Asking for Money

OldDogDiver said:

Many people have an "issue" with Christian ministries asking for money - mainly televangelists and WOF preachers.

I am not sure who most of them are listening to, but the WOF ministers I listen to do NOT beg for dollars! They may express an opportunity to partner with them, or a specific outreach they have going on, but they do NOT beg for money.

It makes me wonder who these "beggars" are.

My wife and I have a ministry that helps the poor in our area. Do we ask for money? You betcha! We always offer people an opportunity to help the folks that we help. Do we beg? No. Do we tell them "if you give ___, you will get ____"? No. We just express the need and trust God for the rest. We don't tell people that if they give X amount, God will reward then with Y amount... we just let them know what we are doing to help the poor and they give.

Proverb 28:27 He who gives to the poor shall not lack.

If people do not know there is a need, how can they help?

James 4:3 You have not because you ask not.

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I think many times this issue is how the money is spent. Look at Benny Hinn for instance.

OldDogDiver said:

Many people have an "issue" with Christian ministries asking for money - mainly televangelists and WOF preachers.

I am not sure who most of them are listening to, but the WOF ministers I listen to do NOT beg for dollars! They may express an opportunity to partner with them, or a specific outreach they have going on, but they do NOT beg for money.

It makes me wonder who these "beggars" are.

My wife and I have a ministry that helps the poor in our area. Do we ask for money? You betcha! We always offer people an opportunity to help the folks that we help. Do we beg? No. Do we tell them "if you give ___, you will get ____"? No. We just express the need and trust God for the rest. We don't tell people that if they give X amount, God will reward then with Y amount... we just let them know what we are doing to help the poor and they give.

Proverb 28:27 He who gives to the poor shall not lack.

If people do not know there is a need, how can they help?

James 4:3 You have not because you ask not.

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AMEN! YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT!!!

Cant feed anyone with I.O.U.s,

Some of the money grabbers claim WOF,but it is not our teaching.
All of our needs wants and desires are in the promises of God.

With Christ you can receive abundance through faith,by grace our hearts are pure

OldDogDiver said:

Many people have an "issue" with Christian ministries asking for money - mainly televangelists and WOF preachers.

I am not sure who most of them are listening to, but the WOF ministers I listen to do NOT beg for dollars! They may express an opportunity to partner with them, or a specific outreach they have going on, but they do NOT beg for money.

It makes me wonder who these "beggars" are.

My wife and I have a ministry that helps the poor in our area. Do we ask for money? You betcha! We always offer people an opportunity to help the folks that we help. Do we beg? No. Do we tell them "if you give ___, you will get ____"? No. We just express the need and trust God for the rest. We don't tell people that if they give X amount, God will reward then with Y amount... we just let them know what we are doing to help the poor and they give.

Proverb 28:27 He who gives to the poor shall not lack.

If people do not know there is a need, how can they help?

James 4:3 You have not because you ask not.

Click to expand...

Yeah, this runs deep.

I've thought and read through this a few years back and here're some thoughts, about giving and in general how people perceive thing.

Perception is a strange thing. It's like a mixed basket.

People perceive things differently, depending on what their values, life experiences, knowledge, understanding of the Lord and even Holy Spirit, right/wrong teaching... etc.

Just mentioned TV evangelist, one will have different responses ranging from

1) Oh they're in it for the money
2) The glamour
3) Wow, they're doing a lot of good
4) Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart
5) What a blessing they are.
etc.

Then the occasional media sensationalize scandal and fall of the big name TV guy that lives in bungalows while facing impending closure of TV station at the same time, doesn't help. It distorts people perception. Bad news travel and stick on people minds.

And soon, we generalize and fall into, I knew it all along, there were like that all along; and the rest are probably like that. And then scriptures (prooftext-ed of course) are used to support this confirmation biases.

There's a whole spectrum of responses. And some responses concerning giving that run deep:

1) Why should we support a minister? they should work and have a full-time job

As usual, there's a whole arsenal of scriptures to support this argument. Scriptures like Apostle Paul was a part time tent maker, he didn't want to burden the church so he worked...

2) We should support minister, so they can concentrate on the Word and Prayer and not be bogged down by worries of making ends meet
Of course they also have scriptures like how the Levities are supported by offerings of people.

3) Some ministers who do not want to be embroiled in scandal, don't want to take salary and have a full time job instead. Some write books, sell products to make ends meet or even prosper; depending on how big time the name is. Oh they go on preaching circuit to get honorariums and people start questioning their motives. Then there is idea that selling products is like an industry, out to make money from the sheep. There are charlatans out there, but of course everyone knows not all are so, even critics themselves.

4) The gospel is free why are this people asking for money or even selling their products. If there want to help people, why charge them?

Of course, being on TV, printing bible and books are not for free but that's not considered therefore, these people are in it for the money. Some will then construct a barrage of scriptures to call these false-teachers. Being able to get much free stuff on the Internet also help also helps to cultivate this "Why should I pay mentality or entitlement?" But lots of good come out of these ministries, critics often overlooked.

5) The lifestyle of the minister. The minister should sell his car to support his ministry, why ask from us?

Minister should live "humbly". Then, depending on which camp one is in "Was Jesus rich?" scriptures are used. Some will even say Apostle Paul was rich since Felix wanted him... etc


And of course some critics against giving to ministers would glad pay $$ to have their regular Starbucks or favorite movies without any hesitation.

Beyond all the big name stuff, think the middle of the road and most ministries that have legit needs often get overlooked. Maybe they don't get the publicity for whatever reason.

I think the world we live in is very much day to day world not those big time 5 star kind of celebrity world. There're lots and lots of needs around.

Thank God for (both big and small) ministers, we should support them.

I think it's fair to support financially those who sow into our lives, be it pastor or someone off the telly. We spend plenty of money on ourselves, after all. I don't get along well with those telly preachers who make a career out of naming specific amounts and claiming specific blessings for those who send that particular amount, but not everyone who asks for money is like that.

Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Notice in this teaching,Paul was giving them the truth on giving.

What he is saying,not for my sake but for yours!
He is teaching the biblical truth of reaping and sowing.

What I find strange,is the perceptions of society today.

Take Mr hero golfer,live like the devil paid more money than the best 50 doctors and all people care about is how he's putting.

People could care less how many Sports figures make 100 million in 3 years.
When your worried about those money hungry Preachers,you need to check your priorities,right before you give them that whole 20 dollars, after all you gotta have enough left for those 200 dollar trips to the ball game next Sunday.

Hey £20 is quite abit for me, and no £200 trips out here!

JoyToTheWhirled said:

Hey £20 is quite abit for me, and no £200 trips out here!

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I was speaking figuratively, but I would rather half my seed be squandered,than to not give and give my abundance to the world.

What do you say,to a man of God who gives 25% of his income back to God,then pays 40% in taxes
Then is still blessed enough to have a big house,Rolex,and a 100 thousand dollar car.

Most would expect more from him in sacrifice, than they would ever do.

Me I say bless God that man is a cheerful giver!

I think people often come from an envious perspective and rarely put themselves in the hotseat like you have suggested. I agree with you that I would rather give money cheerfully and find out that it wasn't used wisely than not give at all and give instead into feeding my flesh.

JoyToTheWhirled said:

I think it's fair to support financially those who sow into our lives, be it pastor or someone off the telly. We spend plenty of money on ourselves, after all. I don't get along well with those telly preachers who make a career out of naming specific amounts and claiming specific blessings for those who send that particular amount, but not everyone who asks for money is like that.

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Yes! I'm in full agreement that we should support.

Telly preachers that do the following usually gives me the red flag:

1) They will preach on the widows last remaining bread to be given to the prophet to activate the miracle

2) Or the widows with 2 mites, giving their precious all

3) Or they will give a general word of knowledge then follow through to request a seed to "activate" the word and usually it's a strong time pressure.

4) Or some pressure tactic like will miss the blessing

or a variants of those.

I'm a bit uncomfortable sowing to those. But if they've sown into my life, and if I'm able to give cheerfully, I'll still give inspite of the red flags.

There is a tried and true principle with me. Give to the Lord and he opens the windows of heaven. If I don't give to Him then my finances take a little dive. That being said there are Some ministries who fleece the flock. I guess you can tell who is fleecing on how the funds are spent. I sincerely recommend that you do a little investigating first hand before you give.

I think asking for money should be done very cautiously. The ministries that ask for money because they're building wells, feeding the poor, helping the needy, I'm ok with that. I start having problems when the message is if you need a blessing give me some or the rest of your money and God will pour out a blessing on you that you won't be able to contain. I specifically take issue with that because I don't think every blessing is tied to money, like an investment. And, because I've been the person who needed God to bless me, and I gave money to different ministries, and no blessing, no miracle. Those experiences did not build my faith. They left me hurt and angry and confused at God and those ministries. When I try to have faith for things now, my mind goes back to times when I stepped out in faith before, and failed. And I think Lord, how is this going to be any different than before? How do I know I'm not being deceived again? This kind of teaching can leave people with less faith than they had to begin with. (That was years ago though. I've learned my lesson, and I don't allow anyone to con me into giving. I give to ministries that help the poor or preach the gospel, because I want to.)

I do believe that God blesses cheerful givers. So I'm not trying to nullify the scriptures. I just don't like the teaching that my every blessing is dependent upon how much money I give. Also, a lot of people will hear those kinds of messages and think, well if God can bless me with the money I need because I gave some money to your ministry, then why don't you do the same, and have your needs met that way. Why are you in lack to begin with? If it's not working for you, how will it work for me? That logic may be wrong, but a lot of people, especially unbelievers, will think that.

You also have to consider the impact of watching a lot of Christian programming, and hearing almost every single ministry ask for money. At one point, when I watched tv, I would only watch this one Christian tv network. And in one day I would here so many invitations to give or partner or sow seed, etc. It was overwhelming. I'm not saying ministries should never ask for money, I just think there needs to be some reform in the way it's done.

It would be interesting to watch a Christian tv network one day, and just tally up how many times someone asked for money....

Just spend a weekend watching Daystar. You'll see them. Mike Murdock for one. I don't know if he counts as Word of Faith. But there's a lot of them on there that make inappropriate promises or have a "word of discernment" that God will perform some miracle if you give money. This is especially bad during Sharathon. I hate to call Daystar out like that, because I think they mean well, but they still need to change.

OldDogDiver said:

I guess what I'd like to know is WHO are these people ripping off the sheep? I don't ever hear them. I don't see them on TV.

So who are these guys? They certainly aren't the WOF preachers my wife and I listen to: Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Jerry Savelle, Keith Moore, Joyce Meyer, Andrew Wommack, Gary Keesee, etc.

So who are these people giving WOF a bad name?

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Yep my guys too,most were influenced by Hagin senior and he came out against the (going away if we don't get bunch).

Maryland Girl said:

Just spend a weekend watching Daystar. You'll see them. Mike Murdock for one. I don't know if he counts as Word of Faith. But there's a lot of them on there that make inappropriate promises or have a "word of discernment" that God will perform some miracle if you give money. This is especially bad during Sharathon. I hate to call Daystar out like that, because I think they mean well, but they still need to change.

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??????!!!!!!!,, why o why do people think Mike Murdock is true WOF, OR BENNY HINN,BENNY HILL OR ANY ONE ELSE WHO USES OUR FAITH WHEN IT SUITS THEM

so is Murdock not WOF?

I'm not sure who is WOF and who isn't. I'm just talking about Christians on tv asking for money in general, and twisting scripture to do it.

Maryland Girl said:

I'm not sure who is WOF and who isn't. I'm just talking about Christians on tv asking for money in general, and twisting scripture to do it.

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There is nothing wrong with fund raising.
God will not just u.p.s.checks,you have to move in faith.

Now twisting the scripture I agree,so wrong to do that.