These religious leaders get on TV and sound so righteous?

Question

So do political leaders: they make me wonder if they ever really read the bible.

Luke 18:9 But he spoke this illustration also to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who considered the rest as nothing. 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 the Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself. “O God I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortionist, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12. I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire. 13. But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his breast saying, “O God be gracious to me a sinner. 14. I tell you this man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.
He really felt that way, it was a prayer!

When they talk all I hear is "Gee I am wonderful, send me money"

Is it just me or do you feel that way sometimes that they make you feel put down?

Answer 1

TV Evangelism—God’s Way?

If Jesus Christ were on earth today, asserted TV evangelist Jim Bakker, “he’d have to be on TV.” Why television? Because, according to Bakker, “that would be the only way he could reach the people he loves.” Like Bakker, an increasing number of fundamentalist preachers in the United States feel that television is the best medium for spreading the Word of God. Yet, a 1984 study showed that, for the most part, TV evangelists “reinforce people already committed to evangelical religion.”

Interestingly, in a letter to the editor of the magazine Ministry, one reader wrote: “You said they [television sets] are the church’s most powerful gospel seed-sowing tools, and yet God says the most essential work is house-to-house visitation—soul hunting. . . . Our Saviour loved to get away from the multitude, and then He went from house to house—soul hunting. The one-soul audience was His delight. . . . Can we not do the same?”

According to Jesus Christ, the purpose of the Christian ministry was not just to ‘spread the Word’ but to “make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19, 20) He directed his followers to go to people’s homes. (Matthew 10:7, 11-13) The apostle Paul accepted this preaching method and said regarding his ministry: “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.” The personalized house-to-house ministry of the disciples reaped good results.—Acts 5:42; 20:20.

If Jesus laid such emphasis on this method of preaching in order to make disciples, why do many evangelists prefer TV as their medium? The Courier-Mail of Brisbane, Australia, notes that TV evangelists “make up to $120 million a year selling salvation. They appear in a blaze of electrified power and glory on 300 TV stations, and are worshipped like pop idols. . . . For all their tactics, these men who claim to manipulate even God, come down in the end to a straight business deal. Send them $10 and they will send you to heaven.”

Answer 2

Self righteousness is a major sin of mankind. But when we attack the self-righteous, we become self-righteous too! It's like as soon as I say I am humble, I become prideful! The best we can do is look to ourselves and our relationship with God and pray for others.

The only 'TV preachers' I ever listen to are Charles Stanley and Joyce Meyer. They seem pretty good and balanced.

Answer 3

Everytime you go to church don't you feel bored listening to the priest lying? I am a sinner I admit that and I pray silently, though not very often, but I still pray silently and humbly. I think priests are useless and most of them are kind of deceiving. The only good priest I know is the guy who smoked everyday but when it comes to being a priest he is very serious with his work.

Answer 4

Well, I don't ever feel "down" when I watch them. It's amazing though how many people give in to that type of psychological crap. They make enough people feel guilty about being themselves and those people pay in order to ease that feeling. It really isn't any different than when the Catholic Church had "Indulgences" where you paid the church to relieve you of your sins. It's close to being legalized organized crime of a spiritual sort.

Answer 5

It's a wonder how acting lessons can make any person on TV seem more than what they are. You ever notice how some people are so fixated on celebrities, even when their not performing on screen? If your not aware of it, you will unwittingly believe ANYTHING that comes out of their mouths.

Answer 6

yes! i agree.. they are so arrogant sometimes...we are nothing God called us to his salvation..... only because what Jesus did. we would never ever have gotten there on our own. which should make us humble knowing we are good for nothing without Jesus... and its an awesome thing he did to save us from our sin.. which is us..

Answer 7

You have excellent insight. If you do not see yourself as righteous, then God will do it for you. If you do see yourself as righteous, then God has no reason to do so.

Answer 8

I can't stand those TV Evangelists.