Posted on 07/17/2023 6:40:18 AM PDT by Morgana
Craig Groeschel is the false teacher at the helm of Life Dot Church based in Oklahoma. It is currently the second largest church in the United States and is the organization behind the popular YouVersion Bible App. Groeschel’s Prosperity Gospel leanings are well known, but apparently his church has taken this to another level with a money back guarantee. If you tithe for three months and don’t see God’s blessings in your life, they promise to refund 100% of your tithe. The terms and conditions are as follows:
1 I understand this form must be completed and received by the Life.Church Giving Experience Team prior to the beginning of the Three-Month Tithe Challenge Period.
2 I understand my household qualifies for participation because we have not been tithing for the last six months.
3 I understand I cannot seek a refund prior to the end of the Three-Month Tithe Challenge Period, and that I cannot seek a refund for any contributions made prior to the beginning of the Three-Month Tithe Challenge Period.
4 I understand any request for refund must be received by the Life.Church Giving Experience Team within 30 days of the end of the Three-Month Tithe Challenge Period.
5 I understand if paid at a physical Life.Church Campus, my tithe must be paid by check, or by completed offering envelope, so that my tithe can be properly credited.
6 I understand I must log in prior to paying my tithe online, so that my tithe can be properly credited.
7 I would like to test God’s faithfulness by accepting the Three-Month Tithe Challenge. I agree that for the three-month period, my household will contribute to God, through Life.Church, a tithe equal to 10% of our income. At the end of the three-month period, if I am not convinced of God’s faithfulness to bless my life as a result of my obedience to His Word, then I will be entitled to request a refund of the full amount of contributions made during that three-month period.
The goal of the program is to get nontithers to start tithing as it does not apply to actively tithing congregants. Large megachurches have a general issue about getting members to tithe. Craig Groeschel’s solution is to Prosperity Gospel even harder.
Unfortunately, the scammers are always among us.
Also sad that very few Christians ever give 10%, let alone “give hilariously” as the NT says to do.
Religion is no reason not to believe in G-d.
“7. I would like to test God’s faithfulness..”
Sounds rather devilish to me.
There is a proper Scriptural response in the recounting of Jesus 40 days fasting in the wilderness.
If I was to ever pastor another church, one of the first things I would do is eliminate the offering plate. I would instead put a donation box in the foyer and let folks know that’s where they can put their tithes. No pressure, no one watching who is giving and who is not, totally voluntary.
This may not be the proper marketing plan.
Ethical monotheism.
The 3rd Statement.
The only unforgivable transgression is to use G d’s name for personal gain and by doing so besmirch G d’s name to G d’s children.
3. You shall not take (carry) the name of the L rd your G d in vain; for the L rd will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.
All other matters of the other 9 Statements may be forgiven.
I thought they’d give you a refund if you donated to the church and didn’t go to Heaven.
> Sounds rather devilish to me. <
It sure does. These “prosperity preachers” are all the same. Send me money, and you will be blessed. They do quote Scripture. But ultimately only to emphasize their central message: Send me money, and you will be blessed.
Funny how they never talk about tithing to your local food bank, or anything like that.
I agree. Just be sure the donation box/container lid is locked, and even the container itself locked or fastened securely so someone can’t grab it and run.
And what would you then do after your parish goes bankrupt, for lack of funds?
Regards,
Good points!
I don't cut any mustard when it comes to how churches are run these days. Yes, there are biblically grounded churches out there, but for the most part churches have become a social club run by prominent families within it. When their control over things is more important than spreading the Gospel message, then the church becomes useless and needs to be shut down.
I've seen it firsthand many times.
Correct answer!
I applaud your intellectual courage, ducttape45!
Regards,
The pastor decided then and there to leave and not return to the pulpit. He called the district superintendent and told him he was done and would be gone within a couple of weeks, and he left. But before he did, he saw one of the parishoners who did not participate in the walkout and had a discussion with him. At the end, he told that gentleman that if the folks in that church didn't repent of what they did that God would turn the church into a parking lot. He was angry when he said that, and he admitted as much, but it was what he felt led to say.
Over the next few years several other pastors tried to make a go of it, but that congregation continually drove them all away.
Well guess what happened. Yep. Several years later the church building was literally gone and the area where it stood was turned into a literal parking lot. And the lady who staged the walkout; she ended up getting severely injured in an off road accident with her husband and become a quadriplegic. Her husband shortly thereafter divorced her. And everyone else who participated in that walkout also passed away shortly thereafter from various diseases and physical conditions.
God does not mess around, and this kind of thing is what happens when a group of people want to run the church for their personal glory, want their egos to be stroked and could care less about actually spreading the Gospel.
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