Oh yea -- God wants us to be broke
that is one of the dumbest thing I have heard.
How are we supposed to live if we are broke?
This is of course a different issue than if some people are con artists and deceiving.
It is funny how people lump everyone together.
It seems if someone is not ONLY preaching fire and brimstone then you are labeled prosperity preacher.
I for one do not want to be a baby Christian who has not grown beyond just not going to hell.
I want to learn how to apply the Word and see the working of the Holy Spirit everyday and in every aspect of my life.

This explains it very nicely.

The False Promise of the Prosperity Gospel: Why I Called Out Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pastor-rick-henderson/osteen-meyer-prosperity-gospel_b_3790384.html

For any religious person with wealth, when people meet you, they are wondering why you haven't given your money away to the needy. They may not say it out loud, and they may not even know that they are thinking this consciously, but they are thinking it. This is one of the reasons Mitt Romney lost. People just didn't trust him, and they couldn't quite put their fingers on why they didn't. The wealth is the reason.

Jesus wasn't wealthy, and he did call upon people to be broke. He asked the disciples to give up their livelihoods. He cast the money changers out of the temple. A lot of people on the religious right might argue that giving money away encourages dependency,but there are plenty of organizations that just invest in businesses started by the poor, or give people in developing countries a one time benefit of a productive asset, like a cow or an irrigation pump.

I don't trust them. I've had arguments with my mother about this because she really likes Joyce.

I think if you take the gospel seriously, God probably does want you to be broke.

I agree that I don't really trust any wealthy clergy person.

You cannot lump them altogether.
You have to look at the work of each ministry and their finances.
You must also discern if their teaching is accurate.
I love to listen to Joyce and her application of the Word to our everyday life.
God did not call anyone to be a con artist.
Noe did he call us to be broke.
If a person is called to minister and write books, etc. then they should be able to sell them.
Ministers are not supposed to be broke and busted.
You just have to be able to vet their finaci dealings of their ministries to be sure they are on the up and up.
It's one thing to get rich selling books, thst is legitimate to me.
Not so getting rich solely on people's tithes.
That is wrong.

fools and their money are easily parted.

Anonymous wrote:I think it is wrong to have a private jet and make millions as a minister. However, I have nothing against a businesswoman/man or actor living the same lifestyle.

Yeah, but she lists her massive estate as non profit avoiding paying local and state taxes. She also has her children and husband as employees of the ministry. I guess God called them all to minister to the poor to turn over their money.

They definitely are not asking WWJD.

Anonymous wrote:Is the minister also giving money to charity like many businesswomen/men?

Maybe, but does it count if your lifestyle is supported entirely by the charity of others? I donate $10 to her ministry. She spends $9 and donates $1. Seems a bit off.

I think they're frauds and can't take them seriously. It doesn't matter what religion someone is, if they're majorly profiting from their faith for personal gain, I think they're con men and con women.

Anonymous wrote:Is the minister also giving money to charity like many businesswomen/men?

Probably, but that is beside the point. The question is should you get rich from your work as a minister? Would it not be better (and certainly more Christ-like) to live a comfortable but simpler lifestyle and give the rest to the poor?
Jesus had a lot to say about wealth, none of it good.

Is the minister also giving money to charity like many businesswomen/men?

Elmer Gantry type cons. Nothing new.

I think it is wrong to have a private jet and make millions as a minister. However, I have nothing against a businesswoman/man or actor living the same lifestyle.