Building a Building

Among my favorite Bible teachers is Perry Stone. While watching one of his “Manna-Fest” programs on YouTube a few years ago, I noticed another viewer posted the following comment: “It is NOT time to build a building, it’s time for winning the souls!” This was in response to brief remarks Perry made about a building project for his ministry. No financial appeals were made while computerized graphics of his ministry center were shown.

As an evangelist, I agree it's time for winning souls. God doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). But if the Lord continues tarrying His return, where will all the new converts be discipled…outdoors? That would be comparable to a farmer who reaped a huge harvest of wheat but had no barn to put it in. Some will argue the early Christians met in people’s homes. Churches today sometimes start off as home bible studies. But if that group grows too large, a person’s house won’t have enough room to accommodate everyone.

The above photo is part of a meme Facebook friends have posted claiming: “Back when God mattered more than the church building.” I agree what’s preached inside the church is more important than how it looks on the outside. God isn’t honored if His people meet in a luxurious facility but the spiritual needs of the congregation are neglected. Nor it is good for a church to have a debt load that cannot be paid. 

Nevertheless, abundant resources were used in building tabernacles and temples in the Old Testament. During one such building project, Moses said in Exodus 36:6, “‘Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.’ And the people were restrained from bringing.” How many pastors do you know telling their congregations not to give any more money because they have more than enough to do the work of the Lord?

Sports fans don’t think it’s wrong when millions of dollars are spent on a new stadium for their favorite team to play in. Yet critics complain if a church spends (in their opinion) too much money on a new building. Some Christians defiantly claim, “The church is not a building!” The Lord asked in Haggai 1:4 (NLT), “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?”

It’s time for the body of Christ to get rid of a poverty mentality regarding our church buildings. In his book “How God Taught Me About Prosperity”, Kenneth E. Hagin was told, “I expect My people to have the best place in town to meet in!” If we take care of God’s house, He will take care of ours.

“Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order.” - 2 Chronicles 29:35

I'll Fly Away

Many people have this idea Christians aren’t supposed to be prosperous. This belief is often propagated by misquoted Bible verses such as “money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10 actually says, “...the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”). As a result, the secular media and even some believers frown upon ministers who own expensive homes, cars, and especially airplanes. 

This past week a well-known pastor experienced a social media backlash after launching a fundraising campaign for a jet. Since 1999, Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church International has owned a Gulfstream III to transport him and his ministry team plus thousands of pounds of food to be a blessing to others. Last November, Creflo's jet became inoperable due to an accident in London when it slid off the runway during an aborted takeoff.

Creflo now wants to acquire a Gulfstream G650 valued at over $60 million. A video posted on his website (which has since been removed) suggested if 200,000 donors gave $300, Creflo would have the money to buy this jet. Some people think it would be more economical for Creflo to fly commercial, which he is doing in the meantime. Then again with the ridiculous baggage fees airlines charge nowadays, bringing along extra pounds of food could become quite costly.

Most people don’t realize many so-called “prosperity preachers” are generous givers plus have income streams apart from ministry. Creflo said in a 2007 Associated Press interview that he had renounced his church salary. His income now largely comes from personal investments and has published more than 30 books. 

Personally, I won’t ask people to send me specific amounts of money when believing God for something. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” On the other hand, fundraising campaigns for airplanes have been done by two of my favorite preachers: Jesse Duplantis and Keith Moore. Keith has an excellent teaching series called “Would Jesus Wear a Rolex?” that I recommend hearing.

Kenneth Copeland is another flying preacher I enjoy listening to. One time I heard Kenneth talk about a time the Lord instructed him to fly to Israel to minister to one woman. At first, Kenneth questioned this mission as being a bit extravagant. The Lord told him, “I am extravagant...I am never wasteful.” He then asked Kenneth if one of his daughters was on the other side of the world and would only listen to one person, wouldn’t he send that person to get her out of trouble. 

Kenneth replied, “When do I leave?”

1 Timothy 6:17 says God “...gives us richly all things to enjoy.” That would include airplanes. Most people don’t mind celebrities like Oprah Winfrey owning multimillion-dollar jets. I’d rather see aircraft like these doing the Lord’s work.

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” - Deuteronomy 8:18

Praying for TBN

This year the Trinity Broadcasting Networkcelebrates its 40^th anniversary. I used to watch TBN often especially during the early 1990s. Their programming (as well as teachings from other ministries) helped me grow as a young Christian. For awhile, my then-pastor had his TV program broadcast on TBN. 

In 2003, I got to tour TBN’s headquarters in Santa Ana, California. During which I met an evangelist named Edward who usually visited TBN once a month but hadn’t been there in three months. That morning the Lord specifically told Edward, “Go to TBN!” After buying one of my Evangelism 101 books, Edward said he would teach from it that night in a prison he ministers at. That would explain why I went through a lot of spiritual warfare that day.

Then in 2006, an incident occurred that didn’t set well with me. While watching one of TBN’s Praise-A-Thons, I called to make a donation but asked them not to send me that month’s love gift, which was a poster of a young King David. A few days later, the post office contacted me about wanting to deliver a package “postage due.” Realizing it was the poster from TBN, I refused delivery of that. I want to believe this was a mistake on TBN’s part.

TBN is often criticized for preaching a “prosperity gospel.” Critics need to remember it takes money to preach God’s word throughout the world especially through the printed page and electronic media. I also believe ministers should be allowed a decent salary (see 1 Timothy 5:17). Still I’m turned off when I hear televangelists repeatedly beg viewers to “pick up the phone” and make a donation. I know of ministries that have prospered without making any financial appeals.

In recent years, many claims of impropriety have come against TBN cofounders Paul and Jan Crouch. If any of these accusations are true, I pray that Paul and Jan take corrective action so they fulfill God’s plans and purposes for TBN. God wants to use every tool available to get the gospel out in these last days.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33