It was Time magazine that first coined the phrase televangelist. Since then the word has become synonymous with shameless frauds, people who promise miracles for money and besmirch any decent ideas Jesus might have come up with.
How do they get away with it? I was reading in an article that Americans donate over £10billion a year to these charlatans in saints clothing, and my question is this: have these people read the bible?
You don’t even have to read the whole thing to pick up a few handy hints on the general vibe of Christ’s supposed views on the super wealthy. Matthew 19:24: “and I tell you it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Possibly not one of Billy Grahams favoured sermons before convincing those faithful among his flock to DONATE, DONATE, and DONATE to the LORD!
The four original evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the “authors” (the books are accredited to the men, but in fact, most are anonymously written) of the first four gospels of the New Testament. They are said to tell the “witnessed” accounts of the life, teaching and ministry of Jesus Christ, and were recognised as biblical canon by Pope Innocent 1 in the fifth century.
Even in their time, those who were seen to gain money out of the teachings of Jesus were judged severely. Paul called them "men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain" (Timothy 6:5) Peter called them false prophets with "heart[s] trained in greed" (Peter 2:15) He warned that "in their greed they will exploit you with false words" (v. 3). He exposed them as scoundrels and dismissed them as "stains and blemishes" on the church (v. 13).
I want to make it totally clear here that I am not a Christian (I do not subscribe to any one religion but believe people should have the freedom to express faith in anyway that suits them), and doubt that if Jesus did come back, he would be one either. The bible, however, is full of great ideas (as well as absolutely ridiculous ones) and has stood the testimony of time well. Is it a book you read, or read into – who knows? Who has actually read it all? (Not me, but the books I own and do swear by have been read thousands of times.)
It just seems to me that convincing people that Jesus would want a fiver for helping you walk would be a lot easier if those people had never read about the man. Then again, evangelism is and always has been about only relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not yet share them. And as PT Barnum put it, there is a sucker born every minute…
Preying on the weak and the desperate to fill their pockets full of gold (nine pieces of silver would never be enough for them) is one level where these preachers-for-profit contradict their scripture vastly, but the level at which they trump hypocrisy in everyone’s books is in forming intolerance as a basis for their teachings.
The Christian Right in America forms 23% of the electorate, and with opinions that stretch from the absurdity of legislating from passages of Leviticus (although, they are selective) to teaching creationism in schools, it is terrifying how much dominance they have in a country often referred to as the leader of the free world. George W Bush owed both election successes to the evangelical vote. Less said, the better.
But there is nothing that contradicts the evangelical, right wing standpoint more than the bible. How can a group of people say that all life is precious, unique, and worth protecting on the one hand, while outwardly mobbing those who choose to live homosexual lifestyles?
Most of their rallies seem to centre in the idea of sin, and sinning as if it is a mortal crime only punishable in hell. However, the bible says:
“Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven..." Matt 18:21-22
The bible also says: “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” Luke 6:27-32
In contradiction to “They hate us for our Freedom. Blow them up.”
I could spend all day listing the discrepancies, but it still would never answer the puzzle I have always had no clue to solve: Who could ever misinterpret this? If you were to spend your whole life reading one book, and only one book, and the book you chose was the bible, would you hope not to come out of it a better person?
It is after all called the “good book”, and I doubt this is in reference to the dazzling array of characters (although, it could be.) Have you ever noticed that the Bible is never accused of starting war? Nor is the Torah, nor the Quran. It is always religious warfare or dispute, never scriptural.
How did we stray so very far from the text?
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