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Reverend Ike, Who Preached Riches, Dies at 74
New York Times ^ | July 29, 2009 | CHRISTOPHER LEHMANN-HAUPT

Posted on 07/31/2009 8:43:59 PM PDT by TBP

The Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, the flamboyant minister better known as the Reverend Ike, who preached the blessings of material prosperity to a large congregation in New York and to television and radio audiences nationwide, died Tuesday in Los Angeles, where he had lived since 2007. He was 74.

“This is the do-it-yourself church,” he proclaimed. “The only savior in this philosophy is God in you.”

Along with Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson, he was one of the first evangelists to grasp the power of television. At the height of his success, in the 1970s, he reached an audience estimated at 2.5 million.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Other Christian
KEYWORDS: blackchurch; eikerenkoetter; harlem; losangeles; nyc; obituary; pastor; prosperity; reverendike; revike; televangelist
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1 posted on 07/31/2009 8:43:59 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

I remember as a kid seeing him on tv. Didn’t really tae it too seriously though. Its a sad thing what the prosperity gospel stuff does to people. They are so mislead.


2 posted on 07/31/2009 8:45:56 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule (There might just be too many metrosexuals in America to allow Sarah Palin to become President)
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To: fkabuckeyesrule

Prosperity Gospel = God wants everyone to be rich. If you’re not, you don’t have enough faith.


3 posted on 07/31/2009 8:46:49 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

“It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”
“Ask and you shall receive.”


4 posted on 07/31/2009 8:51:13 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

But Rev. Ike did say one thing that means more and more as we all suffer through the Obama years...

“The best way to help the poor is not to become one of them.”


5 posted on 07/31/2009 8:56:37 PM PDT by SoCalRight
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To: TBP

You must not be familiar with the prosperity gospel. Their theology treats God as a perpetual treat dispenser. And it is your fault if you somehow remain poor.

Jesus said “The poor will always be with you.” Also “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (not earth). We build up treasures in Heaven, not here. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his soul?”


6 posted on 07/31/2009 8:59:38 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

I don’t think oyu understand it. Prospeirty is more than just material wealth, although that is obviously a significant part of it.

It’s not “your fault” if you’re poor. It’s simply the outworking of the choices that you have made. EVERYTHING IS. Of course, we’re expected to help the poor, but not to maintain them in their poverty.

The Bible is full of quotes saying that it is God’s intent for us to be prosperous. Some people choose to ignore those quotes, for whatever reason.

if you believe that you’re supposed to be poor, you will think and act in ways that enable you to be poor. But if you change the way you think about it, you can change the circumstances that surround you.


7 posted on 07/31/2009 9:08:41 PM PDT by TBP
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To: Secret Agent Man

The only people who get rich from the Prosperity Gospel are the pastors who preach it.


8 posted on 07/31/2009 9:09:16 PM PDT by Patrick1 (I'm not calling in sick; I'm calling in gone!)
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To: SoCalRight

Yes, and others have said that too. They do hvae a point. If we’re all poor, then nobody will be in a position to help. I’ve never gotten a job or any kind of help from a poor person; they simply can’t afford it. The wealthy can.

Pursuing your self-interest, including your material self-interst, serves society. “Each best serves otehrs by serving himself,” as Dr. Leonard Read put it.


9 posted on 07/31/2009 9:12:59 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP
close your eyes hold a dollar in the air and God will come by to pick it up.

Rev. Ike was a corker. He told you he was gunna take your money and he did and he made you like it.

10 posted on 07/31/2009 9:16:22 PM PDT by stylin19a (Obama's Plan B - Payday Loans)
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To: Patrick1

But how’s he gonna get all that loot to Heaven? And what is the exchange rate?


11 posted on 07/31/2009 9:18:15 PM PDT by Clock King (There's no way to fix D.C.)
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To: Clock King

I’m afraid for the good reverend the exchange rate is going to be very high.


12 posted on 07/31/2009 9:22:54 PM PDT by Patrick1 (I'm not calling in sick; I'm calling in gone!)
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To: TBP

Poverty is a state of mind.


13 posted on 07/31/2009 9:27:19 PM PDT by Oratam
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To: TBP

This is one Jewish kid, who, back-then, used to watch Rev. Ike and enjoy him.

He would say to the congregation, “You don’t want your reverend to dress like a poor man. You don’t want your reverend to drive an old car, etc.” And they didn’t.

He was right, but many missed his message. If you want to live a decent life, work hard. Do it yourself. No government handouts, no welfare, no laziness.

He was the arch pro-free enterprise preacher, unlike the masses of marxists posing as clergymen and women today.

He liked America. He liked the opportunity to rise above one’s situation to something better. He was Horatio Alger in a white suit.

I’m willing to bet that heaven is a livelier place because Rev. Ike walked through them pearly gates, and tipped St. Peter for opening them.

Gonna miss you Rev. Shalom!


14 posted on 07/31/2009 9:30:27 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: TBP

Yes, but do you not know the difference between someone discussin the concept of godly prosperity and the charlatans that I am referring to that preach “Prosperity Theology?” The whole “Word-Faith” “Seed Faith” garbage, that if you speak it with your mouth it will come true, and if it doesn’t it your fault because you don’t have enough faith?

I am not talking about those who preach that God wants the best for us. Whatever that is. What is best for us is all different. When someone comes around saying “GOd wants us all to be rich!” and “If you are not rich, it’s because you don’t believe enough!” that is not biblical preaching. Some people only find God through poverty. In that sense they are rich. The Prosperity Gospel crowd - and Joel Osteen is one of them, Ken Copeland is another - what they are saying just is not right.


15 posted on 07/31/2009 9:32:54 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: stylin19a

The workers at the KFC I worked at loved this loon and had a radio with him on all the time in the back where I worked. I still remember the prayer bricks for only $1,000 to have your name engraved.


16 posted on 07/31/2009 9:38:54 PM PDT by packrat35 (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.- M Thatcher)
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To: Oratam
Poverty is a state of mind.

Exactly.

Change your thinking, change your life.

17 posted on 07/31/2009 9:43:25 PM PDT by TBP
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To: Patrick1

That is simply not true. Many people, by applying the principles of prosperity, have done very well. I know this from seeing it happen time and time again.

How big is your cup? If it runneth ove rtoo easily, perhaps you need a bigger cup. IOW, God will provide — as much or as little as we are open and ready to receive.


18 posted on 07/31/2009 9:45:28 PM PDT by TBP
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To: Patrick1

That is simply not true. Many people, by applying the principles of prosperity, have done very well. I know this from seeing it happen time and time again.

How big is your cup? If it runneth over too easily, perhaps you need a bigger cup. IOW, God will provide — as much or as little as we are open and ready to receive.


19 posted on 07/31/2009 9:45:44 PM PDT by TBP
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To: Patrick1

That is simply not true. Many people, by applying the principles of prosperity, have done very well. I know this from seeing it happen time and time again.

How big is your cup? If it runneth over too easily, perhaps you need a bigger cup. IOW, God will provide — as much or as little as we are open and ready to receive.


20 posted on 07/31/2009 9:45:50 PM PDT by TBP
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