Say Goodbye to the Untouchable Preachers
- Posted on August 12, 2010
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- (17) comments
J. Lee Grady has an absolutely great piece over at the Chrisma Magazine website. Charisma is the charismatic slanted ministry magazine, and Grady has recently been calling out factions in his own circles. In this piece, he makes some great observations that hopefully will continue to, as he puts it, 'shake up the church and remove corruption'...
Here's some of what he writes:
We were the gullible ones. When they said, "The Lord promises you untold wealth if you will simply give a thousand dollars right now," we went to the phones and put the donations on our credit cards. God forgive us.
We were the undiscerning ones. When they said, "I need your sacrificial gift today so I can repair my private jet," we didn't ask why a servant of God wasn't humble enough to fly coach class to a Third World nation. God forgive us.
We were the foolish ones. When it was revealed that they were living in immorality, mistreating their wives or populating cities with illegitimate children, we listened to their spin doctors instead of demanding that ministry leaders act like Christians. God forgive us.
We were the naïve ones. When they begged for $2 million more in donations because of a budget shortfall, we didn't feel comfortable asking why they needed that $10,000-a-night hotel suite. In fact, if we did question it, another Christian was quick to say, "Don't criticize! The Bible says, ‘Touch not the Lord's anointed!'" God forgive us.
We have treated these charlatans like Al Capone—as if they were untouchable—and as a result their corruption has spread throughout charismatic churches like a plague. Our movement is eaten up with materialism, pride, deception and sexual sin because we were afraid to call these Bozos what they really are—insecure, selfish, egotistical and emotionally dysfunctional.
If we had applied biblical discernment a long time ago we could have avoided this mess. There is no way we can know how many unbelievers rejected the gospel because they saw the church supporting quacks who swaggered, bragged, lied, flattered, bribed, stole and tearfully begged their way into our lives—while we applauded them and sent them money.
Without naming names, he calls individuals out. Still, that's quite a bold step... calling leaders in your own circle 'deceptive and manipulating' and 'false prophets' is testicular enough... he takes it one step further when he lays blame with the people that gave them all the money and the power. Knowing, all the while, that many of his publication's readers were probably the very ones who sent the checks. That's uber-testicular, my friend. He says:
If we had applied biblical discernment a long time ago we could have avoided this mess.
Youch.
But true.
All circles have their more excentric preachers and high rollers. This isn't just a charismatic issue to be sure. But I'm glad when someone says enough is enough.
The only criticism I have in Grady's piece is that I don't see any of these people he's talking about going anywhere, just yet. But I think the tide is turning. Quickly. Soon and very soon, the $2 million deficit will not be replentished.
What are your thoughts?
Todd
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Mike Schwartz on Fri, September 03, 2010
Amazing is that it has taken decades for believers in any particular circle to see this and speak out about it.
nbanikes on Sun, September 12, 2010
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