That evening TBN was hosting one of its endless “Praise-a-thons” in an attempt to raise money for its coffers. Now I want to caveat this with the fact that I know ministries need support to operate. Without the generosity of the people who are affected by the ministry, most ministries would have a rough time continuing to provide the service that it does. I must also add that although I find most of the programming to be poor, there are some gems within all the rocks…unfortunately they are fewer in number than in the past. So, as we turn on the show we see Paula White preaching her usual style of message. In typical fashion the focus was on “planting a seed”. "Planting a seed" is charismatic code for “give us money and in return you will receive a special blessing of getting more money in return”. This is a cornerstone of the prosperity gospel. Their constant references to “give and get” run throughout their preaching. Another charismatic code word consistently referenced is “abundance”. By “sowing a seed” today you will have abundance. The mathematical formula runs deep in prosperity gospel circles. Generally it’s by a factor of 7, 8 or 10. If you sow this seed today you will reap a return of tenfold in return. It’s preying on people’s inherent materialistic nature and pleading to their carnal side. Some folks turn to “religion” or “churchianity” in times of trouble…and for those with economic woes, this fits their needs.

As Paula White was preaching and beginning to reach the culmination of her message she said something that about knocked me out of my chair. Here is what she said “God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten son to die for you so you could have a more abundant life”. WHAT?!?! Last time I checked God said:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Somehow Paula White, and it seems many in the charismatic circles, equates being granted eternal life with having an abundant life. Their message is persistent and continual.

After Paula White was done the scene shifted to TBN studios in Los Angelos where Paul Crouch was hosting the continuation of the “Praise-a-thon”. Paul started to give a message on the vine and the branches from John 15.

As his message continued he started focusing on how the branches needed to bear fruit lest they cast off. At this point I leaned over to my wife and said “Watch this, his talk on bearing fruit is but a segue into asking for money”. Lo and behold within thirty seconds he transitioned to how the viewers needed to be a fruit bearer and send them money lest they be counted among the non-fruit bearers. WHAT!?!?!

That was about as much as I could bear and the remote control took over and surfed away from TBN for the evening.

So what’s my point? I guess I have several. First, God did not send His only Son to die so we could have a more abundant life as portrayed by the charismatic movement. Their focus is consistently on the here and now and on personal peace and affluence. How many times have you heard any of them talk about needing eight million dollars (or some other sum) for a lear jet so they can spread the Gospel. Further they are passing this mentality on to their supporters.

God does not promise us a more abundant life. In reality it’s quite the opposite. As we read Scripture we find:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

And these are but a few. We are promised that there will be trials, tribulation, persecution…NOT personal peace and affluence by the charismatic definition.

Further in the Epistles we find that the stations of leadership within the church have some distinct qualifications. There are those out there who hang the title of Bishop upon themselves, for them the Scriptures say this:

Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Tit 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Let’s think about that for a minute. As these “teachers” spread this distorted version of the Gospel what is the outcome? To what end? Are they not “teaching things which they ought not”? More so are they not doing it for “filthy lucre’s sake”? If you are wondering, “filthy lucre” is base personal gain…i.e. for the sake of money in this case.

What is our response to be? “Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” – Titus 1:13.

There are many other examples of warnings to church leadership along these lines. Why is this happening? Simple, the Church is sick…or better yet in the words of Christ…lukewarm. We are in the final age of the Church where we have many pew warmers.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Some folks today have fallen for the prosperity message and the associated snares that go along with it. These folks have been duped by these “ministers of light” by a message that is drawing them from the truth. We are to store our treasures up in heaven….not on earth. We are to be distribution centers….not storehouses.

What the church desperately needs is to TEST EVERYTHING that EVERY minister says. Hold it to the litmus test of Scripture. If every supporter of TBN did that…I daresay it wouldn’t be long lived on the air. And that my friends…may not be such a bad thing.