I guess T.D. Jakes and Creflo Dollar won’t buy this book

I am no fan of megachurches and the “prosperity gospel” that comes out of them. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in people doing better. But, I also believe the church to be, primarily, a place of hope and help for all people, a place where people of all income levels can feel free to come and a place that stresses helping the world over strictly helping one’s self.

Dr. Robert M. Franklin won’t be making any friends with the prosperity preachers. He has written a new book, titled Crisis in the Village, that details how the African-Americans are losing ground and, in part, he attributes it to preachers who stress the individual over the collective.

“I am convinced that the single greatest threat to the historical legacy and core values of the contemporary black church tradition is posed by what is known as the ‘prosperity gospel’ movement,” he writes, explaining that the black church has assimilated into a culture that is hostile to marginalized people, such as the poor, the HIV-infected, homosexuals and immigrants.

According to Franklin, one-fourth of the black community lives in poverty. But many churches are devoting more time to “building their local kingdoms” and less time aiding and uplifting the poor.

…

Regarding the overall uplifting of black communities, Franklin calls the African American Methodists to take responsibility to leading the educational renewal of the entire village; the black Baptists to answer the call for leadership in assisting people that have been incarcerated to reenter the village with integrity and support; the black Pentecostals to step up to positive youth development, especially with the most at-risk youth. These three faith traditions target the majority of African Americans, Franklin noted Tuesday, as he called all other denominations to action.

We’ll just have to see on this one. I doubt that, when black preachers can buy Bentleys, mansions and helicopters based on the messages they preach, they will be changing up the message any time soon.

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5 comments for “I guess T.D. Jakes and Creflo Dollar won’t buy this book”

CHM , on the 23 of February, 2007 at 10:33 am said:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am always heartened when I hear someone speak up against the brainwashing going on in these “prosperity gospel” megachurches. I saw this on a slightly smaller scale in a church my mother attended a few years ago. The women in that church are shot out. Every other sentence begins: “pastor said…” They do things like cut out things from magazines — the cars, houses, etc. which they believe they are called to possess and they pray for them. (But they talk mess about pagans, right?).
I am happy to report that my mother has wisened up, and has cut all ties with the place and the pastor, but the response to her departure from members of her former “church family” has been disturbingly Stepford-ish. It’s so sad. The church has such a rich and powerful history in our community. Watching it brought to such a low has been as heartbreaking as watching our musical tradition degenerate. Urban radio stations, BET, preachers like Eddie Long — as far as I’m concerned these are all incredibly toxic forces in the black community.
Shot007 , on the 23 of April, 2007 at 2:33 pm said:
How are black people supposed to rise up. When we keep fighting against each other. I think its great for Creflo Dollar and guys like that…because they are essentially preaching a great message, and are get lives to follow Christ. Many would argue that this is what the black community needs, changing of lives. And if the messages of any preacher is effective in changing lives for a positive means then I think it is a good means of helping our community. Creflo Dollar and guys like that, preach prosperity, but my point is would you rather be told that you cant prosper. I mean there is hope in the notion that one can achieve and that god can help you in doing so. I think the key thing is as long as this should not portrayed as the primary motive of following God, rather it should be the love of each other that the Bible teaches. Prospering and achieving more through follow God is not a negative it is only so when you love this more than the true meanings of the Bible’s teachings.
I.E. the LOVE of money is the root of evil. Therefore dont put anything more than God and the Bible’s teaching… for this will lead to downfall.
Just My Opinion.
JP Smith , on the 23 of April, 2007 at 2:50 pm said:
Shot007,

I think you’re offering false choices. First of all, these people are prospering due to the money provided by the congregation. Sure, they might have investments but, it’s not like the money didn’t originate with their congregations. Secondly, there are still issues of social justice so, it’s not prosperity vs. non-prosperity. It’s about not speaking on social justice issues and pacifying people with the want for the material, which I would argue is contrary to what we are told Christianity is about. The Bible speaks about Jesus throwing the moneychangers out of the church. Now, we have preachers hawking their latest book, DVD, progam, “Mega-Fest”, etc. from the pulpit. It now appears that the moneychangers are back in charge.
Victor T. Stephens , on the 8 of November, 2007 at 8:13 am said:
For those of you who are interested, I’ve written a very detailed article that addresses the false doctrines of the Word-Faith Movement. It can be found at:
http://www.victorstephens.com/.....te_018.htm
black…MYstory » Blog Archive » Creflo don’t want you knowin’ about his dollars! , on the 6 of December, 2007 at 1:42 pm said:
[...] might not know how I feel about prosperity pimpin’ preaching but, let’s just say I’m not a fan. More importantly, I am concerned about how certain people prey on the faith of followers to create [...]

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CHM , on the 23 of February, 2007 at 10:33 am said:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am always heartened when I hear someone speak up against the brainwashing going on in these “prosperity gospel” megachurches. I saw this on a slightly smaller scale in a church my mother attended a few years ago. The women in that church are shot out. Every other sentence begins: “pastor said…” They do things like cut out things from magazines — the cars, houses, etc. which they believe they are called to possess and they pray for them. (But they talk mess about pagans, right?).
I am happy to report that my mother has wisened up, and has cut all ties with the place and the pastor, but the response to her departure from members of her former “church family” has been disturbingly Stepford-ish. It’s so sad. The church has such a rich and powerful history in our community. Watching it brought to such a low has been as heartbreaking as watching our musical tradition degenerate. Urban radio stations, BET, preachers like Eddie Long — as far as I’m concerned these are all incredibly toxic forces in the black community.

Shot007 , on the 23 of April, 2007 at 2:33 pm said:

How are black people supposed to rise up. When we keep fighting against each other. I think its great for Creflo Dollar and guys like that…because they are essentially preaching a great message, and are get lives to follow Christ. Many would argue that this is what the black community needs, changing of lives. And if the messages of any preacher is effective in changing lives for a positive means then I think it is a good means of helping our community. Creflo Dollar and guys like that, preach prosperity, but my point is would you rather be told that you cant prosper. I mean there is hope in the notion that one can achieve and that god can help you in doing so. I think the key thing is as long as this should not portrayed as the primary motive of following God, rather it should be the love of each other that the Bible teaches. Prospering and achieving more through follow God is not a negative it is only so when you love this more than the true meanings of the Bible’s teachings.
I.E. the LOVE of money is the root of evil. Therefore dont put anything more than God and the Bible’s teaching… for this will lead to downfall.
Just My Opinion.

JP Smith , on the 23 of April, 2007 at 2:50 pm said:

Shot007,

I think you’re offering false choices. First of all, these people are prospering due to the money provided by the congregation. Sure, they might have investments but, it’s not like the money didn’t originate with their congregations. Secondly, there are still issues of social justice so, it’s not prosperity vs. non-prosperity. It’s about not speaking on social justice issues and pacifying people with the want for the material, which I would argue is contrary to what we are told Christianity is about. The Bible speaks about Jesus throwing the moneychangers out of the church. Now, we have preachers hawking their latest book, DVD, progam, “Mega-Fest”, etc. from the pulpit. It now appears that the moneychangers are back in charge.

Victor T. Stephens , on the 8 of November, 2007 at 8:13 am said:

For those of you who are interested, I’ve written a very detailed article that addresses the false doctrines of the Word-Faith Movement. It can be found at:
http://www.victorstephens.com/.....te_018.htm

black…MYstory » Blog Archive » Creflo don’t want you knowin’ about his dollars! , on the 6 of December, 2007 at 1:42 pm said:

[...] might not know how I feel about prosperity pimpin’ preaching but, let’s just say I’m not a fan. More importantly, I am concerned about how certain people prey on the faith of followers to create [...]