Please review our chapter in UNSEALING THE END OF DAYS entitled: Chapter 10, Part 2, “Take These Things Away! Do Not Make My Father’s House a House of Merchandise!” (John 2:16).

MAKING MERCHANDISE OF GOD’S PEOPLE – THE CROUCHES

On September 19, 2004 a series of articles appeared in Los Angeles Times entitled THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL with a byline: Pastor’s Empire Built on Acts of Faith, and Cash . . . The top Christian broadcaster’s steady plea for money funds growth—and a life of luxury for Paul Crouch and his wife, by William Lobdell, Times Staff Writer—also, Times staff writer Scott Martelle assisted in Times piece. The Times articles also exposed an illicit affair allegedly committed by Crouch and hush money that went with cover-up!

Nearly 18 months have passed since I wrote a series of articles decrying extravagant methodologies by today’s “evangelical charlatans” and entrepreneurs who continue to both harass and fleece people of God—it is relentless and unabated; frankly, without precedence since days of selling Papal Indulgences by Johann Tetzel, who sold Grace of God to multitudes of faithful in order to build St. Peters Basilica and splendors of Vatican City.

What is it about these “den of thieves” that demand such ostentatious settings for their views below of vulnerable they bilk? The extravagance of Evangelical Empire of Crouches literally, and this is hard to fathom, that of Vatican’s!

Yes, this makes for some interesting comparisons. According to LA Times’ article, TBN’s latest 2002 balance sheet lists their net assets at $583 million, including $238 million in Treasury bonds and other government securities and a mere $31 million in cash—along with 400 employees.

Now, Vatican stats are exceedingly skewed due to their priceless art treasures which are incalculable; however, a TIDINGS ON LINE article by John Thavis, Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service on July 16, 2004 wrote an article entitled: Amid diocesan financial crises, Vatican has own problems—to wit:

“The Vatican’s net worth is difficult to gauge, but has been estimated at close to $1 billion.”

Trinity Christian Center International, located in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California, with its elaborate sets, and adjacent gated development in which Trinity Broadcasting Network owns 11 homes, along with residences in Texas, Tennessee and Ohio—along with extravagant homes owned by Crouches in nearby Newport Beach (adjacent photo recently on market for $8 million), demonstrates, according to “Gospel of Prosperity” God’s blessing upon TBN’s ministry.

St. Peter’s Basilica took nearly 100 years to complete (1626 AD); meanwhile Vatican Papal Residence (i.e., The Apostolic Palace) and gardens, along with scores of similar residences, dwarfs anything Crouches could envision—but, given time, who knows what will suffice them

PLEADING OR PREYING UPON THE PEOPLE OF GOD

The LA Times article revealed an amazing amalgamation of unprecedented wealth heaped up by Crouches—the likes of which staggers imagination of, I am sure, even one Donald Trump. No, it’s not akin to a Bill Gates—but given time, look out!

Paul Crouch peers into camera and proclaims need for $8 million in order to spread Good News throughout Indian subcontinent. Viewers were/are encouraged to give $1,000 each as a pledge—even if they don’t have it to give—but to take a “step of faith”* and make pledge for “Lord would repay them many times over!” (*Note: Quote marks are derived from LA Times series.)

The outrageous appeal for such funds for “spread of Gospel in India” upon some 8,700 television stations was not a matter of “additional funding needs” because: “TBN was not short on cash. In fact, it could have paid for India expansion out of interest on its investment portfolio. But at TBN, appeals for money never stop—nor does flow of contributions.

Did somebody say “success?” Well, if you think success can be compared to likes of Ted Turner, listen to how world compares such “success” –

“Much as Ted Turner did for TV news, Crouches have created a global infrastructure for religious broadcasting. But that is just one element in their success. Another is a doctrine called ‘prosperity gospel,’ which promises worshipers that God will shower them with material blessings if they sacrifice to spread His Word.”

But “success” has its downside:

“The network, little known outside fundamentalist Christian circles, was buffeted by unwanted publicity last week, when The Times reported that Crouch had paid a former employee $425,000 to keep silent about an alleged homosexual tryst.

“WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD . . . YOU’RE SIMPLY LOANING TO THE LORD AND HE GIVES IT RIGHT ON BACK!”

TBN has no advertising—yet it generates more than $170 million a year in revenues—its viewers contribute two-thirds of that money! Do you want to know what you’re paying for? Take a gander:

“Paul, 70, collects a $403,700 salary as TBN’s chairman and president; Jan, 67, is paid $361,000 as vice president and director of programming. Those are highest salaries paid by any of 12 major religious nonprofits whose finances are tracked by Chronicle of Philanthropy.”

please view rest of article @: www.the-tribulation-network.com)

I used to think that selling “prayer clothes” was height of carnal “Christian” entrepreneurship—now, I’ve changed my mind. It’s “Swaggart Syndrome” –they (be it Jim Jones, David Koresh, Johann Tetzel or Paul Crouch) condemn commitment of others for not contributing to their “gospel of kingdom.” They excoriate your lack of fidelity, morality, faith—you know, all “positive” things missing from your wretched and compromised life, because you won’t “cough up” coin for their “ministry” and “utopian schemes”—all while they secretly imbibe in a deplorable live-style full of very corruption they allegedly detest in you!

Worst yet—their name calling of us NarDoWells who do not contribute to their largess (e.g., “dolts, idiots, simpletons, naïf, sniveling cowards, turncoats, traitors”—whatever scorn they wish to heap upon us)—bespeaks of their own spiritual poverty whose deficit grows each day you and you and I are dumb enough to keep giving them “blood money” they suck out of us! Now, what really gets nauseating here are guys (although “guilt by association” with likes of Tetzel and Crouches is bad enough company) who damn your soul to hell, while you, like Daniel Prophet, find yourself in midst of Babylon laboring under Babylon’s watchful eye—meanwhile they plead for you to give them your Babylonian resources!

That’s right—sort of a “Tribulation Tithe” or, worse yet, TAX. It’s a Jim Jones—Yasser Arafat number. Why is it that these guys are so beloved—all while heaping up mucho dinero (big bucks) for themselves? Why is it that their lackeys drink Kool Aide and suffer impoverishment in camps? I’ve always warned—and still do—FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL. They condemn you until you give; they’ll frighten you until you can’t sleep at night; they’ll twist Scriptures until you pop for all coin they can squeeze out of you (all while they feed off of Babylon’s social security, pension plans, foundations, and property acquisitions). Height of hypocrisy, you say—that doesn’t come near condemnation it deserves.

Still, likes of Tetzel, Jim Jones, Paul Crouch, Yasser Arafat, et. al, have quite a rap—and such a worthwhile cause—so, cough it up you lackeys and let ‘um pile up their riches, estates, compounds, basilicas, Swiss accounts; all at your expense. And, remember, they’ve got message you adore, you fear, you loathe, or somehow affects your pocketbook—again, all while poor (they say they care about) go begging!

THEY BEAR THE GREATER CONDEMNATION I tell you—brothers and sisters—the Almighty will hold those who PREY UPON THE FAITHFUL greater condemnation; for they have corrupted Gospel of Grace of God and their conscience is that described in Jude’s denunciation of their contrivance:

“But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally. Like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in way of Cain, have run greedily in error of Balaam for profit and perished in rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by roots; raging waves of sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 10-13).

Now for “cheerful” or “hilarious” givers among us—don’t stop—remember, Lord loves such (II Cor. 9:7)—but, if you’re giving is out of “condemnation” or somebody’s trying to “scare hell out of you”—STOP! Incidentally, if you try to give to this ministry, it won’t work—we’re not for sale—give to poor; genuine poor, not “internet poor.” Sorry, I just can’t help it (P.S. There are still some good internet ministries worthy of your support.).