TELEVANGELISM GIMMICKS

I watch a lot of Christian tv. There are many annointed ministers who preach the word of God and are a blessing to the listener.

There are others that I am not so sure of.  When these come on, I instinctively change channels.
The common theme of these ministries is prosperity. There is absolutely nothing wrong with biblical prosperity.  Several passages in the Bible speak of God's kind of prosperity and how to go about partaking in it.

 Deuteronomy 28: 1-13 is a familiar text to many Christians, and it speaks of the conditions that God put in place for the Israelites to be able to enjoy abundance and prosperity. I dare say those conditions haven't changed.

3 John 1:2,
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

This verse connotes that prosperity is not just one-dimensional, not just material, but also spiritual, physiological and emotional.

Psalm 128 :1-6 is another excellent passage that embodies the essence of  divine prosperity. The first two verses read:
"Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."

Some televangelists have however put their own spin on this divine promise. I was watching one of them the other day and he was basically asking for people to sow into his ministry. He encouraged people to give £128, $128 and €128 based on Psalm 128. By so doing they would be partakers of the promises in that Psalm! Now what sort of teaching is that? It all sounds good but any discerning Christians should hopefully see through these gimmicks.

Many have left the teaching of the gospel which is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16), and have watered it down to a version that suits their own purposes.

James 3:1 admonishes, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."

I wish these 'ministers' would take this admonition to heart. I sincerely do fear for their souls. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (Heberews 10:31).