The Arrogance of the ‘Anointed’
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008| “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:1-7 NIV) |
In November the U.S. Senate Financial Committee, under the leadership of Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, sent a written request for specific financial information from six well-known U.S. televangelism ministries. The six ministries are currently under senatorial scrutiny for allegations of lavish spending of donor’s financial contributions. The list of ministries reads like a who’s who list of popular American Christianity: Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, and Randy and Paula White. The deadline for the financial information to be submitted was December 6. According to the Senate, only two ministries, Copeland and Meyer, had submitted any of the requested materials by the imposed deadline.
Interestingly, this unusual story has been nearly swept under the rug amidst a global bombardment of other news. However, the importance of this story, and what it means to the American church as a whole, should not be lost.
For years, many Christian televangelists have behaved like their motto was akin to that of the rap music industry: “To get rich, or die trying.” Their materialistic poison has spread into the church like a river of deception. The result has been numerous Charismatic churches who now believe that money and possessions are a right to be gained through naming and claiming, instead of being a privilege and responsibility that should be properly stewarded. The “Prosperity Gospel,” as it is often called, has gained great popularity among Baby Boomers, and promises earthly blessings galore for Christians, also known as “the King’s kids.” To receive all of this world’s grandeurs, these televangelists claim that one must only send money to their ministry and “believe God” for fantastic earthly wealth.
For example, consider the words that these American church mega-stars utter to their adoring flocks:
Creflo Dollar states: “I’m telling you, Jesus wasn’t poor, and He didn’t wear no rags, either. Like we march in on these Easter little plays that we do at our church, with those raggedy sheets on. Jesus didn’t have no rags on. He wore designer clothes, honey.” (Creflo Dollar Crusade, Feb. 9, 1999)
Kenneth Copeland adds: “Give $10 and receive $1000; Give $1000 and receive $100,000 … give one house and receive one hundred houses or a house worth one hundred times as much. Give one airplane and receive one hundred times the value of the airplane… In short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal” (Kenneth Copeland, God’s Will Is Prosperity, pg. 54)
A ‘Baby Boom’ Gospel
Amid such lofty claims of worldly blessing, how can a true gospel of sacrifice and careful stewardship survive? It is a historical fact that the gospel message promoted by any people group or nation has always been infiltrated and influenced by the surrounding culture. Cultural infiltration of the gospel is a normal occurrence. However, when the culture values overconsumption and materialism, it can wreak havoc upon the element of sacrifice so inherent in the true gospel message. And it is only fitting that the Baby Boomers, whose values include everything opposed to sacrifice, and who have shepherded America towards the edge of the cliff financially with massive overconsumption, record trade deficits, outrageous entitlement spending, and a $9 trillion nation debt, should also have a gospel based upon overconsumption and fiscal recklessness to call their own.
The spiritual stench emitted from this over-emphasis upon financial prosperity and worldly success has naturally led to division within the modern American church. The younger generation looks in disgust at the excesses of the prosperity message. Unfortunately, it has also led to nation of unbelievers who are rightfully skeptical and cynical about the American Christian message.
Apparently, the excesses have also caught the attention of the U.S. Senate who provides tax-free operations for such ministries. However, four of the six ministries under inquiry have yet to provide any type of financial information. Attorneys for Texas-based faith healer Benny Hinn claim that the ministry needs “more time” to respond. When the U.S. Senate requests financials from a non-profit organization with federal tax-exemption status, the answer from the non-profit should be a quick yes. So why the hold up on the response?
But the trophy for audacity certainly must go to Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long who have craftily pointed to their constitutional protections under the “separation of church and state.” Maybe its just me, but it seems rather hypocritical to appeal to that defense when they spend the rest of the year claiming that such a defense does not truly exist while attempting to get “God” back into America.
The Arrogance of the ‘Anointed’
God forbid that the church begins to claim that the Senate is engaged in a witchhunt. Instead, as a Christian, I am grateful for the investigation. If we have nothing to hide, then this will only strengthen Christian financial credibility among a dwindling American donor base. As Christians, we should be quick to point to our good stewardship of God’s resources. Lest we forget, the U.S. government is not bound to continue tax-exempt status for religious ministries and organizations. This is a wonderful benefit that is afforded to American ministries. The Christian attitude towards this recent investigation should be a willingness to follow the law and not to hide behind scripture and loopholes.
According to the Senate, they have conducted routine investigations into numerous non-profit organizations including “the Nature Conservancy, the United Way and the Smithsonian Institution,” over the last several years. Senator Grassley adds that he has never had to seek a subpoena to obtain financial information from a non-profit. In fact, Grassley says that during his tenure, subpoenas have only been necessary twice to gain financial information – “in the Enron scandal and the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigations.”
God forbid that the arrogance of the “anointed” become so thick that it renders them unable to obey our national government. And equally, God forbid that God’s people in this nation encourage such obstruction.
