Last week on the Larry Young Morning Show, we brought up the topic of a handful of televangelists who have been contacted by Republican Senator, Chuck Grassley(Iowa). Grassley faxed letters to Randy & Paula White, Benny Hinn, David & Joyce Meyer, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Eddie Long, and Creflo Dollar requesting information about salaries, board oversight and perks which appear to include luxury oceanside homes, flights on private jets, and opulent office furniture.
Some are asking the question is this fair. I say “yes”. It is fair to ask these ministries to reveal information pertaining to their finances, but at the same time I think it is really unfortunate that it takes a U.S. Senator to make these ministers come clean on what’s going on. The church should have a mechanism in place to hold everyone accountable including the pastor and leadership. I think most church-goers will tell you that these aren’t the only ministries that seem to have adopted American Religiousity complete with gross materialism. Many national and local ministers seem to traffic in this lifestyle as well – and what’s most disturbing to me is that some younger clergy see these models of ministry and ascribe to them. What will the next crop of ministers become if they gravitate toward television preacher model of ministry? That’s a scary thought.
The perverted prosperity gospel which is being preached in far too many churches today promotes the possession of “things” as sign and symbol of God’s favor toward you. In other words, if you have “stuff” God loves and favors you. On the contrary, if you don’t have “stuff” then you have fallen out of favor with God for some reason….something is wrong with your relationship with The Almighty.
The prosperity “gospel” also provides pseudo-theological justification for the chasm that grows between preacher and people. Don’t get me wrong – living comfortable is not a sin, but the appearance of impropriety grows when the preacher is living the lavish life while the people are living in squalor under extremely oppressive conditions. To ease the guilt upon their conscious some preachers rape the scriptures looking for phrases that assure them that it’s okay to continue telling the people to give their last while they enjoy the finest that life has to offer.
I am all for preachers being held accountable. We should be. The “enemy” knows that if you want to mislead a significant portion of the masses then it’s beneficial to corrupt the preacher. The clergy woman/man is a primary target that faces constant pressure to compromise their integrity and values for selfish gain. And contrary to the belief of some, preachers are people too. A man is a man is a man no matter if he wears a clergy collar or not. A woman is a woman is a woman whether she preaches or not. And the same vices that pursue the flesh of the sheep, sho ’nuff search out the weaknesses of the undershepherd. We – meaning preachers – MUST surround ourselves with people of integrity who will hold us accountable and protect us from others and sometimes from our own fleshly desires.
I pray that this inquiry by Sen. Chuck Grassley is a wake up call to many people in the pulpit and the pew. If you don’t have true accountable measures at your church, this would be a great time to invest in one. It seems as if God is in the business of exposing the iniquity in the pulpits these days.
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Amen, Amen, Amen. This is a subject I was just talking about today. I was in a setting where manipulation of the scripture was being used to urge people to give more and more out of “what they already don’t have” to someone who is already living an extremely comfortable lifestyle. I am a preacher myself and I am watching this locally as well. I am left a bit discouraged but I know God will eventually weed some of this activity out. I don’t think it even goes as far as the “prosperity gospel” in a lot of cases. I think it is an inward idea that certain pastors feel that they feel entitled to more and more while the burden is placed on people who don’t have the excess… You can call it what you want. I say it is 100% greed and selfishness.
prosperity = nothing missing, nothing lacking. Its the blessing. You reap what you sow. Give and it shall be given uno you, very simple. Its the WORD. Do you not believe God wants you to be blessed? And because these ministers have money now there greedy and selfish? ???
wow All that school and divinity teaching, yet no discernment……, The Blessing of the Lord maketh Rich, you can have the same thing any other preacher has, God is no respector pf persons.
Thank You my Brother for sharing this truth! I know people who attend mega churches and non-mega churches, and always talking about their pastor this and their pastor that, and when hard times fall on them they can’t even get help with their light bill. Most of these (I’m not saying all but most) big mega church pastors are nothing but new pimps, sucking people dry and selling them on the myth that everything is going to be ok when they die and get to heaven. While they (the pastor) live a life of plenty on earth. Martin Luther King Jr. said that God’s people don’t need streets paved with gold in heaven, they need gold in this life. It’s the church’s duty to teach and practice Ujamaa – cooperative economics – shared wealth. Just think what it would be like if mega churches and non-mega churches used the capital (money) that they take in to take care of their membership. After all the church would not have any money at all if it wasn’t for their members. Cooperative housing projects should be high on the list of most church missions. Just think what life would be like if by being a church member and putting your hard earn money into the church you got a house out of the deal and was no longer a renter! Now some say that is not what the church is suppose to do, some say all the church is suppose to do is save peoples souls. If we study the early African American Churches we find that they help members build homes. They help members take care of their needs. Study the life insurance industry, back in the day African Americans couldn’t get life insurance, so who took care of that need, the church. Everywhere else we put our money we look for a return on our investment, why shouldn’t church be the same way. If there is no return on the investment then its a bad investment! I ask people this question would you invest in a company and watch that company grow bigger and bigger and the CEO living it up off your investment money and when you went to cash in your stock you get nothing back! You got churches that make ERON look like childs play. Brother Brown please continue to hold your peers (the new younger clergy) to a higher standard and challenge them to study the early church history of our people, not this new age TV pimping preacher model!
American Capitalist Church Syndrome
A group of America’s most prominent ministers met in your area, Hunt Valley Maryland, several years ago where we discussed this very issue. I know because I was there and I raised the issue of what I referred to as “American Capitalist Church Syndrome”.
A month or so ago, visiting the Greater-Cleveland Ohio area, I was disturbed by a minister there, who while preaching in an area that has been right at the top in terms of the numbers of houses being foreclosed on: he boasted during his sermon that his domicile was so large that he couldn’t find all of the bathrooms in it.
ACCS addenda:
I emailed the minister, and thankfully, I received a reply thanking me for bringing it to their attention.
Folks, we are experiencing an epidemic that may reach monumental proportions very soon. Sadly, I was present when Bishop Jakes taught that the church was ‘a business’. I know what he meant, however, it wasn’t the most prudent thing to say in a crowd like that.
I wrote to him, however, all I received from the Potter’s House was an envelope requesting money. Ministers are selling tapes, begging for seed offerings prior to paying for people – and I ask you, where does that money go. One minister at a service in Washington DC that I attended, insisted that everyone bring $101 each, before he would pray for them – I calculated that he must have picked up $10K for himself that morning. COME ON FOLKS!!
We have to do more than talk about this, for it seems to me that this path will evenutally lead to the destruction of our churches. Someone has to hold these folks accountable.
Thanks for this article. It has been more of a blessing to me than you can possibly know keep writing and allowing God to direct you in your topics and the content of your articles. God Bless you sir
It really is a shame when some leadership do wrong to God’s people because it makes it that much harder to trust the next person in leadership. Everyone isn’t just out for the money and I would like to believe that even out of those who seem to be, just maybe there are a few who don’t really want to hurt God’s people. But as you said in the article Pastors, Ministers, Bishops, Prophets, saints whatever, who ever, we’re all human and maybe this is an area of weakness for some. God knows we all have them. Accountability is key, repentence is paramount.
This is a great discussion! I hope more people join in because this is to me one of the biggest issues that hurt our liberation struggle, church leaders out of touch and out of control with deaf, dumb and poor blind followship. One of my personal mentors Father A. J. McKnight left this country and went to Haiti because of this very reason. He feels that materialsim and greed has caused the African American church leaders to sell their soul to the devil at the expense of their membership. On Sunday, July 29th, 2007 we welcomed him in New Orleans from Fondwa, Haiti and to hear about the courageous, inspirational and effective development efforts by the Peasant Association of Fondwa, including its University of Fondwa, Fonkoze Development Bank, its consolidated elementary and high school, its orphanage and other cooperative endeavors. He shared with us that our brothers and sisters in Haiti have what we need in terms of values & sharing and we have what they need in terms of materialism and capital development. Our problem is as he said is the I, me, mine outlook and not the we, us, ours outlook. He shared with us that in Haiti that when people have a personal problem with each other they have to slove it that same day, he said you can’t do like in america attend the same church and say I don’t like that person and not speak to each other for years. He said that issue will be handled right then and now and there won’t be a sermon until those two people have solved their issue with the help of everyone else. He closed our meeting with telling us that the mega church is a corrupt form of church because he feels that you can’t really pastor more the 200 members personally, and that if you develop enough church leaders then as your memberships grows you have new leaders to handle that growth so that peoples need are always taking care of first.
Church leadership does need to be accountable for their finances, just like in every other area. We need to be transparent, and that means making available any documentation that is needed for review. If we cannot produce this information, we should question our own selves and the church followed by the rest of the world should question us too. Furthermore, we should not complain when they do!
Bro Heber:
The church has turned into a cash cow for the man and woman of God. The African American church used to be a place of empowerment and encouragement. The struggle for our freedom from the peculiar institution of slavery and the later fight for equal rights for all men had its genesis on the African American church.
The vision of our Pastors and Preachers has been diverted by the Almighty Dollar – better known as the C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) mentality – Dollar dollar bill yall!!!! Our spiritual leaders are no longer people that you can touch and feel, but they are now “product” or better yet a “Brand”. Just like Frank Lucas had a brand name for his heroin (Blue Magic), the new millennium preacher is now a “brand”. TD Jakes is not a Bishop in the Lords Church, he is a brand. Go on his website and you will see that his “ministry” is marketed on his name and image. The TD Jakes brand now endorses movies, conferences, christian plays, music, and literature. Heck his now a life coach on the Dr. Phil show!!!
I was having a discussion with someone the other day about why Martin Luther King was great. The thing that made MLK great to me was the fact that he sacrificed his career and ultimately his life in the struggle for others. Here was a man that had reached a level of education that most of his peers would never reach, he was pastoring a established church and had a beautiful “show” wife and children. There was no reason for him to leave the comfort of that to take on the struggle for others. Do you think TD Jakes, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar or others would make that sacrifice? Could you see Jamal Bryant, Walter Thomas or Frank Reid leave their churches to take on the struggle of the Dawson Family or fight for a fully funded public education system for our children?
One ministry’s American TV program was being piped into a foreign venue a decade ago where conditions were not the best for its impoverished inhabitants. For example, there was hunger that accompanied all of the other social ills that had been heaped upon the majority of the citizens of this nation.
While the viewers all gathered around the monitor to witness one of their favorite millionaire American preachers no less, a commercial announcement on the feed portrayed the concern for overweight Americans. How? By demonstrating products that would help Americans to diet and loose weight – as their Christian counterparts in other nations were impoverished and suffering from malnutrition.
Well, so much for American Christian temperance and care! The recipient country was highly-offended and asked that American evangelists show more sensitivity to the plight of churches and missions in other distressed parts of the world.
The Rev Billy Graham (who refused to join Dr. Martin Luther on the stage at the 1963 March on Washington) at the very least deserves credit for telling his Board to keep his salary in line with the people that he was ministering to throughout the course of his ministry.
Some of our ministers, regrettably, have discovered what capitalism mixed in with a captive religous audiences can do. These fellas have put Rev. Ike to shame!!!
For some of them, being as greedy as their politician counterparts are, is the better part of valor – these folks don’t know what the meaning of temperance is, or what Jesus meant when he told the young ruler to go and sell what he had and give to the poor! Like most ministers today, he wouldn’t have lost a thing if he had obeyed God, for his coffers would have begun to be replenished the very next day!
Please do your research and you will find that many of the same ministers who lead many American congregations are also in bed with venal politicians – and many receive their talking points that they share with you each week directly from Washington DC.
So what does ‘K’ street in Washington DC have in common with many of our Mega-ministries? I will tell you, men in both groups are lobbying politicians and members of Christian churches in order to satisfy their insatiable need for the acquisition of wealth at the expense of America’s citizens (and again, they are in bed together).
When is enough, enough? With respect to ministers and politicians, both have gotten completely out of hand!
For every minister who pretended to be concerned about Katrina, and those who have persistently remained in its ghettoes before and after Katrina ( living below the poverty leve no less)l, what has that minister done about those members in his own congregation – those who have remained in the ghettoes inside of their own churches over the years while they busily go about acquiring wealth and ‘bling-bling?
God help us!
Man this is why I got your back for writing what we all feel but sometimes don’t want to say… As the Church we have to Wake Up there are too many people watching and too many lives on the line, Peace
I’ve enjoyed reading everyones concerns about this matter! It is a very real concern that we have to deal with concerning how we move forward as a people. We can’t let these people that we are talking about become the standard and the model, because they will sell us to hell. In closing I would like to share an article from Dr. Karenga on Leadership!
Peace & Blessings
HOTEP
Cultivating Quality Leadership:
Reaffirming and Transmitting the Tradition
Los Angeles Sentinel, 11-08-07, p. A-7
Dr. Maulana Karenga
In the context of our time, the urgent and ongoing need for quality leadership in our community, as well as in society and the world, cannot be seriously contested or safely denied. The severity and complexity of the problems we face as a people, society and world require a leadership rooted in that tradition of righteous struggle in and thru which we, at our best, understand ourselves and are recognized by others as a key moral and social vanguard in this country and the world. Thus, to raise the question of quality leadership requires that it be done in the context of a tradition of leadership based on best ideas and practices of our own culture and history, not in the pathological language and approach of our oppressor. For ours is a tradition that offers standards of excellence and achievement embodied in the men and women whose awesome legacy we use to judge, generate and nurture leaders among us. Among these models are Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King, Mary McLeod Bethune, Anna Julia Cooper, Frantz Fanon, Julius Nyerere, Yaa Asantewa, Amilcar Cabral, W.E.B. DuBois, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and others.
Thus, it is especially important to distinguish quality leadership from the inferior forms which tend replace it as well as the real memory of the men and women who are our definitive models. Using those models, leadership is not peddling prosperity as a religious rite of passage and ignoring urgent issues of social justice. Nor is it the daily ritual and routine of finding funds and favor in corporate and foundation offices and adjusting positions and policies to secure and sustain them. Moreover, leadership is not media appearances as an alternative to the daily work of educating, mobilizing, organizing and serving the masses. Nor is it grateful groveling and shameless negotiation for no more than “comfortable†personal and class positions in the uncontested context of our people’s oppression and denying the indispensable need for continuing struggle on every battlefront and field.
Surely, if we build on the best of our history and culture, we see that from ancient Egypt to modern America, leadership has always been defined by an ethical commitment to service, social justice and good in the world and to the work and struggle necessary to achieve these aims. It is thus conceived as a moral vocation that, like every other vocations, requires a disciplined preparation that precedes and makes its practice possible. It requires the commitment and courage to speak truth to power and to the people, to resist without compromise all forms of oppression and to reaffirm in the hearts and minds of the people their right to freedom, justice and other goods in the world and their responsibility and capacity to achieve these and to join them in the awesome work and struggle for these goods. Leadership, then, can be defined as the self-conscious commitment to provide philosophy, principles, and program that not only satisfy human need but transform the people in the process, making them self-conscious agents of their own lives and liberation.
It is this tradition of leadership as guidance and cooperation in the self-liberating and self-constituting practice of our people which must be transmitted from one generation to another. In this way young and emerging leaders work, study, and act in tandem with older and seasoned leaders and learn thru education and actual practice the rightful way to work, serve and struggle for good in the world. And it is this kind of exchange that fosters intergenerational cooperation, mutually beneficial relations, shared visions and values, a commonality of interests and the continuity of quality leadership.
Indeed, the central concern of the early conversations of the African American Knowledge Transfer Summit, as the name suggests, was the effective transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next. But as the conversations evolved, it became increasingly clear that the issue was broader than simple transfer of knowledge. It also involved developing protocols to facilitate the transfer; the timely transfer of positions by senior leaders in the spirit and interest of intergenerational leadership, continuity and cooperation; and the transfer of relational networks built over time by senior leaders as a source of strength, resources, influence and enhanced effectiveness.
Black leadership having defined itself in the dignity-affirming, life-enhancing, and struggle-requiring ways of our ancestors, still must prove itself in practice. And this is done especially by identifying and dealing successfully with a series of interlocking issues which problematize as well as promote quality leadership for our people. These include, as noted above, intergenerational cooperation as well as creating common agendas and united fronts to develop and pursue them; developing ways of preventing and resolving conflict and of healing wounds and rifts that come from conflict; avoiding confusing class interests with mass interests; and building necessary coalitions and alliances from a position of power and equality without ethnic self-concealment, i.e., a senseless sacrifice of communal identity and interests.
Black leadership is also confronted with the challenge to reaffirm the rightfulness and requirement of the activist tradition, to reinforce and expand it and pose it as it is indispensable to any real practice of leadership. This challenge is clearly made more difficult by changing circumstances including, the dispersal of the Black community and thus the progressive erosion of the communal context and base necessary for building maximum political and economic strength and shaping a shared vision and values and collective vocation. And it also is made difficult by a wrongful reading by some emerging leaders that the age of activism and the political education, mobilization, organization and confrontation it requires is over and we are in a new age of negotiating and concession.
Finally, optimal leadership requires a community of leaders bound by a covenant of commitment and cooperation which offers a shared vision of mission, meaning and struggle. Such a covenant would also posit common goals, reaffirm commitment to our people and respect for each other as fellow leaders, and outline principles and practice by which we work together, operate, pursue projects of common ground, and rebuild our movement as a collective vocation. It is with such a community of leadership that a new generation of leaders would be nurtured and supported, and the tradition of leadership excellence can be shaped and transmitted in the interest of our people and the world.
(The African American Knowledge Transfer Summit will take place here in Los Angeles, November 16, 2007, to take up the urgent issue of quality leadership; for more information and registration—visit:
http://www.knowledgetransfersummit.org).
Piggy backing on what Rev Nat Turner wrote:
Many parishioners are not aware that with respect to branding, the type that Rev Turner referred to earlier, many existing ministers and miistries have gone behind the backs of their members and had their churches reincorporated in their personal names. For example if you attend a church named Solomon’s Temple, my name, you might in fact truly belong to ‘Solomon’s Temple’!
Some have brought the spirit of capitalism into the church and this is a dangerous trend – what happened to the spirit of Koinonia that was written about in Acts Chapter 4. then the church members had all things in common.
Some of these ministers will cry, I am certain, that they are being singled out for religious purposes. However, I do not excuse corporate heads or politicians for engaging in similar behavior. If you’ve listened to ‘Dollar Man’, for years that is all that he was really preaching about, it would appear.
However, the fact that the citizens of the U.S.A., in support of the Constituion, permits churches to operate with certain liberties from the government, it does not mean that the churches should take advantage of a good thing.
We are all in danger of being taxed in our growing secular society, or loosing our 501C3 incorporation status if this trend continues.
There are so many great thought that have been displayed on the subject of this blog, and it is so important that we have this discussion. In fact it would be sinful if this discussion stops here. Many of our mega-church leaders have gone way too far in the abuse and the fleecing of GOD’s little lamps. While the Senator Chuck Grassley is probing for information that could possibly become a dire backlash to the ministry itself, the ministry (not the pastors) should be calling for self examination. I say this because the ministry of the church should have never been the pastor but the mission of the incorporated fellowship.
I think it is a vulgar shame when things go so far wrong within the church that a politician needs to probe for answers when many of our mega and non-mega assemblages have the human resource to police God’s church and its ministry. We read in First Peter 4:7. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:… If we do not begin to correct ourselves and our ministries at the house of God and the government has to police us, then God himself will hold us accountable along with those who are destroying the foundation of the church its Gospel Message.
Personally I’m appalled at what pseudo christianity has become in the last few of decades. We (the corporate church in general) have wallowed in shame for too long. We have gone from lying. to adulterous affairs to out and out theft of church funds by our leaders. We have pastors who are secretly taking funds from the Sunday morning offerings. We have pastors who are stealing money from the church credit accounts. We have pastors lying and inflating their travel expenses. We have pastors who have secretly incoporated themselves and/or their families to extort moneys from the church and the government in the name of their church without the church’s knowledge, but at the church’s liability. We have pastors paying for their son’s girlfriends to get abortions with church funds. We have pastors using church funds to pay their sons child support bills. And the list of thefts go on.
We have swapped the message of the gospel of salvation for large and larger congregations but no longer know how to, nor care to bring men and women into the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The power of ministry of most of our churches has become defunct, and our youth (who should be our next generation of Christians) are not hearing or learning the message or directions of Jesus Christ.
Now while I appreciate this blog and the fact that someone has presented this needful forum, I now must ask each of us here, what are we doing to thwart this activity? When is the last time we’ve called our own ministry to accountability? Why are we still supporting ministries who refuse to become accountable?
When we say the church, the church we are talking about ourselves as well because we are the church. How many of us know what really is going on in our board rooms? How many know what is written in our constitutions and bylaws? I know of a church where a pastor took millions of dollars out of the church treasury and resigned. When he was hailed to court by his former upset congregation, and the judge asked for the church constitution and bylaws, and then only had one more question to ask the resigned pastor. The question was this: Preacher, ” did you pay taxes on the money you took?” When the preacher showed that he had paid taxes on the millions he took from this church, there were no other questions that needed to be asked by the judge. Reason being that the way the constitution and bylaws of that church were set up, the money was his for the taking. Shame on this church for allowing these bylaws and constitution to place their congregation at risk for theft by their preacher.
How many of us are holding our preachers and boards accountable for the moneys of the church? How shameful we are when when we get angry and want someone locked up for breaking into our hoouse and stealing our $500.00 TV set, but will allow someone to steal 10% or more of our and our family income every week. Christian stewardship demands accountability.
How many of our pastors have gone to selling drugs for money at the knowledge of the church board? And just because he can squall we keep on giving him more while he’s stringing the people we should be ministering to, but can’t because they are strung out on drugs.
How many of our pastors are in bed or desiring to be in bed with our political leaders. Just a few years ago many of our national pastors walked around with their chests stuck out saying they had been invited to the whitehouse to have a meeting with President Bush. The President of the United States is supposed to be a servant of the people of the United States. The Pastor is supposed to be the servant of God. Do the math folks. Who is the highest authority the President of the US or the spokesmans for God? How dare these preachers think they have attained anything because they went into the presence of a US President. The pastor should think he and his work for Christ is more important that that of the US President. The President of the US is only concerned about our physical lives – our Pastors should be in the presence of the King of Kings seeking answers and direction for our eternal souls.
The hindrance of the ministry and our leaders being in league with men of wrong motives is no new thing. Let us remember what happened in the days of Nehemiah. Let’s remember the action that Nehemiah took as we read Nehemiah 13:4. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6. But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: 7. And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. 10. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
We may be disgruntled at what has happened in our mega-churches pulpits with its filthy rich pimp preachers , but these preachers are not the only ones whom God will hold accountable. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TOO!
It is really sad that a member of government has to step in and do what God has already directed us to do.
Rev Turner, Rev Solomon, and Rev Benjamin what you all shared is wonderful. If people in their own churches put the things in place that you all talked about then we wouldn’t have these problems. This discussion leads me to an idea. Here is the idea why not use this energy to hold workshops or a conference with the following themes: How To Save Your Church or Ways To Empower Church Members! As a good friend of mine Rev. Kojo Livingston says we can talk about the problem which is good but what is even better is after the talk lets act on the problem.
I would be willing to help design the format! Anyway this is my food for thought!
Peace & Blessings to you all!
With much love!
Baba Sitawi Jahi
Seba (Moral Teacher)
from
Hekalu Ya Nia (Temple of Purpose)
Sitawi Jahi Says:
You have come up with a wonderful idea. I will enter, immediately, into prayer. Why?
I know that the problem that we are discussing is systemic, and its runs deep into the membranes and the carotid arteries of some ministries. Whatever, action steps that we begin to enage in, we are going to have to do an end around some board as well as board members; some of the latter are also getting their hands greased by the money train.
The reason that some board members look the other way or simply rubber stamp that insatiable desires of their leaders to get rich, is because they are getting their shares of the pie as well.
I also want to do things in a manner that will prevent the wheat from being uprooted along with the tares. Having said that, I agree that we must begin to move forward!
I’m praying with you Rev. Solomon here is my email address Sitawi_Jasari@JahiTravelSite.com you and any one else can contact me there and we can take it from there.
Peace & Blessings
Sitawl Jahi. I will be in prayer as well. I also do not want to pull the wheat up with the tares as stated by Rev Solomon. I am very serious about God’s church, and the church of God is very dear to me. The church has been and still is a primary conduit from God to man, especially in the black community.
My frustrations with what I have seen in the corporate church over the years has mounted. The corporate church has damaged many people spiritually in the name of Christ, and I do not like seeing the church in this sickened state that it is in. I’m not a rebel rouser, but over the years I have on more than one occasion had to take a stand against the evils of church misappropriations. So taking a stand is not new to me, it’s just been lonely over the years.
The corporate church has now become a spiritually obsolete country club with selfishness, materialism and greed as its gods. Over the past few decades I have warned and warned our Christian brothers that the continued mis-behavior in the ranks of our corporate churches will eventually bring in the government. Again and again, over these same decades I’ve received the response that this could never happen, because of the separation of church and state. Well we have arrived, and if a government official can probe Benny Hinn, Joyce Myers, Eddie Long and Creflo Dollar, then the door is open for us all to be probed and investigated, which could lead to our churches being managed eventually by the state (the very thing our caucasian brothers ran from when they left Europe to come to America).. And while we are speaking on this issue, the government probes did not just begin. Spies have quietly entered our congregations and have been reporting their findings for years. This resulted in a debate as to whether or not the tax exempt status of at least one church should be pulled, simply because the pastor preached a sermon where he directed the congregation to look to God rather than the political parties of our country for relief. Another church had its church building and its properties seized and auctioned off because that church refused to collect taxes for the state. And sadly the rest of the corporate churches of America sat by idly with their heads buried in the sand when they should have been enraged and in arms, if you’ll allow me to say that. Of course we know that any church that would have stood up to support either of these churches would certainly have been subject to investigation as well.
It is time that the real Christians stand up and as you say “save our church.”
As we look for ways to address this problem I also do not want to pull the wheat up with the tares. We can’t throw away the foundation that our ancestors put in place to help us manage our way through this sojourn in america. The early church was a place that took care of our needs and helped us with our struggle for liberation and freedom. It was a central place in our community where people could always find hope and help. And when things were wrong the church and its leaders had no problem speaking up and taking action. Now days it seems that church leaders feel and think that we can just focus on material things, and if you got it like that then GOD is blessing you and if you don’t then you must be a sinner who has it all wrong. Our people need help and leadership not rejection and pushed to the side for material gain.
GOD moves in powerful ways. It just so happens this Sunday night a good Brother Dr. Rev. Hagins is addressing some of these issues. If you get a chance tune. Even if you don’t agree with everything he says, just follow the format and adjust it to your outlook!
Peace & Blessings
With A Whole Of Love
Sitawi Jahi
This Sunday Night’s Topic is:
What Is The Role Of
The Black Church
In Our Liberation?
Join us as we discuss the prescriptive solutions to
the various doctrines and religious programs
that have kept our people in a state of
spiritual and psychological enslavement.
Join Dr. Hagins Every Sunday Night
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight (EST)
(7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Central Time)
For “LIVE” talk radio and Q&A Log onto to: http://www.wblr.com
Call-in lines: 1-877-454-1900 (Long Distance) & (314) 741-9507 (St. Louis area)
I personally believe that the bible was written several hundred years ago, published and distributed in an attempt (by governing authorities) to control the masses of the public. Using the bible was a way for the U.S. Government to control the public by appealing to their conscious through a mythical authority such as “Godâ€, “Jesusâ€, or even the “Devilâ€, or “Satanâ€. I fell for this [expletive] as a teenager. I lived my earlier years dealing with this life oppressing and life altering [expletive]. I finally discovered that as a black man living in America, instead of relying on “Godâ€, I needed to stake my claim on R-E-S-P-E-C-T by educating myself and by determining that I would NOT allow myself to be disrespected. It’s unfortunate that a lot, if not most, of Black Americans have fallen victim to this religious [expletive] called Christianity. I now refuse to believe that the “God†of the “Bible†exist. I don’t believe that “Jesus†existed. If he did exist, then HE of all people should have realize that it is totally unfair for an “Almighty God†to require the people of the world (who have had absolutely no type of access to 100% truth or have ever seen a divine miracle by Jesus) to put all of their trust and faith in a person written about around 2000 years ago, who claimed to be the son of God (the so called Creator Of The Universe) in order to be assured of eternal life in paradise rather than an eternal existence in a place of torment. I understand that this will be almost impossible for most people to comprehend, but if you take time to think about it, and think about what your own opinion of the “Almighty God†is and what you’ve been told about the type of Love and Compassion that the “Almighty God†is suppose to have for YOU and for all of Humanity, you’ll begin to realize that all of the information that you’ve been listening to for all of these years is so damn confusing and contradictary. In other words, IT’S ALL [expletive]. Doesn’t the bible say that “God is not the author of confusion?†Well, the fact that this is written in the bible means that if YOU TRULY believe that the bible was written by the inspiration of “Godâ€, then the bible contradicted itself just by that statement because the bible is FULL Of Contradictions which creates CONFUSION. To all of the African American “Christians†out there, Get Off Of Your Knees!!! Don’t Waste Your Time Praying To A God Who Isn’t In The Business Of Granting Requests. You’ve Been Created With All Of The Necessary Tools To Be Self Sufficient. Learn to do what ever it takes to happily exist in this country and to just live on this planet. Consider this message that was written by ME to be the answer to your prayers that just happen to be heard by our TRUE Creator. YOU have what it takes to answer your OWN requests. Get off of your knees and go to work or go back to school and learn something new that you can work at in order to take care of yourselves and your family. If not, just lay down and die. The choice is yours. Either way, you’ll win. But, if you stay on your Knees expecting “God†to do something for you, YOU’LL LOSE!!!!!!!
Dimitri.
Thank you for visiting this blog. As you can see – various views and perspectives are welcomed here. However, I must ask you to please refrain from using profanity in your comments. I’m sure you’ll have no problem communicating your views without the expletives.
Thank you.
Yes keep it clean! Here is an article my good brother Minister Kojo share with me!
HARD TRUTH
By Minister J. Kojo Livingston
Trouble in the Temple?
Compare this Old Testament passage of the Bible to the Church today:
“The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animal…Thus says the Lord God, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.†Ezekiel 34: 1 – 11 NRSV
The duties of ‘shepherds’ or religious leaders have not changed much from the Old Testament to the New Testament to today. Neither have the problems or promise associated with spiritual leadership.
If Jesus walked today he would not be one of the ‘big-time’ preachers. He would not be pushing a big money blessing plan. He could have done this the first time around but he didn’t. He would not live a lavish lifestyle while his followers languished in poverty. His love for the people would have alienated him from many of today’s pastors who pride themselves in being unreachable. His passion for justice would have moved him to take unpopular stands against the entire climate of political deception that dominates the scene today.
In New Orleans, he would be in the streets addressing the killings and in the suites addressing those who profit from keeping people poor and in misery and in prisons. He’d probably go to jail a lot. He would challenge both the political and religious leaders. He would not be silent about the ongoing Katrina scandal or the elimination of public housing (where many of their members resided) or the handling of education or many other issues. He simply would not be content to watch his people being devoured, exploited and expelled as long as he was getting his. He would push the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and how they should be practiced in every realm of the earth. He would He would be the champion that so many of us expect Church leaders to be.
But what ‘The Church’ has become and what Jesus built are two totally different entities…and that’s the problem. Jesus started a movement to change the world. Three hundred years later, Constantine took over that movement and turned it into an institution that would help people in power exploit and control everyone else.
The thing we call ‘The Church’ has done much good and much evil during the past 2,000 or so years. It has taught righteousness. It has justified oppression. It has fed the poor. It has exploited the hurting. It has been a moral voice. It has practiced gross immorality. After all, the church is what people are and each of is both good and evil.
The most glaring evidence of the difference between what Jesus started and what we have today is the low priority given to what Christians call “The Great Commissionâ€. Jesus told his people to ‘go’ into all the world, which is exactly what they did…back then. Today’s Church builds structures and waits for people to come to it. Rare is the congregation that spends any time ‘going’ into the areas where ministry is needed to bring light, life, truth and hope. Many will do radio or TV broadcasts in hopes of reaching someone. But who would actually have the gall to stand in the face of Jesus and tell him it’s the same as the ‘going’ ordered by our divine Commander-in-Chief?
The Black Church is a special case because Black clergy has been used for and against the advancement of the race. There is an expectation that Black clergy will stand up, fight and defend the sheep, be a voice for justice. Instead too often we see the sheep being abused and exploited by pastors who never dream of taking a stand for the people.
Across the nation poor people spend years walking or taking a bus to church to give their last dime to pay for an expensive car, jet or helicopter for a pastor they cannot touch or talk to. They do this in hopes of getting a blessing that will never come because God does not reward foolishness.
What would happen if Jesus judged the work of the church today? Are we doing enough? Are we doing the right things? Are we effective? Should we be concerned?
The average Black church today is a congregation of less-than-wealthy people who pool their money to purchase an expensive building that stays empty 6 ½ days per week. In fact the average church is open just long enough to take people’s money, entertain them and say a benediction.
It should be embarrassing that thousands of these nice, empty buildings are in neighborhoods that are in crisis, neighborhoods that could use the space to house programs and activities through the week that could ease some of the suffering of the community.
It should shame us that for all of the whooping and hollering that happens in pulpits on Sunday our people, families and communities are not improving in the ways that really count.
It should bother us that a small new street gang in a neighborhood will almost certainly have more impact than a new church…and we’ve got the power of God!
Black churches should feel humiliated at the thought of bringing bags of money, every Monday to banks that their members can’t get a loan from. There is no excuse for us not to have credit unions, banks and other entities that minister to the hurting economy of our communities.
It should scare us that Jesus said we will all have to give an account, not to some newspaper writer, but to the Creator of the Universe. This accounting involves our time, or money and every resource we have that could be used to promote the will of God.
If Jesus was right, then God help us all. We can, we should and we must do better. Our God and our people deserve it. This will only happen when church people stop ‘going along’ with the games and demand more of our leaders and of ourselves. Now is a great time to consider this.
As we enter this man-made season of commercialized religion and ‘cash and carry’ spirituality, those of us who are serious about change need to be answering that eternal question: Whatchagonna Do?
Mr. Heber Brown III, Yes sir. Sorry.
Everyone who believes that the bible was written by the inspiration of God should take a good look at the book of “Jobâ€. First of all I want to say that I no longer struggle with wether what was written in the book of “Job†actually took place or not because I no longer believe or acknowledge anything that’s written in the bible (except: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you). But, in the book of “Jobâ€, God, himself, conspires with the Devil to allow harm to come upon Job and his family. God ALLOWS the DEVIL!!! Just think about that for a minute. God ALLOWS….. the Devil… to harm… his faithful servant. I don’t care WHAT kind of message the writer was trying to get accross- this goes against all of “Gods†promises that are written in the bible. There is NO WAY that this story could have been true. By the way, who was actually present to witness this conversation between God and the Devil??? If this story were true and someone were present to listen in on it, why didn’t anyone speak up to God and ask: “God, have you lost your mind??? What are you doing???†“Lord, Did the Devil slip something into your drink???†“Is the Devil smoking weed around the throne and getting you high off the contact??†“Come on, God!!†“Don’t you realize that This conversation between you and the Devil is being recorded!!†“What’ll people think about you???†“You want the people to resist the Devil but now YOU’RE giving into him??†“What kind of example are you setting for your children, God??†“God, you’ve got a good man here (Job) who’s doing everything you’ve asked of him, and this is how you plan to repay him?†“And for what, God?†“To prove a point to the Devil??†“God, how can you allow yourself to be so easily persuaded by the one who’s responsible for so much chaos and misery??†“God, how can you expect the people of the world to resist the Devil if you’re not setting a good example yourself??†“Lord I beseech you, please take a moment and think before you allow this to happen.††Job is a good manâ€. “Lord, Job needs to know that he can trust you and count on you to protect him and his familyâ€. “Keep that hedge around him, Lordâ€. “Lord, REBUKE the Devil right now and tell him to depart from you!!†“Lord, the Devil already gets enough gratification from all of the misery he’s causing.†“Lord, Please don’t allow him to trample all over this good man’s lifeâ€. “Spare him, Lord!!†“Lord, please use this time to hold Job up as an example of how you’ll bless and protect those who obey youâ€.
(If the story of Job was true, this is what whoever was present to hear that conversation should have said to God. Jesus said that HE existed even before he was born into this world. Why didn’t HE speak up?? Even the Angels should have spoken up and said “God, this is wrongâ€)
All of the FLASHY SALESMEN (Preachers, evangelist, ministers, etc.) who want YOUR money will pace back and forth on stage and tell you that “Job†was an example of how… “WE†…should be dedicated to God and do his will no matter what, and this always means keep on digging deep into your pockets and purses and give your money even when it hurts. Be Like Job. Be a Faithful Servant. The story of Job is just one of the tactics that religious salesmen will use on their congregation and TV viewers at those times when the message of prosperity isn’t bringing in the Big Buck$. And, when this tactic is not as effective, they pull out the verbal flame throwers from hell and scare the crap out of the people and get them to give out of fear. HEY, WHAT EVER WORKS, HUH? Turn up da HEAT!!! praise the lord! “Will A Man Rob God???â€
But, because of the way the book of “Job†is written, it really doesn’t give us a GOOD example of how the “God†of the bible is dedicated to Loving, Caring for and Rewarding those who do his will and ESPECIALLY…… Someone LIKE “JOB†WHO (in God’s Own Words To The Devil) WAS A MAN WHO WAS CAREFUL… (CAREFUL)… CAREFUL…… TO OBSERVE ALL….. ALL…. ALL…. OF GOD’S COMMANDMENTS!!!!!!!! God told the Devil that “Job†was a faithful servant who was careful to observe all of his commandments. But, according to the book of “Jobâ€, God allowed HIMSELF to be persuaded by… THE DEVIL … to allow HARM…. to come upon HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT…… and……. his family. You know, I choose to believe that someone, who is greater than we are, IS responsible for the creation of life, but at this point in my life, I’m no longer concerned if our creator is a he, she, they, it, or whatever. I no longer believe what the bible says about “God†and I’m convinced that it really doesn’t matter. I no longer believe in Hell, except for the fact that every living creature experiences hell to some degree or on some level, right here on earth in this life. But after this life is over, hell ends with the death of physical body. Our True Creator owes everyone and everything that ever lived on this earth a damn good break after this life is over and I’m convinced that provisions have already been made. All of the living spirits that once lived in physical bodies here are experiencing it right now. We don’t have to ask for it and we damn sure don’t have to pay for it. After my life changing experience with the well known psychic medium, John Edward, I no longer live in fear of our true God (Creator) throwing me or anyone else into a place of eternal torment. I’m convinced that everyone and every creature that ever lived and will ever live here on this earth has something good to look forward to after stepping out of these physical bodies. It doesn’t matter who was good or who was bad here. I’m confident that we’ll all step out of these bodies and into a realm of peace and tranquility, and the forgiveness that we receive will not come from our Creator, but from those who we’ve harmed back here in this life. We won’t have to ask for it, they’ll give it freely. And, when WE get there, WE’LL give our forgiveness freely too. I now understand that no one really has to believe this. There are people in the spirit realm now who, while on this earth, didn’t believe in what they’re now experiencing. I learned this from someone who is already there now. He gave personal information to me through John Edward, things that NO ONE KNEW!! NO ONE!!! (personal things that John Edwards had absolutely no way to discover before the reading) Those of us who are enemies here will become friends in the spirit realm. It is now obvious to me that THIS is how our TRUE Creator has designed life to be. So, don’t worry. It WILL be OK, and you don’t have to pay for it. If you have money to give, give to the poor. I do. If you just want to keep that TV preacher in a Bentley or a Rolls Royce, Go ahead. If it makes you feel good, do it, but don’t be fooled by the crap that comes out of their mouth, because a lot of them don’t believe it themselves.
To: Mr. & Mrs. Middle or Lower Middle Class Mega Church member
Re: The True *** GOSPEL OF PROSPERITY***
King James Bible
Luke 19:26
“For I say unto you, That unto every one which …hath…shall
be given; …and from him that …hath not, …even that (which) he hath …shall …be… taken…away …from …him.â€
Which category do you believe you’re in?
Which category do you believe your… M-e-g-a C-h-u-r-c-h …considers… YOU to be in???
The Bible considers RICH people to be those “Which Hathâ€.
The Bible considers the poor as those “Which Hath Notâ€.
So, as a Mega Church member who tithes 10% of YOUR income, but you’re somewhere between middle to lower middle class or even below, and you’re HOPING that “God†is going to “Bless†you for your faithful and unselfish giving,… WHICH category would you seriously believe YOUR Mega Church …C-O-N-S-I-D-E-R-S… YOU to be in???
Here is some NEWS for you … as far as YOUR Mega Church is concerned, the last part of that bible verse applies to YOU!!!
YOU’RE not RICH so YOU are the one “Which Hath Not!†So, the little that you DO “Hath†…is being taken away from you A-L-R-E-A-D-Y!! (10% of your income and “offerings†being given to the church)
The ONLY People… who are TRULY being “Blessed†(REPAID) by “GIVING†to a Mega Church are the …RICH… people, THOSE WHICH HATH (They also “HATH†access to the pastor 24 / 7). It is to THEM ..that …MORE IS… ALREADY… BEING …GIVEN!!! They’re NOT the ones who are W-A-I-T-I-N-G for “God†to BURST through the clouds and pour out blessings upon them. THEY’RE ALREADY RECEIVING IT in the form of B-E-N-E-F-I-T-S from the GOVERNMENT (IRS) AND THE PASTOR (FAVORS Through the Church) that YOU (as a “HATH NOTâ€) WILL NOT receive.
If YOUR Pastor (who preaches about Prosperity) REALLY WANTED to see YOU prosper, don’t YOU think it would be a good idea for HIM to at LEAST tell you the TRUTH (IN FULL DETAIL ) about how HE’S Prospering???
In motivational seminars, you’re told to “treat a successful businessman to lunch and ask him to TELL YOU how HE became successfulâ€. Do you believe that YOUR Mega Church Pastor would be willing to put you down in his appointment book??
Don’t YOU think it’s about time for you to be told the WHOLE truth by YOUR Pastor before you decide to waste anymore of your time and money at that church???
SINCERE LEADERS L-E-A-D B-Y E-X-A-M-P-L-E !!!
IF HE’S WILLING… AND, IF HE IS SINCERE ABOUT WANTING TO SEE YOU PROSPER THE WAY HE HAS, THIS IS WHAT HE SHOULD TELL YOU:
“Brother / Sister, Unless you’ve got some extraordinary talent, or some OTHER sure shot business plan to make Millions for yourself, If you want the “Almighty God†of the “Bible†to bless you, You Must be willing and motivated to do exactly what I and others LIKE me have already done AND are currently doing in order to have the type of success that We’re Now Enjoying. Do you really want it?? If so, then you can have it! Praise the Lord, Thank you Jesus!! So, this is what you have to do: †You Have To… Start Y-O-U-R O-W-N Church!!!â€
†My Brother / Sister, UNLESS YOU’RE WILLING TO START YOUR OWN CHURCH, YOU WON’T BE….. “BLESSEDâ€â€¦.. LIKE ME OR ANY OTHER MEGA CHURCH PREACHER / EVANGELIST / PASTOR / MINISTER !!!â€
†Ha-la-luuuu-yah!! Brother, Sister, At every Sunday Morning worship service, you can have All of the “Hath Not’s†practically bowing down at your footstool, humbly, and with meekness, offering a tenth of their precious labor to YOU, the CHILD OF THE KING!! Praise God!!â€
“Yes, My Brother, My Sister, when you yourself become a Mega Church Pastor like Me and you’ve got all of that money justa… ROOOOOOLLIN’ IN, Oh, praise God, THEN you can have yo-self a Bentley! AND, you can have a Rolls Royce. Thaaaats right, Brother / Sister. Why have only one? Have two! Praise the Lord. THEN, you can reside in a Mansion that sits on the top of that Hill and have it staffed with the best maids and butlers who’ll eagerly wait on you on hand and foot! Gah-Looo-rey-tah-God!!!â€
“WoooHooo!! Thaaank yah, Jeeeesus!! My Lord!! MMmmmmm!! And the landscapers!! Oh, Lord… You should watch em as they’re doin’ all of the tendin’ to on all of that beautiful sprawlin’ glorified property property of yours!! LLLLLoooord, Have Mercy!!! Boooooy, wait til’ ya see it. And The pool cleaners! God Bless em. They’re justa keepin’ that pool lookin’ so crispy clean and just so blue and so perrrrdy!! It’s Just like lookin’ up at dah sky on a clear sunny day!! Praise God!! Oh, Thank Yah Jesus! And Don’t forget you gotta have somebody to look after all a dem other fancy cars you’ll be collectin’, Brotha!! . Glooooory tah God.
“THEN, My Brother / Sister, just you wait til dat precious moment comes when ya get tah taste the finest, Theeeeee mmmmost de-li-cious foods and desserts that God has ever blessed a mans hands to create Gah-lory-tah God… AND, They’re all prepared for ya by your very own Professional Chef. LLLLLLooorrrrd HAVE MERCY!!! um, um um!! Ooooh, my God!! YOU just wait till ya get a taste of that. Praaaaise God!!! MMMMMMMMMMM … ummmm ummm um um!!! Tah he he he!! Thank Yah, Jesus!!â€
Haaaa Ba Sha Ba La Kooom By Yah Ha Ba Shaa La Hahhh!!! OOooooh, Gah-looo-rey-tah-God!!â€
“AND THEN, THEN, THEN, Oh Lord, Jesus! THEN, When You Look At Yourself in the Mirror, Glory tah God, Standin’ there wearing the finest and most expensive Taylor made suits!! Yes Sir Reee Lord!! Clothing fit for Kings AND Queens!! Oh, Yes Sir!! R-O-Y-A-L-T-Y !!! GAH-LOOO-RE-TAH-GOD, HA-LAY-LU-YAH!! Thank Yah, Jeeesus!! Ya see, cause NOW, You’re ACTIN’ LIKE The KINGS Kid. Bless God!!
YOU’VE PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSITION TO BE BLESSED BY THE LORD THY GOD!!!â€
Yes, Sir. Oh, yes Lord! thank yah! God is Good!! I SAID YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS GOOD!! Praise the Lord. Just give him praise right now. Thank you Jesus.â€
“THEN, Then, then, when ya need to get away from all ah da cryin’, and all da belly achin’ that’s goin’ on all around ya, Prrrrraaaaise the Lord, HE SAID THAT HE’LL DELIVER YA, DIDN’T HE?? That’s just what he’ll do for ya… Thaaaaank ya Lord… Give him all the praise!! HE’ LL HAVE YOU MOUNTED UP ON WINGS AND SOARING SO HIGH IN THE SKY LIKE THE EAGLES IN JUST NO TIME AT ALL! Glory da God!!â€
“You can just jump rrrrrright oooooon up in that beautiful private jet airplane and just flyyyyyy, flyyyyyyy, flyyyyyy right on away from here, Brother, and tah anywhere Ya Wont To. HA-LA-LUUU-YA! Can I get an AMEN, Brother / Sister?? Gloooory tah God, Thank you Jeeeeeesus!! Praaaaise him, just give him praise. Thank ya Lord.â€
“OOOOoooo, Ha-la-luuuuu-yah!!!! Ha-la-luuuuu-yah!!
Glory to God!!â€
“Now, there’s just one more VERY important thaang ya gotta remember. The people who you’ve GOT to pray for, are the ones which HATH NOT. Those are the ones ya gotta lay hands on and pray over. It looks good. It’ll make em feel better. But never, never, never offer tah tell em exactly what they gotta do dah get tah where YOU are. If the Lord really wonts em ta know, just let HIM lead em to ya just like he led YOU tah me. Now ya got all a dat??â€
“Well, Praise The Lord. Just give em Praise! CAUSE NOW, THAT YOU’VE GOTTEN YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE BLESSED, NOW HE CAN BLESS YA! NOW HE CAN CAUSE YA TAH PROSPER! PRAISE THE LORD HA HA!! NOW HE CAN MAKE EVERY THANG YA TOUCH TURN INTO GOLD GAH-LOOO-REY- TA- GOD!!! ALL YA GOTTA DO IS JUST HANG RIGHT ON IN THEIR BROTHER / SISTER CAUSE NOW, YOU’RE ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH TO PROSPERITY, AH HA!! THE PATH THAT FEW WILL FIND ER RAH HA!! LORD, HAVE MERCY!! BUT GIVE EM PRAISE BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED YOU, MY BROTHA / SISTA, AS HIS CHOSEN ONE, THANK YOU JESUS, TO BE THE VESSEL THAT’LL CARRY HIS WORD! Praise God. and You’ll be blessed for sure!! HA-LA-LUUU-YAH!!!†Prosperity Is Yours my Brotha / Sista. Just Give Him all da Praise!!â€
“I can feel the anointing of God just comin’ down on me right now. It’s Too bad we don’t have the choir here right now cause I feel like singin’ a song. Thank Yah Lord!â€
AN EXAMPLE OF “DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DOâ€
copied from his ministry website
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
****What Does it Mean to Love God?****
If you were to ask someone if they loved God, they’d almost automatically reply, “Of course. I love the Lord with all my heart.†Every day in churches and all around the world, people say, “Lord, I love you. Oh, Jesus, I love you.†However, loving God is not just a religious quote you say to make people think you love God.
In order to love God, you must first renew your mind where love is concerned. When many people think of love, they think of human, emotional love, which is basically selfish because it has conditions—it loves when the conditions are right, or when it feels like loving. This is the type of love many people try to love God with; however, God is not interested in you loving Him with your feelings.
Contrary to what most people think, love is not a feeling. Your feelings, like your emotions, can be unstable. For example, as soon as somebody dies that you didn’t think should have died, your feelings toward God might change. This is why love is a choice—it’s a decision demonstrated by action. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments†(John 14:15). To love God means to choose to obey His Word, trust His power, and worship Him. It is impossible to say you love God if these things are not in place.
Your love for God is demonstrated by the decisions you make. When you choose what you want or desire over God’s Word, you demonstrate that you love yourself more than God. So one of the first things you must do to love God is get rid of self, or your own desires. Doing this will help you love God, and others, the way you have been commanded in Matthew 22:34—40.
When you put self first, everything you do will be to please yourself, because that’s what human, selfish love does—it seeks to satisfy self first. However, according to Romans 5:5, the Holy Spirit has poured the love of God in our hearts; and that love gives us the ability to love with the God—kind of love, or agapé love. Agapé love is unconditional, unselfish love. Unlike selfish, human love, agapé love puts the needs of others above its own needs. This is the love God wants us to demonstrate.
To love God means to lose self. Everyday you have to make a decision to demonstrate the agape love of God by dying to the selfish desires that try to rule your life. Second Corinthians 4:11 in The Amplified Bible says, “For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.†That means in order for the love of God to be evident in your life, you have to make a quality decision to allow your thoughts, desires, emotions, and feelings to die daily. It’s impossible to love God, or others, when you have plans, purposes, and desires that are contrary to the Word of God.
When self is the most important thing to you, you will choose self over God’s Word. God’s Word is His will; get to the point where you choose the will of God above everything. You must desire His will, even above your own happiness. That’s what it means to love God—to obey His will, not your own.
For more information on pursuing the will of God for your life, visit our online bookstore , and order your copy of the message Loving God by Putting Self Aside. This teaching will give you insight on what it means to love God.
Hey there, Dr. Creflo Dollar, do YOU love God?????????
Do YOU follow his word????????
Matthew 5:42 says Give to him that asketh thee, and from him thatGive to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.
Evelyn Williamson, who joined the church in 1993, said she was instructed during a class for new members to turn over her financial records. She refused. When the power to her home was turned off, Williamson said, she called the church for financial assistance.
She said a church minister refused her request and told her that if she had turned over her finances to God she wouldn’t need help. Williamson said she left the church after four months when church members refused to answer her calls.
Dr. Creflo Dollar, YOUR love for God is demonstrated by the decisions YOU make. Dr. Dollar, When YOU choose what YOU want or desire over God’s Word, YOU demonstrate that YOU love YOURSELF more than God. So one of the first things YOU must do to love God is get rid of self, or YOUR own desires. Doing this will help YOU love God, and others, the way YOU have been commanded in Matthew 22:34—40.
Dr Dollar, YOU should practice what YOU preach. YOU!! YOU!! YOU.
George Washington FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY
Hillary Clinton MOTHER OF OUR COUNTRY
copied from his ministry website (My comments included)
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
****What Does it Mean to Love God?****
If you were to ask someone if they loved God, they’d almost automatically reply, “Of course. I love the Lord with all my heart.†Every day in churches and all around the world, people say, “Lord, I love you. Oh, Jesus, I love you.†However, loving God is not just a religious quote you say to make people think you love God.
(hmmmmm)
In order to love God, you must first renew your mind where love is concerned.
(Oh, Really??)
When many people think of love, they think of human, emotional love, which is basically selfish (???) because it has conditions—it loves when the conditions are right, or when it feels like loving. This is the type of love many people try to love God with…
(Dr. Dollar, read Matthew 7:5 ; Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.)
…however, God is not interested in you loving Him with your feelings. Contrary to what most people think, love is not a feeling. Your feelings, like your emotions, can be unstable.
(Dr. Dollar here is the Definition of Love: A strong positive emotion of regard and affection)
For example, as soon as somebody dies that you didn’t think should have died, your feelings toward God might change. This is why love is a choice—it’s a decision demonstrated by action. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments†(John 14:15). To love God means to choose to obey His Word, trust His power, and worship Him. It is impossible to say you love God if these things are not in place.
(Dr. Dollar, READ Galatians 5:14; For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.)
Your love for God is demonstrated by the decisions you make. When you choose what you want or desire over God’s Word, you demonstrate that you love yourself more than God.
(Dr. Dollar, that’s one thing you’ve demonstrated without a flaw. You certainly led by example on that one)
So one of the first things you must do to love God is get rid of self, or your own desires. Doing this will help you love God, and others, the way you have been commanded in Matthew 22:34—40.
When you put self first, everything you do will be to please yourself, because that’s what human, selfish love does—it seeks to satisfy self first.
(Dr. Dollar, can we say that again but this time we’ll make it sound as if you’re talking to yourself. OK??? Lets try it: So one of the first things I, Dr. Dollar, must do to love God is get rid of MYSELF, or MY own desires. Doing this will help ME love God, and others, the way I have been commanded in Matthew 22:34—40. When I put MYSELF first, everything I do will be to please MYSELF, because that’s what human, selfish love does—it seeks to satisfy self first. )
However, according to Romans 5:5, the Holy Spirit has poured the love of God in our hearts; and that love gives us the ability to love with the God—kind of love, or agapé love. Agapé love is unconditional, unselfish love. Unlike selfish, human love, agapé love puts the needs of others above its own needs. This is the love God wants us to demonstrate.
(Dr. Dollar, I’m assuming that you don’t smoke like I do, so why don’t you try having your pilot fly your personal jet a few thousand feet lower so your brain won’t be deprived of oxygen. Your statement about how to love is just as ridiculas as me trying to sell you a map to help you find your way back to your own house)
To love God means to lose self. Everyday you have to make a decision to demonstrate the agape love of God by dying to the selfish desires that try to rule your life.
(Dr. Dollar, can we say that again, but this time,the way YOU really want it to be? Let’s try it: To love Creflo Dollar means to lose self. Everyday WE have to make a decision to demonstrate the agape love for Creflo Dollar by dying to the selfish desires that try to rule OUR life.)
Second Corinthians 4:11 in The Amplified Bible says, “For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.†That means in order for the love of God to be evident in your life, you have to make a quality decision to allow your thoughts, desires, emotions, and feelings to die daily. It’s impossible to love God, or others, when you have plans, purposes, and desires that are contrary to the Word of God.
(Dr. Dollar, if we’re to have NO thoughts, desires, emotions, or feelings, then what is the purpose of the YOUR Prosperity Gospel? If you’ve achieved YOUR goal of implanting this message into your members that we’re to become zombie like, then exactly who is it that your message of prosperity is being preached to? Human “Feelingsâ€, Human “Emotionsâ€, Human “Desires†are what causes a person to WANT to prosper JUST LIKE YOU!!! Dr. Dollar, Tell your pilot to fly a little closer to the ground.)
When self is the most important thing to you, you will choose self over God’s Word. God’s Word is His will; get to the point where you choose the will of God above everything. You must desire His will, even above your own happiness. That’s what it means to love God—to obey His will, not your own.
For more information on pursuing the will of God for your life, visit our online bookstore , and order your copy of the message Loving God by Putting Self Aside. This teaching will give you insight on what it means to love God.
(Dr. Dollar, Do you really Love God? Do YOU really believe in God? Don’t you think it would be a good idea if YOU could meet God and get some Clarification?? Why don’t you direct your pilot to aim the nose of your private jet plane STRAIGHT UP towards space. As Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.” Tell your pilot that he can bail out with a parachute after he puts the plane on autopilot. Then, IF IT BE HIS WILL, God will allow you to come back and give us another message.)
Jambo (Hello) My Brothers and Sisters
We need to re-develop our Churchs to fit our needs of today. Please check out the following two links, and then re-think everything you learned
http://www.wblr.com The Afrikan Village DR. Rev. Ray Hagins and look at this other link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQLD59fK_Iw&NR=1 then ask why have I been lied too.
Peace & Blessings
THE WAY I SEE ALL OF THIS IS THAT OUR SOCIETY,CAPITALISM,TRADITION,LOVE OF MONEY,CELEBRITES,COVETING POWER,PRESTIGE AND POWER, DICTATES THIS WHOLE MESS W/IN CHRISTIANDOM. THE EARLY CHURCH HAD TO FIGHT THE “GOOD FIGHT” OF FAITH. THEY WERE PERSECUTED AND EVEN KILLED FOR THEIR FAITH AND LOVE FOR GOD. NOT SO IN THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE CAN PRETTY MUCH BELIEVE WHAT AND WORSHIP HOW WE WANT. THERE IS A FIGHT THAT’S GOING ON HERE BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT’S A FIGHT FOR MORALITY. LET’S FACE IT WE HAVE EVERYTHING AT OUR DISPOSAL. WHEN U LIVE IN AFFLUENCE(AND YES EVEN THE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR SOCIETY HAS IT BETTER THAN MOST OF THE WORLD) WHAT MATTERS BECOMES DISTORTED. WE HAVE TOO MANY POINTS OF REFERENCE AS TO WHAT SUCCESS AND FAILURE IS OR SUPPOSE TO LOOK LIKE. SO I’M NOT DISSILLUSIONED WHEN OUR CHURCHES FOLLOW THAT SECULAR PATH OF GETTING FOR YOURSELF.
I DON’T BELIEVE THAT IT WILL HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME WHERE CHRISTIANS IN THIS COUNTRY WILL BE FED TO LIONS OR EXECUTED FOR BELIEVING IN CHRIST. ALTHOUGH, THAT’S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. WE CAN SAY THAT WE LOVE GOD ALL DAY LONG BUT WE CONTRADICT OURSELVES EVERYDAY BY THE LIVES WE LIVE. I BELIEVE IF THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE HEAT ON OUR VERY EXISTENCE THAT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE US CLING TO THE CROSS MORE OFTEN. UNTIL THEN PEOPLE WILL BE CARNAL, SECULAR AND SELFISH. YOU SEE IT’S EASY TO PREACH IN A PULPIT WHEN U KNOW THAT U ARE SAFE FROM HARM. I CHALLENGE PREACHERS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS TODAY TO BE MORE BOLD GOING INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA,(CNN’S, FOX NEWS, OF OUR CULTURE) AND PREACH GOD’S TRUTH. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT A WATERED DOWN,SEEKER SENSITIVE,POLITICALLY CORRECT MESSAGE, I’M TALKING JOHN THE BAPTIST TURN OR BURN TYPE MESSSAGE. THE BAPTIST KNEW THAT THIS WOULD COST HIM HIS LIFE BUT HE WAS COMPELLED. WHAT COMPELLED HIM AND THE OTHER GREATS WE READ ABOUT IN THE BIBLE YOU MIGHT ASK WAS A TRUE CONVICTION AS WELL AS A TRUE LOVE FOR THERE LORD. I USED THE WORD LORD THERE BECAUSE THE WORD LORD ACTUALLY MEANS “CONTROLLER.” THEY WERE TRULY CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. IF YOU USE THE WORD CONTROL TO PEOPLE TODAY(ESPECIALLY WOMEN) AND THEY WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO(AND THAT PLACE AINT HEAVEN). GOD WANTS TO CONTROL US AND MOST OF US AINT HAVIN’ IT.
I’M NOT SAYING THAT THEIR(PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE) FIGHT WAS HARDER IT WAS JUST MORE CUT AND DRY BLACK AND WHITE. YOU SEE OURS IS MORE DECEPTIVE. WE BELIEVE IF IT LOOKS GOOD, TALKS GOOD, SMELLS GOOD, FEELS GOOD, SOUNDS GOOD, IT MUST BE RIGHT. SO IN SOME RESPECTS OUR FIGHT OF FAITH CAN SEEM HARDER. I’VE BEEN THERE, I HAVE FOUR DAUHGHTERS AND WHEN I USED TO SEE OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAD THINGS THAT I COULDN’T GET FOR MY GIRLS I BECAME JEALOUS. I LOOKED AT IT LIKE, I’M A GOOD CHRISTIAN SO ME AND MINE DESERVE TO HAVE THOSE THINGS TOO. I CAN TELL U THAT IN OUR SOCIETY WHEN U HAVE THINGS PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE THE CAT’S MEOW. TAKE OPRAH FOR INSTANCE OR ANYBODY W/ FAME OR POWER(IT CAN EVEN BE THE PASTOR OF YOUR CHURCH) WHEN U ARE AROUND THEM YOU FEEL A SENSE OF LESS-THAN(BE HONEST). THAT FEELING U FEEL IS DECEPTIVE. YOU PROBABLY DON’T THINK THAT YOU ARE ACTING A CERTAIN WAY(FAKE) BUT YOU ARE. YOU SEE THAT’S HOW THINGS(MATERIAL) MAKE US FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES AND OTHERS AND IN TURN YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL A CERTAIN WAY AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOU POSSESS SOMETHING THEY DON’T. THAT’S WHY WHEN WE GET IN A PLACE TO BUY THE MERCEDES AND THE HOUSE IN THE ‘BURBS WE FEEL A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. I’M NOT SAYING THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THESE THINGS IN OF THEMSELVES BUT IT TAKES A VERY MATURE AND STRONG CHRISTIAN TO HANDLE THESE THINGS. SO I SAID ALL THAT TO SAY THIS, WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. U CAN BECOME ALL U CAN BE AND WHAT COMES ALONG W/ THAT IS SUCCESS AND MATERIAL GAIN. BUT THE DANGER OF ALL THAT IS THAT WE CAN LOSE OUR SOULS OVER THOSE SAME THINGS(SELAH). I BELIEVE JESUS KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE WARNED ABOUT RICHES. I BELIEVE HE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THAT THAN CREFALO(AND THE OTHERS WHO PREACH PROSPERITY).
I truly enjoyed reading all the posts above, everyone’s thoughts were expressed extremely well. From what I gathered, everyone’s thoughts on this issue are along the same line of thinking; prosperity gospel is not for the benefit of the congregation that fills its walls, rather the preacher that stands upon its pulpit. What noone seems to address, however, is the fact that faith has allowed the weak and helpless to be manipulated once again. Most of the posts above talk about their own view or another minister’s view of God and his teachings, the way they ought to be. Not once amongst the posts was faith itself ever called into question. Now, I’m not saying I don’t believe in a higher power, I am simply playing Devil’s Advocate. Religion is man made, imperfect, and often wielded as a weapon of power, rather than a tool of good. Maybe the religious establishments of the world need to be reexamined and held accountable for their actions, when so frequently they are given a free pass. The Vatican is the richest country in the world, which helped to settle the alarmingly numerous scandles within the Catholic Church. We argue that the fundamentalists are the ones who give religion a bad name, but it is all too apparent that they are not the only ones. What does it say about religion when those who have chosen to give their lives to it, lead congregations only for their own gain or sinful pleasures. Of course, not all religious leaders have hidden agendas, but an alarming amount do. What it does tell us is that although there may be a divine power, religion is anything but perfect. It is widely believed that man does not have the capability to create true perfection, yet religious teaching is certainly man made and we seek perfection amongst its scriptures. Why can we not see that religion is simply another man made device, imperfect and harmful in far more ways than it is divine and benevolent. I do not move to say that people should not practice faith, rather I simply suggest we keep faith in a higher power, not the religions and religious leaders who try and tell us what that higher power is or wants from us. How do they know any better than we do, we are all God’s children after all. It is often said that faith and God are beyond the laws of science, therefore, they cannot be disproven through the use of reason. Are our religious leaders beyond the laws of science as well, I think not, as we can see many think they are, how else could you find reason and rationale in what they preach?
Very thoughtful commentary, Matthew. You raise many valid questions that we should give energy to addressing. I derived a few questions from your summation:
1. Is God greater/higher/above every man-made religion? (Can any 1 religion contain/arrest/withhold Almighty God?)
2. In light of your commentary, what should be the response of Believers (of whatever Faith) who follow the tenets of a so-called imperfect religion? (Should they abandon their religion?)
I have certainly enjoyed reading the article and comments on this site. I have been asking God where are the true believers that the prophet saw when he thought himself to be the last one.
It is good to know that others are getting just as sick of these money chasers and greedy dogs as I am.
They fleece the flock of God, and have sold the poor for a pair of shoes, and its time that God’s people started doing some house cleaning.
The hour has come when judgement must begin in the house of God, and if judgement begins first as us, what shall be the end of those that obey not the gospel?
[...] the years in regard to clergy salaries of which I have not been silent. I’ve probably been more vocal than many other ministers on this topic. However, being on this side of the pulpit now, I’ve developed a greater sensitivity to this [...]