Saturday, November 6, 2010

November 5 show - TBN Praise-a-Thon Week of Fleecing

All week TBN has been doing their semi-annual Praise-a-Thon, utilizing the slickest pitch men they can find to twist scripture and bully people to donate money. TBN must be having some difficult times during this economic crisis in America -- enough so to ask one of the worst con-men on television to perform his money-raising magic: Mike Murdock.  Murdock preached on the necessity to give in order to get and lifted up the desire to get rich as something godly, when such a desire is evil according to Scripture.

"But they that will be rich fall into is a temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." - 1 Tim. 6:9

 Murdock told his mostly African-American audience in TBN's studio to stand if they want to be millionaires and instructed them to give $58 per month and double it for those wanting millions. He also told them to stroke and kiss their Bibles as if doing so would make their greed a reality: a very superstitious act.

On my radio show today I played a clip of TBN's former pitch man, John Avanzini, conducting a similar superstitious trick, instructing people to rub a black stone he gave them and to activate it with the American Express or Visa.

TBN also used their regular money preacher, Clarence McClendon, an adulterous womanizer who left his Christian wife, trading her in for a younger model, to pump the people up to part with their cash. He told them he had created the atmosphere needed if they call right now that would multiply their seed to receive more money back. He cautioned them not to think before they call, just act, because thinking destroys the anointing. At that moment of the 206 phone lines available, all of them became busy.

It appears that TBN has lost most of its former donors who have tried this give-to-get scheme and have seen that indeed it is a scam. Only new believers or people who want to get-rich-quick without having to work for their money still fall for the seed-faith heresy.  People who buy lottery tickets or look for government hand-outs might be compelled to try it, but they won't stick around long. TBN's in big trouble.  Murdock gave one empty testimony after another about how God sent him people buying him clothes and cars as he preached his lust for money message. The subtle message to his victims is that they too can get riches for nothing as long as they too find some angle they can preach on and start their own non-profit enterprise. After all, who's going to give them handouts if they are making an honest living, working a 9 to 5 job?

I love the way the late Walter Martin used to put it: "Vote with your checkbook." Quit supporting crooks and con-men! But don't go to the opposite extreme and fail to support worthy ministries or to lend a hand to the poor - especially if they are brothers and sisters in Christ. That would be an equal error. 

20 comments:

  1. I listen to KLove on the radio and they recently had a pledge drive and they asked you to PRAY and then if you felt led, to give. These people say don't think just call!! Unbelievable!

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  2. I went to a Women's conferance where Mike Murdock was the speaker. All his coniving and manipulations were going on. He intimidated people into giving and asked those who were wanting to give to come up front. He was using peer practice tactics. I and just a handful refused to fall for this ploy. He will stand before Almighty God!

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  3. Jackie, you are spot on, IMO.

    This "Prosperity Doctrine" is prosperous alright...for these Con-Men.

    Unfortunately, those in the seats want to believe they can get rich by throwing money at these liars.

    So, it's kind of two-fold, you've got those wanting to get rich quick...and those who are happy to exploit their greed...motivated by greed themselves.

    --Alex

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  4. I agree with Alex wholeheartedly! I've been following you for a while now and you've got it all right! I loved your articles in the paper about the Catholics worshipping dead men's bones! Just read your Fleecing of Christianity book too. Fantastic! Have shared it with several people and now their eyes are being opened too. Thank you for writing it. Keep up the good work. You are a "Watchman on the Wall" for sure!

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  5. About 4 years ago we were having a weeklong series of meetings here in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

    Jesus was the topic and the Holy Spirit was moving in a mighty way upon and in the hearts of the people that attended.

    One day between the services we tuned into TBN during one of their Praise-a-thons. They were fleecing the flock that day! One of the young ministers took it upon himself to call TBN and tell them there was a little church in Idaho Falls that could use a financial blessing. He asked if they would send a financial gift to that little church so God could bless them (TBN).
    He was told, "it doesn't work that way", and they hung up on him.

    3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

    It seems to me that if your soul prospers, everything else will fall into place.

    Pastor C. J. Winslow

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  6. Good stuff, Jackie! My husband and I watched TBN for a number of years, and it did benefit us in some ways, as there were some good preachers on there as well as the Prosperity Preachers. My husband was born again while attending a healing crusade of one of their primary ministers, and I thus have to say they do SOME good! Good uses the foolish things, as they say?

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  7. I agree with you all about TBN. Have you seen Jimmy Swaggart lately? He is preaching Christ and Him crucified. See him at www.jsm.org

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  8. Everybody that has a "show" on TBN is as guilty as Murdock and the other charlatans that regularily appear on these beg-a-thons. That includes none other than Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers and others. These guys give the network credibility that TBN doesn't deserve. I saw SBC president Johnny Hunt recently on a TBN comercial calling himself part of the TBN family. Absolutely disgusting.

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  9. TBN has used Mike Murdock for years. This is nothing new at all. He is also used by Marcus Lamb on his network and a few other smaller networks such as Cornerstone Network near Pittsburgh. It is what he DOES. And of course he is a man of corrupt mind. Any network that would use him agrees with.

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  10. I didn't realize Charles Stanley had hooked elbows with TBN. Sad to hear that but not surprised. He has gone the way of New Age Contemplative Prayer - TM.

    Need to keep him lifted in prayer that his eyes will be opened.

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  11. I also find it odd that those such as Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, and a few others appear on TBN. "What fellowship can light have with darkness?" Some say Stanley, et al provide "balance" or "a bit of the truth," but as said above, I believe the scandal is whatever shred of credibility they lend to TBN.

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  12. I think giving is great. Tithes to local church, offerings to missions. Why would anyone give to someone who already has more than 99.9 percent of the rest of us.

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  13. I cringe when I see these blab it and grab it preachers fleecing the flock, however, aren't we all called to know the Word of God and know the Truth? Maybe losing a few thousand dollars to the Prosperity preachers is a good lesson to learn and hopefully will cause the victims to turn to the Word themselves and see what it really has to say.

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  14. Please don't throw the baby out with the bath water!
    Ask yourself whether TBN's mission of sending out the gospel to the whole world via +-60 odd satellites is obeying the Great Commission. The cost of maintaining and setting up new satellites is very high I gather, so where is the money to come from if not from tithes and offerings/donations? I agree that the methods used to raise money are often questionable, but what do you suggest? The ministries represented on TBN are by and large genuine Christian ministries and must be instrumental in the saving of thousands if not millions of souls.

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  15. If the baby is Rosemary’s baby it should be thrown out. The issue is the nature of the gospel that is being preached by TBN. Matthew chapter seven has a lot to say about false prophets and the Word of God talks about false teachers. The issue of having satellites is a two edged sword, if they preaching the true Gospel this is great, but if this is another gospel; how dark is there light! If you agree that the methods used to raise money are often questionable, what does light have to do with darkness? Does God approve of shady or evil methods of to proclaim the saving Gospel of Christ?
    1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

    2 Peter 2:1
    But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

    1 John 4:1
    Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

    Acts 20:28-30
    28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood.[b] 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

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  16. there's nothing wrong with prospering.Especially if your Married.Yet the focus is a bit over done it seems.Seek ye first the Kingdom of God?Out of balance? we need more down home alter busting prayer these days.

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  17. God knows the heart of man.I am still a bit confused about much of what I hear taught as doctrine on this seed faith giving.I most certainly will not make a payment of any kind for a healing.My faith should be enoff without money to pay for what Jesus already gave us.Give and it shall be given.This is scripture.Rightly dividing the word of truth

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  18. Kahunajimbos/you can fallow me on twitter for more insight to the word of truth.I don't know it all neither anyone else can make this claim.I have some nuggets of gold no one has yet taught on.I have favor

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  19. One more time/I have probelms with cheesy things in the church and some of what I see on TBN.YET is there a perfect church or man.Let us judge righteous judgement.And maintain the unity of the Spirit til we all come to the unity of the faith.We can make some misstakes alone the way;learn from them and keep an open mind to more truth.tradition isn't a bad thing as long as it is lining up with truth.

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  20. On some of the preachers on TBN being good, remember:
    Deu 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.

    Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

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