My father early in his life rejected organized religion, and my Greek Orthodox mother was only slightly behind him. This sort of thing was one reason (though not the only reason) why….
Dr Todd Hall, known affectionately as “The Praiseologist,” is the founder of Shabach Ministries of Praise, Inc., The Shabach Fellowship, and the The Shabach Church of Apopka, Florida. During an African Derived Religions conference (that’s ADR to the Enlightened), the minister asked the congregation to donate $10,000 within 90 seconds, promising that if they did, God would turn the donors into multi-millionaires.
“Well, duh, GEE, Reverend, who could turn down a deal like that! I’m IN!”
“The Lord said, I want to make a multi, multi-millionaire out of someone, but they have to sow ten thousand dollars! He said and they have to do that within 90 seconds,” a recording memorializes Hall saying.“Write the check! If you do this, God says, ‘I’m going to make you a multi-multi-millionaire!” I wish it was me!”
When not preaching or making parishioners into multi-millionaires as an agent of God, Hall is a businessman and the CEO of Risky Productions and TMH Enterprises.
The Praiseologist made his speech in front of a massive projection of a QR code labeled “Sow Your Seed” (Eww!) along with a performer suspended by wires (like Mary Martin in “Peter Pan,” but not singing “I’m Flying!” to dramatize Jehovah’s message, or something. I really liked it when Mary was doing it…and Sandy Duncan and Kathy Rigby too, but Marry was my favorite…
“The scene has fueled accusations of manipulation and exploitation,” one media report says. Ya think?
These kinds of ministers—don’t kid yourself, there are a lot of them out there—are followers of P.T. Barnum, Charles Ponzi, Bernie Madoff and Victor Lustig (who once “sold” the Eiffel Tower) more than Jesus Christ.
Of course, if The Praiseologist’s $10,000 donor does suddenly become a multi-millionaire, will I ever have egg on my face!
Ethics Alarms 
This is a prime example of Prosperity Gospel. Kenneth Copeland, with his multiple private jets, is another example. It is a heretical branch of Christianity that so deviates from the Gospel that it does not deserve the name Christianity.
You wrote “private yet,” and I took the liberty of editing it to “private jets.” Unless Copeland has a private yeti? That would be outrageous.
Correct. Sometimes, also called the Health & Wealth gospel.
For better or for worse, anyone can set himself up as a minister in this country without any specific education, training or approval process by a hierarchical organization (some denominations are stricter than others about this). This is where the wisdom of the flock comes into play – Acts 17:10-12, for example.
I am Chief Pastor and All Around Good Guy of the First Holy Evangelical Church of Appliantology. We promote and proselytize salvation through the redemptive grace of toasters, microwave ovens, and blenders.
jvb
Dear Mystical Advisor, are you really Mr. L. Ron Hoover? I hope I am not a latent appliance fetishist; I never crave toasters, blenders, or microwaves.
TLDR: Indeed it is a “heretical branch of Christianity”. But even more, it’s a teaching that comes from Satan himself.
Longer, but I’ll read it anyways:
The Bible says that the Gospel of Christ is foolishness to “those who are perishing”…only the Spirit of God can open a person’s eyes to the Good News of God. If a “gospel” is presented that doesn’t sound like foolishness to the perishing, it is no Gospel at all.
So a pastor promising people wealth, power, influence, prestige, or a new Mercedes for whatever reason is merely offering people what they already want – in fact, what they desperately want – in their natural state. A person doesn’t have to be converted by anything to believe THAT “good news.”
It’s Satanic because it’s no different than what Satan offered in the Garden…right? “Follow my gospel, and I promise you’ll have true power and true knowledge. I promise you’ll be like God.”
It’s what he offered Jesus in the desert…”Why should you be hungry? Go ahead, grab some satisfaction for yourself. Oh, and if you worship me and follow my gospel, I promise to give you the world.”
Isn’t this guy involved in securities fraud? Is there some kind of a pastoral exception?
He did not mention how long it would take to be made a millionaire. If he invested that money in a CD it would only take 120 years to grow to 1.1M.
Or, by being swindled out of 10K, the luck loser would never spend or give a penny again for the rest of his life thereby saving a million.
The Biblical principle that is often overlooked in these Prosperity Gospel messages is that the even the Old Testament promises of wealth are tied to certain duties: taking care of the poor, the orphan, and the widow, being generous, releasing captives in the Jubilee years, rendering just judgment, not taking bribes or usurious interest, and most importantly, worshiping God and him alone. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah were overrun for their infidelity, and the land was to lie fallow for 70 years for all the Jubilee years that were not honored.
In the New Testament, the correlation between trust in God and material wealth was broken, in part because that correlation existed for a time as an effort to teach the people to trust in God. In the new covenant, real wealth is revealed as treasure in heaven, where fire cannot consume and moth cannot destroy. Wealth in this world was not necessarily condemned, but dishonest wealth definitely brought judgment, and those who willingly gave up their possessions to care of the poor were not promised material compensation, but eternal life.
That doesn’t mean that God won’t bless certain people with material goods in this life. I know my family has been unbelievably blessed with a lucrative job, wonderful homes, everything we need and more. But those of us blessed with wealth have a duty not to hoard it unto ourselves, but to steward that wealth wisely and generously.
Handing over $10,000 with only 90 seconds to consider is a major red flag. The key to scams is to hit people where their emotions take over their thinking, and force them to make a decision before thinking can really reassert itself. That this pastor did not ask for his viewers to prayerfully reflect on making such a donation but pressured them to act so quickly lest they miss out on fabulous riches absolutely reeks of a scam. I suppose that if someone did so contribute, he would have an answer ready at hand for why the millions did not appear. Too slow, maybe? Only one person out of all who contributed received those millions, and sorry you weren’t the one?
I once had a conversation with a group of students about pastor compensation. They were discussing a minister who had what I would consider an extravagant lifestyle; expensive suits, a Bentley or two, a $million+ house, etc. The students were very impressed by his money. I asked why he should be paid so well. They explained that he was the minister of a very successful church in a wealthy area. I expressed the opinion that the church’s money was God’s money and was this the best use of God’s money. They were shocked and confused. I asked “Does God like you more if you preach to 1000 people or 100 people?”, I was sort of dismayed that they all said “1000 people”. So, I followed up with “Does God like you more if you preach to 1000 rich people or 1000 poor people?” and they said “Oooh, now we get where you are going”. I get the impression that some people (and probably some pastors) are confusing the Great Commission with working for commission.