“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep…
But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…”
It all begins with lawsuit recently filed against Richard and Lindsay Roberts which, in part, alleges fiscal misconduct. Richard Roberts is the president of Oral Roberts University and has several TV shows where he regularly asks people to send him money so they can be healed, have their family saved, or receive their own financial blessing. And no…I am not exaggerating, I am a graduate of ORU and have heard this stuff first hand. And even thought the university is over $52.5 million in debt, Richard, Lindsay, and Oral make a combined income of over a half million dollars a year (Oral Roberts himself makes $75,000 a year for working 5 hours a week).
But the allegations do not stop at the faded gold doors of ORU. It is expanding outward with a new senate investigation into at least 6 other televangelists; many of whom have close ties with Richard Roberts.
Senator Charles Grassley has started the investigation.
“The allegations involve governing boards that aren’t independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces,” Grassley said. “I don’t want to conclude that there’s a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code.”…
Most of those under investigation preach a variation of the “prosperity gospel,” the teaching that God will shower faithful followers with material riches.Grassley’s letters went to
_ Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas, a $20 million organization and prosperity gospel pioneer. Questions were raised about the transfer of church assets to a for-profit company, Security Patrol Inc., a $1 million loan from Gloria Copeland to the group, and a “personal gift” of more than $2 million given to Kenneth Copeland to mark the ministry’s 40th anniversary.
A Copeland spokeswoman released a statement saying the ministry is working on a response to Grassley’s letter, follows all laws and best practices governing churches and religious nonprofit groups, and “will continue to do so.”
_ Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga. Grassley’s letter asks for records on private planes, board makeup, compensation and donations and “love offerings” to visiting ministers. In a statement, Dollar called his ministry an “open book” and said he would cooperate. He also questioned whether the investigation could “affect the privacy of every community church in America.”
_ Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas, is asked about use of a private jet, a home in Dana Point, Calif. and “layover trips” while traveling on ministry business. Hinn did not respond to requests for comment.
_ Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga., was questioned about his salary, a $1.4 million real estate transaction and whether he, and not the board, holds sole authority over the organization. Long plans to fully comply with the Senate’s request, and his church has “several safeguards” to ensure transactions comply with laws governing churches, according to a statement from Long’s spokesman.
_ Joyce and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo., who were quizzed about receiving donations of money and jewelry and the handling of cash from overseas crusades. They also were asked about expenditures at ministry headquarters, including a $30,000 conference table and a $23,000 “commode with marble top.”
The ministry’s lawyer released a statement describing the ministry’s work and public release of several years’ worth of audits. He also said the IRS found in October that the group continues to qualify for tax-exempt status.
_ Randy and Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, Fla. are asked about home purchases in San Antonio, Texas, Malibu, Calif., and New York, credit card charges for clothing and cosmetic surgery and the reported purchase of a Bentley convertible as a gift for Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent Texas preacher and televangelist. An e-mail to a spokeswoman for Jakes was not immediately returned.
In a statement, Randy and Paula White declined to comment on specifics, saying they needed time to review the letter with their lawyers. But the Whites called the Grassley letter “unusual, since the IRS has separate powers to investigate religious organizations if they think it’s necessary.”
Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar all sit on the board of regents for Oral Roberts University, which is mired in a financial scandal of its own.
Isn’t it funny how God’s path to financial prosperity always goes straight through the bank account of some TV preacher? And please don’t anyone start whining about how this is an infringement upon religious liberty. The only thing that will happen to these folks is they could lose their non-profit status with the government. They can still preach their same message; they just wont be able to make as much profit. I digress.
Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.
Jesus also warns us
“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. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “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. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “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.
Paul warned the church of Ephesus, and us,
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience…
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The fallout continues and even Charisma magazine recognizes the severity of this issue. J. Lee Grady writes.
“Something needs to be said. Questions need to be asked. That’s why I refuse to demonize Grassley for launching this probe.
What is unfortunate about this investigation is that it had to be initiated by someone in the federal government. The Christian public should have demanded a higher level of accountability a long time ago. Why have we been silent when we know certain ministries are operating without a proper board of directors or without any accountability? “
What a great question. Why was Charisma taking paid ads from these people instead of holding them accountable? I asked them that very question on their forum.
Randy and Paula White announced to their church they are getting divorced. Apparently, neither one will let this slow down their “ministries,” and from this news story in the Tampa Tribune comes an interesting insight on money and marriage.
“Without Walls church board member Alick Clarke of Acton, Calif., a longtime friend, said the impending divorce is sad news.
“They were like my heroes. I really love them,” he said. “But I’m also a little pissed off. I didn’t help them build their dream to have them throw it all away.”
An Australian-born businessman, Clarke said he’s given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the church since it was founded by the Whites in 1991 as the South Tampa Christian Center.
He partially blamed the couple’s breakup on their devotion to preaching a prosperity message, exhorting followers to give more money to the church in order to be blessed with greater wealth.
“Too many ministries have become big business. That message is desecrating the church today,” said Clarke, adding that he was disturbed to learn that with revenues at $40 million last year, the church was $22 million in debt.
“That’s just not right.”"
Quick update on the part of my post that references the Grassley investigation as reported by the Pew Forum.
“WASHINGTON (RNS) Ministries headed by evangelists Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn are both changing the way they operate even as a Senate probe into alleged lavish spending by six prominent ministries continues, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Monday (July 7).
“Both Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have indicated that they are instituting reforms without waiting for the committee to complete its review,” said Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, in an update on the investigation he began last year.”
Hello J.R. Miller This is ccc born & raised.
I see what you are about and if you feel that you have to do this that is ok.
But instead of making judgements on these people meet with them and see what you think of them.
Become a part of their ministries and come to know what they are doing.
I am partners with Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar and they both give an annual report as to where the funds are being used as well as Apostle Price.
I am not sure of the other ministries, but I think that you miss out on getting to know these people when you are on the side of condemning them.
I think that you would be thoroughly be blessed by your experience if you were to sit and meet with them.
The bible tells you that when you see your brother doing something that is not right you go to him.
You are not supposed blast your brother in Christ all over the internet.
Don't just be someone that casts judgement on someone get to know them. I know that you could meet with each of them just call and make an appointment with their secretary to meet with them. Sit chill and fellowship over God's word and see how much you really have in common.
Hi CCC, I went to Oral Roberts University and saw most of these people when they came to talk and speak locally and at our Chapel services. I also had a few of them come to my class on Signs and Wonders for healing services. Additionally, I watched most of them for close to four years on TV. My proximity to them and seeing the fruit of their teachings is exactly why I make this post.