fund Raising” Merchants in the Temple.. i believe its High Time someone burst into one of these “Fund Raisers” w/Whip in Hand and drove them all out into the streets calling 911 on their cell phones about that crazy man who just drove them all out of “Their church” beating them w/ a whip.. id be willing to do the time in jail just to see their faces.May The True followers of Jesus STOP seeking Moneys for what they cant do anyways…. Preach The Truth ! There is No Amount of Money that will fix the dead churches of america and this world.. Only The Spirit can do that and Hes NOT 4 Sale !!!
I remember seeing a report on tv once during a 60 minutes type program about a phoney pastor that had ripped everybody off and flown the coop. Everyone was crying and saying that they trusted him and they could not believe that God had let this happen to them.
I asked God what it was about and God showed me that He had allowed this evil man to decieve His people and take advantage of them as His judgement for their sins, specifically, their sorcery. They had been really cruel to people with their sorcery and God was angry so He punished them.
They did look clean on the outside but God showed me what they had been doing with their magic, and they were monsters.
The reason I mention it is because the two main points that are brought to the light are usually the shifty motives of shifty pastors, and the gullibility of the gullible. Sometimes, it is God’s judgement for their sins too.
Using magic is at odds with scripture and God is quite clear about what He thinks of it.
God showed me that one of the women on tv crying about losing all of her lifes savings had been torturing someone that has been raised up to Heaven now. Someone that this woman had been keeping a prisoner.
A lot of the dead are being raised up to everlasting happiness with God now we are at the end of this age. Something that sorcerers should consider is that if they intend to be living in Heaven for eternity, then they will be living with the same people for ever that they are holding prisoner and abuseing now.
My point is that sometimes it is also about God’s judgement for their sins even if they keep their image clean. And they really deserve it.
I am in Zimbabwe.
We have just had Rodney Howard-Browne do a 3 day conference with Andre Roebert from South Africa. I went along to one evening with pen and paper to make notes to show to fellow believers that these 2 men were imposters.
Lee Grady could add on 2 extra points to his repetoire! First go on and on and on and on about giving. It took 50 minutes to take up the offering, 45 of it in babble talk. Secondly get everyone to drop your offering in the baskets in the front. So everyone who stays behind and is not giving stands out. Beware of those people who stay seated, attitude!
Amazingly they came up with a new gimmic I had never heard before. Tithing only opens the windows of heaven. To get anything from God thrown down to you, you then have to give!after you have tithed! So tithing ONLY opens the windows of heaven but nothing comes out until you give in addition to the tithe! And giving without tithing is like God throwing money down to you but since the windows are closed, the money cannot get to you!
Absolute rubbish!!
We are moved by the Spirit of God NOT by needs!! Jesus passed people who were sick and left them sick. He was moved by obedience to His Father not by need or compassion! So must we be!
I knew a couple who were in debt by $2000. I had the cash and prayed seeking God’s guidance and put the money in an enveloppe to give them. On my way there God’s Spirit agitated my spirit and I knew God did not want me to give the money. So I didn’t and had peace. God was dealing with them and I would have got in the way. We laugh about it now, but we must be moved by the Spirit and not need or compassion or other emotions.
Yes, I remember when I first became a Christian in the early nineties and fell for sending (to me at the time & still now) large amounts to Tele evangelists. My husband would have been horrified to know I sent almost a month of his wages to buy ourselves out of debt, I believed they were of God, they spoke the Word, they demonstrated their prosperous life, they touched my dream….debtfree…yes, that’s what I want to be. I fell like ten ton of bricks for their spam, I tithed to their ministry, I brought heaps of their “stuff”, I could not find the depth in God that they promised,they did not reveal how to develope a deep walk with God. But I was afraid that I was faithless, so I followed them. The bills still kept coming in & finally I found a church & turned them off.
Today I have not received ‘the miracle cure’ but I’m so much better off, in every way. Especially in not trying to hide where sums of money have gone from my husband.
Praise The Lord as I have matured He has shown me many of my errors, and corrected me from following after false shepherds & submerging myself in “strange fire”.
As I read through the previous comments I say Amen to many of them & recognize much of what has been said is the truth & thank God that He has opened my eyes, and in doing so has put me in a place I have not ever been in my life before, Peace. My prayer for myself & true believers is from Philippians !:9-11 :~
“And this pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by JesusChrist, unto the glory and praise of God.”
Thanks to Lee Grady for this article.
My only wonder is that people who are otherwise sensible and run their own businesses or are making intelligent decisions in their daily vocations, still fall for these gimmicks. How can someone whose ministry is going bankrupt offer to pray for me to bail me out of my debt if only I can pay to him money I don’t have so he can get out of his own bankruptsy first? Ordinarily that is a no-brainer, but apparently not on Christian TV.
Solomon was right when he said in Ecclesiastes 5:10 that ‘he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase….” People who love to ride in private jets and wear $3,000.00 Armani suits will not be satisfied with what they have and will manipulate others to fund their expensive lifestyles.
The tragedy of the whole charade is that they gather this ill-gotten wealth from the simple who cannot pay for their children’s education. They are the ones Peter was referring to in II Pet. 2:3 when he said “…through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you”.
Jesus had no place to lay down His head to rest. He didn’t do any fund raising. His Kingdom is not of this world.
Many modern preachers are building a kingdom of their own, which is very much of this world. All of the examples Lee Grady refers too are swindler practices. It doesn’t belong to the Kingdom of God. I don’t think any of them really contribute to the Kingdom of God. Christians should not only stop donating to these guys, but throw them out of their midst. There should be no place for these guys and their heresies in the church.
lol, these gimmicks sounds almost similair to the ones they had in the 15-16th century church where you for example could buy your salvation.
Thanks to those of you who have touched the “Holy Cow” of the TITHE. It is of the same spirit, evil manipulation, that says Jesus Christ has somehow left something unfinished even though He said with these marvelous, choice words, “IT IS FINISHED!”
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Clarke
@ Ken Arrand – This is not a new gimmic, it’s part of a lot of the preaching on finances here in Canada.
We have a prophet in our church. This person was so accurate in what the Lord gave her, that one businessman in the church wanted to get her to “work” for him in his investment business!! That is Blasphemy and was ruled on by myself and the church leaders. But one thing that bothers me is that IF the true body was giving as they should, being led by the Spirit; there might not be as much “begging” that many good called pastors have been pushed by the enemy to do. Doesn’t make them right by any means, but there are many facets to a gem. Sin is sin, whether begging against the will of God, or not giving against the will of God.
Mmmmmmmmm interesting comments on what I would class as a totally pointless article.
Again we have the absence of naming names where is the writer’s convictions about what he is writing. So come on let’s hear what you have to say about paticular people and stop hiding behind nameless objections and pathetic moans and groans.Lets read a challenging article that will encourage or teach Christians to recognise the Holy Spirit’s voice when He wants us to give instead of hoarding what we have,render to Ceasar that which is Ceasar’s and render to God what belongs to God.
I acknowledge the unwise appeals of Benny Hinn,The God Channel etc but I also recognise that there are thousands of Christians that just do not give. I know of many Christian organisations that have to rely on time given by volunteers and savings to reach hundreds of people that otherwise would not be reached.
So Mr Grady stop wasting our time by grumbling and dragging us into your grumbling world but use you gifts to lift us out of it and build positivity and God centred solutions instead on man centred selfishness.
My goodness Steve, a little cranky aren’t you?? There are so many hustlers out there that why should anyone name them. ? There devices and tactics are all spin and each one uses the other and then adds their own “testimony” of how they “gave their last dollar and then in return God gave them 100 fold. As soon as you name one, a new one comes in because they have been taught by TBN and GOD T.V. and many , many others from the radio to t.v. and then it gets into the pulpit on Sundays. We have gone to a church that started years ago giving (up front) a Jabez offering and it paid off the church the pastor owns and now they want to build a state of the art bookstore to sale his books and coffee
bar/with all the finest and that same sermon he talked about coming to Christ because we might be raptured up at anytime. — I guess the add ons were for the people being left behind that his fellow congregants paid for before the great rapture. We have all watched young pastors immitate older ones and they start out w/ a sincere heart (so it seems) and yet pride, lust and mammon /gold / riches / jets, and more churches to start come into the picture. So, often we listen to the youthful fresh caring person and we get caught up in it. We give and we think it is going to a good cause and then you find out they have private jets to go back and forth in one day from one sermon on the east coast to another sermon on the west coast. And this is a multitude of preachers not just one or two. So why name the persons. God already knows. What needs to be taught and expressed is what I have read on this website. Multitudes have been caught up in these schemes. God opened some eyes early on and others , they had to learn the hard way. I watched as a friend gave 800 dollars to a group leader of a small home group and she didn’t even have money for her mortgage and to this day still doesn’t. Yet she believed the holy spirit was telling her to give. The group ended up becoming very new age claiming many things that the holy spirit tells them to do. All one can do , is flee and repent and renounce and go to God and allow HIM to show you.
One of man’s greatest problems is the guilt and the credit card. It started years ago , but has gotten worse. Put you tithe or offering on the credit card. Greed stepped in more and the people in the pews fell for it FOR WHAT EVER REASON.
It takes God to open the hearts and eyes of those and maybe a good friend that is willing to stay w/ the person as they go thru the roller coaster ride of purging and coming into alignment w/ God’s word. Sometimes it is hard because we have taught this from an early age . The world and advertisement and we”gotta try this new thing” and so we have a coupon and buy it and then don’t like it. Or how about the book that was tooted for a best seller and you get it home and half way thru it , there is nothing but falseness , lust and drugs. Of coarse you get into the Christian church and you think you are out of it and safe and then you realize as time goes on that the tithes prayers are getting longer and more creative and more abusive basically. You are member and don’t realize you can just leave , but if you stop giving or raise a voice to the leader or preacher , then they ostrasize the whole family until you have to leave.
No there is no need to name names. One just needs to be aware, turn on a Praise a thon and listen. What one can do, is an E-book , no charge, and put the true testimonies of those that have spent a fortune on books, cds, tapes, and trinkets and savings that they have used to support these people. — Then it will be up to the person to repent and renounce and go to the Lord and just ask HIM to give you wisdom, discernment and open the eyes of the humble and I know that God will. He did mine . It takes time to stop and purge oneself from the falseness that has been taught. You just don’t do it over night. It leaves a taste and memory and then we once again go to the Lord and ask for forgiveness and also the supernatural ability to forgive those that we fell into the traps and bought their preaching. God knows the hearts of all, and those that come out of this He shelters and those that don’t – well that is HIS decision. So , as these people come down and get caught more and more , the truth will be told and known .
Anyone that says that Mr. Grady is grumbling and complaining really needs to reread the article. He is just reporting and giving facts , it is up to the reader to read and to search it out. I didn’t see or read any grumbling and complaining And for those that find this all negative, I just wonder if those people never have fallen into a trap before and given or bought something on line or “in the world” that they then regretted getting. We are all human and we all have to learn and we usually learn from our own mistakes .
I once was in a well known ministry and they had put a gold cast on plaster of their hands (like in praying hands)I knew it was idolatry but for $1,000 you could be blessed and you know people gave and took home their “anointed” hands. And testimonies of healing came out of it and other “financial” aids. People, new christians, baby christians, people looking for answers , and that don’t truly know what the bible says (which many don’t because we start off not w/ all knowledge and all knowing) but people truly are looking at these people and seeing the so called testimonies and the yearning is so desperate in them that they reach out and give or buy or get prayed over . We are all involved . Not one of us has not fallen into some form of a trap sometime in their life or even right now.
Our prayers should not be for or in the negative. We need to ask the Lord to continue to expose the moneychangers and those that are preaching falseness. And then also ask that we have eyes, ears, and a heart to HELP those that are coming out of these ministries and who are searching for the truth. Because if we answer these people w/ scolding or negative reaction then they will surely not see Christ in us. Will they ?
No true Service for God in Jesus Christ,
has the Fruit of this Service as goal or purpose.
The only aim in true Service is to obey the will and comand of God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Mattew chapter 7:21-23.
The Fruit or no Fruit of ones true Service and Actions,
belongs solely to God Himself and no others.
Arne Strand. Sweden.
THE SECRECY OF LAWLESSNESS !!!.
Matthew chapter 7 verses 21-23.
Those servants was baptised in the Holy Spirit and had Spiritual gifts,
and Jesus do not blame them for this.
The fault with them was that they did not do the will of Jesus heavenly Father,
the lived in the SECRECY OF LAWLESSNESS,
a FAKE CHRISTIANITY looking the same as the genuine one,
they where Antichrists.
The Law in NT christianity is the WILL OF GOD,
if not doing that Will,
you may be baptised in the Holy Spirit and have genuine Spiritual gifts with no faulth as such,
but you make your descissions according to the Flesh,
and lives in Lawlessness and you are a FAKE SERVANT.
Arne Strand. Sweden.
Arne, the LAWLESSNESS you speak about was Jesus speaking of the day when many would live without the Law of Moses in their heart. The modern “Church” teaches that we have been freed from the Law because of Messiah’s death on the cross. They teach the “Old” Testament is no longer applicable to the “Church”. Well I say these people are deceivers, agents of satan. Jesus died, rose from the grave three days later and ascended to the Father; all that confess this and believe He is LORD and Savior are FREED FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF THE LAW, not the Law itself. And by the way the Sabbath remains the seventh day (sundown Friday through sundown Saturday).
I have to agree with durhamlass and mention that Revelation TV does not fall into this catogary.
Many times i have heard the presenters openly rebuke those who use these manipulative methods.
Andrew Strom has also made an appearence on revelation tv and im sure he would agree.
I sent the Lee Grady article to the founder of revelation Tv and this was his reply.
Please do let them know that I do believe those gimmicks are truly sacrilegious whereas when we simply put before the viewers what are our actual costs each month and what came in by support, whether we are short or in credit.
Also we don’t ask for millions for we don’t need millions and every penny is accounted for and anyone can verify these whereas you cant with the other channels…. I wonder why?
Every blessing,
Howard
Hello Mary Ditmars,
Will comment slightly. I indicated that – - one really should give to your local Church – - virtually exclusively.
Will add to this though. You mention that – - missionaries would NOT be sent, if we only gave to the Local Church. I believe this is quite wrong. It would be the LOCAL Church’s duty to support the Missionary, and to keep track of him, to make certain he sticks with his doctrines/beliefs, and does the work he commits to doing.
In Jerusalem – - it was the LOCAL CHURCHES that received help from the OTHER Local Churches in Asia Minor. This makes it totally official then.
WHEREAS – - when (Patty Smith’s?) heart is stirred by some Boob Tube speaker, who persuades Patty to send a zillion bucks – -? If Patty sends the money – - what recourse does she have? If she finds out the money end up paying the electric bill on the air-conditioned dog house, does she have recourse? Patty doesn’t know! If Patty suddenly needs some coins back from them – - will they help her?
But if she had asked her local Church body that she attends – - – they might have helped her a bit… both in how much she should give, and they could have backed her giving.
Point being – - the Bible says – - work with your Local Church. And if you do not – - – the risk is yours. And if you think you are a Christian, and you do NOT attend Church? Again, the risk is yours.
This great – - – - I am a Christian, and I am OK, and I will toss some money wherever I wish? Lots of wolves out there, that can put on a GREAT show.
Best WISHES!
I say amen to Sandy from Scotland.These people need to be exposed for the charlatans that they are.Paul corrected Peter publicly for his error and these as we know where true men of God.Doesn’t it break your heart when one of these wolves tells the widow to send her last savings to them?Jer 5:31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? One of the problems is some people like it that way.Diotrephes was exposed by name not by describing some piece of clothing that would give him away if you described it.Side note ,it would seem Diotrephes was the first named member of the nicolaitan spirit.May Mike Murdock’s tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth.
I definitely agree that it is outrageous what is happening and how Christian leaders have come to a point where they are tagging things that are ungodly under the name of the Lord Jesus.
The more outrageous thing is that Scriptures are being misused and inappropriate adequacy are being made up to do extortion from the generous and hand-pushed giving from the less fortunate.
Keeping in mind that most people who watched Christian TV can fall in categories where
1. They are the only Christian in the family, i.e. either man, woman, husband or wife.
2. Lack of time or transportation where Christian TV is their only source of staying connected with the Christian world and pastors.
3. The saddest but true, people who has been deceived by other church members and do not want to attend church anymore.
For sure there are lots of people who just like watching Christian TV but they are most likely to be in ministry and very active in the Christian world. The fact is, that most of people falling in the categories above found themselves caught in what I would call an ‘dis-illusionary compellor’ where the person feel that they want to do something for society and the Christian community and are being deceived for lack of information and Christian community interaction.
It is a sad thing but as long as people will stand on the right Christian foundation and speak out loud what is God saying and what true Christianity is all about, the devil will always try to find new ways ‘to get closer to the front in church’.
That does not mean that Christians should stop but the complete contrary that Christians should persevere in the good work of faith.
It’s encouraging to see all these replies and to know that not everyone has bowed the knee to Baal!
What a timely article, thank you for it.
I wonder if any one knows why we need so many channels pumping out the same recorded programmes, and obsolete repeats.
Use the Google search for some interesting info on the Megga Men
of 2010 ( discernment is needed in checking the source!!)
There are some interesting investigative reports on You tube by CBS, NBC which speak for themselves.
There is deifinitely a counterfeit form of ” Christianity” being transmitted today. The Bible says that even the very elect could be deceived….. people with itching ears etc Is that prophecy being fulfilled in our ears and eyes? God and mammon do not mix.
Someone previously said give us the names. I feel that if Paul was was writing an epistle to us he would do so. I wonder if Andrew would consider ( may be with our suggestions) compile a simple non critical questionaire to send to these folk asking what we are concerned aboutand then make their replies ( if any) known. ??
What simple questions should be asked.
I am also very impressed with Revelation tv.Their openness and sincerity is really does honour The Lord. Many of their programmes are genuinly LIVE with “phone calls”
Thanks again Andrew for the excellent article and to you all for your comments. Good to know I am not alone in my thoughts.
DEAR HERO KALEV FROM SUOMI OR EESTI,
YOU ERR -
#
Kalev Aug 13th 2010
Arne, the LAWLESSNESS you speak about was Jesus speaking of the day when many would live without the Law of Moses in their heart. The modern “Church” teaches that we have been freed from the Law because of Messiah’s death on the cross. They teach the “Old” Testament is no longer applicable to the “Church”. Well I say these people are deceivers, agents of satan. Jesus died, rose from the grave three days later and ascended to the Father; all that confess this and believe He is LORD and Savior are FREED FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF THE LAW, not the Law itself. And by the way the Sabbath remains the seventh day (sundown Friday through sundown Saturday).
JESUS SAYS -
ON THAT DAY THEY WILL SAY TO ME -(Mattew chap.7:21-23).
THAT IS THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
A DAY NOY YET FACED
AND THIS IS THE LAW JESUS IS MEANING
JEREMIAH CHAP 31 Verses -
31″Behold, the days come,” saith the LORD, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–
32not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband unto them,” saith the LORD.
33″But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days,” saith the LORD, “I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be My people.
34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, `Know the LORD.’ For they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them,” saith the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT WE AS CHRISTIAN HEATHEN ALREADY LIVES IN.
READ THE 3 VERSES OF MATT.CHAP.7:21-23,
WHERE THOSE MEN WORKING -” INIQUITY”- HAS “LAWLESSNESS” IN THE GROUNDTEXT,
AND YOU WILL KNOW WHAT JESUS MEANS WITH THAT CONTRARY TO THE “WILL” OF GOD.
Arn.Sweden.
DEAR KALEV -
What Jesus is Judging on HIS DAY,
is SERVICE,
NOT SALVATION.
“The Kingdom of the Heavens”,
IS AN INTERMEDIARY KINGDOM BETWEEN -
THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
AND,
THE KINGDOM OF THE EARTH.
It is through the Kingdom of the Heavens,
the Kingdom of God,
rules the Kingdom of the EARTH.
When Satan in the REVELATION OF JOHN,
is cast out of Heaven,
means that He no longer RULES the EARTH,
He can not RULE WITH LIE AND DECEPTION ANY LONGER
His response to this is His other Quality – MURDER.
Arn.Sweden.
Lee should have gone futher brother a lot further!!!
Why fundraise at all? Why not Receive……
Are we not to trust God to supply ALL?
Will not God provide..ALL?
Oh How I desire Truth in my inner parts..
OH that you godly men would stand for the truth and not be afraid!!
And lets talk about teach—about what and how you are stumbling over the giving of charitable receipts…causing God’s people to stumble!!
Look at the prophet Malachi..he will tell you God did not call for the Government receipt for His people in Giving to Him….
ooooh you guys….you also love you donations and promote wrong doings with your receipts giving….ooooooooooooh My heary hurts for the lost church!!!!!!!!!!!! For YOUoooh………….
A quote by Linda Fannin (a missionary in Hungary) after reading the article: ”
It is hard to believe people fall for this unbiblical way of evangelizing! I must say it makes it harder for the programs that are really doing something of good and value around the world and that really do need support! This makes it extremely hard for missionaries who itinerate; they certainly do not own houses, apartments, planes, limos, swimming pools, or businesses; yet when they are home they take longer coming and going for iitneration. What is worse is that many pastors buy into these evangelist, because of their popularity, and support them.
What really is sad is the fact that many of these T.V. evangelists use a token plea for world evangelization by trying to export this type of Christianity overseas along with a toy or some other gimmick. Sorry, people keep your gimmicks in America– they don’t need it here where people face real life/death situations.
God’s people are always blessed, but because they don’t get the latest in American fashion or trend doens’t mean they are not blessed. HIs love and blessing falls on the good and the bad; that’s how much He loves! “For God so love the world…” Reflection on how world evangelization on the New Testament pattern is in order.
I am not denegrating the evangelists, but I am ticked off at how the abuse and misuse of God’s word is presented on the airwaves everyday, making it difficult for the rest of the world to understand true Christianity. Can we turn this thing around??”
I think a lot of the writers have taken what is indeed righteous outrage as an excuse for not supporting ministry and to support their own greed. Paul had a special assignment to lay the foundation for the current day Church of Christ. To compare his boat making in simplier times to what is going on in the world today seems like comparing apples to water melons. What we are suppose to develop as Christians is an ear for the guidance of the Holy Spirit which gives us discernment to read others and determine motives.
Believe it or not, there are those who are doing the work of the Lord and could use our support by mouth (thanking them for being our hands and back), a pat on the back (encouragement for doing sometimes unlovely work) and financial resources. Do we really expect all missionaries to live like Mother Theresa did? Really? How many do you think are out there; .001% of the population, maybe!
I was a single Mom for many years and not on welfare or church support (for some of you cynics). I have been blessed to suppoort both myself and my child by working. I did not have the time or means to go to Africa or South America and minister to others, myself. I am thankful for those who were called and answered. I am blessed to be able to support them in their efforts. God loves me for this and I am happy to do it.
We have to use the intellect God gave us and do our research before we write checks. And, yes, we were never told in scripture to be entertained by drama and cunning before we release our funds to thieves in the name of the Lord. But he did say support the work of the cross. See this is the thing…WE are all suppose to minister one to another. Some put it on the ministry leadership of their local church and believe they are off the hook. Others have picked up their cross to minister and are not Pastors or Evangelists or any reconizable leader and we should support them by offerings. Some of us are just as guilty of greed as the preachers they have criticized.
I WANT TO ADD TO THIS MY COMMENT ABOVE .
#
Arne Strand. Aug 12th 2010
Anybody calling him/her-self a servant of God in Jesus Christ,
who ask for Money,
is a FALSE SERVANT of JESUS CHRIST.
Such a Person Testifies to the fact that Jesus Christ is not LORD OVER the MONEY in this Persons life,
or LORD at all.
Such a Person if Called to SERVICE,
do not obey the HOLY SPIRIT.
and the Holy Spirit is not with the Person nor Jesus Christ Himself.
FURTHER – I ADD -
It is written -
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is Freedom”.
Any servant comming to you to minister,
the only Burden on this Ministers Spirit,
is the Message He/She is to deliver.
If Jesus Christ it the Employer and you the Employee,
Jesus Christ ´Himself has to Pay His Servant what the Servant need.
When that Servant therefore come to you to minister,
this question and matter are already settled between the two,
and the servant is FREE to Minister the “Burden” layed upon Him/Her.
If one senses in the Spirit that this Servant are looking for Money,
than the matter is not settled and He/She is a FAKE ONE because the Sevice is a Fake.
Arne Strand. Sweden.
It is clear we are in the end times. It is very sad to read the comments added about the things going on in our churches, but they must be true.
Is this what is described as end time delusions that is taking place? I think there is more that needs to be exposed and it will be done.
If only we had stuck on to our first love – Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Word as exactly in the Bible we would be more effective witnesses to a dying world. Yet these churches are all doing what they believe to be right and true in their eyes. Truly a strong delusion.
This is the time to be watchful, and pray for the “lost” in these churches because clearly they are not hearing nor heeding the warning as in Rev 18:4-5, mainly because they do not see themselves in a false system of believe. But this is something that has to take place as written in Rev 17.
God is not against his people but is against false man made systems of believe, that’s why the call to come out. This is not about the money or the extravagance and waste in churches. This is clearly about a false system that portrays itself as the real thing but mostly fails to keep the commandments of God.
Rev 17 basically describes a mother church (Romish Church) that is adorned with precious stones. She has other harlot churches (daughters) that follow her and that commit abominations and immorality. So how are these other harlot churches connected to the mother church? That is the question we need to be asking ourselves.
The answer is simple; is your church keeping ALL the Ten Commandments or have they changed it like the Romish church?
FURTHER COMMENTS AS TO WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN ABOVE.
IT IS WRITTEN -
“The Spirit who confesses that Jesus is Christ come in flesh, is of/from God” !!!.
Jesus sits on the Throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
and therefore every SEVICE must Personaly be called to from the Throne.
But this is not enuff,
there can be a timespace between the Call and the Sendind to Sevice,
as in the case of King David,
(and the Apostle Paul),
he was called to be King of Israel but it took many years before he practically became King.
(as also Paul had to wait for the comand to leave Antiochk to begin his Apostolic Servise he was called to).
Therefore in the same manner,
everybody called to Sevice,
must wait for the command from the Throne to go to this Sevice,
otherwise the Anointing/Christ is nor with the one Going.
Such a One does not confess that
– Jesus is Christ come in flesh/in the Servants flesh in his Service.
Arne Strand. Sweden.
GOD will indeed humble those who exalt themselves.
GOD has exalted HIS Word above HIS name
As the psalmist turns to worship he writes in
Psalm 138:2: “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” God’s Word is His communication, His promise, the revelation of Himself to His people. It is to be a lamp to our feet in a dark and fallen world, without it we would have no way to know God or how to do God’s will.
Throughout scripture we have a consistent theme of the dichotomy of light versus darkness. The world we live in is darkness reserved for judgment. John the apostle in 1 John 1:5 tells us God is light. Light is God’s very nature, it represents to us Holiness and perfection. This is why we often read that a physical manifestation of God ‘s glory is light or fire. Sin is associated with darkness and judgment. It implies imperfection, and principally ignorance, sinfulness, and misery.
The Psalmist asks Ps 119:9 “How can a young man cleanse his way? He answers, “By taking heed according to Your Word. Just a few more verses later v:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” God’s word keeps us from sin and keeps us on his path, as the Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps.119:105) in a dark world.
Ps. 43:3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me. As one reads the psalms one grasps the importance of the Word to the the people of Israel, especially the leaders.
To disregard God’s Word that is holy, pure and absolutely true is to defame God’s name and character. It is to bring ruin upon our walk. So it becomes the main focus point in our daily walk with Christ.
I’ve always believed that if you are called of the Lord to do something in His name. He will provide. You don’t have to beg for the provision. The provision comes with the calling, if it’s from Him.
Daddy God… i thank you for emptying heaven of your greatest treasure… JESUS CHRIST to be my offering… that i may receive all things trough him… in his name…
i receive everthing i will ever need because GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL BE SAVED…
What else can i bring… except your SON my GOD?
What else is Acecptible before you?
Forgive us for our sin… our pride!!!
What can we add to him…
We receive all because GOD GAVE!!!
What can we add to him…
we are bringing strange fire… be cause of pride what can we bring that will appease GOD…
Beside Jesus…
What other offering can we bring… if we could bring BUT ONE OFFERING… FOR ONE LIFE TIME… WHAT WOULD IT BE… WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE OFFERING!!!
What would a man give in exchange for his soul…
We keep telling GOD that what he did isn’t enough… we need to add something to it to receive what we need from GOD…
But it is our fathers good PLEASURE to give us the KINGDOM!!!
So we give as unto the LORD and not unto MEN…
WE GIVE BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM… PRESSED DOWN… SHAKEN TOGETHER… RUNNING OVER…
BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY…
we receive all things in JESUS NAME… WE HAVE NOT BECAUSE WE ASK NOT…
god tv is a mockery in the face of God. The unsaved world knows it, just the religious are the blind leading the blind, always forever learning and never coming to the truth.
Why wish that they would change? it’s the inside that is the problem.
love,
Sarah
The Lord’s been showing me something over the last few days which I’d like to share with us all for our edification, it’s regarding where our treasure is and seeking first His Kingdom… :-)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21 NASB)
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matt 6:24 NASB)
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt 6:31-34 NASB)
I think it was Thursday night when the Lord started speaking to me about the importance of souls, the souls of those who are coming to faith in Him, coming into His Kingdom…
He wanted me to be available to do and to pray whatever He placed on my heart to do and to pray for these ones, whatever that meant and basically told me that my fulfilment would be in seeing them coming into His Kingdom and growing in Him, that was going to be my joy…
He brought back to mind the above scripture, “for where your treasure is there your heart will be also” when He brought this to me…
Today the Lord began speaking to me regarding seeking first His Kingdom and showed me that whether I work at a job or whether I work directly for Him, it is the Holy Spirit living through me and doing the work and not I myself…
I saw this for the first time, I have experienced for a number of years the Holy Spirit doing my job through me – I’m a Structural Engineer by training – and giving me great wisdom to do things which in the natural I do not have wisdom for, I have been blessed by the Holy Spirit in my job…
I realised today as the Lord was talking to me, that if He called me to go and work for Him directly then it would be exactly the same thing, it would be the Holy Spirit who was doing that through me and not me myself…
I had a peace about this, for a few months now I’ve just been showing up to work and doing what I do and not thinking about the money, the money goes into the bank account the loans get paid off, the bills get paid, etc, without me giving it basically any thought…
Suddenly today the Lord showed me, in as many words, “What’s the difference? What if I called you to work for Me. You would do what I said to do and go where I said to go. I would provide for all your needs, you would seek first My Kingdom”…
The penny dropped, the life of faith, trusting God, we focus on doing what He has told us to do, bringing to salvation the souls who are coming to faith in Him and establishing and strengthening the souls who have already come to faith in Him and He provides everything which we need to do it…
The peace of God filled me and I was able to receive it and say, “Yes Lord” for this to be established in my life…
There is “no thought for tomorrow” in this place, once the Lord leads us here, there is just the continuous present of His grace pouring into our hearts so that we can minister for His glory…
What an Awesome God we serve, Thank You Jesus for Your provision for our lives that, “*Your* divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of *You* who called us by *Your* own glory and goodness” (2 Pet 1:3 NIV *personalised*), Thank You Father that You are our provider and You delight to provide for the needs of Your children, You are a good God and You love us dearly, Thank You Lord Holy Spirit that You work in our hearts making us more like Jesus, You are Awesome and I praise You for the work You’ve been doing in my heart, in the words of the song, “I love You Lord, And I lift my voice, To worship You, O my soul rejoice, Take joy my King, In what You hear, Let me be – Let us be – a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear”… Thank You that You will never let us go and that Your compassions are “new every morning”, “Great is Your faithfulness”… :-)