One of them we all need a reminder of is just as important in life - "be careful to remember that whatever you do to someone else just might come back on you ten fold". Don't regret doing unto others what you would NOT want done unto you.
So is the case, in my opinion, of a certain trial taking place recently in Irving, Texas. For years now, certain high-profile "tele-evangelists" have used God's name to scam millions of people out of millions of dollars employing fake healings, promoting false doctrines and avoiding accountability by not only the IRS but even Christian based ministry accountability groups. These men have gotten away with this for decades.
But evidently none of them are afraid to help put a man behind bars for doing basically the same thing; this time stealing from those very same scam artists themselves. Apparently, Gregory Setser's import empire came crashing down two years ago when after getting various investments from people, including many rich tele-evangelists, he used the funds to support a lifestyle of luxury, boating, cars, excessive vacations and much more. How could someone take advantage of such poor, naive ministers! Shame, shame....
Now, this man surely needs to be punished for his actions of deception, but isn't it ironic that many of these men testifying against him hide behind their own non-profit, ministries to prey upon the needy, hurting and sick? Surely, not all of these ministers are criminals, but most of them do walk a fine line between the world and the role of a minister. One could only assume that birds of a feather flock together....another simply rule in life. These men say and do almost exactly the same things.
Don't like what I am saying? Don't believe me? Get real with your heart and ask yourself these questions:
- Would Jesus have millions of dollars tied up in homes around the world?
- Would He stay away from the media and scrutiny and hide behind bodyguards and attorneys?
- Did Jesus speak false prophecies and make untrue claims?
- Did Jesus tell us to draw men unto ourselves or until Him?
- Would He travel weekly and stay at the most expensive hotels in the area?
- Would He fire employees and outcast workers in His ministry who questioned things?
- Would Jesus drive $200,000 cars and own various boats, homes, buildings and airplanes?
- Would Jesus hold "healing conferences" and charge people money or ask for large donations before offering to heal you?
- Would He even have such conferences, or would He simply visit the local Children's Hospital and give dying kids healing touches and hugs?
- Would He "heal" people and tell them later "it didn't take because you lost faith"?
- Would Jesus sue someone for talking bad about Him or His ministry as Mr. Hinn did to NBC just recently?
Would He really do these things? If you think He would, you need to start reading a different Bible. Yours has some holes in it.
Benny Hinn even said in 1989, "The Spirit tells me - Fidel Castro will die - in the 90's. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God."
Didn't happen. It's 2006 and Castro is still in power and doing well. Yet daily Mr. Hinn begs and steals money from people so he can live a life most of us will never taste, claiming he is a true prophet with a special connection to God's power.
If someone wants those things in life, then being in the ministry isn't the way to do it, no more than it was for Mr. Setser to steal from these ministers. Be creative and think of a business or a career that can change the world or help people like the rest of us. I guess using God-given abilities and personalities to make money is just easier. To me it's the easy way out....using personality, people skills and charisma to manipulate and take advantage of people in great need. It takes much more to actually work for an income like most of us do....
Benny Hinn himself reportedly has revenues of over $100 million a year! Most of that coming from contributions of needy people around the world. Just think about that a second. One Hundred Million Dollars! Do a little research and you will find out fast just how he spends it and it isn't on reaching the lost, building hospitals for the sick, building homes for people who need shelter, or giving back to those in need.
When was the last time you saw him step out of his $200,000 car and help the poor and hurting such as those in New Orleans? Has he taken the time to help build walls, clean streets or tear out moldy wood as even our own President has done? No, instead he spends his money and time on himself or his elaborate and overly excessive ministry plans. Why not spend some of it doing powerful things such as what ABC does with the TV reality show Home Edition! Can you imagine the impact it would have on America had this idea been supported and started by some Christian organization?! Mr. Hinn's $100,000,000 a year income would easily allow for it too....
Other ministers like him do the same. It's a neat little operation hidden away under the realm of religious organizations. Money and material possessions have become their god. We thought the Mafia was bad, but when traveling evangelists discovered this neat little money scheme, it took hold and has been blazing a trail of deceit and fraud for decades.
One thing is certain - some of these men need to be reminded of this little rule of life....Do unto others as you would have do unto you and remember that whatever you do to someone else has a good chance of coming right back to you.
It's a tough lesson to learn. Problem is in this case, the party going to jail isn't going to include the men that need it the most.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves...In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." Matthew 7:15 and 2 Peter 2:3
© 2006, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
