Though I'm concerned that we are misunderstood I'm not embarrassed by this inquiry since the prosperity gospel really isn't the gospel. This has nothing to do with the biblical Christianity:
Among the many conservative Christians who feel misunderstood by the general public, the six televangelists under investigation by a Senate committee are an embarrassment.The solution to this is easy, just tell Grassley that opulence is part of the religion and that the pastor has to be the example of wealth to sell the message. It really doesn't matter how Grassley and others view their form of Christianity it matters what they believe. It's their religion and doesn't have to conform to historical, biblical Christianity to be a religion.The ministers' on-air faith healings and fundraising, backed by self- serving misinterpretations of Scripture, reinforce offensive stereotypes of greedy preachers and their unquestioning followers, critics say.
But traditional Christians aren't universally celebrating the inquiry. Some are wondering whether the investigation led by Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa is the right way to end any wrongdoing, especially if the result is more government oversight of all ministries.
"We're not representing any of the parties involved, but when I see a senator charging into organizations, wielding this kind of budget ax and laying bare religious figures and expenditures, huge constitutional questions are being raised," said Garry McCaleb, senior counsel at the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious liberty legal group founded by James Dobson of Focus on the Family and other influential evangelicals.
Craig Parshall, senior vice president and general counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters, a trade association, said the questions that Grassley sent the six ministries about their finances were too broad. None of the televangelists is a member of the NRB.
"We don't have any inside information of the financial workings of the six ministries involved," Parshall said. "What we're concerned about is the future of Christian broadcasting and Christian ministries-nonprofit ones-if this inquiry is either broadened or ratcheted up and hearings are held and new legislation is considered."
[...]
All the ministries preach a form of Word of Faith theology, known as prosperity gospel, which effectively teaches that God wants believers to be rich. The ministries have said separately that they are committed to following the tax laws, but it is not known whether they will all comply with Grassley's request by the deadline.
"This has nothing to do with church doctrine," said Grassley, who has been investigating nonprofit compliance with the tax code for years. "This has everything to do the with tax exemption of an organization."
But Grassley irked some religious leaders when he quipped about the lifestyles of the preachers under investigation, saying Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a Rolls Royce.
I share the concerns of these leaders because once the camel gets it's noise in the tent, the rest is sure to follow.
Related Posts:
Sen. Charles Grassley Asks Ministries To Turn Over Financial Records
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Michele, I think that you are correct in saying that there is an easy answer to Grassley's inquiry. It is totally correct to say that for the false gospel these folks are preaching, opulence is a part of the package. Their gospel has nothing at all to do with Biblical Christianity, but instead it is a false, materialist gospel. Acquisition of things is entirely consistent with their materialist preaching, so I don't see that they have anything at all to hide.The greatest potential problem that I see is the damage to the concept of the Church and to the independence of Churches from governmental interference. I think it would be well if Grassley can be resisted and his request refused, rather than letting the government begin to evaluate Churches. Even if they did nothing adverse in this instance, once the precedent was established, it would be much easier to do it again.
I know it's a fine and important balance to both protect citizens and to keep the government out of religion, but I don't think the (camel on a) slippery slope argument should prevent action. I think it's important that people have full disclosure, at which point they can decide for themselves. If you think you're giving to a charity (whether religious or otherwise), but find out those running it use the money to buy his and her high-end Mercedes, have cosmetic surgery, frequent posh restaurants, and fly on private jets, you might be upset.Tax exemption laws were written with traditional religions in mind and this is the standard being applied. As a society, we decided that a religion that focuses on enriching a select few at the expense of the masses is more likely to be a scheme than a true belief system. We're not saying you can't practice it, we're just saying it's not completely tax-exempt.While we must remain vigilant that future investigations and taxes do not overstep the law, I think those in progress are proper.Then again, I probably lean towards taxing churches/temples/etc altogether lest the law respect an establishment of religion."When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obligated to call for help of the civil power, it's a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one." -- Ben Franklin
Having been victimized once by the "false" preachers who preach the "false" gospel of prosperity, I felt very strongly compelled to write a book to expose these false people who teach and promote this "unchristian and non biblical" false gospel,and warn people from joining them and giving money to these false "greedy" preachers.
My book is very revealing and I do not hold any punches in it regarding these false gospel,which is taught for the sole purpose of becominhg rich and to control people.
My book is entitled "CHRISTIANS BEWARE" by Jose Cardona.
It is available at Amazon.com,Barnes & Noble,Borders.com,etc.
Thanks and God bless.
Jose Cardona
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