TBN Televangelists Buy $5,000,000 Home

Deception in the Church ^ | Nov.4,2001, page K15 | LOS ANGELES TIMES,

[hsmomx3]

DITC Commentary: Ever wonder where all those "seed faith" dontations are going? Whose getting rich again? Remind me. It thought it was those people who sent in their seed faith donations who were going to get a "100 fold increase" and that they would be the ones buying luxury homes. What a shock to find out it doesn't work out that way! Duh!!!!

Televangelists JAN and PAUL CROUCH of the Costa Mesa-based Trinity Broadcasting Network have purchased a Newport Beach house for close to $5 million, Orange County Realtors say.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Bump to that!

[skraeling]

>I just did a search at The Los Angeles times and there is no article. This is a lie.

Thanks, I was just starting a search for the "article". Sure did bring out a lot of comments, didn't it?

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

I have no problem with their living well. It's their non-specific cafeteria style theology that bothers me.

If their ministry was raking it in without begging, all from freewill tithes and love offerings, expanding, and doing God's work...it would still be way out of line, but that would be a giant leap from the blasphemy they are pulling now.

[mc5cents]

[Eva]

It's in Corinthians. It's the part where they are being intructed about the "gifts". One of the gifts is to be able to interpret what the people who are speaking in tongues are saying. I was always brought up to think the way you do, but alot of people disagree. I am just presenting the information. i make no judgement.

[nicmarlo]

It's kind of hard to be a role model to any Christian when you're so out of the realm of what the average person has: a modest income with average comfort. That's my $.02.

You said: "According to that model you should sell your computer and give the money to the poor!"

I said: "so out of the realm." A five million dollar house is way out of what is affordable on a "normal" income: that being modest. I have no problem with people who have a higher or lesser income (I am not rich and do not expect those more fortunate than me to give up what they have, nor should I give up what I have.) Those in leadership positions, such as the Crouch's, are held to a higher standard than those who have less influence on others--even more so for Christians--and even more so those who influence others through television, whose "ministry" is helping others.

[mc5cents]

Hot August night
And the leaves hanging down
And the grass on the ground smelling sweet
Move up the road
To the outside of town
And the sound of that good gospel beat

Sits a ragged tent
Where there ain't no trees
And that gospel group
Telling you and me

It's Love
Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
Grab the old ladies
Everyone goes
Everyone knows
Brother Love's show

Room gets suddenly still
And when you'd almost bet
You could hear yourself sweat, he walks in
Eyes black as coal
And when he lifts his face
Every ear in the place is on him

Starting soft and slow
Like a small earthquake
And when he lets go
Half the valley shakes

It's Love, Love
Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
Grab the old ladies
Everyone goes
Everyone knows
Brother Love's show

Sermon

Take my hand in yours
Walk with me this day
In my heart, I know
I will never stray
Halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle

It's Love, Love
Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
Grab the old ladies
Everyone goes
Everyone knows
Brother Love's show
Amen

[SuzanneC]

There ya go....makin' sense agin. You'll spoil all these folks fun doin' 'nat.

[DensaMensa]

>Would Jesus wear a Rolex on a television show?

Only if his Audemarspiguet was in the shop.

[DensaMensa]

>If their ministry was raking it in without begging, all from freewill tithes and love offerings, expanding, and doing God's work...it would still be way out of line,

Hmmm... And how much would be OK before it would be out of line? Would a $4 Million house be OK? Would it be OK if the $5 Million house resold in a few years for $10 Million?

[DensaMensa]

>Sounds more like ENVY to me.

It looks like there is a WHOLE LOT of ENVY in this thread. As long as they can keep the preacher at a level below where they are then it's OK for him to do the work of the Lord. But if he makes One Dollar more than they do then he is guilty of something, most likely guilty of being a success. Church Governing Boards are full of them, and they wonder why they get what we got.

[YaYa123]

I find it amazing, and yes, a little disheartening, that so many people commented on this thread and without question or pause, seemed to instinctively believe it true.

I thought everyone checked the source before commenting.

[DensaMensa]

>Those in leadership positions, such as the Crouch's, are held to a higher standard

By Whom? And on what authority? That sounds like hot air to me.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

Just like arabs have to deal with terrorists the way they beat up that person spreading venom in the U.K. . Christians have to work over this problem otherwise they will have to deal with a public who has a right to question their values.

[Sci Fi Guy]

We must also include Chuck Swindoll in these discussions. He bought a multimillion dollar oceanside mansion in California a few years back

Actually I think that it depends on where the money comes from. With Swindoll paid for his house with book royalties(I believe), he didn't ask other people give their all, so he could have an outrageous salary. Likewise I'm sure Pat Robertson lives pretty well because He came from a well off family. It's ok with me as long as the money given to the ministry goes to the ministry.

[skraeling]

>and once I found him in the liquor isle of the Gelson's Supermarket picking out a wine selection.

Jesus would have approved of that, provided he bought good stuff, so he wouldn't have to show up and again turn water into wine.

[skraeling]

I wonder how Jesus would feel about a minister of the gospel pleading for money and then buying thousand-dollar suits and million dollar mansions?

Your question may assume something that is not. All those who say they are may not be.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Yes, I was thinking there was a line where Paul was talking about gifts, and you found it. I interpret that gift to refer to actual languages, if you're going to teach the Gospel in a foreign land, it helps to learn the lingo...I believe that was the subject.

YMMV.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Use your common sense. If you are that rich, don't beg for the money, and if you didn't beg for it, use it for the church. Is that so hard? A $5 mil home is a $5 mil home, regardless of the area. Just to drive the point home, the property tax on that in CA would run $62,500 per year...a sum that would be more than most pastors earn, I would imagine, and certainly enough to make a decent living out of, and even afford a decent home.