Is the Current ORU Scandal Just the Tip of the Iceberg?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, October 16, 2007
- Viewed 66
- (6) comments so far
Don Wilkey writes:
Three former ORU professors filed a lawsuit claiming they were fired for blowing the whistle on alleged improper spending, but claims that Richard and his second wife lived a life of excess at the expense of donor money are nothing new.
Patty, Richard’s first wife, claimed the same almost three decades ago in her book about the Tulsa school. She wrote of golf trips her husband took and her mother-in-law’s elaborate shopping sprees using jets to fly them around the nation.
Don’t look for any decrease in giving from the faithful followers, though. Patty’s claims caused little impact on the huge amount of money flowing into the programs, by some accounts around $75 million annually.
The facts brought little concern from seed-faith followers. These congregants adhere to Oral’s view of the Bible that God wants his followers to be rich. Oral has written that Jesus was wealthy in his day and this justifies the opulence.
The wife of former student Joel Olsteen has gotten the message. She is the famous Houston lady who faces charges for slapping an airline stewardess who didn’t clean her first-class seat properly.
ORU graduate Ted Haggard spared no expense to make his now-famous contacts with a gay lover in an exclusive hotel. Haggard was said to have spoken weekly to President Bush.
Some suggest that allowing trustee John Hagee, the San Antonio minister, to investigate this saga is like asking the fox to guard the hen house. Hagee, like Richard, is on his second wife after abandoning the first for a much younger model.
Read the rest here at EthicsDaily.com; then come back here and let us know what you think…
Don Wilkey has a commentary over at EthicsDaily.com about the recent ORU scandal, and the influence (both positive and negative) ORU graduates have had over the past generation. My question... does he have a point; or is he way out of line? I know we have some ORU grads that read MMI on a regular basis. There is little doubt that there have been many abuses and fallings, particularly in the charismatic/word of faith movement. Is this something that comes as a natural result of this vein of Christianity? Why are we seeing so many abuses in these circles? Take a read of Wilkey's commentary, and let's discuss...
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Derek on Tue, October 16, 2007
Todd you ask: “Is this something that comes as a natural result of this vein of Christianity? Why are we seeing so many abuses in these circles?”
My answer would be yes, your gut feeling is right. The scandals in charismatic and word of faith (WOF) churches are tied to their understanding of God, the church, money, blessings, etc. I am an ORU grad. I lived in Tulsa-rusalem for three years. I have research and written on the subject of Word of Theology and spiritual formation in charismatic leadership…and I would say yes, yes yes!
WOF oriented Christians inextricably tie together material wealth with God blessing. MORE DOLLARS = MORE BLESSING. They honestly believe this is the teachings of Scripture.
When Oral Roberts began teaching on prosperity in the 1950s, it was in biblical bounds. He defined prosperity as having enough for your family and enough left over to share with others. I think we can all agree that this definition is within biblical bounds. Poverty is evil. God wants to alleviate poverty. God alleviates poverty through his people. His people need to have enough to share.
The current shape of WOF teaching has gone way beyond that…now God wants you wealthy. Such teaching makes values of personal comfort, individual consumerism, greed and envy. WOFers believe God wants them to be rich, comfortable and have all their wishes come true. The values of riches and comfort spill over into divorce, affairs, drugs, addictions. It is easy for a WOFer to rationalize divorce, adultery, and addiction because these things make them “happy” which is the goal of the WOF gospel.
The WOF / charismatic vein of the church needs to change. Leaders need to rethink their theology in terms of the whole Scripture, not just the verses they have underlined. I packed my bags and left the charismatic movement years ago. I have encouraged many WOF/charismatics to do the same.
Derek
Steven on Fri, October 19, 2007
Suggesting that someone is unethical because of their faith is like suggesting that only politicians, used car salemen, or lawyers from this persuasion are unethical. Your broad strokes suggest an anti faith prejudice that judges a great number of innocent and God fearing people. Is that ethical?
Todd Rhoades on Fri, October 19, 2007
No less ethical than you assuming that by ‘broad strokes suggest an anti-faith predjudice’.
You obviously haven’t read much of what I’ve written here at MMI, Stephen; or noticed the fact that this post was sharing something written as a commentary by someone else.
But that’s ok…
Todd
Peter on Mon, October 22, 2007
While I do think there is a problem in WOF/Charismatic circles. I think it is unfair to target the school. Every school has skeltons in the closet they would rather not think about.
sd on Mon, November 19, 2007
Is there anything good going on in the Christian world???? Let’s hope so. Find it & pass ii on.
Victoria Mortgage Brokers on Wed, March 18, 2009
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