When this site points out the excesses of the pimps, one of the first responses I get, one of the Knee Jerk Reactions (KJRs) is usually “But Melvin, it takes money to run a ministry! How can the Mand of Gawd do the work of God if he doesn’t spend a lot of money? And how can he get the money to spend unless he constantly asks us for it?” A long time ago (about 1982), when I was taking a seminar by Bill Gothard (yes, yes. I know) I ran across a fellow by the name of George Muller who rescued tens of thousands of children from the streets of Bristol, England. This, of course, required money. It required buildings. It required food and other supplies.
Take a look at the following series to find out more about Mr. Muller and how he “raised” money for his work. Then see if you can imagine any of the pimps and other religious shills on television raising money using his methods.
It’s about an hour long. But it’s worth your time, even if you spread it out over a several days. The message is simple.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Mr. Muller never went to the people and said: “If you don’t give, we are going to have to shut our doors and end this anointed ministry!” He trusted God to supply his needs in response to his prayers, not in response to his ability to appeal to people’s greed, pride, or fear. Wouldn’t it be great if the pimps did the same thing? Of course, if they did that, they wouldn’t be pimps, would they?
Thanks to George R for telling me about the Docudrama.
Here is a current link I found that is exactly what you are talking about. Listen to the dollar amounts he wants from each house:
An IV Hilliard Clone from Detroit
Hi Jimi,
I am from Detroit and “Pastor Ben” is such a fraud!! A former friend of mine attends this church. She was such a faithful tither and usher. When she needed financial help, they told her no, but that they would pray for her. Whatever.
(MN: KJR - She just left because she was jealous of what Gawd is doing in Benny’s life - and because she didn’t have the faith to do the same thing. Oh ye of little faith…and less income. She should exercise her faith and be rich the same way Pastor Benny got rich. )
Ben Gibert is a crook. Just like the Bishop who preceded him, he pimps the flock all the time. Makes my blood boil - moron…
And you’ll notice he uses the Bible to beat the people over the head.
He’s pushing for:
1. New windows
2. Multiple locations
3. Selling things you truly value (Abraham/Isaac) to give
4. Give despite the fact that Detroit is falling apart
He talks about God telling him that the giving this “season” will be a back breaker for the enemy.
He talks like I V Hilliard, using all the same phrases and ideas; using all the same twisted references from the Bible.
If you listen to the entire tape, he tells the congregation they should give sacrificially, they should give something they really value, like Abraham gave Isaac. Given that Abraham didn’t actually sacrifice Isaac, does that mean the people should bring the sacrifice (money) to church on “Victuals” night, take it out for a moment, and then put it back in their pockets and walk out with the “victuals” still in their pockets?
That’s what I would do.
He talks like I.V. Hillard because that is his “spirtual father”. They both are scams and frauds!
why don’t people see that only one sacrificiing is the givers. A pastor giving money to himself is no sacrifice at all. For example, If i take $1000 and pay off a house note. I am not sacrificing at all . I spending that money on myself. So when a pastor pledges $3000.00 to a church he owns, he is really spending money on himself. There is no sacrifice. And believe me these guys say they’re giving, just to get you to give. They can reimburse themselves if they give too much, can you?
Talk about pimping; Bishop Jon Meares at Evangel Cathedral in Prince Georges’s Maryland mailed blank birthday cards to the congregation for his son Bishop Don Meares birthday and asked that they write words of kindness and include a donation to help the bishop build a new home. In this economy;are you kidding me, many of the members don’t own a home.
By the way, these are the same guys who, when they were located in the District of Columbia (DC for you people outside the Beltway), “encouraged” people to refinance their houses and take money out of them so Meares and dad (the junior Meares’ grandad) could take the money and do some building. Needless to say, some of the money worked its way to the pockets of the Meares. And the oldest Meares (not Don, but his dad) did a little time in the pokey for the…uh…misdirection of funds from peopel who were silly enough to put their homes at risk in order to bring about the “vision” of these pimps.
Melvin,
Actually there’s no grandad in this picture (as stated in your comment). Bishop John Meares was the head of the church and he made his second son (Don) the Bishop who took over.
(MN: You are likely right. I have not been keeping up with the geneology of the organization. I do remember though, that it was the father who ran the church in DC and the son (Don) who took over. If there is no grand son, I guess I should be glad - no descendant to carry on the pimping. )
There are a grandson and a grandfather. Don Mears father; the elder (as in old, not a title) Mears was still alive the last I heard. Don Mears has at least one son in the ministry. Hate to admit it, but I went there last summer (trust me, I had my reasons).
I agree that there are some Pulpit Pimps, but there are many Pulpit & Congregational Whores.
There are 3-classes:
P.I.M.P.
P.U.N.K.
H.O.
Pimps are
Praisers
In the
Midst of
Problems. (Acts 16:25-26; Psalm 34:1-4)
Punks are:
People
Under
Negative
Kontrol
(Numbers 11:1; 1Corinthians 10:11)
A H.O. is:
Helpless &
Overcome
A H.O. is a christian who always says “if God wills” or “this is my thorn in the flesh” or “God put this on me/caused to happen”….
They are folks who, even if you show them what the bible promises about a thing, they won’t receive it. Many H.O. christians enjoy pity.
A H.O. is just like a prostitute getting pimp-slapped by her pimp. She is working for him & bound by him under his subjection. Many “religious christian” aka “church folks” get beat daily due to erroneous teachings, lack of faith, & just plain stupidity.
A H.O. can be described in Hosea 4:6…
1) they are cut off due to lack of knowledge
2) when knowledge is made available they reject it
It’s funny and sad that the only scriptures being given aren’t the many in the Bible, where God promises Blessings to those who serve him, or how we are set in the body according to how it pleases God, and that God sets shepards over us, and that God holds accountable false teachers, not man, not man that should think more highly than themselves.
One big question why don’t you ask the members to truly testify about what has God down in their lives, spiritual and financially, instead of just being the spirit of the accusser. It’ funny how people don’t realize that ones accussing maynot be even speaking from the spirit but of the flesh, too many people only tell half the story, jealousy, being envyous is a deadly sin, people seek God for understanding, the bible says lean not to thy own understanding but trust in the Lord thy God with all thine heart, oh and Ben Gibert was making $750,000 a year before he become full time pastor, please read the full gospel with the holy spirit leading you, because of the flesh comes no good thing, don’t make the word what you want it to be, examples of God blessing his servants, Job, David, Soloman, Abraham, please research before judging or speaking, because God is watching us all and every man thinks he’s right in his own sight.
I really don’t think it was Bishop Jon behind this. You have to be careful of saying things you don’t know the whole truth to. If God is not leading you to give then don’t give. Be a cheerful giver not a grudging giver. This is what I live by I don’t care what church i visit. I’m not moved by sad or happy stories but be led by the Spirit. This is my church home and Bishop Don is a true man of God. I’ve been watching for some years now. No one is perfect no church is perfect. I’m sure one of you’ve done something that didn’t pleased God just a few mintues ago. Rolled your eyes, said something bad about somebody etc…be careful what you say. Read the scripture about Saul and David. Saul did a lot stuff but David dared not say anything about him because of the anointing on his life. Think about it!
(MN: In other words: “touch not God’s anointed and do His profit no harm.” If one thing can be said for the sheeple, it is the fact they are so incredibly and foolishly consistent. You gotta love them - or at least feel sorry for them. )
“Touch not my anointed” has NOTHING to do with speaking the truth about false teaching.
N-O-T-H-I-N-G.
Okay if God’s not leading you to do this then don’t give. Common sense!!! Many of you don’t understand the WORD, nor the principles in the Word. I must admit there are many fakes are there but not EC (not perfect nor you or I are). Oh and won’t you call the church and get your address taken off the mailing and find a new church since you’re posting comments of things you don’t approve of (or return the mail sent). Yeah that’s what I would do.
(MN: I’m here to warn the stupid sheeple who are apparently lacking in the common sense you speak of. When the “pastor” tells you you’re robbing God when you don’t tithe, and you just got saved maybe a year ago, let’s face it - that’s practically spiritual child abuse. Once the pimp establishes himself as the Mand of Gawd and God’s mouthpiece, resistance becomes nearly futile. )
I agree that some preach in ways that new believers & those too lazy to read their bible will feel that they are required to do something & wrong for not doing it.
I do believe, according to the bible, that tithing began before the Old Testament/Covenant. In Genesis, when Abram gave tithes to Melchezidek, he was not under any law. The law had not began yet.
(MN: Actually, no it didn’t. Tithing, as defined by the law, didn’t begin until the law. Tithing is a regular, repeated activity, it’s regularity and conditions defined in Leviticus and a couple of other places. That which Abraham did wasn’t a tithe (as defined by the law). And there is no indication it was done ever again. That which Jacob did wasn’t a tithe (as defined by the law). And there is no indication it was ever done again. The tithe (as defined by the law) is to be used to maintain the temple (there wasn’t one with Abraham or Jacob). It was to be brought to the storehouse (there wasn’t one with Abraham and Jacob). It was to be used to feed the priests and levites (there weren’t any with Abraham or Jacob) and it was to be used to feed the widows and orphans of the nation (there was no nation with Abraham or Jacob.
Your argument is exactly the same tired argument the pimps use to PRESSURE the sheeple into keeping their mouths shut and giving up their money. It’s not cheerful giving and it’s not giving from the heart.)
2nd Corinthians 9:7 where it says, “…God loves a cheerful giver…”, is always used by folks to say that tithing is done away with. I disagree because, reading the entire context, it shows that the focus was on the Corinthians being prepared to give what they had promised.
II Corinthians 9:5 says, “So I have decided to ask Titus and the others to spend some time with you before I arrive. This way they can arrange to collect the money you have promised. Then you will have the chance to give because you want to, and not because you feel forced to. ”
The giving being arranged was to the Macedonians. This was giving, not tithing. This doesn’t nulify tithing for us.
Even Jesus spoke on tithing. He never said it is done away with, but He endorsed it. (Matthew 23:23)
(MN: Again, Jesus was telling those under the law to be obedient to the law. We are not under the law. )
When a person tithes he or she is to be doing it as an act of obedience to the Lord.
(MN: At best, if a person tithes they are doing what they BELIEVE to be obedient to the Lord. And the pimps take advantage of the desire [even if misdirected] to be obedient. And this, or course, assumes the person giving the money is even saved. )
I do say that instead of being a “church hopper” or not giving because you don’t agree with what was taught ask questions & search the scriptures.
(MN: And what you will discover is the Christian is told to give as they are led, where they are led, for the purposes they are led. But the percentage doesn’t have to be at least ten percent or no more than ten percent. “As you are led” means exactly that - as you are led by the Spirit. Not as you are pressured by the pastor/friends/ministers/etc. )
Why do people get so choked up on & cling to money? Money isn’t even the issue, the issue for most people is trust….trusting God & trusting another person.
(MN: Money isn’t the issue. Truth and obedience are the issues. If a pastor tells you you must tithe or you are stealing from God, he is not telling you the truth. That lack of truth will encourage a lack of trust in God. )
Folks can say they trust God, but when the fire is turned up their true colors show. When something little like giving pops up what a person TRULY believes shows.
(MN: Nice try. But giving isn’t little. If giving 10% will damage my ability to care for my family and the pastor is busy trying to make me feel like a thief, and the children are hearing him say I’m stealing if I’m not giving ten percent, then it is a big deal. It’s also a really good reason not to hang around a church that preaches tithing.
Doctrine matters. Despite what you seem to believe. )
I do say this though…..that if a person gives & is being blessed that others shouldn’t despise them.
(MN: No one would disagree with you. The only thing I would add is if the person gives ten percent because he thinks God requires it, that person is certainly to be pitied. )
(MN: Money isn’t the issue. Truth and obedience are the issues. If a pastor tells you you must tithe or you are stealing from God, he is not telling you the truth. That lack of truth will encourage a lack of trust in God. )
I do agree that lack of truth will discourage trust in God for sure. Also, not excepting what the word of God says encourages lack of trust in God.(Hosea 4:6) Now if a person says he or she is blessed because of his/her giving, but then says it is wrong to give expecting to be blessed in return then that person is in error.
I do feel what you are saying about folks trying to convince folks to give by persuasion. At the sametime not all who teach on giving are doing so. Because of insecurities & lack of trust many point the finger at anyone preaching about prosperity as a “false teacher”….they are in error for pointing the finger.
I do believe that giving, sowing, & reaping are all biblical. The power of words is biblical as well. That is part of a believer’s authority. Jesus gave prime examples throughout the gospels.(Mark 11; Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 17:6; Matthew 22:21)
During my last semester at OSU I didn’t have money to pay for my tuition. Financial aid had ran out. Well, I gave a mother a $50 gift card for mothers’ day. A week later I was going to lunch with a friend & stopped at an ATM and looked at my account balance & I saw that I had $5000 extra. I thought it was a misprint so I called the bank & they told me that it had been deposited that week. God, because of my giving, blessed me with more than enough. That is one of the many times that sowing a seed has brought finance, etc. to me.
Another example, is when I was at Langston University. There I daily ministered the Gospel to people. In doing so I got many saved. Those seeds sown got my own family saved as well. Sowing & reaping works for me. Sowing in faith & not for selfish ambition, of course.
Speaking the word of God is another example of sowing & reaping. I was on medication & spoke the word that by His stripes I was healed & am not on the medication. I had scoliosis from birth…I spoke the word of God over my body & no longer have it.
Proverbs 18:21 & Mark 11:23 have/do work for me…..
With that said, I don’t knock a person if he/she doesn’t agree with that. That’s his/her own choice.
Some call it PRESSURE PREACHING….
Those are fearful folks.
Have you ever stood at the back of a sanctuary and watched the appearance of people as soon as someone mentions giving. The person may not even be talking about actually giving, but just the principle of it….either way many get defensive.
People find it very easy to pay bills, buy food, buy gas, etc, but when it comes to church giving people become stingy….why???
Several Reasons:
1) Fear of being in lack
2) Lack of knowledge
3) Erroneous teachings
4) Listening to/amplifying what a person has done wrong in preaching the word.
–Meaning…many hear of what a pastor has done wrong & believe that all who preach it are wrong.
5) Selfishness
Do you agree that most people who go to church do not spend time at home studying his/her bible?
Thanks so much for sharing this, I’m blown away by the story of George Muller. I’ll make sure I’ll watch this in full.
another link to that wonderful story: http://www.vimeo.com/2494636
Had a good read of his biography some years back; watched the docudrama with my young son, we were both inspired.
Thanks you for presenting this video. Mueller’s example is a much better model than that of most of our celebrity pastors. The video points out that he was a man of uncommon integrity. He had to be sold out to prayer to do what he did. However, he also read the Bible from cover to cover over 200 times. If we would immerse ourselves in the Word and stay on our knees we wouldn’t be sheeple. Possibly, God would do in our lives something like what he did in Muellers.
Well, I’m seeing that all the pimps and the pimpettes are coming to town this next week (http://www.noeljones.org)..and yes, they are asking for a donation. And yes, the big man, the guy from Texas is coming to town too.
Amusing question
I think I deleted a short comment by mistake. My apologies.
I watched this video about a year ago. Muller was a very amazing man!! However it was his faith that amazed me. No Muller “Beg a thons” to raise the funds needed to supply the endless needs of the fatherless.. Glad you posted this vid for all to see!!
God Speed!!
The Beg-aThons are bad enough. If they kept it to begging but they manipulate and out right LIE to the people about what will happen if you give! It is absolutely sickening. I read about Bro Mueller many years agao and was impressed with his faith in GOD to supply his need for his service to Him.
Excellent video. Well worth making the time to watch. I enjoyed his biography also. Thanks!
If this does not encourage you and spark your own faith for doing God’s work then you’ve been watching too much WOF!! Thanks Melvin! great post!