Should the Church Teach Tithing?
A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
Prospeerity Preachers Who Teach Tithing
Jesus said: Matt 19:21;Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven : and come and follow me.
Forbes Magazine, 2005
www.forbes.com/lists/2005/14/Revenue_1.html).
Paul Crouch, Trinity Broadcasting Network, annual salary of $409,306. Jan Crouch, $361, 000. $5,000,000, 9,500 square-foot house in Newport Beach with nine bathrooms, an elevator, a six-car garage, tennis court and pool with fountain. A TBN-owned, 80-acres estate in Dallas is worth $10 million; 30 ministry-owned houses in California and scattered across the country at the Crouch’s disposal and a $7 million Canadair jet. (See www.trinityfi.org/press/latimes04.html and www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/138/21.0.html).
www.ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/pdf/MWDA_031805_TBN.pdf)
Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, received $384,772 in annual compensation.
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, received $368,115.
Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries at $299,512.
Pat Robertson of CBN at $306,293.
Dennis Rydberg, head of Young Life at $272,127.
Billy Graham at $451,707.
Wes Stafford of Compassion International at $202,679.
Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship at $218,614.
James Robison of Life Outreach International at $195,500
Peter Popoff of Peter Popoff Ministries made $425,019.
R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries made $221,576.
www.charitynavigator.org and www.guidestar.org.)
Hank Hannegraaff, president of The Christian Research Institute $280,331 in 2002. A 2003 article in Christianity Today reported that the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability found fault with C.R.I., citing among other things the ministry’s purchase of a $66,000 Lexus for Hannegraaff’s use and $8,000 of ministry money used to purchase flooring for Hannegraaff’s house in a gated community.
Forbes’ list doesn’t include Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, and Creflo Dollar, I.R.S. designations as churches.
Joyce Meyer: The St. Louis Dispatch reported, “Minutes of ministry board meetings show that for 2002 and 2003, the board approved compensation packages of up to $900,000 for Joyce Meyer and up to $450,000 for her husband.” More recently, she and her board cut her salary to a humble $250,000, but she formed a private for-profit company from which she now receives royalties from her many books, royalties that were previously received by her ministry (see: www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/F_SumRpt.asp?EIN=431382734). “Ministry-provided 10,000 square foot with 8 car garage. www.joycemeyer.org/projects/financial/FA_pg42.html). .
John Hagee, television preacher and pastor of Cornerstone Church, SanAntonio. $1.3 million from his ministry (GETV) and Cornerstone Church in 2003. San Antonio Express-News, June 2003.
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Prayer Palace in Toronto. Preacher and Twin Sons Live Luxuriously off the Tithe http://www.thestar.com/News/article/187986 Rich
From the Toronto Star, Sunday, March 4, 2007.
Paul Melnichuk and his twin-sons are worth over $12 million, live in luxury homes, drive luxury cars and have vacation homes in Florida. Their church spent $9, 443 on charity om 2005. Its mission gifts fluctuate between $500 and $36,000 per year. The article is very long. Hold your breath.
Pentecostal Leaders Caught inScandal
The Hernandes of Brazil, 2007 March 19, 20 news items
http://exchristian.net/2/2007/03/pentacostal-leaders-caught-in-scandal.html
JIM JONES, MASS SUICIDE IN GUYANA; PENTECOSTAL BACKGROUND
http://www.hidefdvd.com/i/dvd/PBSP705226DVD.htm
Jones began by preaching tithing and ended up asking for everything.
