I'm beginning to think that TV preacher Kenneth Copeland has completely lost his mind. Either that or he has a bonafide God complex. He seems to think that being a preacher puts him above the laws of the United States of America.
Senator Grassley recently started an investigation of several of these TV preachers, including Copeland. This is an investigation that is long overdue. Many of these preachers take the donations of viewers to not just provide a decent living for themselves and do good works with the rest -- they make themselves filthy rich with expensive clothes, cars, houses and other possessions.
In this country, we give churches a tax exempt status. Even though I'm not religious, I don't have a problem with that. But there are rules that even tax-exempt organizations must follow. It is expected that they use those tax-exemt funds to do good works such as helping the needy. If these organizations do nothing but make their leaders rich, then they are violating the rules laid down and do not deserve the tax-exempt status.
Sen. Grassley's investigation is not a violation of religious freedom. He is simply trying to see if these are preachers following the rules, or TV con-men using religion to cloak their tax-evasion. To determine that, he has asked to see the books of six TV preachers. But Kenneth Copeland has decided that being a self-appointed TV preacher gives him the right to ignore the law.
Copeland is refusing to cooperate and open his books to the U.S. government. He recently said about the books, "It's not yours, it's God's, and your not going to get it, and that''s something I'll go to prison over. So, just get over it!"
He's wrong. The books in question don't belong to God -- they belong to Kenneth Copeland. And the government has every right to see them. There's only one reason for Copeland to refuse to open the books to government scrutiny. He's trying to hide something.
There's nothing in the Bible that says a preacher doesn't have to obey the law. In fact, the New Testament tells christians to render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's. In short, to obey the law. Copeland is not special because he's a TV preacher. He's required to obey the law like all other christians (and non-christians).
Personally, I'd like to see the government take him up on his jail offer, but I doubt that'll happen. But if he continues to refuse to cooperate, they should take away his tax-exempt status and also demand payment of millions in back taxes. That tax-exempt status is only for those who play by the rules.
Now it comes out that Copeland has been raising money for presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He recently raised $100,000 in cash and $1 million in pledges for the candidate. Now I'm not accusing Huckabee of any wrongdoing, but is it smart to align himself with Copeland at this time?
It may help him in the short term with some evangelicals, but it will hurt him in the long run. Most Americans are growing tired of the rich TV preachers who flaunt their wealth, especially the ones that also flaunt the rules.
He also said his books were open for an audit from the IRS. Tell the whole story (the truth)
ReplyDeleteAhhh sensorship LOL
ReplyDeleteIf Kenneth Copeland has been placed in his position as a preacher of the Gospel by authority from God, then he should be respected when the Word of God comes forth from his mouth. Likewise, Senator Grassley has been placed in a position of government leadership, by a democratic election process and he should be respected when the word of the United States law comes forth from his mouth.
ReplyDeleteIf Kenneth Copeland wants to be in rebellion to laws of government and those in authority of the law, then he himself is in direct opposition to the Book he preaches from, which says let every soul be subject to the governing authorities and that if he resists the authority, he resists God and brings judgment upon himself(Romans 13:1-7).
I totally agree that we are to obey the laws of the land. But Sen. Grassley's office they believe thru legal statute is NOT the body that should be doing the investigation. It should be the IRS. My understanding is the legal counsel for the ministries have questioned their authority in this matter. They have no objection to an IRS audit.
ReplyDeleteLet us not forget the roll of Congress, it is to make laws. This fishing expedition is not about the integrity of the ministry but to have hearings and make changes to the tax exempt laws. Lets not be naive.
ReplyDeleteI think that Copeland's issue isn't with the investigation itself, but with the process. Why doesn't Senator Grassley find it necessary to follow the normal procedure to obtain this information? The IRS is set up to handle these type of things, and Grassley should not be given the authority to call for this type of investigation.
ReplyDeleteCopeland should continue to stand his ground. The bigger picture here is what is important and it will have serious effects on our future.
ReplyDeleteCopeland should be stripped of all his possessions, have them sold to pay back all the people he's conned (except they'd just give it to some other con-man preacher) then horse whipped and run out of town. He, and all those of his ilk, fit perfectly the descriptions by Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel of false prophets and false teachers who make themselves rich off "ministry" by shearing and devouring the flock calling it their just due; and he, and those of his ilk, fit perfectly EVERY trait of the rich Pharisees, Sadducees of Jesus time who Jesus denounced soundly, roundly and publicly as nothing but wolves in sheeps clothing. These things should be obvious to a child, but then maybe it takes a child to see the emperors' clothes. How someone can fit perfectly the description of a false prophet and false teacher and have only the most superficial (and therefore hypocritical) appearance of a minister of God and the people not see it clearly is beyond me. By their fruits shall ye know them, and what is the fruit of a wolf? A wolf devours the sheep, but a shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. These "ministers" need the sheep to lay down their lives for them so they can live like kings in order to minister. It's nothing but rank hypocrisy and self-serving in the name of "ministry". It's also making merchandise of God, His ministry and the flock. It's rank Pharisaism, it's like a "whited sepulchre, clean on the outside but inside, it's full of dead men's bones and putrefaction. It's like a guy who hasn't bathed for several months. He stinks to high heaven. It takes no special insight to smell how badly he stinks. He just STINKS. Learn this lesson: the difference between a shepherd and a wolf is this, the shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, the wolf devours the sheep. See the difference? The shepherd is self-sacrificing that the sheep might do well, but the wolf needs the sheep to sacrifice that he might do well. Very simple. He, and they of his ilk, are wolves, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with you. Any preacher that fleeces the people and lives extravagantly needs to be arrested and his "Kingdom" forfeited.
DeleteTo all the people who say he is a con artist, please indicate when he has ever asked for anything. He simply does not ask for money. I am having a hard time making the connection that he is conning people when he does not ask for what they have. Also, the fact that he has requested an IRS investigation tells me he has nothing to hide. Grassley is way off base on this one from a Constitutional perspective. Anyone hear of the separation of church and state? Or, is that just a one-way street?
ReplyDeleteto the uninformed that said copeland never ask for anything ? I received several cards from him asking for $500 dollars or more so he could buy faster jet airplanes. According to him the old ones he already had were too slow!!! what a crock! The cards were a part of a large mass mailing to thousands of people!
ReplyDeletethe money grubber will not even give 50 cents to anyone truely in need that ask him for it!!! Thats his game!! If its gods money like he tells you then ask him for gods address so you can send it to him. Copeland has claimed to be GOD so I guess he is not mis leading the public ?
All I can say is that Kenneth Copeland ministries has sent me and my family items of hope and faith, that have brought my family through some pretty difficult times and that he does if for more people and does not charge a single penny if you cannot pay, and I appreciate it, I guess people who don't know that personally wouldn't know but he is a man of God and anyone attacking him physically or emotionally will not stand. God is the only true judge. He does not claim to be God only that he chooses to follow him. I grew up in a home that I was lucky to have food in and he helped us along with Billy Graham. Have you ever been in those shoes??? I am guessing not.
ReplyDeletequite interesting read. I would love to follow you on twitter.
ReplyDelete