Senate Enquiry
By DN Hoets
SPOT THE BILLIONAIRES: Did you know that there are are three billionaires amongst these preachers? They have become billionaires from preaching the gospel and sundry business activities!
UPDATE: Amid criticism and support, Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, is set to send out another round of letters to the six prominent charismatic television ministries he began investigating in November. The follow-up documents, which will go out in the next few weeks, will further inquire about many of the unanswered questions... [The Ministry Report 19/1/2008]. Senator Grassley To Ministries - You Better Cooperate! Additional Information Sought from Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long and Others
Stunning news emerged on the 6th November 2007. The Senate Finance Committee is investigating the financial dealings of 6 TV evangelists. Letters were sent to each of them, requiring detailed financial records of expenses, compensation and amenities of executives by the 6th December. Investigations have already been conducted over a two year period. Federal law granting churches tax exempt status prohibits leaders from using donations to enrich themselves. However, the law does not require churches to report how that money is spent.
The "Prosperity Movement" is the focus, primarily, because of their fundraising pitches. Governing boards that are not independent. Often family members make the decisions. Generous salaries and housing allowances. Amenities such as private jets (often more than one and some even with their own airport) and Rolls-Royces. Lavish billionaire lifestyles using the donations and offerings of the saints. Cosmetic surgery, extravagent Hollywood lifestyles, vacations to exotic islands, many multi-million mansions, a $23,000 marble-topped commode, a $30,000 conference table, a $11,219 French clock...
Under investigation: Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Paula White, Eddie Long and Joyce Meyer.
This could lead to the needed correction to the excessive personal use of funds and encouraging greater financial transparency and accountability of large television ministries.
Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Benny Hinn are also on the board of the ORU, which is also being rocked by allegations of misuse of university funds - lavish vacations, etc. - by the President of ORU. More ...
A short while ago, the Daily Dispatch in East London, South Africa, highlighted similar incidents in a local prosperity ministry in East London, linked to TBN South Africa. Empires, lavish lifestyles, a very thin line between business and ministry dealings. One common thread - a strong "Prosperity" emphasis to the gospel. The local East London ministry has strong ties to the Copelands.
Let us watch as the senate enquiry unfolds.
UPDATE:
Bunnyman Killed on Copeland Ranch
Baucus joins Grassley in follow-up letter to ministries
Possible subpoenas for Dollar, Long if they don't submit financial docs
Senator Backs Televangelist Probe
The devils in Washington
Megachurch Without Walls International, founded by Randy and Paula White, has been put up for sale. The Tampa, Fla., church’s $30 million price tag includes a 4,500-seat sanctuary, a 94,000-square-foot office building and a television studio. The Whites announced their divorce in August, and they are currently at the center of a Senate investigation into possible tax law violations. [tampabays10.com, 3/5/08]
Is this the death of the "Prosperity gospel"? God is, in His sovereign end-time plan, judging and purging His church with the intent to 1. correct this excess which brings the gospel into disrepute 2. shift the focus from the "Prosperity Movement" to His unfolding plan in this final hour. We have seen the completion of death prophetically over the past few years. We are approaching the season of resurrection life, the newness of life which comes with the coming worldwide move of God. The coming tsunami of God does not come from the Prosperity Movement. It has wrong foundations.
I do believe that the Lord will sovereignly prosper His people in this final hour. However, the finances are for the work of the kingdom, not for the personal enrichment of the leaders.
My main concern with the Prosperity Gospel is not wealth and excesses - this is all that the world sees - but the damage that such a gospel (in its strong adherence to principles and spiritual laws, undermining the Lord's sovereignity and its unbalanced understanding of 'faith') does to our personal relationship and fellowship with Jesus. The key to a whole, healthy personal relationship with Jesus is overlooked and is not emphasised in this movement. Often the teaching of this movement contradicts that which is needed for a healthy anointed personal relationship with Jesus.
Outwardly the reformation deals with abuses and excesses. Inwardly the reformation is concerned with restoring our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This reformation has been taking place over the past 20 years. It is a like an iceberg. Many only see the tip of the iceberg. Truly, it is much more widespread and deeper than the current senate enquiry. It affects all nations, not only the US.
"Removing the Mountain" dovetails with the Coming Worldwide Revival
Zechariah 4: 6b-7
Not by might nor by power, but by My
Spirit,
Says the Lord of hosts.
'Who are you, O great mountain?'
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a
plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"
The context is the building of the latter temple (Haggai 2:9). See 'The Great Shaking' below for a deeper prophetic understanding. Before the completion of the latter Temple, a great mountain must be removed. The mountain is the 'Prosperity Movement or Word-Faith Movement'. This is done not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit and by My Sovereign hand. The twist is that 'Removing the Mountain' has always been central to this very movement in its teaching by positive confession.
As the mountain is removed, the coming tsunami of God will come. I am sensing that this coming worldwide move of God will dovetail with the judgement which has come and is still coming to His house.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Is the Senator's investigation the proverbial "storm in a teacup" or the beginning of "the perfect storm"? A storm sovereignly orchestrated by God. Let us not forget that the latter rain comes in the form of a storm - the perfect storm.
Blueprint of the Coming Move of God
The Coming move of God seems to come in two phases.
Firstly, it manifests as judgement comes to the house of God, and specifically on the Prosperity Movement. When many see the error, they will move away from this movement. It will be worldwide.
At the same time, His vessels have completed the preparation needed for the coming move of God. The tsunami of God, together with the rise of the apostolic movement, occurs at the same time.
The second phase occurs when a world-wide event occurs. Many have spoken of this. David Wilkerson in his message "The Last Revival" (listen to the audio clip) and others believe that this is coming. It will affect the world and cause many of the world to turn to Jesus in this late hour. The end-time harvest will accelerate as a great shaking takes place. Haggai confirms His sovereign hand in the end-time harvest.
HAGGAI 2: v6-9:
...I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations...
The first phase deals with the church. The second phase deals with the world. Sovereignity is stamped on the coming worldwide move of God.
Let us watch and wait upon Him to see how things unfold in the new year. Abundant grace and glory will come as the tsunami of God comes.
PRAYER: We lift up Benny Hinn to God in prayer in this season as we recognise the Presence of God resting on him in an unusual way. We pray that his ministry, although having associations with the Word-faith Prosperity gospel and excesses [he stands against the 'name-it-claim-it' gospel and renounced Word-Faith theology on the 700 Club with Pat Robertson and on James Robison's show a few years ago], will not be cut off and that he will become stronger in God and more effective in the years ahead. [Many who criticise his ministry do not know the Presence of God themselves which reveals their own spiritual condition.]
Points to ponder:
1. Could these preachers be sent to prison? Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Paula White are truly positioned in the Prosperity Movement. The others are linked by association and by mixture.
2. Could the "Prosperity Gospel" be seen as a "spiritual pyramid scheme"? Pyramid schemes are normally regarded as illegal as they leave a wake of impoverished people behind them, enriching the leaders. Who benefits from this? I think this is the Senator's viewpoint.
3. Does God prosper His saints IN THE WAY that the "Prosperity Movement" says He does?
Is there is a middle road between the extremes of the Prosperity Gospel and the Poverty Gospel?
[Blessed are the poor in spirit... (trusting in Jesus and not in themselves). The spiritual walk needs to be emphasised.]
James W. Goll, founder of Encounters Network, draws a parallel between the historic changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the coming shift in leadership in both the religious and political arenas during 2008. He says this year is a critical year for the body of Christ as some leaders will go on to heaven, others will fall from prominence and new ones will emerge to lead.
Jet flight records spur Copeland ministry questions
Televangelists Living Like Kings?
Consider previous articles:
1. TWIN TOWERS
God is sovereign and allows the enemy entrance when we forsake Him ... the moral decay of a nation is often the fruit of a backslidden church.
2. VOICE OF THE HERESY HUNTERS - A SPIRITUAL BAROMETER
Don't throw out the heresy hunters!
They have a prophetic role and legitimate function in the body of Christ.
If we do not judge ourselves,
God will first use His church to judge us.If we are not accountable to the church,
God will use the world to judge us.
Overseas Crusades
Affiliate Ministries
DECADES AGO, it was accepted amongst mature Christians ... those who did not attend church were backsliders...
TODAY, the church has backslidden. Truly these are the days of Living Laodicea...
Many have been separated by God, and restored as they have entered the wilderness of God...
They still fellowship amongst themselves strengthening each other.
Like Spurgeon in the Downgrade controversy,
we need to be faithful to the word of the Lord in this hour...
We have been prepared by God in the wilderness over the past 20 years...
