Posted on 11/18/2012 12:31:13 PM PST by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
Im conflicted about Trinity Broadcast Network, which wrapped up its Fall Praise-A-Thon today.
There is no denying that Americas most-watched faith and family friendly network, as TBN advertises itself, provides a service to the Christian faithful.
I, for one, appreciate the platform it provides for such pastors as Ken Copeland, Charles Stanley, John Hagee, Ed Young Sr., David Jeremiah and Joel Osteen.
I also enjoy the praise and worship music it presents from such Christian artists as Chris Tomlin, Paul Baloche, Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton, Martha Munizzi and Cindy Cruse Ratcliff.
Yet, my soul is troubled by news reports of what goes on behind the scenes of the network founded 39 years ago by Paul and Jan Crouch:
A bitter division within the Crouch family that belies the happy front 78-year-old Paul and 74-year-old Jan, and son Matthew and wife Laurie, put on while hosting TBNs Praise-A-Thon this past week.
Lavish spending by Papa and Mama, as Paul and Jan are called on air, which might be acceptable for a billionaire couple like Bill and Melinda Gates, but not for a putative Christian couple that has spent the past week encouraging its viewers to plant of seed with TBN of $100 or $1000 or more if they desire Gods favor.
This past Spring, Brittany Crouch Koper, the 26-year-old granddaughter of Paul and Jan Crouch, went public with allegations of scandalous, decidedly unGodly behavior within the Crouch family.
That includes, she said, the familys cover-up of a bloody sexual assault, as well as infidelities by both Mama and Papa Crouch, and repeated incidents in which Uncle Matt Crouch exposed his genitals to TBN cleaning staff.
Equally damning were allegations by Brittany, who served as TBNs finance director, of unscrupulous financial practices by the non-profit Christian enterprise.
Indeed, Mama and Papa Crouch have his-and-her $5.6 million mansions one street apart in Newport Beach, California. Mama spends little time at her SoCal estate because shes usually at a huge TBN-owned home in Orlando where she oversees the companys Holy Land Experience theme park which is adjacent to a similarly lavish home there Papa uses on his rare visits to the Sunshine State.
The Crouches travel back and forth across the country, and around the world, in TBN jets valued at $8 million and $49 million apiece. The Christian TV network also owns a Bentley, which Papa Crouch sometimes uses to get from place to place.
People have been conned by my grandparents, said Britany, who is estranged from the Crouch family along her dad, Paul Jr., who used to host both Praise the Lord and Behind the Scenes TBNs flagship programs, before parting ways with his parents last year.
Now, theres little dispute that Paul and Jan Crouch have done a great work in growing TBN over the past four decades, from renting a couple hours a day on a small SoCal television station back in 1973 to overseeing the vast broadcasting empire network TBN is today.
But Papa and Mama must well know, from reading the Bible, that their works, however great that may be, are as filthy rags in the eyes of God.
of course you dont recall His catholic world view, you have been brought up to believe man made sola this and sola that...thus like any other preacher, you can READ INTO the word, whatever you want, as opposed TO WHAT HIS AUTHORITATIVE CHURCH THAT HE LEFT TO TEACH IN HIS NAME, ACTUALLY TEACHES....
remember, the church is the pillar and foundation of all truth, (1 Timothy 3:15) not the bible.
They have done a lot for the kingdom. I applaud them for that. They haven t been perfect according to the accusations. But they have been leaders for God imo.
Church was also defined as two or more people coming together to worship HIM. Never mentioned anything about a Pope. And calling anyone “infallable” is blasphemous
Don’t know why you put that in quotes to respond to me. I never said that.
And i am not in the Catholic hater zone. Every catholic know speaks of Jesus constantly and they are my Christia bretheren. They are in error as to their belief that THEY alone have some sort of divine right to represent Jesus church.
This leads them to insufferable arrogance, and lead to God leading men to create the reformation.
I was only critiquing this predictable Catholic cheerleaders response to a story that in no way was caused by the protesant theology. That idiotic statement makes as much sense as saying little boys getting buggered by a homo priest and having it covered up by his leader was a result of Catholic theology.
Those at Trinity, and the evil priests, are nothing but people harming their respective theologies.
NOthing in my Baptist faith tells me that Catholics are not my bretheren. And i will indeed scrap with a brother sometimes, but that don’t mean they aren’t in my family.
your ignorance of history is showing here.....the pope isnt infallible unless speaking ‘ex cathedra’ on faith and moral issues being defined for the whole church.
secondly, the scripture is: For where two or more gather in my name, there I am with them.
nowhere does it mention that as a church.
and g....just to be a bit more specific..he nvr said two or more...in actuality if you check multiple versions of the Bible, and youll see these specific words from Christ:
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (NIV)
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (KJV)
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (ESV)
And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that Ill be there.(The Message)
I just want to know why that woman’s hair is pink.
I'm not. A lot of bad theology from folks that can make Jim Bakker look good. Reverend Ike has more personal integrity.
The serpentine TBN bastards have been heretics for at least 30 years now ... documented a looooong time ago by Dave Hunt in “The Seduction of Christianity”.
So as it was in the days of Jim & Tammy Fay Bakker and their “PTL Club”.
PTL: “Pass the Loot”.
it is not incorrect to state that sole this and sola that which allows individual men to read into scripture such things as ‘health and wealth’ which is a big part of tBn programming, etc....
but, it is incorrect to state that His catholic biblical doctrine has had any catholic priest READ INTO THE WORD the permission of homosexuality/pedophilia, that is simply sin, not a repudiation of His authoritative teaching church.
I quit watching them decades ago. They did not teach the Bible. I am not into all of this “feel good” junk and that includes many others on tv.
I do find it fascinating though. In one breath, i can be criticized for looking solely to the scripture and prayer (direct to God prayer),,,,
Then without a hint of irony, the same critic will try to use the scripture to try to prove HIS point of the moment, usually the papacy, what constitutes the church, etc.
I always smirk when im wrong for following the Bible, and a catholic can prove it to me by referring to,,,,wait for it.
The BIBLE.
As i see it, the main difference is who gets to tell me what it means. DO you need a centralized authority figure in a castle, or can an individual read it, and prayerfully approach God? And i think this is why the RCC has had such historic success in places plagued by Monarches and strong central governments (excepting communist).
Protestant doctrine seems to appeal more to people as they embrace the individual and freedom of thought.
I feel fine when i remember that everyone stands alone to be judged before God. So if i am judged that way, it makes sense that God is comfortable being prayed to by me and won’t worry that i didn’t follow some temporal, error prone, chain of command.
YBPDL-something-something-PING
Cable Company Goes TBN 24/7 for Delinquent Customers
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EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Trinity Broadcasting Network Run by Atheists
To me they have never presented the Word of God in a holy and just manner. As a friend of mine says == “It’s all showy so they can get more money.”
I think she is right.
Prosperity gospel will send you to hell. It is not a gospel. It is not the gospel of grace that Paul tells us to follow. Any other gospel will certainly get your toes burned. Stay away from it. Only the gospel of death, burial and resurrection gets you to heaven.
**God’s ministers are not expected to take a vow of poverty**
That statement is in conflict with the Bible. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew and the other apostles left everything BEHIND to follow Jesus.
Read your Bible!
False Teachers always live in lavishness. It is the lavishness that is the problem of the prosperity gospel. God will make you prosperous if you give to this ministry or tha ministry - where is that in the Bible.
A man centered theology will make lots of promises that it is unable to deliver. what happens to the people whom given so much and received so little in return - they generally walk away from the so called church of these charltans.
God works in a different way - a workman is worth his wages. God will provide for a workman, but does God desire his servant his live in such lavishness that it cause for problems whereby others look at the ministry as corrupt.
Years ago another prosperity teacher had a problem with wealth and health gospel, but also he was caught in a homosexual relationship - this false teacher Roberts Liardon left California for Europe.
really is God blessing these false teachers or is it the false teachers blessing themselves
Oral Roberts - Seed faith - what a joke
Jimmy Swaggart - sex with a prostitute
James Bakker
do you want me to go on with the false teachers.
What is the fruit that these ministers bearing - Good fruit or just a works righteous basis that has spiritual weaklings that fall away when the difficulties arise.
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