The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
Shysters: When Not To Give
By Joel B.
Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Friends, I wholeheartedly encourage the practice of giving. I would even suggest the importance of tithing. However, there are times when it’s simply not a good idea to give. It’s when these shysters try to take advantage of people by promising something in return for money.
Approximately seven years ago I attended a deliverance seminar, and what I saw there was very disturbing. People were there for spiritual deliverance, and they passed the offering plates around four times. Now, I can see one time, or even two times at the most if they need a special offering, but four times is ridiculous. It turns out the person leading the ministry had a fancy car and a couple very expensive homes. This doesn’t sound like someone who needs the offering plate passed four times or who is even using the funds properly.
Another issue I have is with these “so-called” prosperity preachers who promise you wealth, a magical item, or guarantee you healing if you invest in their ministry. They draw you in with at item, such as a “free prayer cloth” and then try to get you to donate oodles of money. In reality, that free prayer cloth isn’t going to do anything more for you than what pray can do without it. You see, prayer works through agreement and faith; not by having some magical item.
One final area I want to cover. When determining if an organization is worthy of your donations, please check as to how they will treat your personal information, Will they sell your e-mail address or phone number to a third party because you were a willing giver? You would be surprised to find out that many organizations practice this very thing.
In closing, I just want to remind you to be cautious when you give. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give; it just means that you need to be careful with who you give to and have a good idea as to how they will use the money and your personal information. Below are some videos of some ministry scams for you to view. Thank you for reading and God bless.
Very sad to see emphasis put upon an object to get people to give of their substance in order to get a miracle. It looks to me like a different gospel (one of health or wealth) offered to the public at a price. Nothing to do with faith in the Lord and a need for salvation from the worse thing that plagues mankind; that being sin which leads to death. That’s the message that we are to be sharing.
Do you recall Jesus or His disciples going about such practices? There were no cost involved that I read about. Only faith for some and others asking for Jesus to give them faith to believe.
Also when the man who was born blind whom Jesus put clay on his eyes and told him to go and wash at a certain pool, only followed his instructions by going and than receiving his eyesight without being told that he had to believe in the One who spoke to him. He later on found him and ask him if he believed on the Son of God. He said, “Who is He that I might believe on Him?” Jesus said that you have now seen Him and He it is who is speaking to you. Than he believed and worshiped Him.
The greatest gift was that of believing and receiving Him!
That is the message the world needs to hear.
Wow. The videos are very disturbing. In Sunday School we have discussed the preaching of the ‘prosperity gospel’ and those who fall into it. What a shame that there are wolves out there prowling around preying on those who are in pain or in need, deceiving them with false preaching.
When giving we should always research. I know of one site that provides information on charitable organizations – http://www.charitynavigator.org
There are probably others out there as well but this is the one that I learned about (I think it was after 9/ll), when people had heightened awareness about giving.