Good for Reverend Creflo Dollar! Sorry folks, I’ve kept silent on this issue long enough. I happen to enjoy many of the ministries who have been probed by the invasive Senator Grassley. I think Creflo has answered correctly.
A lawyer for preacher Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church International in suburban Atlanta has asked Sen. Charles Grassley to either refer the matter to the IRS or get a subpoena, according to a letter from Dollar’s attorney obtained Wednesday by the AP.
Continuing from the article:
Grassley emphasized the other five still have time. The senator also reiterated that his probe “has nothing to do with church doctrine” and is strictly concerned with making sure the tax-exempt groups are following the law.
Well, if that’s the case, how is this Grassley’s or the US Senate’s business? Wrong agency. Creflo has it right — the IRS should be handling this. You would think someone basically inviting the IRS to take a look at things is on the up and up and most likely have their T’s crossed and their I’s dotted.
Also, many of you may take issues with the Gospel of Prosperity, so to speak. However, I see no where in the Word indicating that God wants us poor. To me, prosperity is clearly included in the Gospel, but I’m unwilling to debate it because it doesn’t matter to me if you agree or not. I think it’s obvious that it is impossible to spread the Gospel without money. These particular ministries have huge followings or congregations. When someone is the CEO of a private business, they earn a large salary. I see know reason why men and women of God shouldn’t earn the same. Not to mention, these ministries have huge overhead and employ hundreds of people per ministry.
You can save your holier than thous they’re in the ministry and shouldn’t flaunt their money speeches. If you don’t like it, don’t give to them. It’s a free country, people can support whatever ministries they choose. Oh, but they take advantage of the elderly and those on fixed incomes?! Phooey! Gambling casinos that send buses to retirement centers the day social security checks arrive are taking advantage of the elderly on fixed incomes. Jump on that bandwagon.
Most of the people who are whining about people getting taken advantage of are selfish idiots upset that someone in their family gives to a particular ministry instead of giving them the money.
Oh, and if you think I’m denying that there are ministries doing things wrong financially, you would be incorrect. I realize those situations exist, and I know God can deal with it. He’s big enough. Christians attacking other Christians can become ridiculous. Many times, these same denominational ministries doing the attacking and finger pointing are the exact same denominational ministries who are apologizing to the freaking muslim community for offending them; calling that vile cult the religion of peace. I’m one that believes we should choose our battles a little more wisely.
Also, critics never look at all the wonderful things these ministries do. Kenneth Copeland ministries played a huge role in Louisiana after Katrina. Did the MSM cover that? I think not.
That felt good. 
I feel liberated! Now, where’s my checkbook … anyone standing up for their Constitutional rights such as Reverend Creflo Dollar makes me just want to write a check! :) Join in if you feel the Spirit move you!
Nice post Tammi.
I personally believe in people prospering also, isn’t that the American way? I could easily think of other organizations, besides some of the biggest proponents of the gospel of Jesus Christ that could use some attention and probing into. For example the “child porn” industry perhaps?
Hi Ted,
I think it is the American way too! However, I believe communists hate people prospering — especially the proponents of something other than their miserable doctrine.
Okay, silly question: if God wanted people to be poor (assuming, arguendo, that the Christian God is there), why would he make us with a) rational brains, b) in an earth full of food, raw materials for shelters, and c) one in which the Catholic Church is the richest corporation around?
Okay, enough of that.
Here’s MY problem with this nonsense: those people made their money themselves. I have this weird belief that, if you’re smart enough to make your money, you’re smart enough to decide how to spend it. Period. It is not the job of the government or your half-wit rellies to tell you how you can and cannot give it away.
Furthermore, it is NOT the job of the Senate to get their tighty-whities into a twist because someone is actually popular enough to make money. So what is the new standard? You only get to decide how to spend money if you’re too dumb to earn it yourself, and you are only allowed to accept donations if the government forces it out of their taxpayers at gunpoint?
SUCH CRAP.
But hey, I’m a libertarian. What ever happened to “Keep the government out of my wallet?”
I suggest Senator Grassley propose a bill capping charitable contributions to any non-government agency or institution. Perhaps a tax increase would be necessary to cover the paperwork and manpower costs associated with ensuring compliance. Maybe a cabinet level position such as Secretary of Charity would be useful to head up the inevitable Department of Homeland Charity.
I am just kidding, although I have no doubt that a department designed to control the charitable contributions of private citizens would be more active than the abysmal Department of Homeland Insecurity!
I am Catholic and I know I should not say this, but I would like Senator Grassley and all other taxpayer funded busy-bodies would go to HELL!
Hi Bridget,
Thanks for commenting on my rant post. Such stupidity. Like Ted stated, why not concentrate on areas that need work — like the freaking billion dollar porn industry and the other freaking billion dollar abortion industry. Umm …. last I checked, those industries actually cause real harm and are not Constitutionally protected. Sorry, the Constitution does not protect vulgarity, pornography, and the murder of children.
Agreed.
Hi Sam,
Exactly — and he’s Republican? I think he must be whore mongering for future votes from libtards or something.
I have to admit, when Congress was investigating steroid use in baseball, I thought that was none of their business and they were wasting taxpayer money by delving into that. Freaking busy body morons is what they are. How about Grassley showing us his financial records right now because I demand it? I mean, I bet his house is nicer than mine and he probably drives a newer, more expensive vehicle than I do! Only difference is, I don’t have a choice not to pay my taxes, but people giving to these ministries DO have a choice.
Ditto that. The First Amendment protects speech, not expression; a reasonable interpretation excludes porn. “Speech,” in 1790, did not include pornography.
The Constitution leaves matters of health, safety, and welfare to the States. If the people elect legislators who outlaw abortion, then you can’t whine and complain that it’s just not fair that you have to be pregnant after having unprotected sex.
My rant, by the way, extends to the estate tax. If you are smart enough to make your money, then you can decide if your kids are smart enough to spend it wisely; you can decide if your kids are fools, but hey, it’s your money and you can waste it; or you can decide if you want it to go to charity. I don’t see how the government should be involved in that.
(The worst part is, if you’ll permit an off-topic rant, that the estate tax hits really early. Imagine parents of a mentally and physically disabled kid. $2 million isn’t enough to keep that kid going for the rest of his life. Then there’s wealthy parents with a lot of kids - once you’re done splitting the pie eight or nine or ten ways, there’s not much, but hey, it’s still “a lot of money and really really unfair” so the gov’t taxes it.
The nation was founded on capitalistic principles, among others. If you don’t like it, go over to Russia or China or Romania, and enjoy the equality there - everyone is equally POOR.
Hi Bridget,
I agree. The estate tax sucks.
Guess what? Comment of the Week is done with the time stamp edited to show up at midnight.
Guess what else? It will have a sooper dooper cute picture of Knut. 
Tammi - midnight… your time!
I love pictures of that polar bear.
Great rant, Tammi. The only people who want us poor are those who don’t want missions and other good works greased with the finances they need to keep them going round. They’d rather the nanny state tax us dry so they can perpetuate their own voting base. Generous Christians make the nanny state obsolete and generous people tend to attract even more money. I’ve read the biographies of wealthy people and all of them believe in the spiritual law of give and you shall receive (and most of them aren’t even Christians).
On the other hand, if for some reason, my money runs dry, I’m not going to be out crying in the streets over it, either. As the apostle Paul says, “I’ve learned the secret of being happy with plenty and of being happy with little”.
So yes, if God has blessed you with finances, there’s nothing to be guilty about. All the more to bless your own family and to be generous with others.
Hi Aurora,
Exactly! What you said.
Seriously, it takes money, and a lot of to support missions around the world. Your point about the only people wanting to keep Christians poor are those who want us dependent on the nanny state is an excellent one.
I also get tired of the notion that it’s okay for lay Christians to be wealthy and capitalistic, but preachers … we need to keep them poor and humble. WHY?! Why insult men and women who spend their life working in the ministry by telling them they deserve nothing? Right — they will have their reward in heaven — give me a break, they have the same needs and desires as the rest of us. I love to see all Christians prosper. Most prospering Christians are very giving and generous.
Anyway, as always, thanks for dropping in. Be blessed and have a Merry Christmas!
Not to go all Ayn Rand on y’all, but the idea that you can only be spiritually good if you are starving and living off other people is total b.s.. One need not immolate himself in order to earn the respect of his fellow man.
It is no better to say that the poor are spiritually better than the wealthy than it is to say that the wealthy are morally superiour to the poor.
looks like Copeland is fighting back with a website of his own. I can’t say that I blame him. This article recently came out in Dallas Star Telegram..
http://www.star-telegram.com/northeast/story/671754.html