Yes. Why send tithes to a religious leader who one is not under the spiritual authority and/or care of? One might as well send one's tithes to some random address in New York City.
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Send Me Your Money
- Thread starter SalixIncendium
- Start date
Yes. Why send tithes to a religious leader who one is not under the spiritual authority and/or care of? One might as well send one's tithes to some random address in New York City.
Most of what people spend money on, me included, is a waste or not important, so I don't see how this is any different or worse.
I'm not a fan. I'm also not a fan of the people who enable them, but they mostly have the excuse of honest gullibility. Televangelists are more like what's left on the bottom of my shoe after walking through a nightub filled with underage drinking and free booze.
Viker
Your beloved eccentric Auntie Cristal
Yachts, private jets and hookers don't pay for themselves.
Scientology? Anyway, sounds like that prosperity gospel is working for him!
Scientology, as I recall, wanted to get religious tax shelter, but the IRS questioned if it was a religion or a cult. So, I am not sure if it is a religion or not. I don't think that they preach about a deity, but they preach about the power of positive thinking (it is often likened to EST, which is a cult, and has about the same promises....getting everything that your heart desires).
I overheard evangelist preachers talking at a buffet. The one retiring told his replacement that he must make certain unnatural movements because he has to make it appear that God has taken over his body and made him move. This kind of phoniness might promote joy in the parish, but, I don't think that God is okay with lies, even if they do bring converts.
Buying the Brooklyn Bridge is worse because some con man talked them into buying it. The con makes it worse.
Between all of us on the Religious Forum, there is enough knowledge of religion that we could form our own cult and make money. All we have to do is abandon our scruples, morals, etc. We don't even have to learn any scriptures, just beg for money constantly on TV.
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
I think that is a misinterpretation of the story. The Pharisees, you will remember, where trying to trick Jesus into incriminating himself.
Matthew 22:16-21
His answer was to remind his interlocutors that the things of enduring value are not of this world; for this is Caesar’s world, and the treasures of it rot and rust. Therefore let Caesar concern himself with money. It’s worthless anyway, the true treasure is promised not to the mighty, but to the humble and the lowly. For the last shall be first, and the first last.
Matthew 20:16
My friend has a Bachelors in Chemistry, getting a PhD in Physics, and is a University physics professor. You wouldn't think that he would be highly religious, nor a bigot who hates Blacks and Gays. He won't go to Disneyland because they have a Gay cartoon character.
The anger of modern theologians is terrible. They bash Gays, support wars, support torture camps, etc.
They should walk in the footsteps of Jesus by curing the sick (universal health care, no matter who is paying for it), feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and preserving God's environment which God balanced and made so beautiful.
Their priorities are screwed up, and this has caused the mess that the world is in today...a world of violence, starvation, and pollution.
Everyone get your own popcorn, we're going over to Savagewind's house to watch Jessica Fletcher.
Though their followers are gullible, they are mostly folks who aren't just buying their way into heaven, but some legitimately want to do God's work here on earth. They want to volunteer at hospitals, soup kitchens, and drop off food at church drives. We can't fault their followers (usually), but these televangelists are misdirecting their money, and using fear to squeeze money out of the poor (the last drop of money that they have, with the promise that if they cast their bread upon the water, God will give them 10 times as much).
Audie
Veteran Member
As mom put it, " Send me your money so I
can give it to God."
That may be too subtle
Colt
Well-Known Member
Well, obviously the charlatans in that video are gross! Some evangelists are better than others.
But parasitical secular governments forcibly extract far more money from the citizenship than TV evangelists!
74x12
Well-Known Member
As a Christian I don't like it. In the scriptures I see where Paul askes for donations but it was to give to the poor. I do agree with giving money to pastors/preachers teachers etc. But this is so they can make a living and keep on doing what God has called them to do without being distracted with a worldly job. This way they have more time to pray, study the Bible and minister to people.
But I don't agree with giving them all this money to live in mansions, have trophy wives and fly around in private jets. If they want to use that money correctly in a Biblical sense they should sponsor churches in Africa or somewhere where they could really use the money. Even just distributing money to poorer members of their "church" would probably be Biblical.
I see you're Hindu. Hindus also have their own version of "televangelists" in the form of temples with untold treasures from donations throughout the centuries. Meanwhile India has some of the poorest people in the world residing in it.
InChrist
Free4ever
I have never sent money to a televangelist, nor would I. For one thing I don’t think there is any real accountability. I prefer to support local or smaller ministries that offer more personal observation and/or contact. As a new Christian years ago, I used to watch some of the big televangelists just to gain discernment and understanding of their behavior and tactics. I thought their manner of overly dramatic speaking and moving was strange and kind of creepy. I also always noticed the way they flaunted their wealth
P.S. There have been a few which I believe to be honest, faithful believers in TV.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
Projectile Vomit.
Regards Tony
You'll have to clean that up.
Fallen Prophet
Well-Known Member
I believe that everyone has the right to ask others for things - even money - but.....yuck.