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The Poor Line Preacher’s Pockets
By Eleanor J. BaderFrom the May 16, 2008 issue | Posted in Culture | Email this article
God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters by Sarah Posner, PoliPoint Press, 2008
Word of Faith Christianity, a strand of Pentecostal evangelism that promises health and wealth to those who dig deep and obey their conservative Republican preachers, is brilliantly dissected in Sarah Posner’s God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters. Although the book suffers from information overload — the plethora of names will make your head ache — its firsthand account of Bible-thumping revivals and political rallies is fascinating.
Mu l t i - r a c i a l and economic a l l y d i v e r s e , Word of Faith (WOF) adherents believe themselves under attack by secular humanists and the socalled liberal media and, like most fundamentalists, oppose abortion, church-state separation, stem cell research, homosexuality and gay marriage.
Posner, a lawyer turned investigative journalist, wrote God’s Profits to shed light on the religious chicanery that has bamboozled thousands of working- class people into donating millions to hard-talking preachers who promise them eternal salvation. She attended prayer meetings at mega-churches and interviewed dozens of religious leaders and congregants to get a handle on the lure this religious movement holds. It’s scary stuff.
Thanks to the Trinity Broadcast Network, the world’s largest Christian station, Posner reports that approximately 92 million Americans can get their dose of WOF dogma virtually 24/7. Politics are always front and center on TBN, but Christians United for Israel, a group launched in 2006 by John McCain’s buddy, John Hagee, gets enormous play.
According to Posner, CUFI “asserts that an American and Israeli war on Iran is not only biblically prophesied but necessary to bring about Armageddon and the Second Coming.” In the world-according- to-Hagee, Israel has no choice but to attack Iran since the country is the prime force behind an impending Islamist assault on Western democracy. The argument sounds off the wall — if shockingly familiar.
“The strike will provoke Russia … to lead an army of Arab nations against Israel,” Posner writes. “Then God will wipe out all but one-sixth of the Russian-led army, as the world watches with ‘shock and awe.’” This will be followed by the three-and-a-half year reign of the Antichrist, identified by Hagee as China. Before the final battle is waged, Jesus will return on a white horse from which he’ll cast nonbelievers, including Israeli Jews who have not accepted the Son of God as their savior, into a burning lake.
WOF preachers warn that time is short. Followers need to send contributions now so that the anointed can save as many as possible from this dastardly end. Inexplicably, millions pour in as people who should know better turn dollar-grubbers into zillionaires. Followers are unfazed by their preachers’ opulent lifestyles, seeing men such as TBN’s top moneymaker, Kenneth Copeland, as deserving of his $20 million Cessna jet, bought with donor funds, and the 18,000-squarefoot mansion on 24 acres that he calls home.
It’s a sweet set-up, owned by the tax-exempt church — because, under IRS rules, religious bodies don’t pay taxes. Worse, they are under no obligation to be accountable to either their parishioners or the government. And Copeland is not anomalous — most WOF luminaries live large thanks to the generosity of true believers. It’s a big, big business, buttressed by an ideology that blurs the line between personal salvation and worldly affairs. TBN preachers, Posner reports, repeatedly tell viewers that “God is not compassionate to the poor, only to the faithful … their faithfulness is measured by their offerings.”
Posner highlights the nexus between faith and exploitation, Republican politics and warmongering. She also demonstrates how WoF’s rejection of science and critical thinking has infected the body politic. Take TBN founder Paul Crouch’s pronouncement before the 2004 presidential election: “ ‘I’m not telling you how to vote but check the voting record of those candidates you’re voting on and see where they stand and how they line up with the holy word of God … Crouch then segued directly into praise for Bush for signing the ban on so-called partial birth abortion, which Crouch described as an ‘evil doctor’ sticking a needle into a baby’s head as it is ‘hanging out’ of the mother’s birth canal.” While this is a complete fabrication of what transpires during a late-term abortion, truth be damned.
The temptation, of course, is to laugh at WOF proponents and treat them like irrelevant loons. However appealing, Posner warns against this, reminding us that the WOF Big Boys have easy access to both the Oval Office and Congress. Indeed, this coalition of televangelists, megachurch pastors and the Republican leadership is well calibrated. While Posner offers no solutions for curtailing their power, she clearly posits the many ways church-state separation has been trampled, something a government not in their sway might challenge. If they are going to get their comeuppance, it will be because people refuse to fall prey to men like Rod Parsley, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar and stop sending money to support their indulgent lifestyles.
10 Responses to “The Poor Line Preacher’s Pockets”
May 16th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Hey Bennie (Hinn) …
“Ministries” who use the Word of God as a means to their own ends will be exposed for what they are. God’s TRUTH will prevail …. not these pulpit pimps.
Too bad you appear to be as blinded as most WOF followers who are taught to never question things that don’t seem quite right or ethical.
YOU get a life!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I do agree that a great many of the so-called “Prosperity Preachers” and mega churches can be quite shady. One thing that I don’t feel comfortable with is lumping T. D. Jakes in with that bunch. Anyone who does the least investigating of Bishop Jakes will realize that his “oppulent lifestyle” is in fact supported by the dozens and dozens of books he’s written, plays he’s produced and toured, movie and music deals he has through his for-profit corporation. Jakes does preach and teach to his congregation to try and help them become prosperous - but not by singing the same ol’ song of, “Give us your tithes and GOD will bless you.” He teaches people how to get out of debt, how to make their money work for them, how to become home owners. That, to me, is not “prosperity gospel,” and it makes me sad to see people label it as such.
Just because he’s a preacher, I don’t think it’s fair that he is expected to limit his business dealings and cater to people’s ideas of how they believe a minister should live. He receives his salary and living expenses from his church, same as any other preacher, but the majority of his wealth is earned the same way that John Grisham has earned his - and I don’t ever hear anyone complaining about John Grisham’s lifestyle.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Jakes DOES preach and promote voodo and witchcraft using Bible verses….if you do this or that God will bless you. A Christian is already blessed with all blessings in heavenly places by Christ Jesus. The whole deal of having a redeemer is to be forgiven and blessed and it is all accomplished past-tense and is not reactive to any good works a person might do. All good works are like filthy rags in value in the spiritual realm. So, on this point, Jakes is self-serving in that he promotes getting things from God (by tithing and giving money to God by giving it to the church) that God has already freely given to all who believe He has given them!!!
A person doesn’t hold the switch or key or power to determine blessings for themselves. It is rather a wholly God thing and it is past tense…..Christ already fully redeemed and fully blessed those who will believe it.
The amount of money these preachers spend on themselves, regardless of how they get the money only demonstrates what they are interested in - themselves. They fully know the hurting millions of the earth and care more to spend the money on themselves than on the hurting. It doesn’t take a genius to see their character or lack of it. But then no one ever says anything about other wealthy Christians who are not ministers and who don’t give a damn about the hungry or needy or lost….that is they may care with their discretionary income, but it takes a whale of a lot of income to support their life-style before they get to the discretionary. The test of heart and character isn’t what you do with excess/discretionary money. It is what you do with all of your money. We are not their judge. God will take care of that. But for Heaven sake don’t give them any more money to indulge their worldly/fleshly/non-spiritual selves.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:03 am
T.D. Jake is he a Movie producer, Author, businessman, or just a shady Person in a pastor role. I think he’s all of the above
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
i would like to hear “Bountiful Bill” justify the use of “voodo and witchcraft” as by nature derogatory. why should i and many others who understand the history of these terms in the lives of people who were fighting for their lives against the forces of patriarchy and empire not take this as a clear indictment that you *have no idea what you are talking about?* this article raises important points but there is an underlying assumption of delusion on the part of those it tries to “help” — and the elitism that constitutes this attitude is exposed by comments like this one. this attitude is a dead end regardless of what facts you decorate it with.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I personally do not agree with all of Copeland’s teachings, but I DO believe in what he is standing up for in this situation. There is a bigger picture here that could affect all of our future rights associated with the First Amendment. That’s what Copeland and the other Christian leaders backing him are fighting for. Copeland did submit some information to Grassley, and then requested for the proper IRS investigation - as Grassley should have done from the beginning.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Dear “what?” I’m happy to respond to your request. Voodo and witchcraft are both specific categories of specific religious practices and more generalized definition of all methodical practices of individuals (and thus groups) who espouse any set of actions that proportedly cause God to do something desired. Jesus taught that the only thing/act/cause of God doing something was believing in God and Jesus. Jakes and Word of Faith and similar groups put the cart before the horse. They say “talk like your believe” and then maybe you will believe and thus there will be a manifestation of your blessings. Talk is a result of believing - out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. All giving is by Divine view which includes any giving whether to an institutional church or tax exempt organization or to a needy neighbor. The whole thing is a fraud, whether by intention or default, used to support institutional religion, false doctrine, and extremely high standard of living for those in legal control of the entity.
HOWEVER, even though, in my opinion, these people are false prophets, I agree the first amendment is potentially in jeopardy by the actions of Grassley. The IRS has sufficient power to regulate. Grassley is trying to see if more laws are needed and whether the IRS is doing their job. But he was egged on to do this by Ole Anthony who wants to use government to stop false doctrine and curb what Anthony assumes is excessively lavish life-styles. Good luck.
If the preachers are paid too much it is no different than corporate executives being paid too much. It is all tax-free money. Because the secular for-profit corporations don’t pay taxes on the money they use to pay their executives (salaries and expenses are deducted before you compute taxes in a for-profit corporation). And no taxes are paid on the dollars used to pay
the leaders/preachers of non-profit organizations. If people want to overpay the executives of profit or non-profit entities by buying their products or sending them offerings, that is their privilege in a free society.
I agree that “voodo and witchcraft” words are by nature derogatory in our culture but are the best terms available as to the category of teachings being promoted by these preachers in the realm of money and other things.
Jesus did not teach we have to do this or that to please God or buy His favor. It is rather that He first loved us and redeemed us and forgave us. We choose to do good because we agree it is good - not to buy God’s favor.
The use of the terms voodo and witchraft has never been limited to the activities of only the poor and oppressed. Many rich and free people embrace voodo and witcraft methodologies to keep or enhance their favored position. That is what is going on with the followers of Jakes, Copeland and others who promote or attempt to use money to buy God’s favor and blessings.
Elitism is to believe or promote that voodo and witchraft methods are only the privilege and practice of the poor and oppressed.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
no, elitism is to believe that you have no responsibility to understand the history of these terms and practices on their own, not as tools for your own theological or political standpoint. voodoo is a religion practiced in haiti and louisiana that remembers and reincorporates the west african vodun tradition in the new world. it is much more focused on accessing the power of intercessory saints than on “asking god to do something.” witchcraft is a movement that has been practiced for centuries on the margins of western tradition, drawing from the indigenous traditions that were suppressed by constantinian christinity. it is much more focused on enabling communion with the power of nature than on “asking god to do something.” both traditions rely on powerful female priests.
you appropriate these terms as negative to express a theological point that feels important to you from within your cultural standpoint. in doing this you continue a centuries long tradition of relying on demonizing these practices to make certain points within dominant theological deliberations. this might seem to make complete sense from within this frame, but there are real people attached to those terms. what becomes of those real people with this rhetorical move? real burnings and rapes take place!
more complex, what does it say about the nature of your point-making, that you must rely on appropriation to do so? the connection i see in this tangent to the main article is the point when the critic is encountered by “unfazed” followers who do not share the critique! now, everyone one of us has something to learn, and whenever someone looks at you blankly you have to take that gaze as an invitation to look at yourself. what is it in these peoples’ experience that these critiques simply are not speaking to? like skewed vectors on a 3d graph? it is the same realm of thing that you are oblivious to when you appropriate these two terms. now to describe that thing would take pages. but first one must recognize that it is there.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 am
Regardless of theological issues, I have to say that I agree with Copeland’s standing up for what he believes in. I am more concerned with the future of my rights, and I think what Copeland is standing up for will help secure those rights. Otherwise, there is no telling what the future holds if Grassley is given this power.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Isn’t it odd that these poor misguided WOF followers are not the ones complaining about giving to the WOF Big Boys? Instead it is left-wing atheist loonies like Elanor J. Bader who volunteer to complain for them. We all bow at your altar, Ms Bader.
Get a life!