Televangelists...

[WaZoO]

I just wanted to share with you something that I received from the holy profit Peter Popoff, a televangelist.

The little clear thing is "miracle spring water", and that's a little baggie with a penny and some seeds in it.

Personally, I think that it is sick and wrong to try to abuse scripture, take advantage of people in desperation, and then call yourself a man of God. Me and my friend signed up for something about 4 months ago just as a joke, after this letter and a few oddball trinkets arrived we had a good laugh, but I think charlatans like this are a real problem, and a drain on society. People who are really desperate might actually buy into this as a last hope and end up digging themselves further into a trench. Thoughts?

 

[JBrian]

Interesting. Everyone who sees this needs to understand that this does NOT represent the entirety of Christianity. All Christians are not like this.

 

[Inside Edge]

That letter is so pathetic. It's guys like that who end up getting most of the press time regarding "Christianity." No wonder so many people don't trust us.

 

[GMRELIC]

I have a very hard time with Televangelics anyway, I watched Benny Hinn this morning for a while and wanted to throw something thru my television. I think most of them pray on the desperate, It seems to always be about money, send them money, give them money, and then they will pray for you while you are lining thier bank account, if you want to send money somewhere, where money will be put to good use, try the Ronald McDonald house, The Crippled Childrens Foundation, any Hospice house, or a place like that where you can see the money is being used to spread love, to those in need, don't send it to television evangelics, who live in thier million dollar homes and drive thier luxary cars, give it somewhere that needs it.

 

[Blackmarch]

I just wanted to share with you something that I received from the holy profit Peter Popoff, a televangelist.

The little clear thing is "miracle spring water", and that's a little baggie with a penny and some seeds in it.

Personally, I think that it is sick and wrong to try to abuse scripture, take advantage of people in desperation, and then call yourself a man of God. Me and my friend signed up for something about 4 months ago just as a joke, after this letter and a few oddball trinkets arrived we had a good laugh, but I think charlatans like this are a real problem, and a drain on society. People who are really desperate might actually buy into this as a last hope and end up digging themselves further into a trench. Thoughts?

ROTFL

For a long time I thought TV Evs were a humor station. Until somebody told me that people actually take them very seriously.

 

[Blackmarch]

Problem also is that it's not just TV Evs that do that too... unfortunately.

 

[Ave Maria]

Unfortunately, it's people like this greedy televangelist who give Christianity a bad name.

 

[Natman]

Unfortunately, it's people like this greedy televangelist who give Christianity a bad name.

Ditto

The only way to combat this "scripture" abuse is to become so well versed in the Bible that we can spot a fraud a mile away. Unfortunately some people will buy into this junk no matter what you say.

So... pray, read, pray... repeat until Christ returns.

Son-cerely,
Nate

 

[LifeToTheFullest!]

Nothing but a traveling salesman peddling snake oil. Nothing more.

 

[CSMR]

Do there exist authentic televangelists?

 

[Sors]

I saw a televangalist the other day who was selling his program to get you out of debt. All he wanted was a 75 dollar donation, and 50 dollars for the CD or DVD outlining how to get out of debt. Hmm...seems a little ironic to me.

 

[Blackmarch]

Doubt it, or have had the luck to always end up watching the wrong ones...

 

[Christler]

God is not mocked whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.!

I'm glad I'm not Mr. Peter pop......whatever his name is,
They'll probably make the coals extra hot for him.

 

[Natman]

Do there exist authentic televangelists?

I believe there are in the likes of Charles Stanley (a light in the darkness), Billy Graham, Ed Young and Michael Youseff, among others.


Son-cerely,
Nate

 

[DoseOFReality]

that old lady with pink big hair, the wife of the main director of TBN, looks like a adult movie star

 

[Onemonthman]

Do there exist authentic televangelists?

Absolutely. The television is a great medium to reach a lot of people who might be homebound or just not want to come to church. The problem is that some people want to get rich. The second someone starts making giving money compulsory, there is something wrong. If it is of God and He wants it to succeed, it will. My pastor is on television preaching six days a week and NEVER asks for money. His purpose is to reach the lost. We as a Church support the television ministry but also, not because they tell us to. There are some very good ministries on t.v. but you need to be discerning. Hey, anyone seen The Farting Preacher? Type that into google and check this out. It is the funniest thing I have ever seen.

 

[WaZoO]

http://www.weirdcrap.com/tilton/gods_will.mpeg
http://www.weirdcrap.com/tilton/gods_will2.mpeg

HA HA HA HA HA - The second one is better

 

[USincognito]

Just to give a little non-Christian perspective, frauds like Popoff and Tilton do not blacken the eye of Chrsitianity, any more so than "free energy" frauds blacken the eye of your local utility company. Anyone who points at charlatan TV preachers and says "that is true Christianity" either has a beef, or is deluding themselves.

There are frauds and charlatans everywhere, in every endevour. Unfortunately the area of religious belief and faith is particularly succeptable to their tactics. It's the ultimate con game, preying on someones hope for eternity, and getting them to send their hard earned money for some peace of mind and a trinket that cost the huckster a few pennies - if that.

Ultimately, while I despise these frauds, I feel most sorry for those who are taken in by them. As Natman pointed out there are some decent televangelists who adhere scrupulously to financial accountability and disclosure, and GMRELIC pointed out, there are plenty of well known legitimate charities, religiously based or otherwise doing fine work that people can contribute to if they feel the need.

 

[ClaireZ]

This is a horrible abuse of public trust and the Bible. Whatever Christian group (denomination) he is associated with needs to censure him.

He is a horrible stumbling block to non-believers, and a horrible witness.

Also letters to the station to have him removed might be a good idea.

 

[creep]

that is the biggest load of bull i've ever read