“WE DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY!!”
I will base this entire report with the very quote from Paul Crouch
Jr. himself. This is the TBN Fall 2007 Praise-a-Thon
QUOTE
OF THE WEEK:
“We don't need your money...we don't need your money, but we want you to be blessed, and we want to release the blessing into your life, and that's what this is all about” - (Paul Crouch Jr. - TBN Fall 2007 Praise-a-Thon November 10th 2007)
This is what it's really all about! It's not about TBN and their need to stay on the air with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, although this is what they tell you, but rather it's all about you being blessed! That's it! The entire week of Praise-a-Thon, with all the drama, fanfare and long winded, repetitive “seed faith giving” speeches, is actually all about YOU!! Plain and simple! I am not the one who said this...Paul Crouch Jr. did!
Yes, he really said it! TBN does not need your money! Why not? Because TBN, by their own admission, has mega-millions of dollars..that's why. Now, this is not what I take issue with. It is no secret TBN has mega-millions of dollars, in fact, an article in the Orlando Sentinel from October 21, 2007 entitled:“Scores lose jobs as Holy Land undergoes extreme makeover” states the following:“the network's net assets are estimated at more than $1 billion.” You can read the entire article for yourself here:
http://www.forgottenword.org/holyland.html.
Again, I do not take issue with how much money TBN has. What bothers me is the very idea TBN pleads, and even at times DEMANDS you to send money to them only...WHEN TBN HAS CLAIMED THEY DON”T NEED IT!!! TBN will tell you to preach the Gospel around the world, they need TV and satellite equipment...etc, and that costs money. That may be true, however this is not the point. The point here is TBN holds these fund raisers twice a year, then says they do not need your money because they have more than enough to stay on the air for a long time to come. Based on this fact, TBN has absolutely no need for these ridiculous Praise-a-Thon's!
If the Praise-a-Thon is really all about you being blessed, then:...1) Why doesn't TBN encourage people to give their money (which TBN doesn't need) to their local church to support the work of the local church and the pastor? 2) Why is it you will ONLY be blessed by God if you ONLY give to TBN ALONE?? 3) Why can't people be blessed by God by giving ONLY to their local church?
The answer to these questions can be found in the second part of the quote:
“...and we want to release the blessing into your life, and that's what this is all about” - (Paul Crouch Jr. - TBN Fall 2007 Praise-a-Thon November 10th 2007)
There it is! The reason you should give to TBN only! So that TBN can release the blessing into your life! TBN believes they have the one and only connection to God so they can release blessings to anyone who gives to them. Looks like your local church does not have that ability! This is why you will never hear anyone on TBN say something like this:
“...don't give to TBN because we don't need your money, instead give your money to your local Bible believing church, or to your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen and God will bless you.”
You will never hear anything like this on the Praise-a-Thon, nor on any other TBN program! Because TBN believes they are the only mouthpiece for God in this world, and they are the only way the Gospel will ever be preached in this world. TBN once proclaimed themselves as “the arm of God”, but does God need a 24/7 worldwide TV network to get the Gospel around the world? The Gospel been preached worldwide long before TBN ever existed, and you can thank the local New Testament Bible believing church for this. Why does God hold the local church in very high esteem? Because the local church is His institution which He has established on this earth to be His mouthpiece. In fact, the apostle Paul says this very thing to Timothy:
1 Timothy 3:14-15 - These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Paul was not talking of a worldwide TV network, he is speaking of the local church which he called “the pillar and ground of the truth.”
SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!
It's so incredible the arrogance of TBN...and also the audacity! If they don't need your money, then one would think God is already supplying their need. Apparently TBN does not believe this. Otherwise if they did, they would not need to do this fund raising twice a year! How hypocritical of TBN, being the biggest purveyor of the Word of Faith movement and prosperity gospel, pleading for funds twice a year in order to stay on the air, then claim they don't need your money after all. Sadly, millions and millions of people are falling hook, line and sinker at TBN's clever sales pitch. Scripture says something about this:
2 Peter 2:3 - And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Many people are convinced if they give to TBN, then God will bless them abundantly with blessings that go way beyond their needs. The apostle Paul also tells Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:6-8 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Pay extra special attention to verse eight - And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. This is the exact opposite of what TBN and the Word of Faith prosperity preachers will tell you. However Paul tells Timothy to be content with having enough to meet your need. This is also the sentiments of John the Baptist:
Luke 3:14 - And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
If TBN does not need the money, then you don't need to give to TBN. You will still be blessed when you give your money to your local New Testament Bible-believing church. Financially support your pastor and the work your local church does in the community. Give your finances to your local church to continue support for the missionaries and evangelists they send out to preach the Gospel! After all...TBN DOES NOT NEED YOUR MONEY...BUT, YOUR LOCAL CHURCH DOES!!
I am not against todays technology of TV, satellite or Internet broadcasting, they are tremendous tools. I myself use the Internet for this ministry. I have no problem giving to TV or Internet ministries so long as they preach and teach sound biblical doctrine. However, I am saying TV, satellite and the Internet must never supersede the work of the local church!
TBN does not need your money, but they sure do want it! I've said once and I'll say it again...your local church can do more to effectively preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ than TBN ever can!
Search the Scripture for yourself! SOLA SCRIPTURA! The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!
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