The Party is Over for the Televangelists
Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct. According to Grassley’s office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles. Excuse me but, “Duh, we’re just now noticing this?”
Actually the committee was spurred on by a man named Ole Anthony. He operates the Dallas-based Trinity Foundation, a watchdog outfit monitoring religious media, fraud and abuse.
The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six –Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar– also sit on the board of regents for the Oral Roberts University.
Having read James Randi’s The Faith Healers which also discuss these types of ministries as well as his struggle to bring them to any sort of justice, I can say–for the sake of the religious and nonreligious–it’s long past time someone started taking action. So way to go Ole Anthony and Senator Grassley.
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As a Christian, I believe any “ministry” ought to be held to the highest standards. None of us, including myself are perfect, but these blatant abuses and mis-uses of finances deserve to be investigated, condemned and punished. The lifestyles lived by many of those mentioned here are the exact opposite of what Jesus lived.
There is always room for true repentance, but many of these “ministries” defend what they do rather than repent. They are a black eye for the name of Christ.
I feel strongly about the faith healers or “God’s checkbook types. They lure people to give money on the false premise that they will be cured of disease or rewarded with more money for every dollar they invest in the “Godly Checking Account” run by the preacher. This is as you say a black eye on the name of Christ and religion.
By the way I’m enjoying the book you recommendedThe Myth of a Christian Nation he speaks very movingly and clearly about how these types of kingdom of earth issues distract religion from its real purpose. His type of writing is why I don’t give up when I start to feel that there is no way for us to work together despite our differences. I hope he is the real deal and continues to write and preach. I know he and I would disagree on a lot but looking for that which is good in humans would be a place we could start together.
[...] There’s more on the televangelists under senate investigation here and here. [...]
I’m fully supportive of investigations like these. Religious bodies should not be singled out for special attention, nor should they be exempt from normative oversight.
Maybe the party should be over for Ole Anthony, the “watchdog” who provided the information to Sen Grassley.
See http://www.dallascult.com
Wendy J. Duncan
Author:I Can’t Hear God Anymore: Life in a Dallas Cult
Wow, Wendy, thanks for the link. here is the Dallas observer article for those interested http://www.dallasobserver.com/2007-11-22/news/turning-the-tables
What else can I say but, and so it goes.
I remember Benny Hinn when he was a young, aspiring healer/evangelist back in the early 1980’s and was supposedly the one “chosen” to take over the “mantle of calling” from Katherine Kuhlman. Anyone remember her (”I believe in a MIR-a-CLE!”
After reading about Ole Anthony and then about these 6 televangelists, it struck me that one rarely reads of such things among mainline liberal protestant churches.
I think it’s because they use their abilities to reason and think be part of their choices and faith. And there’s something to be said about there being some sort of oversight from a larger body such as a denomination (although some denominations seem more lax ala the Assemblies of God or too constrictive ala the Roman Catholic church with its sex/pedophile scandal).
I guess believing in a God doesn’t change the realities of what humans can do, eh?
[...] Rant and Reason, there are some interesting comments from a former member of a religious cult, and also some links [...]
the Lord in all his glory and riches came into the world not to be served but to serve. I don’t believe that he would instruct Joyce Meyer to spend people’s hard earned donations on a marble conference table that cost $38,000.00 for her headquarters. Wake up people!!!!!!! Their prosperity teaching is bull and is only for their benefit.
“Beware I send you out as sheep among the wolves.”
[...] More on the Televangelists There’s more on the televangelists under senate investigation here and here. [...]
Here is another perspective on this that you may want to consider. It’s a blog post called “Kenneth Copeland’s Jet”
http://dougwead.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/kenneth-copelands-jet/
It is true that if found necessary, then these organizations should undergo investigations. However, the IRS is the agency that should make that decision. The Senator does not have the authority to call for investigations like this on his every whim. We do not need this to be a spring board for further wild investigations. Blogking - that Doug Wead article is a great one - glad you posted it!
May God continue to bless you as you continue to provide quality and informative substance to your posts. God Bless - Rev. Jim Wilson
http://www.jimwilsonministries.com
Here is another perspective you may want to consider. It is a blog entitled “Kenneth Copeland’s Jet” I’m not so sure that Senator Grassley has a right to do this, regardless of what you think about Copeland, this could open some doors we may not want to open. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050801658.html
2Ch 6:23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
I appreciate the scripture. This is a God-sized problem. He’s the only one that can sort it out.
But, I will respond to the comment “… one rarely reads of such things among mainline liberal protestant churches.” Most of these are not national or international, so their scandals do not reach that level of attention. But, they do happen.
I lived in Dallas in the late 80’s to early 90’s and there were two very ugly ones, covered locally. Prestonwood Baptist Church’s pastor carried on an affair and was defiant when confronted. Much grief to that church, as was to the Protestant church I cannot now recall the name, but that pastor was tried for attempted murder of his wife, who was found beaten to a pulp in their home garage, her head battered severely. They could not prove it sufficiently and he got off. He then left for California with a girlfriend. The wife lived, but was in nursing care, mentally and physically impaired from the assault. The church stood with her and her care. This was quite devastating obviously.
They go on financially in these circles as well. These do not catch the media attention because of their lower profile, most without televised services. That’s why you don’t hear about them, not that they don’t happen, sad to say.
Way to go? Have you checked the background?
This will not take the urls, but there is significant substantiation that neither Ole Anthony nor Senator Grassley are going in the right way.
Anthony - The Dallas Observer ran several articles on him making it clear his “watchdog” group needs watching itself. The media don’t bother him because he is one of their biggest “sources” of dirt.
Grassley - Southern Appeal, among others, ran an article about a very recent letter sent by some 25 ministries to the Finance Committee expressing concern over the handling of this matter. If you will actually check it out, you will see by the names of the groups, they are very unrelated to the six being investigated. There is an issue here which is cause for genuine concern.