Selling God

[Lone Wolfe]

I've been watching TBN for the past two days strictly as a research project rather than for spiritual needs and it was interesting how many patterns I found with these televangelists and their push for selling God?

It's all about the money bottom line and then, I was surprised by how many of these televangelists do not have a cross symbol in their churches, rather they display the globe or a map of the globe? I think a church's symbol says a lot about the church and I just don't think Jesus or God when I see a symbol of the globe???

Symbols are very important and evoke all kinds of imaginations or personal feelings when people see them? When I see a symbol of the cross, I immediately think of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit or the Word. I do not think of these things when I see a symbol of the globe of the world? Think about symbols for a moment and think what they bring to mind as soon as you see them? What do you think when you see a Confederate battle flag? Most people today think racism right away when they see this symbol. What do you think when you see a swastika symbol? Many people think Natzis right away or the evil it represents. What do you think when you see a cross symbol? What do you think when you see a globe symbol? Etc...

I've read about and researched for many years about this "One World Church" or this "One World Government" and they all pretty much use the globe as their symbols. Here is a quick list of televangelists who use the globe symbol in their church rather than a symbol of the cross:

Joel Osteen, Doug Batchelor, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. Charles Stanley, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Hagin, Ed Young, Kenneth Copeland, Kerry Shook, Benny Hinn, Ron Carpenter Jr, John Hagee, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Mike Murdock, Dr. Ed Hindson and many others. These are also all preachers of prosperity religions.

Another interesting fact about many of these televangelists is, many of them preach right here in Texas of have moved their ministry to Texas and that concerns me? What is it about Texas that interests these preachers? That's another research project at some point, lol.

I watched Dr. Ed Hindson on Sunday preach that the summer giving/offerings had hit a bad slump and that he needed people to send him $200 for this special summer package or his ministry was in danger of being taken off the air and they (the people) did not want that!

I watched Dr. David Jeremiah preach also on Sunday and what he had to say about blew me right out of my chair? He spoke of churches who only preach the gospel Sunday after Sunday and this was his quote: "I know there will be some out there who will misinterpret this but, any church who teaches only the gospel Sunday after Sunday will not grow". WHAT? Did he just say that? This is a preacher making statements that churches who preach only the gospel will not grow? I mean, how arrogant is that??? What else is the church suppose to preach other than the gospel (the Word)?

We are definitely living in the end times in my opinion and these televangelists need to get it together and start saving as many souls as they can and forget about taking in all the money they can. We are to be aware of false prophets and I can't help but wonder how many of these televangelists are just that, false prophets when I see what they do week after week with their constant begging for money?

Late this morning (couldn't sleep), I turned on the TV and it was on the Insp channel and there stood Mike Murdock spewing his insanity about Boaz Anointings and that he needed all these people to sow a $1,000 seed in order to better their lives and do the work of God. Please people, look this guy up on the internet and you will see exactly what this man's interest is and it has nothing to do with saving souls or preaching the Word of God. I don't understand why this man isn't behind bars to be perfectly honest with you? I read an article that said he gives 1% of his donations to help the poor and the rest of his monies from his ministry goes to him and his family members! How do these people constantly get away with this kind of thing? This is totally beyond my comprehension!!!

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

So....why does christianity have a bad name again? Oh yeah, I remember now

 

[blackribbon]

I went to John Osteen's church before it was on tv (Joel's dad and same church). At that time, they had a huge world map on one side wall that indicated every country that we had missionaries that we supported. We prayed over that map every Sunday and the goal was to have missionaries in every country of the world. There motto was something like 'spreading love to a hurting world'. The actual altar had nothing but a stand for his Bible and the microphone because he taught "in the round" to make room for more people. I am sure that there were crosses there and I think the 'symbol' was a cross across a globe. I haven't looked lately to see how this has changed...and I'm really interested in looking up the Ed Young's...though I suspect that this is Ed Young, Jr in the Dallas area and not Dr Ed Young in Houston.

I have parental duties for a few hours but am looking forward to looking this up when I get home.

 

[blackribbon]

Ok...I looked up the couple ministries that I am familiar with...Ed Young (JR) and the Fellowship Church in the Dallas area's logo is a simple FC. They do have a global program (C3 Global) which is a ministry aimed to give pastors and leaders around the globe a chance to grow in God (the C3 stands for creative collaboration, candid conversations, and compassionate causes) The television logo is simply ed young.com. The altar/podium is a stage which changes and shows props that are intended to enhance the message.

Second Baptist Church with Ed Young Sr in Houston has the logo they always have and it does have a stylized cross. I have been in that church and I know that behind the podium is where the choir stands and the wall is covered with pipes from a huge pipe organ. I believe there is a large cross and stain glass which pictures a shepherd in some capacity near the baptismal area. The wall to the left has the most beautiful stain-glass representation of heaven and hell. There is another stain glass that I don't remember what it is. I think there is another big round one (but it has been over 10 years since I have been there).

Then I looked at Lakewood Church with Joel Osteen...and their logo is a dove with a holy spirit flame. There current church used to be the professional basketball stadium so the auditorium is shaped accordingly. I see that they do still have the globe which if I were to guess, is an extension of the map that was at the old church. I do not know what the purpose is...but I do remember the motto of the church under his dad which was "an oasis of love in a troubled world"...so a globe would tie to the church's history.

I will not say anything about the other ministries because I do not have any knowledge beyond just guessing. I think that we need to be careful and judge each ministry independently using the Bible as our measure. I think they also can be judged based on who they affiliate with...because again, Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33

 

[blackribbon]

Oops...I just found a picture of Second Baptist Church (Houston) with Dr Ed Young and no cross just the beautiful stain glass windows... (the seats behind the podium are where the choir sits).

IMG0098 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[dayhiker]

That is a pretty church!
I remember reading the book by Oral Roberts, Seed Faith. I agree with the principle of seed faith. But I think its very narrow to look at seed as giving money. 2ndly its also very narrow to give money to TV preachers. Jesus was a bout giving to those who had a need. A couple of weeks ago I gave a dance to a Jewish lady. She has MS. Was sitting on the couch and some music was playing. I asked her to dance. She said she couldn't dance with a cane. I said I'll hold your hands. So we danced two songs. She thanked me saying it had been years since she danced. Just a simple way of blessing another person.

 

[motherprayer]

Look up "Gino Jennings"

That's a very interesting perspective there completely different than any other TV preacher. (I must clarify that I don't ENTIRELY agree with everything he says, but I mentioned it in the aspect of "selling God")

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

That is a pretty church!
I remember reading the book by Oral Roberts, Seed Faith. I agree with the principle of seed faith. But I think its very narrow to look at seed as giving money. 2ndly its also very narrow to give money to TV preachers. Jesus was a bout giving to those who had a need. A couple of weeks ago I gave a dance to a Jewish lady. She has MS. Was sitting on the couch and some music was playing. I asked her to dance. She said she couldn't dance with a cane. I said I'll hold your hands. So we danced two songs. She thanked me saying it had been years since she danced. Just a simple way of blessing another person.

Awe Dayhiker! I totally agree with you about seed faith not just being money. Time, Treasure and Talents is what I learned and basically if you can do something nice for someone that needs it, you should do it. Sometimes I even have a hard time giving to my church because their weekly budget is more than the total amount of bills I owe and it makes me shake my head. I know we do send alot of money to missionaries and stuff, but we also pay alot of people's salaries and I guess I'm just not totally used to that.

 

[Lone Wolfe]

Well, last night I saw Rod Parsley from World Harvest Church in Ohio, begging for $400K they were short to keep his ministry going on television. I became so angry that these super preachers keep doing this and the people watching these programs can't see thru these people???

He preached back in 2010 how he needed billions to keep his ministry and I'm sure he'll get it eventually? Surely these people are violating some kind of laws somewhere and I think we really need to start investigating these mega-churches and these mega-preachers until we break the back of these money hungry false prophets.

As soon as I saw what he was preaching, it immediately took me back to 1987 when Oral Roberts begged for $8-million dollars claiming that if he didn't get it within 90 days, God was going to call him home. WHAT?

That was the last day I watched, followed or donated another dime to Oral Roberts Ministry. When these super preachers make money their #1 message and the Word comes in second place, it's time we take these false prophets off the air.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I remember that about Oral and if my memory serves me correctly he neither got the 8 mil nor was he called home...so what does that say?
FALSE PROPHET?

 

[Lone Wolfe]

I remember that about Oral and if my memory serves me correctly he neither got the 8 mil nor was he called home...so what does that say?
FALSE PROPHET?

Actually, he received more than $9-million dollars and that's when the media went nuts on the man.

I noticed last night and this morning on 3 different "false prophet" preachers now have a disclaimer on their programs that says very clearly, "all donations and/or offerings are given without restrictions, unless otherwise specified by the giver". Now, what is that saying about your donated monies???

Those three FYI are, Rod Parsley, Mike Murdock and TBN itself. This is something new that I DID NOT see last week or prior to that so, this is definitely something new they've just added?

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Actually, he received more than $9-million dollars and that's when the media went nuts on the man.

I noticed last night and this morning on 3 different "false prophet" preachers now have a disclaimer on their programs that says very clearly, "all donations and/or offerings are given without restrictions, unless otherwise specified by the giver". Now, what is that saying about your donated monies???

Those three FYI are, Rod Parsley, Mike Murdock and TBN itself. This is something new that I DID NOT see last week or prior to that so, this is definitely something new they've just added?

Hmmmm but did he receive it in the timeframe he laid out? I don't remember it that way but I guess you are right. I just looked it up. I seem to remember him saying he needed X amount in 10 days or something. Of course my memory is foggy.

 

[Lone Wolfe]

I was truly devastated by the whole ordeal because I really liked Oral Roberts. I sent his ministry money on a regular basis (which made my family angry) and I wanted to follow in his footsteps until that happened. I think that was the beginning for me when it came to viewing the church differently and they have continued to show themselves in a bad light ever since. It's a real shame where these churches have gone today and look what it's done to Christianity around the world? No wonder the average Joe calls us crackpots today!