[steppenwolf]

some of these preachers on tv seem odd

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/mike_murdock.htm

this guy and "audience"all seem odd

[poochee]

Originally Posted by steppenwolf

some of these preachers on tv seem odd

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/mike_murdock.htm

this guy and "audience"all seem odd

People that know the Bible don't get sucked in by crooks like this. I knew it in the first sentence and didn't have to read any further.

[LANMaster]

These people have their place in the depths of Hell.

[steppenwolf]

it seemed impressive all the things he received after he gave the hundred but i just dont know

[LANMaster]

With the 2500+ verses in the Bible that deal with money and the proper use of money, it is automatically suspect when any ministry spends more time preaching on 10% of our money than they do the 90% of the rest of it, or the bulk of scripture that does not deal with money at all.

It is a dead give away whenever any ministry spends more than 100 seconds per hour speaking on money in general and especially when they speak more than 10 seconds on what we are to do with the 10% chunk that they think should be sent to their ministry.

Granted there is a place for that, but it is BY FAR the exception and not the rule.

At 52 weeks per year, a Pastor has much more important scripture to cover than the MINISCULE portion that describes helping the ministry.

It always widens my eyes when a Pastor drills on a congregation over money to keep the ministry alive. If God wants the ministry to survive, then all the Pastor needs to do is pray and have faith. Seriously. That is what is commanded.

Asking any congregation or listening audience to send in donations to keep a ministry alive or save it tells me IMMEDIATELY that the ministry is already dead, and should not be supported by anyone.

[LauraMJ]

Originally Posted by LANMaster

With the 2500+ verses in the Bible that deal with money and the proper use of money, it is automatically suspect when any ministry spends more time preaching on 10% of our money than they do the 90% of the rest of it, or the bulk of scripture that does not deal with money at all.

It is a dead give away whenever any ministry spends more than 100 seconds per hour speaking on money in general and especially when they speak more than 10 seconds on what we are to do with the 10% chunk that they think should be sent to their ministry.

Granted there is a place for that, but it is BY FAR the exception and not the rule.

At 52 weeks per year, a Pastor has much more important scripture to cover than the MINISCULE portion that describes helping the ministry.

It always widens my eyes when a Pastor drills on a congregation over money to keep the ministry alive. If God wants the ministry to survive, then all the Pastor needs to do is pray and have faith. Seriously. That is what is commanded.

Asking any congregation or listening audience to send in donations to keep a ministry alive or save it tells me IMMEDIATELY that the ministry is already dead, and should not be supported by anyone.

[Drabdr]

Originally Posted by steppenwolf

some of these preachers on tv seem odd

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/mike_murdock.htm

this guy and "audience"all seem odd

To be fair, the above website is "about" Mike Murdock, and not by Mike Murdock. NOTE: I know nothing of him, good or bad. Just wondering if it might be pretty one-sided.

Be about God's business, and the blessings will come.

Scriptures speak pretty harshly about the false teachers.

[LANMaster]

Some good Christian broadcasters also allow these monkeys into their broadcasting outlet. Blows me away.

[Paquadez]

I remember reading a most absorbing article in Businessweek Int a few years back concerning the New Wave preachers and bible thumpers in the USA.

The more successful are now hiring MBAs from top BSchools, to tighten up their business and money harvesting activities; to go alongside the Satellite TV Channels, their fleets of exec jets and other toys.

For me, a study of Aimee Semple McPherson, reading John Steinbeck's Tour de Force, "The Grapes of Wrath" and re-watching Jean Simmonds and Burt Lancaster's epic performances in the movie Elmer Gantry should provide an excellent backdrop into the worst realities of "Christianity" being exploited amongst the less well mentally endowed, as a wondrous method to gain piles of filthy lucre!

Unfortunately, of course, the Bible Belt Baptists on the extreme RIght Wing of American politics associated heavily with Geo W Bush's two election campaigns: and with his success, demanded various paybacks.

And I am also minded to recall such as Jimmy Swaggart.......................

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...elist_scandals

[LANMaster]

Money harvesting.

That's a good way to put it, Paq.
These people are SUPPOSED to be harvesting the lost for Christ's Kingdom, but instead they are harvesting money.

It's all over the place. And it is truly a tragedy in Christianity.

[Paquadez]

Totally agree, Mike.

As I'm sure you remember I'm a confirmed and practising Anglican: and what's more a Lay Assistant; and a Reader too.

Proselytising and the spreading of God's word are number one priority.

Now our little church dates back to circa 1100 AD; burnt down and the wooden building was replaced with stone; we have a mediaeval font and stained glass windows; as well as a Tudor Silver Challice for Communion (Only used on very special occasions as it mainly sits in a bank vault!).

And we have a dreadful struggle to keep this wonderful piece of history going: but we manage; thanks to hard work from many members of the congregation.

Now the very last thing I could imagine is our vicar (Who is a very close personal friend) or the Bishop going on TV and begging for cash!

[LANMaster]

Absolutely. If it is God's will that the church suffer disrepair, then so be it.
If your Vicar should feel the need to beg for money to revive the church, then the church is already dead. If he decides that more than 1/10 of 1% of his time is devoted to teaching how you should be contributing your tithe, then he is a Charletan, and a fraud.

Not saying that your Vicar is anything at all like that. Just saying that even the best Pastors can become corrupted. I think they honestly feel they have been chosen to reach the lost. That is a good thing, but many of those feel entitled to a certain monetary REWARD for leading the lost to Christ.