`Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gurkha · #1 01-05-2008, 02:14 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071227/ap_on_re_us/prosperity_preachers

The message flickered into Cindy Fleenor's living room each night: Be faithful in how you live and how you give, the television preachers said, and God will shower you with material riches.

And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Fla., area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Only the blessings didn't come. Fleenor ended up borrowing money from friends and payday loan companies just to buy groceries. At first she believed the explanation given on television: Her faith wasn't strong enough.

"I wanted to believe God wanted to do something great with me like he was doing with them," she said. "I'm angry and bitter about it. Right now, I don't watch anyone on TV hardly."

danwatt · #2 01-05-2008, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Joyce Meyer says God has made her rich.

Everything she has came from Him: the $10 million corporate jet, her husband’s $107,000 silver-gray Mercedes sedan, her $2 million home and houses worth another $2 million for her four children — all blessings, she says, straight from the hand of God.

...

And today, her TV shows, regional conferences and fund raising from her Web site bring an average $8 million a month to her ministry. Of that, the ministry says it spends about 10 percent — $880,000 a month — on charitable works around the globe.

And she doesn't have to pay taxes either!

LaRondo · #3 01-05-2008, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danwatt

And she doesn't have to pay taxes either!

WHAT!!??

LaRondo · #4 01-05-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurkha

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071227/ap_on_re_us/prosperity_preachers

The message flickered into Cindy Fleenor's living room each night: Be faithful in how you live and how you give, the television preachers said, and God will shower you with material riches.

And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Fla., area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Only the blessings didn't come. Fleenor ended up borrowing money from friends and payday loan companies just to buy groceries. At first she believed the explanation given on television: Her faith wasn't strong enough.

"I wanted to believe God wanted to do something great with me like he was doing with them," she said. "I'm angry and bitter about it. Right now, I don't watch anyone on TV hardly."

I don't think I will ever get this "Bible-belt" thing, or maybe I am just with the wrong 'GOD'

Gurkha · #5 01-05-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaRondo

WHAT!!??

danwatt · #6 01-05-2008, 03:40 AM

Religious groups (like her ministry) have tax-exempt status, so all she needs to do is have her own ministry buy the houses, private jet, etc, and magically no tax is paid. I take solace in the fact that if there is indeed a hell, she will burn in it.

Gurkha · #7 01-05-2008, 04:00 AM

Some more religious stupidity, this time in India.

http://www.liveindia.com/sai/30dec07.html

Rs 100-crore gift to Shirdi Sai baba

http://www.liveindia.com/sai/18dec07.html

94-kg gold throne for Sai Baba

All this for a man who lived a very humble life of an ascetic, if he was alive, he would be horrified indeed.

MS Fowler · #8 01-05-2008, 05:08 PM

As a Christian, I find wealthy TV types to be an abomination.
The idea of basing "results" on the faith of the individual is totally without basis in Scriptures. When Jesus healed the lame or blind--he healed; the healing was not based on the faith of the sick one, but on the power of the Great Physician ( one of many biblical titles for Jesus).
If one of these TV "faith" types wants to show his/her power, I would be happy to accompany them on a tour of any AIDS, or cancer clinic and let them do their stuff. I doubt that any would take me up on my offer.

The whole "gospel of wealth" is a perversion of the truth.

Matt SD300 · #9 01-06-2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

As a Christian, I find wealthy TV types to be an abomination.
The idea of basing "results" on the faith of the individual is totally without basis in Scriptures. When Jesus healed the lame or blind--he healed; the healing was not based on the faith of the sick one, but on the power of the Great Physician ( one of many biblical titles for Jesus).
If one of these TV "faith" types wants to show his/her power, I would be happy to accompany them on a tour of any AIDS, or cancer clinic and let them do their stuff. I doubt that any would take me up on my offer.

The whole "gospel of wealth" is a perversion of the truth.

X2....a damn shame.........

BoomInTheTrunk · #10 01-06-2008, 12:57 AM

Just as the bible states money is the root of all evil, and for this women to steal money from innocent people who think they are doing good sounds pretty evil to me. how could she even call her self a child of God.

Gurkha · #11 01-06-2008, 01:11 AM

This is a malady which is exploited in every faith and religion and not just Christianity and the authorities need to get strict with this kind of nonsense.

Matt SD300 · #12 01-06-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomInTheTrunk

Just as the bible states money is the root of all evil, and for this women to steal money from innocent people who think they are doing good sounds pretty evil to me. how could she even call her self a child of God.

May I correct you?...Money is "NOT" the root of all evil...

Timothy 6:10..... For the "love" of money is the root of all evil...

BoomInTheTrunk · #13 01-06-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt SD300

May I correct you?...Money is "NOT" the root of all evil...

Timothy 6:10..... For the "love" of money is the root of all evil...

yes thank you for correcting me.

Matt SD300 · #14 01-06-2008, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomInTheTrunk

yes thank you for correcting me.

Botnst · #15 01-06-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomInTheTrunk

Just as the bible states money is the root of all evil, ....

Close.

"For the Love of Money is The Root of All Evil" - Timothy 6:10

In other words, money has no power to do anything on it's own. It has no goals or desires. Rathrer, evil and good come from how we relate to money. If we put our love of money ahead of our love for our families (for example) then our families will suffer from that alienation. It's a matter of magnitude, too. It's difficult to do damage with a love for money if the quantity is small. But a person of bad intent with lots of money can create abundant mischief and misery for many people.