Another black eye for Christian Retailing this week. An Iowa Senator (Carles Grassley, R) is investigating six televangelists and their finances for possible fraud. The six include: Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, and Eddie Long. Check out the AP article for a more complete breakdown. I'll share a brief quote from Grassley:
"I'm following up on complaints from the public and news coverage regarding certain practices at six ministries," Grassley said in a statement Tuesday. "The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces."
It's been a rough year for Christians on the national scale. Paula & Randy White. Juanita Bynum & Thomas Weeks. Ted Haggard. Now possibly five more people's ministries could be taken from them. (It could be argued that Paula's testimony was already taken when she divorced her husband because "God told her to.")
At this time, note, there is no information to cast blame, to point a finger. People often say "where there's smoke, there's fire." I personally have been in multiple situations where that was not the case. And I hope that the Senatorial probe answers all questions clearly so, if not true, these people can continue to serve God.
Honestly, though, can the Christian Retailing Industry take another hit? Three of the six authors were in TLW's Top 10. Another is probably the most requested special order we have through the store.
Yesterday, I wrote an article about how Apple was able to reinvent themselves. It's time for Christian Retailing to reinvent themselves. Recently I would have told you that it was time for them to close their doors (as many are). However, there is a benefit, a ministry, a need that we provide.
Just this past week, a mother who just watched her son die came in the bookstore looking for help. We can do things, and go places, that a church might not be able to.
So we are needed. We're not going to throw the baby out with the bath water. But maybe it's time to get some new heroes, some new names, some new diehards. Maybe that's the problem. We're promoting the names instead of the message? Or maybe we just need to forgive these six (if there was misappropriation) and move on with our life?
Honestly, right now I've got more questions than answers. But I do know this: something has to change.
I'm not sure if this will help. But I think it is good for Christians to begin talking about these issues. These are simply my personal thoughts on the topic:
It cost Jesus everything to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. It came at great cost to Paul and Peter and John and so many countless others in the earliest years of the Church. The “cost” to the early church was in the form of suffering, disrepute and even death. “Cost” has taken on a whole new meaning in modern-day Christianity. It is no longer attached to Passion and Desire for the Lord and others. It simply means “payment of money”. Now, in modern-day Christianity, the “cost” isn’t in picking up your cross daily…it has been reduced to a simple “money exchange for services and goods”. Much like those who sold sacrifices to people entering the Temple. It was all quite convenient. Don’t worry about saving the best of what you have to bring as a sacrifice to God…we’ll do the work and simply charge you money in exchange so we can continue to provide this service. I’m always so disappointed when I hear someone on television preaching the Word of God only to find out that they have given the listener 5 of the 10 steps God has shown them. The listener is then offered an opportunity to give a gift for the remaining 5 steps. The gift is always money. The crazy thing though is that the listener is willing to let the speaker/preacher do the work for them and then simply pay a price to get it second-hand. Wouldn’t God speak to them as well if they were to search for Him with all their heart? Again, kind of like the picture we have of what was going on in the Temple in the days Jesus walked the earth. Where was/is the passion? The desire for God Himself?! The first-hand experience of a life-changing RELATIONSHIP with God that extends beyond this present world?! Where is the desire for the Kingdom of God?!! It’s as though Believers have forgotten it even exists. Jesus’ example was giving up His own life here for the sake of the listener. He spoke of the Kingdom of God time and time again. It was His Passion to have us there with Him! He had no place in this world to lay His head. No Bentley, no jet, no expensive clothing or home or cosmetic surgery to look good for the crowds. What was His joy? It was the joy set before Him that helped Him endure the cross. What joy? A kingdom here? Possessions and prestige here? No, I think the joy that lay before Him was the understanding that if He chose to die for us, to take up His cross here, the Father would raise Him from the dead as the Acceptable Sacrifice for our sins…and He knew we could THEN live with Him in the Kingdom of God forever. We could live with Him where He lives. Modern-day Christianity (that which has attached itself to the earth-bound prosperity doctrine) is showing us the example of kingdoms HERE. Lavishing upon oneself expensive houses and cars and treasures that will only last here. This is a counterfeit. A perversion of Truth. Don’t store up your treasures here! This is not the place!!! Lavish what you are given by God on others…give to those you come across on your every day journey who are in need…share YOUR drink with the thirsty, YOUR food with the hungry, YOUR clothing with the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned YOURSELF. Modern-day Christianity encourages us to let ministries do this for us. All we have to do is send them money. That is the extent of our sacrifice. Again, it sounds like the passionless sacrifices Jesus observed in the Temple. And we recall that He Passionately drove those money-changers out of the Temple and reminded men that the Temple was to be a house of prayer. The Gospel does not teach us to make store houses for ourselves here. It teaches us to be IMPASSIONED lovers of God and our neighbor.
Do not walk by the flesh and gain the whole world! Walk by the spirit and exchange finite counterfeits for infinite pleasures! Your Lover, your Lord is not here! He is in the kingdom of God making a place for you!
Posted by: kelly | 2007.11.15 at 12:25 AM