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DISCUSSWhy Creflo Dollar Needs His Dollars
| 11/08/2007Every time we write about Creflo Dollar we have to point out that this is not one of those fake news articles we've sometimes managed to foist onto the public, and that the name Creflo Dollar was not used by Charles Dickens to describe a wheezing barrister in a pub, nor was it invented by a heavy-handed satirist attempting to lampoon a greedy Ukrainian.
No, Creflo Dollar is a real person, one of the six televangelists who got letters from the Senate Finance Committee on Monday, asking them to send in detailed accounting statements proving that they're not converting church money to their personal use.
More specifically, Creflo Dollar is the pastor of World Changers Church International of College Park, Georgia. Presumably he chose that name himself, completely free of fear that it would be soon be better known as Money Changers Church International by the 30,000 members who weekly enrich its coffers and make it possible for Creflo to maintain the two jets—one Gulfstream 3 and one Lear—that he uses to shuttle back and forth between Madison Square Garden (where he does a Saturday night service for an audience of 6,000) and Atlanta (where he does a Sunday morning service), not to mention occasional visits to his offices in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and Nigeria.
Creflo's wife Taffi Dollar—and here we remind you once again that we are not lapsing into fiction at any point during the creation of this article—Taffi Dollar is responsible for the household budget at the $3 million Dollar mansion in Atlanta, and the more modest $2.44 million Dollar condo overlooking Central Park in Manhattan.
Asked about the Dollar dollars by CBS News yesterday, Dollar said it was untrue that he had two Rolls-Royces (we'd actually heard it was two Rolls-Royces and one Humvee, but who's keeping track?)—that he only had one Rolls and it was given to him by his congregation as a surprise. He also said he did not give $500,000 of church funds to fellow "prosperity gospel" evangelist Kenneth Copeland on the occasion of Copeland's 40th wedding anniversary—although he did not say how much he did give—so we want to be very careful when we say that the annual budget for Dollar's operation, his overhead dollars, is about $80 million. (Note to Creflo: Get back to us if we're a little off on that number.)
The interesting aspect of this story, however, is that so many of these prosperity-gospel guys do funnel money back to Copeland in so many ways that it almost looks like a pyramid scheme. Actually that's too harsh—what it really resembles is the marketing structure of Mary Kay Cosmetics, set up so that every time a salesperson recruits another salesperson, he or she gets a cut of the commission. And the reason that all roads lead to Copeland—see our summary of Copeland's organization in the investigative cartooning feature "Lifestyles of the Rich and Religious"—is that he's the granddaddy of what goes by many names—like "positive confession"—but is most commonly called "Word Faith."
If you look for the theological origins of "Word Faith," you end up in Tulsa, of course, and specifically at RHEMA Bible College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, which was founded by Kenneth E. "Papa" Hagin (1917-2003), the man who pretty much created the American-style health-and-wealth preaching so familiar from late-night television. Copeland was a student there, as well as at Oral Roberts University, which veers close to RHEMA in its theology but is not always on the same page. (Truth be told, every prosperity preacher is his own theology school, since part of the basis for the teaching is direct special revelation from God, which makes all these guys the heirs of the original gnostics.) But if RHEMA had a creed, it would go something like this:
- God's covenant with Abraham means that God has to deliver on his part of the deal, so anything you ask for in the name of Jesus, God is required to give you. (Should we quote some Janis Joplin lyrics here?)
- Man is equal to God in every respect. Or, in the words of Copeland, "You don't have a God in you! You are one!" (Tom Cruise would like this one.)
- Jesus was not the son of God, he was a man empowered by God to be just like God, and everyone who knows this can do the same thing. (We're not sure we have this one exactly right, but it's basically "Be Jesus, go ahead, He won't mind, you're soulmates.")
- Jesus went down into hell where he took on Satan's nature, until he was born again, and re-emerged to start the church. (Presumably they preach this one on Halloween.)
- Anything you speak and believe, with understanding, will come true just as you want it. (Yes, this seems like it's the same as number one, but that one is about what God has to do, and this one is about what you have to do. It's the "positive confession" part, the idea that your thought processes can command God to act.)
- God promises in Isaiah 53 to heal every physical illness of anyone who has faith. (As our mentor Ole Anthony once said, "Then why aren't there thousands of 200-year-old billionaires in Tulsa?")
- Any Christian who believes in poverty is outside God's will. (Well, take that, you cloistered loser in the hairshirt.)
There are more, but these are the biggies. I would imagine that at this point you're starting to see why taking away Creflo Dollar's dollars could amount to more than just a little lifestyle adjustment. It pretty much goes to the heart of the whole Kahuna.
Hey, this is the guy who answered YES when asked by an anchorman if he thought Jesus would drive a Rolls-Royce! Hot damn.
To be fair, Jesus thinks Bentleys are just too ostentatious.
How do you know that? Did he tell you?
WWJD = What Would Jesus Drive?
- Hudson Wasp
- AMC Spirit
- Buick La Crosse
- a pair of Oldsmobiles: an Alero Alpha and an Omega
- Dodge Crusader
- Dodge Omni
- Ford Ikon
- Opel Signum
- Hyundai Genesis
- Hundai Grace
- Kia Soul
- Suzuki Cultus
- a couple of Honda Logos
- Mazda Millenia (some argument whether this has been bought yet)
- Mazda Persona (one of three family cars)
- Mazda Carol (for winter driving)
- Rolls Royce Silver Seraph
- Anything by Innocenti
I asked Richard Dawkins, tho', and he said a Daihatsu Charade.
I think St Sebastian had a few Pierce-Arrows, by the way.
I Always Thought He'd Drive A Honda!!
Afterr All,It says"We Shall Come In One accord."!!
I think David drove a Triumph, because the Bible says "David Triumphed."
Is any of this really funny??
Pray for these folks..
Pray for them? I think we might better pray for the sheep who perceive them as worthy of their money. And pray for yourselves and for me that we would be better preachers and stronger in faith than they. Perhaps if the US economy tanks, they will become mortal again. It isn't just the money, it is the strong possibility that they were never born again from above. Their doctrine indicates that, or apostasy.
Kenneth Copeland has taught the following:
That we do not have a god in us but that we are a God.
“You don’t have a God in you. You are one!” - The Force of Love audiotape
That Adam was God manifest in the flesh.
"God's reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself, and in the Garden of Eden He did just that. He was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even. . . . Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus. . . . Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh."
Following the Faith of Abraham I, side 1
God is the greatest failure in the Universe
"I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is....The biggest one is God....I mean, He lost His top-ranking, most anointed angel; the first man He ever created; the first woman He ever created; the whole earth and all the Fullness therein; a third of the angels, at least--that's a big loss, man. . .
Praise-a-Thon program on TBN [April 1988]
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/copeland_exposed.htm
some of this sounds familiar. I think it came from a man called Joseph Smith...
yes this very much reminds me of joe smith
...I would if I could stop laughing.
umm, maybe just pray for the people they're rippin off.
As a member of Creflo's church, you don't need to pray for me. I don't need your unelightened prayers. Pray for yourself...
I was a member too for seven years until my eyes were opened. I sincerely hope you will pay close attention to the messages being taught and do some critical thinking. If you believe in God, ask for the truth to be revealed; just be prepared to listen.
You were a "member for seven years"....I was a member for 12 at Hagee's church and got down on my knees one day and cried out to God and was delivered from that terrible place! I can't believe how much my eyes have been opened and that God loved me that much to do it.
Praise God, you are reading your Bible! No, you could not have remained there knowing what the Word says about all of this apostasy. When one studies the Word, the Holy Spirit reveals the Truth. What he and others like him teaches puts a slant/twist on the truth...we call it error.
ya'll seriously need to get lives
You have no idea Jesus is. His choice of car(s) should be the least of your concerns!
Neither do you darlin! Read I Timothy 6:9-11. It does matter alot what they focus their entire ministry on...Paul says to "flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. Flee and Follow.
He should change the name to The World Church of Cha Ching Cha Ching.
Sounds like your jealous to me.
How about changing his name to CLEPTO DOLLAR.
Hey folks I once heard that "Cashflow" Dollar's birth name was Michael A. Smith. Anyone know anything about that? Figures Creflo Dollar could be a made up name!
You're an idiot. His name is Crelo A. Dollar after his father.
Whatever!, Dollar is a word of faith heretic and you're the idiot if you support this fraud!
I know of one very important subject he doesn't teach...Fruit of the Spirit....Calling someone an "idiot"....sounds like more of the world to me.
Because he already changed his name to "Cashflo" Dollar.....
is his theme song MONEY by pink floyd
I heard it was "Creep-yo Dollah"
I heard his name used to be Crefelo Penny, but Copeland made him change it to something that sounded more prosperous.
...or mo-flo dollar
Hey, even if he is using the money for his own personal use, this guy is a brilliant "religious business" man! He knows he's dealing with a not too bright, easily manipulated, kind of people. I wouldn't blame this guy for his business smarts, but for the really stupid, poor kahuna's who follow him! P.S. And I'm not one of them!
Creflo, Schmeflo. Shucks. I was hoping to read something on how Joyce Meyer is going to explain that $23,000 commode.
Jay,
I think she has that because she truly thinks her *$%& don't stink!!
Just once on any of these televangelist shows, I would like to see all the microphones fail. Then I'd like to see all the lights fail. Then I'd like to see all the projection TVs fail. Then I'd like to have the ear monitors fail. And then we're going to see whether any of them can hold up under pressure. All this "larger than life" persona is going to suddenly become something akin to The Emperor's New Clothes.
I think God has tried that a few times, but Satan keeps getting the credit.
I grew up in pentecostal church in rural OK and even considering
attending Oral Roberts U back in the 60 s
but 20 years later when I first came across the literature of these people ( and seeing them on tv--if you can stomach it but I
have insomnia sometimes and do channel surf) I wondered how they could so pollute the teachings of Jesus as revealed in the Gospels and knew that the reason they had so many followers is that if they taught His message of dying to the self, no one would listen, but if you tell people exactly what they want to hear then they will listen and eventually send you lots of money.
The same has been true in US politics starting with Reagan--tell
people what they want to hear ( mix in just enough truth to make it sound correct) and you can always defeat someone who tells you tough things ( as Jimmy Carter did in 1980).
Jr. Bush learned very well from THE GREAT ACTOR.
So these evanbelists are a sign of what has happened to the US
culture going back to the dismal failure in Vietnam.
As a people, we would rather hear what we think might be true and not the real truth ( which at times is difficult to face up to).
And it is a byproduct of the enviorment of greed and consumerism
that has become in reality the "NEW RELIGION" of the US.
Oliver Stone`s Gordon Gecko ( WALL STREET) was a prophet 20 years ago with the movie and the line "GREED IS GOOD!".
As you sow, so will you reap.
We, the US citizens have set the enviorment that made it possible for all these "prosperity preachers" to flourish at an exponential
rate.
And of course the prosperity flows only one direction.
What did Janis Joplin sing 40 years ago?
OH LORD , WON`T YOU BUY ME A COLOR TV?
OH LORD, WONT` YOU BUY ME A MERCEDES BENZ?
MY FRIENDS ALL DRIVE PORCHES,
THEY MUST MAKE A MINT....
Compared to these rascals today her requests were actually very
modest. Only a Mercedes ( not a Rolls or Bentley or Ferrari?)
and only 1??
In their ( these evanglist`s ) minds she was a very small thinker.
We are in many ways as guilty as they are, as the corrupt politicans are.
Jesus came and told the people the truth and for that they killed him.
It seems that a lot of people did not like what he was saying.
You think too much, Darling.....all that time you could have had a wonderful relationship with Jesus. Don't WASTE the rest of your life!
God gave me a brain to think with, and I use this precious gift every day in every way I can. That is my relationship with Jesus, because as my pastor, who firmly condemns the "Money Cometh" nonsense always taught, "the gift is not for you." It is to share with all the rest of God's creation. Thank God for thought. As for those who choose not to think, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Hi Marg. I appreciate your sincerity. However, what do you mean by "had a wonderful relationship with Jesus"? Scriptures tells us that we need to love our neighbor, encourage one another, and go to the outer edges of the world and share the good news. Part of this forum from what I've read (aside for some people's negative comments) is doing just that.
You need to know how to defend your faith (Peter 3:15).
"Crapflo" is not a long way from "Creflo" and is, I think, a bit more descriptive.
Great article. These people thumb their noses at those dumb enough to give them their money. The very people who contribute to them are seeking Jesus and are being conned. I have noticed that all of them justify their "ministries" with the Old Testament picking out a few words and giving them the twist needed to insure that get more money. They are either shyters or are totally ignarant of the Word of the Lord. I wonder why no one has even mentioned the papa
son duo, the Cerullas. Theirs is the most blatant of all.
Creflo Dollar is what the bible talks about in 2 Peter 2:1 and his followers and the followers of the prosperity gospel are the folks mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:3-4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A3xbXvCnqCU
One has to admit that these millionaire preachers of (some type) of the gospel are living the American Dream.
(I lump them together with Mel Gibson who cashed in on the myriad flocks of the faithful with a SNUFF FILM.)
Agony is agony and wealth from God is wealth from God and mindless blather is mindless blather: figuring out how to cash in on that is American entrepreneurship of the very highest order.
This note is from the other side of the globe - when it's 12 noon in California, it's 12 midnight where I live!
For a nation so steeped in modernity, science and technology, how is it possible that so many of the US citizens get to follow
such superstitious reductionistic model of Christian Faith?
Does it mean perhaps that the poor farmers among whom I live are more reasoned thinkers and seasoned believers and as such less vulnerable to be cheated?
How come the "FAITH' of men and women like Ambrose, Chrysostom, Augustine, Aquinas, Ignatius of Loyola, Luther, Calvin, Mother Teresa, and Thomas Merton suddenly producing such bad witnesses?
What happened to the "intellecus quaerens fidem" - Why the intellect does not question the praxis of Faith?
These flashy and empty men are merchandizing Jesus and his gospel...
Followers of other Faiths would have a good laugh !!!
It looks like the poor farmers aren't in bad company.
Dr. Liam just can't keep his comments on politics & corrupt conservative leader points out of his convo. whatever, you are just another liberal dude who only sees republicans are corrupt, not good old fun luvin' dems. most all politians have an agenda reguardless of party so let's keep it real.
I am not defending creflo & the others but I have one point. does it not take money to turn the world? preach the gospel, make a ligit production(whittenburgdoor) to attract the world to consider thruths spoken by us believers? sometimes it can get twisted but there are ministries out there who use money generated for good, not just personal stuff. It's funny how most of you out there have already made a "judgement" on this guy due to what the media & your perception of him has givin you...maybe we should reserve that part for God.
I think your dismissive tone and false logic are exactly what Dr. Liam is talking about. The "profit at any price" and "there is nothing wrong with being rich" culture provide fertile manure for these televangelists. The televangelists use the same rationalizations for their excess that corporate executives use. Our whole culture is awash in getting more for "me" and to hell with "you". If "you" can't make it, its your own fault. Now we know this is the creed of the prosperity preachers, but doesn't it sound a lot like a political creed?
As for "it takes money to turn the world", where is that in the Bible? I know that "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" is in the Bible. And the story of the rich young ruler who walked away rather than give away his money and follow Jesus. Our "what is wrong with having money and being comfortable" rationalizations reveal us as rich young rulers at heart. We say we want to follow, but on our terms so we make every effort to make our wealth ok. After all, we use some of it for good, you know.
As for "some ministries do good", what does that have to do with the excesses of prosperity preachers? Yes, some ministries do good. Some large ministries with lots of money use all of that money to do good. Some small ministries with very little money do lots of good. What does that observation have to do with Creflo Dollar?
Jesus was sad when the rich young ruler turned away. The ruler may have asked his friend, "what's wrong with having a lot of money? After all, I do some good with it." Our culture of "wealth without limit" and "greed without conscience" prove, and our constant efforts to rationalize it show, that we have turned away from Jesus' call.
Well said!
Our congregation (about 25 folk) just completed our annual busines meeting. We discovered that we had spent 77% of our income on benevolence, missions and other service oriented Christian organizations. We hope to do better next year.
We will not, however, demand that God do anything. Neither will we condemn anyone who speaks a message about the true God (See Philippians), but rejoice that Christ is preached.
I would watch what you are posting and saying about these Ministers.
I would very much watch your words, and what you say, because they will come back on you.
- I know that a lot of you are the poverty mentality Christianity that says you can not have no money at all. If you look at jesus when He was on this earth, He was worth probably around 300 million dollars. God does not want His Children to be broke.
Watch your words and what you say about Creflo and these other 5 ministers, you do not know them, you just make judgments from what you here on Tv, And make sure you look at your on life.
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