Monday Morning Insights

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    Lifestyles of the Televangelist Rich and Famous

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    Randy and Paula White
    (Notice the ocean off to the right)
    Here’s the link...

    Benny Hinn
    OK… looks like Benny’s must be new… cause the lot shown here is empty.  Evidently, quite a few televangelists love the water.  Notice the ocean to the left.

    Here’s the link...

    Any thoughts?

    Big news on the televangelist front this week. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has faxed letters to the ministries asking them to turn over their financial statements and records to the committee by December 6. The six ministries under investigation are led by Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn. I'll have more on this next week, but for now, check out a couple of the evangelists homes in question. Both Benny Hinn and Randy and Paula White own big homes on the coast. (Unfortunately, Randy and Paula are no longer living together, so one house is half empty!) Take a look...

    Comments

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    1. erickyp on Thu, November 08, 2007

      Yeah, I have a thought. Randy and Paula’s home doesn’t look that impressive. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice home. Plus I can’t tell how large it is. But I pastor a small church in Florida and I too have a waterfront home. That is because we took advantage of the steady real estate appreciation that happened in Florida in the first 5 years of this decade and were able to “trade up” and invest in property to where we were able to buy our first waterfront home. But it didn’t come from the salary from the church. But people assume that if you are in ministry, that you must be bilking the people. I have even heard comments like that from my neighbors.


        Even before we bought the house, we asked ourselves “what will this look like?” It is unfortunate but that is the way it is in our society. We do drive modest cars though. My wife drives a ‘06 Nissan Sentra and I drive a ‘79 Jeep.


        But we have nothing to hide and our financials show it. And all those minsters like the Whites and Benny should have no worries if they have nothing to hide. 


        I’m not saying that I agree with these ministries or their messages but sometimes pictures don’t tell the whole story.


        BTW - That is not the ocean to the right of the White’s house but rather Tampa Bay which makes it a 1/4 of the price of beachfront; and that is a highway between the house and the water which makes the house a little less expensive than direct waterfront.

    2. Wendi on Thu, November 08, 2007

      Another black eye for evangelicals, we’ll all be painted with the same brush.  Sad.


      I am glad that abuses are being investigated by the by the U.S. government.  Tax-exempt status is a privilege that should not be abused, even if this isn’t an embezzlement issue like with Jimmy Bakker. 


      As for an appropriate response for us, I’m thinking that we should pay attention, counsel those God has given us in our own flock, but resist getting off mission by trying bring someone down (eg. SOL).  To repeat a quote we’ve commented on already this week . . . “life is too short and hell is too hot.”


      Wendi

    3. Derek on Thu, November 08, 2007

      I don’t know if this is such a black eye for the evangelical community. I think that most people (Christian and non) distinguish between those “guys on TV” and the local church.


      It is a shame however. The shame is that many of them will not make their financial records public or abide by ECFA guidelines. I don’t care if these guys want to live in a large, ocean front home. Before their own master they stand or fall. Just be honest to your donors about it.


      BTW, Jim Bakker was convicted of fraud not embezzlement. His original conviction was for “selling” lifetime partnership, which would give Partners free access to Heritage USA—their amusement park/retreat center.


      The original ruling was that PTL was guilty of fraud because their was not enough room at Heritage for all of the partners. However in July 1996, a federal jury overturned the original ruling. They determined that PTL was not selling securities at all. Bakker had always maintained his innocence in the matter of fraud. 


      Derek

    4. Leonard on Thu, November 08, 2007

      A paraphrase of proverbs says if a man has to little he will steal and if he has too much he will become prideful.  I see far to many people fit in these categories. 


      Steeling from tomorrow through credit cards, high mortgages, car payments, over indulgent lifestyles…


      Steeling from others by spending what God gave us to further his kingdom in other peoples lives on mochas, lattes and whatever else feeds the lifestyle.


      Steeling from God by not giving our first, our best or our offering to God.


      To be honest I am sad about the excessive lifestyles of many evangelical preachers.  I do not believe a pastor should live in poverty or even poorly,  But what I really care about is the young family in my church getting buried by debt and struggling to live because they did not listen to what God said about money.  I worry about the guy taking the promotion for a few thousand a year more that is going to eventually destroy his family because is comes with a ridiculous schedule. 


      The issue in my mind is never how much you have but how generous you are.  10% is not generous if it is the standard.  It is not how much I can eep but how much I can give away.

    5. Peter Hamm on Thu, November 08, 2007

      All I want is for Benny to change that ridiculous hairstyle…


      http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif

    6. erickyp on Thu, November 08, 2007

      What’s that style called? The Hinn-doo?

    7. Bart on Thu, November 08, 2007

      Maybe he is trying to be like Donald Trump, in more ways than one.

    8. Bruce Gerencser on Thu, November 08, 2007

      This is good news.


      These types of ministries (and there are hundreds of them I suspect) are a blight on Christianity.


      I would like to see strict enforcement of not for profit laws and a requirement that the books be open for public viewing. I would also like to see regulations that forbid Churches from dabbling in “business” and owning non Church related entities. If they don’t wish to comply then their tax exemption should be removed.


      Billions of dollars are wasted each year, much of the money going to support modern versions of Elmer Gantry.


      At the root of this is a doctrinal issue….the prosperity (health-wealth) gospel. It is heresy. Not even close to sound doctrine. It is the twisting of scripture to gain wealth for the leaders in such ministries,

    9. Paul J. on Thu, November 08, 2007

      Well, I grew up in Tampa, and I’ve driven by that house recently while visiting my mom. It’s a heck of a lot more impressive from the front than from a satellite.


      And a few years ago, we were in California and walked on the beach in front of Hinn’s crib. THAT was stinking huge.


      Bottom line, IMHO…it’s too much house for a pastor. Period. WAY more questions than answers.

    10. Karl on Thu, November 08, 2007

      Where’s the outrage that he’s only going after Christians.


      What about all the charities that support terrorism?


      Or the foundations that influence the media by paying for countless PBS programs?


      This kind of stuff goes on all the time among the non-religious.


      Christians need to review their support of this travesty - whether they dislike those six or not.

    11. Matt Green on Thu, November 08, 2007

      A nice thought, but government is not going to solve the probem of unethical, greedy preachers any more than the ECFA has been able to. I often wonder if the whole tax exempt thing is a luxury that American Christians have started looking at as an entitlement. Godly organizations will find a way to thrive without government privileges and godly givers will give regardless of whether the IRS gives them a pat on the back.

    12. Bruce Gerencser on Thu, November 08, 2007

      Karl,


      So we can’t go after one evil unless we go after all evil? Let’s remember that these TV preachers flaunt their lifestyle. They raise a red flag through their extravagance.


      What charities support terrorism?


      As far as Public radio, their books are open to the public. It is religious groups that are allowed to “hide”. As to the programs on pbs….......some of us like those leftest leaning, non republican programs http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif


      I agree with Matt on the tax exemption issue. I wonder what the “housing allowances” are for the preachers being investigated?

    13. Christopher Fontenot on Fri, November 09, 2007

      Karl,


      Why do you assume these people are Christians?  You tell a tree by its fruit and the fruit on display by Hinn, Meyers, White, Dollar, Long and Copeland are far from good. Be honest with yourself and search the scriptures to see if what they teach and do are scriptural. I hope God uses the government to take a whip to these money changers.

    14. Deaubry on Fri, November 09, 2007

      i did not know paula white and randy was split, what happen to them?

    15. Deaubry on Fri, November 09, 2007

      a lot of people has big houses,and they do sell a lot of books, i guess they make money selling their books.

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