Prosperity gospel, Billy Graham, Oral Roberts

I'd like to touch on three related subjects, and the tie that binds all
3 subjects in my topic header is the concept of the "prosperity gospel"
or "name it, claim it" teachings parroted by many
charismatic/pentecostal preachers, pastors, and evangelists, many of
whom you see on the Trinity Broadcasting Network(TBN).

First of all, I think that those televangelists and pastors who teach
this materialistic concept of the "prosperity gospel" are doing the
body of Christ a great disservice. It just comes across as very crass,
especially how a lot of these preachers present it. It's heretical.
It ties into greed, and is a justification for it.

Those who have twisted and perverted the words in the Bible to come up
with these erroneous and crass teachings preach that you can
essentially attempt to buy a miracle or miraculous healing by sending
them a donation, and that the donation is a contact to release their
faith. They also focus too much on greed and the justification of it,
saying that when you send them a donation, God is going to multiply it
back to you so that you will be richer than ever before. Funnily
enough, I was watching some nonsense on tv right now where the preacher
(Richard Roberts..son of Oral Roberts) talked about how, for a
donation, you will be sent a special prayer cloth, and recounted a
story about how one man wrapped his wallet with the cloth, and you
guessed it, the guy was richer than ever before! It is like they
teach that God is a genie who grants whatever wish you want, as long as
they get your money!

While I believe that it is true that God will bless those who support
the gospel, I think it is wrong to relegate those blessings to sheer
materialism and the things of this world. It's very ironic that these
"preachers" focus so much on materialism and money, because I thought
Jesus talked about forsaking the things of this world, pick up the
cross, and follow him? They seem to forget that there are other ways
that God can bless people, besides money. They also seem to forget
that God is not a genie, but you'd never guess it from their "name it,
claim it" nonsense where they seem to demand this or that in Jesus
name. Now, I do believe that God can do miracles today, but I think
that these "preachers" are really focusing too much on that, and not
enough about Jesus.

My dear departed grandmother, god bless her soul, was prey for these
swindlers. I guess she did not know better and thought they were the
genuine article. These swindlers would send her letters, saying that,
for instance, if she sent them a $100, that God would see that as a
"point of contact" and heal her of arthritis. Or help her with her
finances. Of course, despite all of her years of giving to the likes
of Oral Roberts, Peter Popoff, Jimmy Swaggart, her local
charismatic/pentecostal church and various other group she supported,
she was bankrupt when she died, and she was never cured of her
arthritis or other health problems. it seems that the only ones who
benefit are these preachers, all of whom enjoy lavish lifestyles and
mansions courtesy of their flock.

Now, to tie in to Oral Roberts specifically and then to Billy Graham, I
believe that either Oral Roberts is a very, very clever con man, or
he's one of the biggest kooks ever. He certainly amassed a very large
financial empire, which at it's peak included ownership of dozens of
tv, radio stations, as well as his University and the now defunct "city
of faith" center. I can not see how Oral Roberts is the genuine
article, and he has left behind a string of false prophecies. Besides
the time when he said God would kill him unless if his followers sent
in $8 million. The same goes for these other swindlers such as Benny
Hinn that followed in his footsteps, who twist the words of the bible
in order to prey on people who are going through bad situations, and to
pump up those who want justification for greed. You can read more
about Oral Roberts controversial life and ministry here:

http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/the_life_and_ministry_of_oral_roberts.htm


Now, this bring me to Billy Graham. Billy Graham, as far as his own
life and ministry is concerned, is pretty much beyond reproach and
really isn't innudated with scandals. I tend to give Billy Graham the
benefit of the doubt, because of his own actions and works, and will
say that I believe that he is the real deal and a true evangelist of
the gospel.

But if so, then what is the motivation behind Billy Graham endorsing
the likes of a con man like Oral Roberts? Afterall, Billy Graham was
at Oral Roberts University when it first opened, and from what I read
when he gave the commencement speech, Billy remarked that it was the
greatest day of his life. In fact, Oral Roberts used Billy in terms
of making himself look more legitimate, and sent out publicity photos
of both of them together through his own media. He crowed about their
friendship. Billy also invited Oral Roberts to evangelism congresses.


But, wouldn't Billy Graham be smart enough to realize that something
doesn't quite smell right with Oral Roberts and many of his associated
teachings? And why hasn't Billy Graham condemend the materialism of
the "prosperity gospel" and why didn't he condemn Oral Roberts for
telling his tele-parishioners that God would kill him unless if he
received $8 million? It seems that Billy is reluctant to speak out
against those who are doing harm to the cause of Christ. Oral Roberts
must be very cunning to pull the wool over Billy Graham's eye.
Funnily enough, in a book that Oral Roberts wrote in 2002, he still
mentioned that Billy Graham is a "warm friend".

So here is a question I'd like to cap this all of with. Why do you
think Billy Graham maintains a friendship with Oral Roberts, especially
when it's obvious that Oral Roberts is a spiritual fraud? Maybe
Billy is not that dumb and realizes that the guy is a con man, but if
he does know that, then what would be the point of associating with
Oral Roberts? What would be the benefits..political and otherwise?

thanks

.

Relevant Pages

  • Open Letter to Billy Graham evangelistic association
    ... Dear Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, ... Oral Roberts, and if Mr. Graham continues to endorses him? ... where he described Billy Graham as a "warm friend". ...
    (alt.religion.christian)
  • Re: Richard Feynman
    ... Professor John Wheeler, ... concerning correct physics and the existence of God or the Supreme Creator, ... Billy Graham, ... Yahweh is singularly disinterested in human suffering ...
    (sci.physics)
  • cute joke
    ... The Pope, Billy Graham, and Oral Roberts were in a three-way plane crash ... and we gotta fix the place up for 'em. ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
  • Re: He is supposed to be gods dedicated worker and yet god gave him........
    ... Do you agree that although his work is dedicated to god as he had claimed, ... Baptist, heads a $100 million a year evangelistic empire, the Billy Graham Evangelistic ... The Cove was started in 1987 and includes an inn and a Cove camp for youths ages 9-15. ... Approximately 5-10,000 adults are trained there annually in Graham-style evangelism. ...
    (soc.culture.singapore)
  • Gonna Be A Rivival Meetin... Here, Tonight!
    ... And so Billy graham had at times to correct Falwell ... education was in Garrison koeller's one room school house out on the ... The Rabbi Chaim Potok wrote a book, a novel, about the ... Thank God. ...
    (soc.culture.usa)