I Don't Trust Televangelists, But I Trust Politicians Even Less!

© Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, November 18,2007

I am not keen on televangelists.  While I can’t look into their hearts, I feel a little uncomfortable when they appropriate to themselves discernments that, in my judgment, are attributable only to God.  Also, the notion that, were Jesus doing his earthly ministry today, he would be riding around in a Rolls-Royce seems a little bit of a stretch to me.

I don’t send televangelists money.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  If you do, that is fine, but I prefer to donate my meager resources to causes that are closer to home and where I may have a bit more knowledge about the disposition of my dollars. 

All of that being said, I am very uncomfortable with the latest effort of the Congress to inquire into the finances of certain mega-churches, two, of which, are here in Georgia.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, has requested financial records from the World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia and from the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church of Lithonia, Georgia.

Now, it is important to note that these churches and their leaders are NOT accused of any crime.  Currently, there is no reason to believe that these folks have done anything wrong other than to live, what many would feel to be, a lavish life style.

Grassley asserts that his inquiry is to determine that the monies spent by the ministries fall within the boundaries of the tax code and that the monies are going where the donors expect it to go.

I have no problem with the first part of his motive.  Certainly, churches and church leaders should follow the tax laws that apply to them just like any other citizen.  The second part of his purpose (determine…that the monies is going where the donors expect it to go) is another matter.

What gives this jack-legged politician from Iowa the wisdom to deduce just what the donors, who give to these organizations, expect?

This is just another example of the arrogance of government (and it doesn’t matter which party is in power) in believing that it should protect us from ourselves.

I fear that there could be a more sinister element here. 

Some, like me, who don’t care for televangelists may be tempted to say, “Let them squirm.”  The problem is that if we let the Congress get away with this intrusion into religious liberty, tomorrow it may be your church which is too showy or your preacher who dresses too well!

Think about it.