Commanded to Starve?

       So, I'm cursing the author of the "Saturday Stumper" crossword puzzle and on another  page I see Billy Graham's column. As usual, I was curious to see what this scion of televangelism was trying to sell to the faithful today. Graham, per the usual, was responding to a "letter" from a person who was having economic problems and was concerned that they had to continue tithing, lest the God who "loves them" would stop doing so because they could not afford to support him or her in the manner in which he/she has apparently become accustomed.

        Graham, in typical kind and understanding fashion starts with a statement which is blatantly false; "God commands us to tithe." This is one of the basic falsehoods upon which the hierarchy of many Judeao/Christian clergy base the "Money Sermon."  You know, the one they preach every year around commitment time? I am convinced seminaries teach two basic sermon themes, the "Money Sermon"  being the first, and the "Why Do  Bad Things Happen to Good People?" one. Of course, these shamans all claim a Biblical basis for the "commanded to tithe" issue. 

       Ever since there have been Gods, there have been frauds exploiting them. I envision Og, Stone Age shaman, requiring the best portion of the deer, because while  Shmeg  was out busting ass to kill it, he (Og) was busy thinking good thoughts on his behalf. Thus it has always been. Throughout the Bible, priests command sacrifices and offerings, I mean, a guy's gotta eat, right?  There is no reference to tithing  in the  Commandments of Moses.  If it was as important as, say,  not "coveting," wouldn't you expect to see it in there somewhere?  (Perhaps it was in the five that Mel Brooks dropped in History of the World? )

        In fact, the sole Biblical reference to tithing that could be construed as a "command" to tithe comes as hearsay and from a minor prophet, Malachi over 1,000 years after Moses' supposed death. Of course the reference in Numbers: “For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites (priestly class!)for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.” is almost universally considered as a priestly (who else) redaction, written not in 1592 BCE (the calculated death of Moses) but CA 550 BCE, again 1,000 years later , and equally unsurprisingly to establish the idea that priests should be supported by everyone else's sweat!

        Malachi (ca 550 BCE) alleges, "  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."  Note the "food in my house" line. Who lived there? Priests! How many sad tales have we heard which feature a low income person forgoing necessary medication to donate to a televangelist. Generally in such cases "God" not only doesn't "pour out" anything on these folks, instead, apparently opting  for allowing their condition to worsen, and sometimes for death to ensue.   

        To insure that the new church of Yeshua  (Jesus' real name before Constantine , it wouldn't have been called Christian in Paul's time)  priests were equally compensated and fed, Paul says, " 1 Corinthians 9:13 ESV) “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?”  A modern concordance comment on this is surprisingly candid and illuminating: "Paul said that Jesus commanded that the ministry in the New Testament is to be supported in the same way as the ministers were in the Old Testament.  Paul clearly understood that Jesus referred to the Old Testament system of tithes and offerings as the means of support now."  Paul understood?

        So, it should come as no surprise that old Billy encouraged this woman to continue her giving sacrificially.  I mean,  after all,  a guy's gotta eat, right? Of course let's not get too weepy over the near poverty existence of Graham and his ilk. A quick search of   "respected" televangelists shows the following: (for brevity, I'll simply put the name, brief discussion, and net worth)

 1. Kenneth Copeland:  His ministry’s 1,500-acre Texas "campus"  includes a church, a private airstrip, a hangar for the ministry’s $17.5 million jet and other aircraft, and a $6 million church owned lakefront mansion. He is very close to being a Billionaire even though he already claims billion dollar status.

2. Pat Robertson: Launched the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia, and the network is now broadcast in 180 countries. In the late 80s, he ran for President, but was unsuccessful. He runs a number of large companies, including the Christian Coalition, a Christian Right organization that exists to raise monetary and public support for conservative political candidates. Net Worth $100 Million

3. Benny Hinn:  Israeli born  televangelist, best known for his regular “Miracle Crusades” – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcast worldwide on his television program, “This Is Your Day”. Net Worth $42 Million

4. Joel Osteen:  Author, televangelist, and pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He took over his father’s role as a pastor and televangelist, despite having very little formal religious training, in 1999. Since then, the Lakewood Church broadcast has grown exponentially and can be seen in 100 different countries. Net Worth $40 Million

5. Creflo Dollar: Net Worth $27 Million

American Bible teacher, pastor, and the founder of World Changers Church International.

6. Billy Graham , Net Worth $25 Million

7. Rick Warren: Founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California; it is now the country’s eighth-largest church. Understand, he founded a non-denominational Church just like one might start their own business (which it is). He and his wife claim to live on ten percent of their income and donate the rest to charity. Net Worth $25 Million

8. Bishop T. D Jakes: Bishop (the title is self appointed) Jakes lives in a $1,700,000 mansion. He is a writer, preacher and movie producer. He is the bishop/chief pastor of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American mega church, with 30,000 members, located in Dallas, Texas. Net Worth $18 Million

9. Juanita Bynum: American actress, singer, author, and televangelist. Her 1997 video and audiotape series, “No More Sheets”, catapulted her into the spotlight in Christian circles. She appears regularly on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and has released a number of audiobooks and recordings of her sermons. Net Worth $10 Million

10. Joyce Meyer: In 2003, she and her husband started a television ministry which still airs today, Enjoying Everyday Life. Meyer only travels via private jet and responded to her critics by saying that she doesn’t have to apologize to anyone about her being blessed.  Net Worth $8 Million

        So;  Y'all out there in TV land keep those tithes and love offerings a comin', because our bottom line depends on it. And by the way, while your "offerings" are deductable from your income tax, we don't even have to claim them as income, sweet, huh?