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MAKE NOT MY FATHER'S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE
~ Profiteering by Catholics and Evangelicals has reached unbelievable depths...Jesus, once again, must throw the modern-day money changers from the Temple!
MAKE NOT MY FATHER’S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE!
(John 2:16b)
By Doug Krieger
MERCHANDISING THE WORD OF GOD JUST GOT WORSE!
Just when you thought that the depths of “evangelical ministries and churches” seeking after filthy lucre and the “mammon of unrighteousness” could not get any more ostentatious—we’re hit with the recent LA Times articles on the financial excesses of the Trinity Broadcasting Network—the world’s largest evangelical programming network!
Nothing like having the “world” hang out your dirty underwear for all to see and scorn. WHY IS IT THAT THE WORLD MUST SIT AS JUDGE AND JURY TO PRONOUNCE OUR INTENTIONS ARE WRETCHEDLY DEFILED BY THE GOD OF MAMMON? The Bible declares: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:17)
JOHN REVEALS WHAT GOD IS AFTER TODAY!
Now, you thought that Jesus tossed out the “money changers” from the Temple in Jerusalem just prior to His crucifixion—and, actually, you’re right. Shortly after His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem (Matthew 21), He entered the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13) and declared while overturning the tables of the money changers, that they had made it a “den of thieves.” Then, he visited Bethany (Matthew 21:17); gave parables and the “Olivet Discourse” (Matthew 21:28-25:46); and then the Passover and the ultimate crucifixion—all within a matter of days (Matthew 26:1-27:56)!
So, how is it that in John’s Gospel (at the very beginning of His three-plus-years’ ministry), immediately following the account of His first miracle at the “Wedding of Cana of Galilee,” John records: “He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple . . . poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables . . . and He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:15-16)? Note: This “appears” out of chronological order by some three years! But some commentators allege that Jesus literally accomplished this fete TWICE—at the beginning and at the end of His ministry—making the issue all the more significant!
John’s “accounting” is, however, “spiritually-designed” to convey to us Christ as our Life:
“And truly Jesus did many other signs (i.e., “miracles”) in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
John presents Christ as the Son of God—OUR LIFE! As our Life, He pours Himself as the NEW WINE into empty human vessels. He is our true enjoyment—the One Who fills us; Who changes the “water into wine” (the transforming power of His Life) to create, through His Divine Life, His “Ultimate Intention” – THE BRIDE OF CHRIST! In John’s first miraculous accounting, performed by the Son of God, He immediately sets forth why He has come to the earth as our Life—the setting is altogether too clear: His Life will “bring forth” the Bride of Christ—He is our Bridegroom—He is looking for a Bride—we are that Bride!
BUT—John immediately brings us to the Temple and the money changers? Why? Because, although He is desirous for a Bride, there is a huge problem—the Temple of God (which, again, is a type of God’s “Ultimate Intention” and/or a picture of His Habitation (II Corinthians 6:16)) is abused and has become a “den of thieves” – IT MUST BE PURGED! For the Son of God, Who has revealed in John’s Gospel His desire for a Bride—must “cleanse” His Temple and make it a “house of prayer for all peoples.”
FALSE PROPHETS MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU!
The unsuspecting members of the Jewish Diaspora scattered throughout the Roman World came to Jerusalem to offer their sacrifice. They entered the Temple of Jesus’ time and were provided a “much-needed” service in the conversion of their foreign currency into shekels, in order to purchase their particular sacrifice (be it a dove, etc.).
Eventually, however, these “services” evolved into nothing more than ripping off the people of God—“a den of thieves.” The Apostle Peter speaks of these very same thieves in the Church who afflicted the Church; to wit:
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (“privately” or “secretly”) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words (Lit., “well-turned words” – i.e., “spin”) MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (II Peter 2:1-3) (Emphasis, DWK).
Indeed, how clever are these modern-day Church thieves? In essence these “evangelical money changers,” with their “pernicious ways” and their modern-day “spin” of seductive, well-turned words—prey as much upon those who have come to offer their sacrifices within the Temple of God as the thieves of yesteryear who were driven out of the Temple, had their tables upturned, and their money bags EMPTIED by the Son of God! MAKE NOT MY FATHER’S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE!
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 the 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 the Times piece. The Times articles also exposed an illicit affair allegedly committed by Crouch and the hush money that went with the cover-up!
Nearly 18 months have passed since I wrote a series of articles decrying the extravagant methodologies by today’s “evangelical charlatans” and entrepreneurs who continue to both harass and fleece the people of God—it is relentless and unabated; frankly, without precedence since the days of selling Papal Indulgences by Johann Tetzel, who sold the Grace of God to multitudes of the faithful in order to build St. Peters Basilica and the splendors of Vatican City.
What is it about these “den of thieves” that demand such ostentatious settings for their views below of the vulnerable they bilk? The extravagance of the Evangelical Empire of the Crouches literally, and this is hard to fathom, that of the Vatican’s!
Yes, this makes for some interesting comparisons. According to the 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, the Vatican stats are exceedingly skewed due to their priceless art treasures which are incalculable; however, a TIDINGS ON LINE article by John Thavis, the 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 the Crouches in nearby Newport Beach (adjacent photo recently on the market for $8 million), demonstrates, according to the “Gospel of Prosperity” God’s blessing upon TBN’s ministry.
St. Peter’s Basilica took nearly 100 years to complete (1626 AD); meanwhile the Vatican Papal Residence (i.e., The Apostolic Palace) and gardens, along with scores of similar residences, dwarfs anything the 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 the Crouches—the likes of which staggers the 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 the camera and proclaims the need for $8 million in order to spread the Good News throughout the 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 the pledge for the “Lord would repay them many times over!” (*Note: Quote marks are derived from the LA Times series.)
The outrageous appeal for such funds for the “spread of the 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 the India expansion out of the interest on its investment portfolio. But at TBN, the appeals for money never stop—nor does the flow of contributions.
Did somebody say “success?” Well, if you think success can be compared to the likes of Ted Turner, listen to how the world compares such “success” –
“Much as Ted Turner did for TV news, the Crouches have created a global infrastructure for religious broadcasting. But that is just one element in their success. Another is a doctrine called the ‘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 the highest salaries paid by any of the 12 major religious nonprofits whose finances are tracked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.”
please view rest of article @: www.the-tribulation-network.com)
About the Author
Doug is a team member of the lastdaysnetwork.com . . . an end times' prophetic ministry to the Church. His articles appear on numerous evangelical and even "secular" web sites on topics regarding Religion and Politics. His URL is www.the-tribulation-network.com
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