Making Idols Out Of God's Good Gifts

From your mouth to God's ear...

Enough said! Even Apostle Paul was so concerned about how donations where handled see 2Cor 8:19-21. He wanted it to be above board. Hscb says (verses 20-21),"Our aim in this is to show that our conduct in dealing with these substantial sums is above reproach;for we take pains to do what is right not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of other people."

If you are comfortable with your salary, then what is the big deal in making it public???? Thank you for reminding us that our accountablity is to God first and not the system.

Let me ask you Warren Smith, have you ever used male enhancement products?
SOME THINGS ARE NO ONE'S BUSINESS!!
If I've read the various reports right, Sen. Grassley is asking for names, addresses and DONATION amounts of the partners of these ministries, one can only assume to somehow exploit that information.
The Copelands have REQUESTED an IRS audit so the Senate can have their info, yet protect the information of the donors.
Agree with these ministries or not, this breach of protocol IS something that EVERY Christian should be concerned with.
Separation of Church and State was establish for OUR protection, and if entities like this can just side-step the constitutional way of acquiring information, then we are ALL in trouble...
Stewardship isn't just about finances, it's also about responsibility of information. Being "transparent" shouldn't mean compromising one's ethics.

Warren Smith. Can you lead the way with transperacy and tell us how much you earn to write these articles? As a journalist of great integrity maybe you could also reveal your 'sources' and 'biases' in sharing your opinion.

Good stewardship involves accountability to the Head of the Church and His body. If Jesus was asked, "Where did you get that donkey?" do you think His answer would have satisfied the authorities and they would leave him alone. When He was questioned by Pilot He kept silent.Math 27:13-14 "Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You? But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marvelled greatly". By your own measure you would have instructed Jesus to be, "Open, honest and above reproach.......to the world at large.

Interestingly the chief priests and scribes with the multitude led Jesus to Pilate in Luke 23:2 "And they began to accuse Him, saying, 'We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Ceasar...........v4 So pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, 'I find no fault in this man.' v5 But they were the more fierce, saying, 'He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea,....."

What is so different about the current situation. You dont like what Copeland teaches, but you want the Government to conduct the slaughter. How will you and the crowd respond when the IRS say, 'I find no fault with this man.'

Warren Smith: Do you think you are safe from the lides of Grassley? Dont you think that soon he will come for your church too? I have supported the Copeland ministry financially for many years. I would absolutely LOSE it if Copeland released my name to the Senate of my giving records!

How much I give and to whom is my buisness. Copeland is the mainline financial suppoorter of several benevelent ministries like Rheinhardt Bonke, a HUGE evangelism ministry in Afirca. He gives MILLIONS to that outreach, who has documented over 20 million salvations. Copeland is peerless in his reaching out to prisoners in need. Ask anyone in any prison who writes them! The copeland name is ususally the ONLY one mentioned.

I am confused by the hatred for prosperity by you and your peers. if you REALLY believe what you say, then why dont you sell all that you have, give it to the poor and live in a tiny house with a VERY used car? Who says that your lifestyle is ok? Do you rely on what some man has said? Why are you trying to get out of the humble life of poverty you think God has ordained for people by earning more money? Shame on you for trying to earn money!

You act as though Christ drew the line about prosperity himself, and outlined the salary requirements for ministers. Well, he hasn't. He actually said in 3 John 2: "I wish above ALL things that you prosper AND be in health, even as your soul prospers..." Does not sound poor to me.

I dont see how we are supposed to reach the whole world with quality gospel if we dont have a LOT of money. We sure cant rely on your articles to do that for us.

Here's the bottom line: Christians are required to be open, honest, and above reproach in all our dealings. This should be any Christian ministry's or church's "default" posture toward its members, its donors, and the world at-large. We shouldn't need a law to require it, but we surely don't need to hide behind the Constitution to prevent it.

I agree

Warren Smith,
I too have been a long time supporter for several of these ministries to reach millions with the gospel. Their fruits speak loudly of God working in all their ministries. I believe that the enemy's schemes are being made known in the church, the Christians attacking their own. Jesus is the only judge and to go along with those who have been ensnared by using our enemy's tools is evident by your story. I pray that you discern who you are listening to.

Warren Cole Smith is a threat to the Gospel and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Does he intend to be? Of course not. But is he....absolutely yes. People who don't comprehend the necessity of separation of church and state don't know history. Why does this representative of the government Mr. Grassley want this information? Because he thinks these ministries may need government control. And if it is control for financial reasons today, then could it not be control for theological reasons tomorrow? And is not financial control, the control that can affect the expenditure of money and is not money the lifeline that permits these ministries to minister? And is it not supposed excesses of personal benefits to the ministers the concern? What if one believes in the God of El Shaddi which means "the God of more than enough". These people don't like God-given prosperity.
And then the fake issue of tax-exempt status money being used for the salaries and benefits to the leaders comes up. That is a bogus issue. All of the huge salaries paid to American corporation presidents (multiple millions to EACH president) is tax exempt money too. The corporations don't pay any tax on the money they pay to the executives and the nonprofits don't pay on the money they pay to the executives.
Grassley's group ought to go after the enormously excessive pay of corporation executives.
And remember - people GAVE the money to the ministries. But the corporation executives TOOK the money from their stockholders.
Warren Cole Smith has a platform he is using to undermine religious freedom. He is a danger to the American church. He is anti-Christ in this regard. He is horribly deceived. If the government controls the church's money it controls the church.