Preying on the Believers

Keith Drury published an online piece called "Let us Prey." I highly highly HIGHLY recommend reading it. It includes "Five Things that Make Me Mad at Parachurch Organizations." He really goes after TBN and Benny Hinn. I got a kick out of his statement about the "seed faith" TV preachers: " I get angry when parachurch preachers promise poor people that God will bless them if they 'plant a seed of faith' by sending money to the televangelist. Hogwash! If this is true, then the televangelist should send money to the listeners—then God could bless their own seed-faith! Seed faith preaching is a signal of crooked hucksterism." (Read this eye-opener about the extravagant lifestyle of Paul and Jan Crouch of TBN.)

He also refers to an organization called MinistryWatch which keeps an eye of accountability on parachurch ministries. I checked out that site and was impressed.

In a previous life, when editing our denominational magazine, I did two special issues about parachurch organizations. I wrote to gobs of organizations requesting their audited financial statements and other info. It was all very interesting. It was also encouraging to see how many organizations are organized to humbly respond to requests like that. If they're on the up-and-up, they'll send you their audited financial statement. But then there are the low-life hucksters who bring shame to the body of Christ, and yet find ready victims among the seemingly infinite ranks of gullible, gullible Christians.

Posted on January 24, 2006 05:48 AM|

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