Some Prosperity Preachers use fear to pressure church members to tithe. But some sleazy leaders have gone even further. In an egregious example of religious extortion, certain preachers demand outrageous sums of money in tithes from their churchgoers.
Individuals who fail to comply are subjected to “mafia-style” tactics ranging from harassment to being cut off from religious services. These religious leaders should be aware that this practice of extracting tithes through intimidation shows a lack of faith in God’s grace.
SOME PREACHERS ARE using mafia-style extortion tactics when they’re trying to get their congregations to tithe. Their gangster gospel makes God look like a Mafia boss.
Table of Contents
- Listen to the Podcast
- Video Transcript
- The Spirit of Fear
- FAQs About the Prosperity Gospel
- Outsmart the False Teachers
Listen to the Podcast
Video Transcript
In the movie clip, you just saw two representatives of a mafia boss demanding payments from a local business to “protect” the company from possible vandalism. When the business manager refuses to pay this “protection” money, the two mafia representatives employ a veiled threat that involves a possible assault on the manager’s life.
The mafia is known for extorting money from people.
Extortion is when someone uses threats of harm to receive protection money from you.
Some preachers are mixing mafia extortion tactics with their tithing sermons.
Why do I say that?
How many times have you heard a preacher tell you something terrible will happen to you if you don’t tithe?
For example, if you don’t tithe:
- God will curse you
- The devil’s going to get you
- You’ll lose your money
- You’ll get sick
- You’ll lose your job
- Your marriage will fall apart
- Your children will rebel
The list goes on and on…
The Spirit of Fear
Once these preachers have placed the spirit of FEAR in you, they offer you a solution that will protect you from all these bad situations: pay God 10% of your income.
They say that you must pay God 10% of your income for God to protect you.
I don’t know about you, but this sounds like mafia-style extortion. In this scenario, the preachers are representatives of the Mafia Boss, who, in this case, is God. Prosperity preachers collect protection money (tithes) on behalf of their Boss. The Mafia Boss (God) protects you if you pay tithes. The Mafia Boss (God) will not protect you if you don’t pay tithes.
When getting their congregations to tithe or sow financial seeds, some preachers know how to twist the Bible and threaten people with their mafia-style extortion gospel.
The notion that you can tithe your way out of harm’s way is not biblical.
How do we know this?
Let’s take a look at two scriptures:
Psalms 34:19, NKJV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Acts 14:22, NIV
“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
What does this tell us?
The scriptures clarify that you can not avoid bad or negative things happening to you in this life. Hardships are a part of life. They are a part of the Christian way of life. However, the Lord is there to get you through any afflictions and hardships you will encounter.
Furthermore, nowhere in those scriptures does it suggest or imply that you must pay the Lord 10 percent of your income, and THEN the Lord will deliver you out of your afflictions.
Yes, God is a protector, but God is not an extortionist or mafia boss.
FAQs About the Prosperity Gospel
Why Is the Prosperity Gospel Not Biblical?
The prosperity gospel is often criticized as not biblical because it emphasizes material wealth and physical well-being as primary indicators of God’s favor. This viewpoint contrasts with many New Testament teachings, such as Jesus’ assertion in Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV) that believers should not store up treasures on earth but in heaven.
Furthermore, the prosperity message can divert focus from the gospel’s core message of salvation, repentance, and spiritual growth. Lastly, many biblical figures, including Jesus and the apostles, lived modestly and faced hardships, challenging the claim that material wealth always signifies divine blessing.
Who Teaches the Prosperity Gospel?
The prosperity gospel, known as the “health and wealth” gospel, is taught by several high-profile televangelists and megachurch leaders. Notable figures associated with this teaching include Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, and Benny Hinn.
These preachers often emphasize that faith, positive speech, and tithing will increase one’s material wealth and health. It’s important to note that while these figures are prominent, many other Christian denominations and leaders openly criticize and reject prosperity theology.
Who Are the Wealthiest Prosperity Gospel Preachers?
Several prosperity gospel preachers have amassed significant wealth over the years, often drawing scrutiny and criticism for their lavish lifestyles. Notable among them are:
- Kenneth Copeland – Estimated net worth is $780 million
- Creflo Dollar – Estimated net worth of about $27 million
- Benny Hinn – Estimated to have a net worth of $60 million
- Joel Osteen – Net worth is estimated at $180 million
Outsmart the False Teachers
Discover the hidden truth about tithes the prosperity preachers don’t want you to know.👉👉 Click here.
