They lock you in!

They lock you in! (The tactics of "prosperity gospel" ministers such as Mike Murdock and friends)...

One of the main (almost undetectable and subliminal) dangerous and deceitful elements of false teachers like Murdock is that they represent themselves as "focus points" or "conduits of prosperity."

That is to say that they try to trick people into believing that a person MUST give to them, must plant their "faith seed" with them (in this case, Murdock) because they have been "appointed by God" to be the the "door to prosperity" for you.

No, they don't usually come right out and say that (though some actually do), but it is strongly implied with deceptive strategies that lock you into giving to them such as...

- Tithing programs you can join. Emphasis on JOIN, deceiving you into believing that you are some kind of "member" with obligations and oaths of commitment to giving to them.

- Flowing tears and emotional appeals for money.

- Partnership programs.

- Regular monthly pledges (in some cases including coupon payment books that appear like car payment coupons giving the feeling of a bill that must be paid).

- Give and we will specially pray for you to prosper (as if you can't get that "special prayer" and the answer from God anywhere else).

- Calling their organization and "ministry" a "work of God" deserving of your "generous sacrificial giving."

- Give and get your "love gift" (a long time favorite con job of TBN; you give, they get your name, address, and pledge, and then send you some kind of useless plastic trinket you can't get anywhere else, and is about as worthless as the plastic toys you get in cereal boxes or at McDonald's). God, in this case, is reduced to a trinket salesman trying to get your money.

- "If you don't give, we're going under," OR, "if you don't give, people will spend eternity in hell and their blood will be on your hands."

- Stern warnings that if you give somewhere else, or to someone else, you might be "planting your faith seed in a ditch" and therefore will not receive your "break through."

- Using claims and deceptive words designed to put a prosperity carrot out in front of you; "give and God will get rid of all your credit debt for you." (an especially useful method to fool desperate people in debt). Or, "give and that thing you have been praying about will come to pass."

- Out right threats such as "tithe or don't come to my church." A favorite of con artist Robert Morris, and long with his "Tithe to walk in a blessed life" nonsense. Or, "your prayers are not being answered because you are not tithing." A favorite satanic lie of Paul Crouch used numerous times during their so-called "Praise-A-Thons."

- And while on the subject of TBN's "Praise-A-Thons;" another method of deceiving people into giving you large sums of money is; "Lights, Camera, Action," music, loud exciting sermons on giving while promising endless prosperity to the giver, provocative body language (if you can stand it, watch Paula White deliberately use her body and body language to excite people into giving), special effects, a carefully designed TV production set and elaborate church stages designed to stimulate the senses and convince the viewer that by giving they are part of something big and exciting, something overwhelming and awesome, so therefore don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to give, give, give.

- The above, along with just about any lie, tactic, deceptive practices, pressure, and claim you can think of to lock you into giving money on a regular basis.

What does the Bible say? This...

The guideline for our giving to God and His work is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."

Giving bountifully does not mean being fooled, pressured, tricked and forced into giving. NEITHER DOES IT ALWAYS MEAN MONEY; how about giving help, friendship, your time, encouragement, other material things such as food to the needy, prayer efforts, run an errand for a person who is sick or in need of help, visit a person in prison to share the Gospel with, etc. Our Father tells us...

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7 ...that is to say we are to use our minds and think soberly, not being fooled by greedy liars and devilish con artists.

And don't forget...

2 Peter 2:1-3, "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 (EVIL) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words (ALL THE ABOVE) make merchandise (A SOURCE OF MONEY) of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not (IT'S RIGHT ON TIME AND WILL NOT BE DELAYED), and their damnation slumbereth not."

By the way; "follow their pernicious ways" can also mean one con artist learning "the fund raising trade" from another con artist. Have you noticed that ALL of the "word of faith" ministers use almost exactly the same methods to raise money? See list above again.

Final thought...

We are told, for among other reasons, to examine ourselves and judge as to whether we be in the faith."

- 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?"

And, one translation reads...

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don't you recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that you're failing the test?"

What is your motivation and reason for giving; being fooled, greed, fear, ignorance, inexperience in the Word, OR being lead by the Spirit? THINK soberly before you give!

______________________________

Copyright 2019, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com.