“MONEY COMETH TO ME NOW!” – THE GOSPEL OF GREED

Posted on by January 8, 2010avatar

If you watched the videos included in yesterday’s post, you heard a chant “Money cometh to me now!” Apparently, it’s the mantra of the prosperity preachers.  Don’t miss Kenneth Copeland’s rendition of the phrase at the 1.12 mark of this video.  It’s a terrific example of how the “Name it and claim it” or “Blab it and grab it” gospel works.


Larry King interviewed Creflo Dollar, whose ministry was one of the six targeted by Senator Charles Grassley.  As you listen to Dollar’s defense of his vast wealth, please keep in mind his arrogant comment:  “I didn’t ride here on Delta; I rode here on my own airplane.” Where does Dollar (pun intended!) draw the line between his money and his ministry’s money?


Click for clip of Larry King interview of Creflo Dollar


Now that you’ve heard about Creflo Dollar’s extravagant lifestyle, check out this interview with Dollar by Art Franklin of Atlanta’s Fox 5 News.  In it, you’ll see photos of his $3 million Atlanta mansion, hear about a Rolls Royce given to him by his congregation, and view his private Leer jet (owned by his ministry).  Dollar also has a $2 million pad in New York City.  After all, he has two World Changers churches – one in Atlanta and the other in NYC, not to mention the satellite churches around the world.  Combined, Dollar has close to thirty thousand members in his congregation, which obviously justifies his lavish lifestyle, right?


Click for Atlanta FOX 5 News report on Creflo Dollar


Did you catch Creflo Dollar’s claim that Jesus Christ was rich?  Why?  Because he had a treasurer… Guess what Creflo…  most organizations have treasurers.  Are they all rich?  Of course not!  Surely you can come up with a better reason than that!!!


When Al Sharpton criticizes a brother, you know you’re in BIG TROUBLE!  Is that why Creflo Dollar stopped receiving a salary from his church and returned $28 million?  Had he not been investigated by Senator Grassley, it’s highly unlikely that Dollar would have given those dollars back!


Next week we’ll get into some of the heresies taught by these Word of Faith preachers.  There’s just too much to cover on these false “profits”.  Tomorrow we will take a lighthearted look at some of these prosperity  preachers.  You’re sure to laugh!

Comments

“MONEY COMETH TO ME NOW!” – THE GOSPEL OF GREED — 27 Comments

  1. I know for a fact, Georgia is full of these types.

    I am really beginning to think religious fanaticism is much the norm here in GA now because of the deception and propaganda pushed bu the Baptist and the Ga Baptist Convention over the years.

    It is way to much for two men to challenge. The stories that come my way now are so overwhelming, I shudder at the direction these men have taken the believer.

    It is wrong, so so wrong. God help us. I pray folks wake up soon.

    Following Christ, Not Man

    Doug

  2. Doug,

    Great to hear from you! Dee is home recuperating after her knee replacement surgery, which went well.

    An upcoming topic on TWW when we get through with these Word of Faith charlatans will be the announcement that C.J. Mahaney will be speaking at the 2010 SBC Pastors’ Conference in June, just prior to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in Orlando. (Source: SBTS’s January 2010 publication) Surprise, surprise!!!

    Stay tuned… I can hardly wait to write about it!

  3. As someone intimately familiar with the Georgia Baptist Convention, there are many things about that organization that I dislike, specifically its brand of fundamentalism.

    However, I’m pretty sure that the GBC has absolutely nothing to do with the Prosperity Gospel – to their credit I suppose. Actually, I’m not just pretty sure. I’m sure.

    I really would like to know what Mr. Pittman is talking about – since the Prosperity Gospel has not made any meaningful inroads among Baptists – at least not among anglo Baptists. Most of these Prosperity-driven congregations are not affiliated with any specific denomination. Lone-ranger megachurches is what they are…

  4. One clarification: in the interview with Fox News 5, Creflo Dollar didn’t ACTUALLY say that Jesus was “rich” – he said Jesus had money and that’s why He needed a treasurer (Judas). However, these prosperity preachers often claim that Jesus was rich. That’s how they justify their lavish livestyles.

  5. Cliff,

    I am intimately familiar with personnel within the G B C and other Conventions and I know for a fact they silently promote “a rags to riches” and ” Prosperity Gospel” ministry scenario. Now, with that said, many Ministers are true Christ teachers within the Baptist Conventions and are focused on Biblical principles, but many of the older and deep rooted “leaders” agenda is “silently Golden and financially based!” They just try to do it in a humble way so not to upset the masses.

    And then there are the “Revivals” and “Conferences” and “Missionary Trips” and….well, you get the picture or do you really?

  6. Tell Dee I said Hi, and hope she feels better soon. She is such as trooper!

    See ya in GA soon?

  8. Lydia,

    Here’s the link to the most recent SBTS Towers publication.

    http://www.sbts.edu/resources/files/2009/12/towers_1-4-10-to-web.pdf

    Scroll down to page 12 for information regarding the 2010 SBC Pastors Conference. The most recent Towers issue came out on Monday, January 4, so this is very current news.

    The title of the publication is “Biblical Womanhood”. You might find it interesting to read articles on Carolyn McCulley, who hails from Sovereign Grace Ministries, and Dorothy Patterson.

    Carolyn, who is single, has been a member of Covenant Life Church (CLC) for 11 years. She is currently helping plant another Sovereign Grace church (like we really need one more!) Here’s Carolyn’s dramatic announcement posted on December 7, 2009, along with the link to her blog:

    http://solofemininity.blogs.com/posts/

    “Yesterday, after eleven years as a member of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD, I terminated my membership. In fact, I stood up with a group of people who were all leaving. We were sent out as part of the church-planting team for the latest Sovereign Grace Ministries church: Redeemer Arlington.”

    As soon as I finish this series on the prosperity preachers (which will last at least another week), I plan to focus on these developments. I can hardly wait!!!

  9. I am quite familiar with Carolyn and her writing. I feel sorry for her. She is in a trap. Some have joked that since the SGM folks must kiss dating goodbye (Josh Harris is now their “Apostle”), that means Carolyn has to kiss marriage goodbye.

    Mahaney comes from PDI an old shepherding cult.

  10. Lydia,

    All we can do here at The Wartburg Watch is to “educate” Christians about certain leaders like Mahaney who promote cult-like behavior in their organizations.

    My husband’s mother, a lifelong Southern Baptist, had a saying:

    “A word to the wise is sufficient; fools must be convinced.”

    That sage advice still rings true today.

  11. Doug,

    What do mission trips, revivals and conferences have to do with the Prosperity Gospel? Christians and Baptists in particular have been doing all the above for hundreds of years.

    If you’re really familiar with the GBC, you will offer specific examples of how the leadership is pushing anything that resembles Prosperity Gospel theology…

  12. Since terms like “cult” are being employed here, perhaps someone should offer a definition. What qualifies as a cult?

  14. Lynn,

    Unlike the prosperity preachers, I’m not a “little god”. As such, I don’t get to decide what is wrong with a religious organization. The Word of God is the measuring stick that is used to determine that.

    Next week we will be using Scripture to demonstrate why the prosperity gospel is cult-like. Stay tuned…

  15. “If you’re really familiar with the GBC, you will offer specific examples of how the leadership is pushing anything that resembles Prosperity Gospel theology…”

    It is THEIR prosperity. And it is not just churches in the GBC but all over the SBC. I refer you to Mac Brunson and Steve Gaines and their storehouse giving sermons as one example. God is angry and will withhold His blessing if you are not tithing 10% to the “church”. Never mind there is NO tithe in the New Covenant. Just radical giving to brothers and sisters in need and to spread the Gospel. But that kind of giving like in the NT, does not maintain mega churches or huge salaries.

  17. “A word to the wise is sufficient; fools must be convinced.”

    And they usually aren’t convinced until something really bad happens to them. It is called lack of discernment and the lack of pure wisdom from above. I am convinced if we all knew our scripture really well, not filtered through our favorite teachers/preachers, much of this could not go on. But sadly, few are Bereans anymore. And Paul commended them for checking what he taught.

    The longer I live, the more bizarre it seems to me that we pay someone to study the Word and teach us. That is not the Holy Spirit teaching us through our own prayer and study. We see in Corinthians that everyone was involved in the Body. Several taught/spoke and the others ‘judged’ what they said. That is much safer than one guy having all the influence on what people believe.

  19. Many of the posts written here at The Wartburg Watch do certainly deal with “what is wrong with a religious organization.”

    The “Word of God” has to be interpreted. You do it. The Prosperity GOspel guys do it. You just happen to disagree with their interpretation and application of that interpretation. But let’s not pretend that judgments are not being made here regarding “what is wrong with a religious organization.”

    Lydia,

    Last I checked, Brunson and Gaines both pastor churches somewhere other than the state of Georgia. I know the anti-megachurch crowd likes to use those guys as punching bags – much of your criticism is justified, in my opinion – but charges against the GBC need to be justified with examples from pastors and leaders within the actual GBC. Don’t ya think?

    Lord knows, I’ve studied religious movements a great deal in a formal academic setting. I tend to agree with Lynn’s attempt at humor (an attempt which I found pretty darn funny!) concerning the definition of a cult. It appears that cult is being defined essentially as any belief system which one personally finds offensive or at least offensive enough to use the word “cult” which is almost always used pejoratively.

  20. Cliff, I gave you a link to study. Cults come in all shapes and sizes and use many methods. They are not all selling flowers at the airport.

    I would NEVER pretend that judgements are not being made. Take a look at 1 Corin 5 about that and get back to me.

  23. So Cliff, do you agree or disagree with our “judgments” regarding the prosperity preachers? Just trying to understand your angle.

  24. My personal opinion and definition of a cult? I will give what I believe to be one true live example!

    Mike Everson and Prays Mill Baptist Church where I was a member for years,

    When A long time Member, Sunday School teacher, Treasurer, Deacon, with a wife who was 9 months pregnant at home on doctor ordered bed rest and who was the best singer in the Choir and his wonderful kids (with one having a birthday that night) of a church gets thrown out because he literally just “stood in opposition” of a pastor and deacon body’s recommendation and vote to remove a widow of a church……..and is thrown out – I believe it is a CULT!!! and totally un – biblical!

    CULT!!!!!

  25. My theological critique of the Prosperity Gospel is almost identical to yours – however, I would not use the word “cult” to describe this movement within Christianity, a movement which existed in some shape or form for many decades if not centuries.

    I note that Lydia has used the word “abusive” to describe these type ministries. I believe “abusive” is a better descriptor here.

    I do find the anti-megachurch tone to be generally unhelpful. Those who read the comments here and the comments of the commenters here on other blogs are left with the impression that megachurches are bad bad bad. The whole “real” Christian triumphalism is a turn-off to those who have had different, better experiences in larger congregations.

    I would like to know, Lydia, what a pastor should make? You’ve clearly made a judgment here that pastors should not make CEO money. Ok, fine. But where do you draw the line? At what price does your judgment begin?

  27. “Cult” refers to an organization.

    The “Prosperity Gospel” is a theology.

    I’m sure that some Prosperity Gospel preachers employ tactics and methods similar to the tactics and methods employed in an actual cult by a real cult leader. And in some rare cases, we could probably describe a small Prosperity-Gospel preaching congregation somewhere as a bona-fide cult.

    I would not describe Creflo as a cult leader nor would I describe Worldchangers as cult-like or cultish or at least not anymore cultish than any other “high-tension” (to use a sociological term) conservative Christian church. Many churches at times have such tendencies.

    It is a bit ironic though to remember the criticism that the FBC Jax minister received for dubbing the Catholic Church a “cult” and Jacksonville Catholic priests as “cult leaders” and then see some of the harshest critics of the FBC Jax staff (Lydia in mind here) throwing around the word “cult” at those with different perspectives and beliefs.