re: Televangelists and the people who defend them

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Is there a single one who isn't a complete fraud?

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Not sure, there are guys on TV that aren't what I call televangelist, not pulling down filthy amounts of money. Billy Graham was an actual evangelist who happened to capture TV audiences, I do not really see any more Billy Grahams in this world today.

[img]Joel Osteen and Benny Hinn?[/img]


The guy you have pictured, Joel Osteen, derives the bulk of his income from sales of books and takes no salary from his church. I'm pretty sure he does charge for appearances if invited to speak, though that is typical of all types of speakers, not just christian speakers. I am not a big fan of his message primarily because it seems more like a positive thinking message than the actual gospel of salvation through Christ. I don't begrudge him any money, he writes those books and people buy them. I have heard his wife can be hard to deal with, for whatever that is worth. He gets none of my money now days though I think my wife or I may have gotten one of his books very early on but that may have even been a gift.

Benny Hinn is a charlatan and a fraud on so many levels and some do call him out. One of his own nephews has done so as he has pursued a path toward Christ. https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/benny-hinns-nephew-discusses-excesses-errors-uncles-ministry/

Personally, I believe in supporting your local church and local charities and ministries first then branching out after that toward charities you can verify as worthy of getting your money.

People are searching, Pecker. Life can be hard and disappointing. Most of the guys you speak of are good at taking advantage of those people by making them feel better about their situation. Once you're invested in something like that, you can find yourself defending them even though you know something isn't right.