How to Spot a Religious Con Artist and False Teacher

Here is how...

1. They interpret as many scriptures and biblical principles as possible as reasons for sending them money. Even with scriptures instructing the giving to the poor, they will claim that can be done through them.

2.  They constantly mix faith and obedience to God's word with sending them money.

3. They do not permit and / or strongly discourage questioning what they teach.

4. They often claim that your very salvation is tied to how much money you send them; "stop giving and you are on your way to hell," they will claim.

5. They use threats of curses and withheld blessings from God if you stop giving them money.

6. They have multiple methods of collecting money; offerings, tithes, phone pledges, partnership programs, financial breakthrough seminars, and more.

7. When forced to answer for their constant pleas for money, they offer insults, arguments, angry responses, but never scripture in proper context. 

8. A large percent of their sermons, either overly or covertly, lead to reasons for sending them money.

9. They offer un-scriptural rewards for giving them money such as claiming you will become wealthy by doing so, or healed, or other claimed benefits.

10. They live expensive life styles, and if asked to justify how they live, they become defensive, claim they are "blessed by God," and claim that their life style is no one's business.

11. They will claim some kind of "divine right" to receive as much money as they can get their hands on.

12. They cultivate a mystique about themselves that their monetary prosperity comes from being a powerful wealthy man or women of God because of their "strong faith."

13. When their income drops they will go on the warpath rebuking and accusing their gullible followers of a being stingy, having a lack of faith, not being "faithful to the ministry" and other forms of guilt mongering and pressure tactics to increase the giving, including threats of "the ministry will go under," "people will be lost to hell if you don't give," and you are "displeasing God for not giving enough," etc.

14. They will make false claims such as "35% of the words of Jesus were about money and that proves how important giving to the gospel is."

15. They often make statements that "this is a giving church," or "we believe in giving in our church," or "if you don't give generosity how can you call yourself a Christian?" 

16. There exists within the church or ministry a constant pressure to "give, give and give." And, if you don't, you feel guilty, shamed, uneasy and worried that you are not pleasing God.

17. They often engage in and organize expensive projects that require "sacrificial giving" and large donations and pledges. 

18. The underlined theme of the church or ministry is that of describing Christianity as a "life style" of constant giving as the primary activity; not prayer, not worship, not service, but giving.

19. Worship is described as giving money, service to God is described as giving money, victorious living is described as giving money, even conversion to Jesus Christ is described as a person who becomes "a giver of money."

20. An "immature Christian" is often described as a person "not giving enough."

21. They are described perfectly by the Apostle Peter...

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily 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 of. And through covetousness (LUST AFTER MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS) shall they with feigned words (WORDS OF DECEPTION) make merchandise (A SOURCE OF MONEY) of you: whose judgment (THEIR EVIL EXPOSED AND JUDGED BY GOD) now of a long time lingereth not (WILL BE RIGHT ON TIME), and their damnation (BEING SENT TO HELL) slumbereth not." - 2 Peter 2:1-3

We are warned to stay away from people who Peter is describing...

"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." - 1 Timothy 6:5 

"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." - Ephesians 5:11 

Sound like anyone you know?

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