Are evangelists crooks?

Question

I see them on TV, and they live in luxury yet preach about being like their Jesus.

Is that ridiculous or what?

Answer 1

I hate to say this
but most are out for the money

Answer 2

"Are wealthy evangelists just crooks?" Not if they truly believe in what they're doing. Suppose I make people laugh, and for this they reward me with money. I accept the money, but I enjoy making people laugh, and I like doing it. Nobody loses. But where is the product, good, or service the person can put in his pocket to show for his money? As long as he's okay with whatever he has received, even intangible, there is no fraud and no victim, so no crime. It is only when someone coerces another to give them money that I have a problem. Unless there is coercion, there is no harm done by accepting the freely-offered gift of willing people.

Answer 3

I used to sell to evangelists and know most who are on the TV religious channels. I don't know Joel Osteen or John Hagee.

I have also studied fundamentalist Christianity for 40 years, comparing it to mainstream Christianity.

If you take a stop watch and time the actual time spent on preaching the gospel of Christ agains the actual time spent on collecting funds, you will find a relationship of 50 minutes for money and 10 minutes touching on religious issues.

Most have Calvinism in their backgrounds somewhere. Luther stated that one could be called, not only to religion, but to be a plumber, carpenter, watchmaker, etc. Calvin stated that if you are successful in your calling, it would be made manifest in more worldly things like clothes, cars, houses, etc. There is a concept of mobility within the Christian groups. One can start off as a dirt road Baptist and as he becomes more successful, he will change churches until he gets to one that seems to him to fit his attitudes toward life after success hit him.

Going, for instance, to the Church of God publishing house in Cleveland, Tennessee, it is interesting to note that y ou are going to see a long line of very expensive automobiles and finely dressed people. They are following Calvin's philosophy whether they admit it or not - they use their financial success in their "calling" to show those to whom they preach that they are successful - something that can be noted in their possessions.

Of the Evangelists who seem to be immune from criticism is only Billy Graham. However he has been cited many times as being the "Best Dressed man" in the country. On a trip to Charlotte, which is Grahams birthplace, to see Jim Baker, I noticed in the Charlotte News and Observer a cartoon on the editorial page which illustrated Billy Graham with a shiney new suit on and bags of money around him on one side and Jim Baker with Rolls Royces and other fancy things on the other, with Jesus Christ in the middle, with nothing, stating "put away all of your worldly goods and come and follow me."

There are better money makers out there amongst the group - better than others. In that case, when they are running low on funds, you might see a preacher named Steve Muncey as a guest. You can rest assured that Muncey is there only for the purpose of raising money. In the past five years there has been a term that is used often in that crowd "plant the seed."

Many of the pastors now are telling their followers to plant a seed, send money on a regular basis, and their personal wealth and financial condition will improve as a result of it.

What this compares to is what Martin Luther railed about in his 95 Theses. The tacking of the 95 theses was done because the Catholic church was trying to raise money for the building of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. They decided to send priest into towns selling indulgences - paying your way out of hell or Purgatory - and that is, indeed, exactly what the evangelists today are doing - selling salvation.

If you have read your Bible, you know that Salvation is not for sale, it is your's simply for the asking. It is tantamount to selling water by the river.

So if you watch Muncey, Paul Crouse, and Benny Hinn and average what they tell you that they want from you, cut that number in 1/2, and send it to me, I will save you from hell for exactly 1/2 the price of that average.

Answer 4

The majority are. Mathew 24: 9-13, when the disciples asked about the signs of the conclusion of this system of things, he said his true followers would be persecuted and false prophets would arise and mislead many and the love of many claiming to be followers would cool off.

Matt. 6: 1, 2 Jesus warns about not "practicing your righteousness in front of men in order to be observed by them; otherwise you will have no reward with your Father...When you go making gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, just as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full."

Sound like anyone we know?

Answer 5

Some but most aren't. People need to remember that ministries our financially supported by people. Those guys on TV have money because people believe in their ministry and support them. Not all of them are crooks

Answer 6

If they can make a buck selling nonsense to the delusional who need it, then good for them. People they service need exactly that, and they provide it. I am very happy that they are all happy, you should be too.

Answer 7

those are Tel-evangelists, yes some are crooks for sure

Answer 8

99.9% YES!!!
Study them and you will find that they are just hucksters looking for suckers. And who are the biggest suckers on the planet? Christians.

Answer 9

It is the nature of humans to get full of themselves when they get power and prestige. And they cannot see what hypocrites they look like to us.

Answer 10

Totally ridiculous i am flabbergasted
hehe i like that word