Posted on 02/12/2007 7:08:10 AM PST by Rakkasan1
Pastor Mac Hammond's congregation at Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park reacted strongly Sunday to his appearance in the wake of a watchdog's group complaint to the Internal Revenue Service that he violated federal tax law and a front-page Star Tribune article examining his financial dealings: Worshipers gave him a prolonged, cheer-laced standing ovation.
"Y'all better sit down; I'll get too choked up to minister," drawled Hammond, 63, pastor of the nondenominational megachurch, which has almost 10,000 members. He called questions about his financial dealings "a misunderstanding" of his prosperity-gospel ministry, which holds that following God's word leads to spiritual and economic bounty.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
I see. So she was less Godly for giving all she had, even though it was little, than someone who gave a small portion of their wealth.
Got it.
And you know that HOW? I'd rather wait and see what's really up instead of a knee jerk reaction because you may not like mega churches or prosperity teaching.
Good for you! I have prospered in my latter years because I obey God's principle of tithing.
Yes, the LOVE of money is the root, but not money itself. You CAN be rich and still serve God. He really does allow that (smile).
That's right, but it's a heck of a lot easier to be content when you aren't scratching for every dime. Been there, done that. In my old age, God has prospered us because we've been obedient to tithe all these years. We're both retired and we live as well as we did before, in fact, better, because we can give more.
AMEN, Nativist. Jesus CHOSE to be poor for US. Job was rich, Abraham, etc. Riches aren't unscriptural but as you say trusting in them is.
Good for you. Too many FReepers have these knee jerk responses whenever they hear the word prosperity or even pastor. They don't know the facts but they're certainly willing to fit what they do know (or don't, as is the case) to their own feelings about pastors and prosperity. Cheez.
Looks like Jesus didn't tell his disciples that propsperity was going to be thiers.
Its about dealing with that covetous heart. It takes more faith to give $50 if you only have $100 than it does to give $50 if you have $1000
Any man who tells you that he's wearing expensive suits for you is fleecing the flock. This is not a "knee jerk reaction," nor does it have anything to do with my feelings about megachurches. Read Matthew 6:19-24 and Luke 18:18-27 and let the Lord speak to you. I pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to you as you seek His face.
If what you are saying is true, then why does everyone still die?
You are twisting God's word. You are misrepresenting Him.
And to you, if you are wealthy, it is a sign you are more Godly than someone who is poor, right?
From one who has once been through this monstrous lie and have mercifully been delivered by the true Gospel delivered to the saints, you are deceived and in danger of losing your place with the Lord. You cannot serve God and mammon. Choose carefully. Eternity is a long, long time.
Ex-hippie. Thank you for taking my words seriously. Glad to see I didn't waste my time. (which is usually the case when defending or taking a pro-christian stance on open forums ;) Stay cool. ! :D
I don’t know this preacher or the exact context of his problems with the IRS, nor the context that his statement was made in... so I am not going to pass judgment on him... but one thing is for sure any man teaching or preaching the Gospel that Jesus and the apostles taught would never expound or teach on principles, any principles from the Bible or any other source that would lead a man, woman or child to believe that prosperity is the result of something that God owes them or plans to give them simply because they slap down a few ideas in their head and heart and follow “the principles that lead to prosperity”...
The same scriptures these “prosperity preachers” use also contain these verses:
“1Sa 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
Pro 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.”
I think we can learn something from properly managing what we have and making best use of it and developing it to the best of our abilities... whether it be our God given talents and skills, our resources, our career and education or our skills as entrepreneurs, business people and leaders... and enhance the quality of our lives and truly prosper... but if God ever gave or gives a person principles by which to get rich... then I think they would be best to know and learn that He gave them to them personally for their own lives and not as a formula or a “Gospel of wealth” to be shared with the world...
I think from looking at a few more scriptures (quoted below) from the same Bible that these prosperity teaches use as their rule of life and practice will show that it is in fact not the Gospel that Jesus or the Apostles taught.
“Tts 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
I use to attend a prosperity church. I left it. The only people that are becoming rich are those that are behind the pulpit preaching this garbage. It’s not what Christ taught, it a gospel for “itching ears? as Paul stated that would come in the last days. They want to hear what they want to hear and not what they should hear.
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