The Sunshine Empire

I have mentioned in the past my private Catholic faith, yet I live in a Baptist and protestant rich area of the country. I find the fire-and-brimstone presentation of televangelists a far cry from the staid and pious homilies of mass, and fascinating as well. While browsing through Fark.com I caught a piece regarding five big ticket televangelists that are featured prominently on local television, and how a Baptist Republican is going to war with them regarding their finances. These ministers are part of what is called the prosperity Gospel movement. They feel that financial achievement is a sign of God’s blessing. These people have, as much as they can, been instrumental in the rise of the evangelical movement as a political force in the early part of this decade and enthusiastically backed the current administration. Yet it is a Baptist Iowa Republican, Charles Grassley, the ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee that is probing the tax exempt status of some of these opulent mega-churches.

The Senator asked these rock stars of the cloth for more transparency in where donors gifts have gone. Some drive Bentley’s and fly to and fro on Church supported Lear Jets. Some have welcomed the opportunity, like Joyce Meyer. Other’s like Creflo Dollar live in million dollar homes and say it’s none of our business. This story is interesting for several reasons. One reason is the political bravery of going after one of the sacred cows of the conservative movement. This especially when evangelicals are showing a willingness to stray from the flock. Another is the sham of tax exempt status in the tax code. Groups like the NAACP on the left and mega churches on the right openly flaunt the non-partisan requirement of tax exempt status and more scrutiny is needed. Finally, living the jet set lifestyle on God’s dime is just reprehensible.

From CBS: Do “Prosperity Preachers” Prey On Hope?