This newfound abundance had a detrimental effect on orthodox Christianity by making it mainstream. Unfortunately, the “Greatest Generation” which came out of the horrors of World War II entered into a period of economic prosperity the likes of which the world had ever seen. Along that same vein, early televangelists were simply entrepreneurs taking those same economic principles that had worked for many in the corporate world and applied it to the realm of mainstream Christianity, where the pickings were ripe for the taking.
This allowed for the unprecedented economic explosion by unleashing the potential of the American worker to make his or her own fortunes. The United States was an experiment that took the best forms and practices of governance from many other nations and combined them into a constitutional republic that was protected by a divided government and a Bill of Rights.
Now, not to give him too much credit, and while Satan isn’t omnipotent or omnipresent, he is a quick study on the nature of man, and knows that if he can’t destroy the Church, he is dang sure intent on corrupting it. (Romans 3:10) Even so, I imagine at the outset the Crouches’ didn’t intend on ending up as they did, but success has a way of corrupting us. Even Judas Iscariot at the beginning, probably believed he was doing the right thing.īut two things are abundantly clear, the first is the road to ruin is always built with good intentions, and because it is inherent in our DNA to seek after self, which is a result of our sin nature. Most in the ministry start out with good intentions. With them, and the clowns dancing around the stages today proclaiming ‘blessings’ on people and “healings”, it seems to me at least, that they didn’t start out intending to become an apostate intentionally. The whole seed-faith doctrine began with men like William M. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” – Jude 1:12-13 “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. Presumably, since the Crouches’ and many, many others were able to tap into this desperation and make a comfortable living, what does that say about the state of biblical Christianity here in the West? Assessment The hook is to make the view believe that if they sow their “seeds” of faith’ (seeds = money), that this somehow taps into the divine realm where God is forced to either meet their need, or give them a tenfold (as a minimum) return on their spiritual/financial investment. Televangelism is a multi-billion dollar industry that primarily feeds on the failed hopes and dreams of the poor, building up the emotional needs of the spiritually ignorant, and a stop-gap for the mostly churchless. No, televangelism is usually built around the age old, time tested, snake-oil salesmanship. Yet, the bulk of televangelism isn’t built around preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because let’s face it, telling people that they’re destined for hell unless they repent isn’t all that popular a message, or even just theologically sound doctrine, because solid doctrine points you back to my first point. Their audience reach hits around 95% of American households who own a television. Operating successfully for 43 years and owning and operating six broadcasting networks. This empire operated successfully for decades and fiscally speaking, dealt in a realm of hundreds of millions of dollars. If we were to measure what the late Jan Crouch and her late husband Paul were able to accomplish in regards to earthly standards, they should be a resounding success. The late Jan and Paul Crouch founded a televangelism empire with the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN). Nowadays, the modern missionary has a three piece suit, fancy cars, mansions, and a wife who probably spends more on makeup in a month, than what most people around the world make in a year.
It used to be that the West sent out missionaries all over the world to the jungles and unchurched folk throughout the 18th-20th centuries in an attempt to preach the gospel and keep the mandate of making disciples of all nations. Moreover, what the world has come to think about the Americanized version of Christianity they see all over the television. With the passing of Jan Crouch last week, it brought to mind what we as Christians believe about ourselves in regards to what we consider doing God’s good work here on the earth. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” – Acts 20:29-30 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
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