Prime Time Live recently exposed marketing and fund-raising tactics of three Texas-based "televangelists." The three ministries involved labeled the expose the "work of the devil," counterattacked with lawsuits, emotional television disclaimers. Are most "evangelists" on television truly preaching the Gospel? Is Christ pleased with televangelism? What does the Bible say about some of the fund-raising techniques commonly used on television?

"Make your vow right now!" The "evangelist" scrinches up his face, makes a fist, wildly gesticulates. "The Bible says 'PAY' all your vows to God!"

The vow he was talking about had nothing to do with living a Christian life; overcoming drugs, alcohol, or smoking—it had to do with sending money to a television ministry. The "evangelist" was urging his viewers to vow to send money, even if they didn't have it to send!

Millions of viewers were stunned to learn of the massive size of some of the lesser-known television ministries recently; eighty-million dollars in one year was one figure given. They were even more stunned to learn that some television evangelists use the same professional fund-raising and marketing companies.

In hidden camera interviews, some of the staff of Prime Time Live, posing as would-be television evangelists, were conducted through the offices of a marketing firm which handles mass mailings for one or two of the preachers who were being investigated. Prime Time staffers were told the key is "names," and that they wouldn't have to handle their own mail if they didn't want to.

The marketing company explained how they would generate the fund-raising letters, obtain mailing lists, process the mail received. One was sadly disappointed, if one assumed his or her letters were avidly read by their favorite preacher on television, to learn that a mass-mailing concern actually received and handled all the mail.

A few of the more disappointing scenes Prime Time cameras captured included an obvious side-show trick wherein the "evangelist," pretending to "heal" a person with one leg longer than the other, simply pulled one shoe loose, making the leg appear longer. Then, while praying, and calling upon the "name of Jeee-sus," he slowly pushed the heel of the shoe back upon the foot.

Another sadly disappointing scene, especially to the families who had sent the letters, must have been video tape of the Prime Time crew extracting letters from a trash bin in back of a bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though the "evangelist" is located in Texas, his mail is forwarded, unopened, to the bank in Oklahoma, which then extracts the money, enters the information in bank computers, and tosses the letters into the trash, according to Prime Time Live.

As the cameras zoomed in for close-ups, Prime Time crew members took one letter from an envelope which contained color pictures of a family in need of healing, explaining that the bank, not the "evangelist," had received this deeply personal, heart-rending appeal for help—and there was the letter, with its family pictures inside, wet, covered with dirt, in a trash bin.

Also shown were letters containing blank sheets of paper upon which people had traced an outline of their hands. Ostensibly, the "evangelist" solicited these tracings so he could lay his hands right on that paper tracing, while in prayer. Obviously, some people believe something magic and powerful would then occur—that a man laying his hand on a penciled tracing of a person's hand who lives perhaps hundreds or thousands of miles away will in some way cause God to act. How strange.

One of the three men was shown conducting television cameras through his home, which had recently burnt. Viewers were treated to the charred remains of a large house completely gutted by fire. In an excerpt from one of this man's subsequent TV programs, he and his wife were seated side by side as he pointed to the jeans he was wearing, saying the clothes they had on were all they had left! He said it wasn't "much," but smilingly gave God thanks for what little they had.

What he didn't tell his audiences was that the house had been empty; had been on the market for a long time. Insurance companies are usually very curious about how it is empty houses catch fire. Prime Time then showed pictures of a large, sprawling mansion on about five acres of land near a lake where the "evangelist" and his wife had lived for quite some time, presumably with closets filled with their clothes, luxury cars in the garage, and refrigerator stocked with food.

In the wake of these and other sensational revelations, the evangelists" attacked the media, shouted how "Satan" was attacking them; was angry at them.

Such tactics are commonplace among charlatans. Many are quick to pin medals on the devil for their own wrong deeds; "demonize" their adversaries, thus absolving themselves of all guilt, of the need to repent.

Isaiah described false prophets who had "familiar spirits," who were themselves delving into demonism; men who "peeped, and muttered," (Isaiah 8:19). Is not this an apt description of those who make faces ("peeping," or peering into the camera in grimaces, false smiles) and who suddenly pretend to break into "tongues," which is nothing but unintelligible muttering, gibberish?

Is Satan really angry at men who use such techniques?

If Satan is angry at them, what about Jesus Christ? How does He feel?

What is an "evangelist?"

The word "evangelist" comes from the Greek word, evangelistis, which comes from the word, evangelize. This word means, simply, "a preacher of the gospel." The word "gospel" is completely misunderstood by most. Actually, it comes from two old English words which meant, simply,

"good news."

Today one hears of "gospel singers," or one will say, as if attesting to the truth, "that's gospel, brother." Jesus Christ came with a message He insisted the Father had given Him; a message about the soon-coming Kingdom of God. Jesus called His message "the Gospel."

That message was very much good news for mankind; the glad tidings, or joyous announcement that God would eventually intervene in this sin-sick, war-weary world of suffering and death, and bring God's Government, under Christ.

Therefore, an "evangelist," in biblical usage, is a person who carries the same Gospel of Jesus Christ, called the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God," to the world as a witness and a warning!

Christ said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore [speaking to the twelve apostles, who were the "ones sent" to preach the Gospel], and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age]. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Gospel message Christ brought had many facets. First, it centered on Christ Himself; why He had come into the world in human flesh; why He called His disciples and delivered God's glorious truth to them; how and why He would die for the sins of all mankind; how and why He would be resurrected. Christ came to qualify as future world ruler, to disqualify the present evil ruler of this world, Satan (Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9), to die for the sins of all men; to be resurrected, and ascend to the right hand of the Father on high.

Paul summed up the Gospel this way: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

"By which ye are saved [this is saving knowledge—the message of the WAY to SALVATION], if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

"For I delivered unto you [now, he is ready to summarize the Gospel] first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins [HOW Christ died, and WHY He died is central to the Gospel!] according to the scriptures:

"And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures..." (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

Notice how much Paul says here. He reminds them how he had preached the Gospel. He insists he received the message from Christ (Galatians 1: 12). He says the first, and most essential part of the Gospel is "how that Christ died."

But did Christ die?

Jesus says He did. "I am He that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:18). Why is this important? Simply because many fundamentalist preachers do not believe Christ died. Instead, they believe only His body died, but that HE, Christ, was ALIVE, but down in hell, preaching to evil spirits!

Twice, Paul said these things happened "according to the scriptures." Which scriptures? Why, the only scriptures which existed then—what the churches call, sometimes with disrespect, the "Jewish Old Testament." Remember, scholars believe either Matthew or Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians were the first New Testament writings to be produced, probably about the middle '50s, A.D. The only writings which could be called "scriptures" to which Paul could be referring were the Old Testament writings.

Did not Jesus Christ say the same thing?

He said, "…an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas;

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly [or, "in the belly of the great fish"]; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40).

Christ cited Old Testament writings, in the case the book of Jonah, to prove the length of time He would be in the tomb, which He said was the ONLY SIGN He would leave to a sinful world!

If the world rejects this only sign Christ left, it rejects the real Jesus Christ!

Now, count.

Since tradition insists Jesus was crucified on "Good Friday," and was resurrected on "Easter Sunday" morning, how do the preachers of most churches explain this plain statement of Christ?

For from Friday sunset to Sabbath sunset is one day and one night. From Sabbath sunset to Sunday sunset is two days and two nights. From Sunday sunset to Monday sunset is three days and three nights. Then was Christ resurrected on an early TUESDAY MORNING?

No, of course not.

Then what is the explanation?

Christ was not put on the stake to die for our sins on a "Good Friday," at all, but on a Wednesday!

Paul insisted the Gospel must include, "according to the scriptures," the HOW and WHY of the death of Jesus Christ; that He had been resurrected; that the apostles were witnesses of that fact.

Do you believe Jesus Christ was resurrected? If so, have you heard these television evangelists explain what you just read; how Christ died, when He died, why He died?

Christ died, after all, because of sin; isn't that right?

Now, according to your Bible, what is sin?

The Bible answers, "Whosoever committeth sin transgesseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law!" (I John 3:4). The only law which can possibly be referred to here is God's Ten Commandments, as magnified by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount!

But do most evangelists preach one must obey God's laws? Do they expound and explain how the Ten Commandments are to be applied in every day life; explain how breaking even one point makes you guilty of all (James 2: 10)? More to the point, do they expound and explain the Fourth Commandment, insisting that Christians must follow Christ's example, and the example of all the apostles and the early church in keeping God's Sabbath day?

Unless these "televangelists" are delivering the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in all its fullness and power; unless they are following Christ's commands, they are not of God, and they do not represent Jesus Christ. Christ Himself warned about false prophets (Matthew 24:4,5,11,24). Paul said, "Prove all things, hold fast that which good" (I Thessalonians 5:23). When so-called "evangelists" are using up to 30 or 50 percent of their air time begging for money, using various schemes to cause people to send in money, are they truly "evangelists"? Or are they ,instead, merely religious sounding fund-raisers? Now, how did Christ want His work on this earth to be financed? Did He intend His true evangelists beg?

When God ruled over the theocracy of Israel, He gave an inheritance to each of the tribes. To Levi, He gave no inheritance in the land, but the tithes of the people, instead. The Levites are an Old Testament type of the New Testament ministry.

Christ plainly told the Pharisees, "Ye tithe…" chastising them for carefully tithing mint, spices and herbs in minute amounts, while overlooking the weightier matters of the law such as justice, forgiveness, and mercy. He said, referring to their meticulous tithing, "these ought ye to have done, and told them they should not have left the other undone!

Paul told the Corinthians, "Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power [authorization from Christ, or authority] to lead about a sister a wife, as well as the other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas [Peter]?

"...Who goes to war any time at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit from it? Or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk from the flock?

"Say I these things as a man [out of human reason]? Or saith not the law the same also?

"For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.’ Doth God take care for oxen?

"Or saith He it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

"If we [Paul, and those other apostles and evangelists who labored with him in the ministry] have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" (I Corinthians 9: 1-11).

Paul is obviously arguing that the New Testament ministry has power to live from the tithes of the people being served, in exactly the same way the Levite did; exactly as a laboring ox could partake of the threshing floor; as a ploughing farmer could eat of that which he planted, and harvested.

That the Corinthian church was paying tithes and giving offerings is clear when Paul went on to say, "If others [other ministers, perhaps local ones] be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?" (I Corinthians 9:12).

Many churches practice the biblical doctrine of tithing. Catholics give to Catholic churches, Baptists to Baptist churches, Methodists to Methodist churches, and so on. Many religious organizations recognize the biblical doctrine of tithing and giving, and some religiously practice it.

But did God intend His ministers go before the general public and use ever conceivable artifice to beg for money? Or is not tithing, and the support of the ministry, the result of conversion, and baptism, and church membership first, and then tithing to one's church? Obviously not. Truly, "The best things in life are free," meaning such wonderful things as God's truth, saving knowledge, the blessings of God's Holy Spirit, including such rare and wonderful things as miracles and hearings.

A fellow minister with me in this work, Mr. Ronald L. Dart, has completed a manuscript he is currently sending around to various publishers in hopes of having it published, and made available to general public, about religious fundraising. In his first chapter, entitled "Where Do They Get All That Money?" he writes, "Did you ever wonder where they get the money? You probably didn't have to wonder long, because most of them come on with a pitch for support before the program is over. And many of us have our suspicions confirmed—preachers, we believe, are always after our money.

"But the truth is, they don't raise very much of that money over the air. You can enjoy their programs (or not) for years and never contribute a dime. In order to contribute, you the viewer have to pick up the phone and call (many accept credit cards), or sit down and write a letter and enclose a check.

"Only then will you come to understand where they really get all that money.

"When they make their pitch on the air, they want a donation, but even more, they want your name and address. When they get that, the real fund-raising begins. You will get letters—lots of letters. You may even get phone calls.

"I have been watching all this a long time, and I make it a point to get on as many mailing lists as possible. In just a few months I received through the mail—all from evangelists trying to raise money—the following items: A cellophane glove, a Popsicle stick, two Mexican pesos, several red strings, a piece of rope, a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, a paper prayer rug, a picture of Oral Roberts, powdered grape juice with a communion wafer, a little cake and a purple sack, a little vial of olive oil, a one inch square piece of carpet, a four leaf clover, a sackcloth cross, a container of 'holy water,' a paper cup, an anointed cloth (green, like money), an anointed cloth (white, but with green letters on it), a tin clock face with the hands set at 11:53, a small packet of sugar, a copy of a hand scribbled terrorist threat, one quarter of a thousand dollar bill (fake), a little "gold" heart for a charm bracelet, a 'gold' wedding ring, and a 'silver' wedding ring.

"Now if you are wondering what all this has to do with religion, not much. But it has everything to do with raising money. Every single item was related to some fund-raising scheme of one evangelist or another.

"It may surprise you to learn that these treasure were not sent to me to keep. I was supposed to send them back. For example, I got two Mexican pesos from (name omitted). I could keep one of the pesos, but the other was to be mailed back to (name omitted) with an offering wrapped around it."

What does Christ think of all of these incredible fundraising schemes?

What is Christ's opinion of so-called "evangelists" who will send things like red strings, a piece of rope, a Popsicle stick, a paper cup, or a little piece of carpet through the mail, urging people to send such items back and enclose an "offering"?

Did Jesus Christ ever instruct His apostles to do such things? Is there a single scripture anywhere from Genesis to Revelation which encourages preachers to distribute small packets of sugar, four leaf clovers, or fake wedding rings? You and I both know this is sheer nonsense!

I am omitting the names of these individuals, for I do not wish to embarrass anyone, and certainly would not want to disturb anyone who reads our FREE material but who may also be supporting some other ministry.

We are all individuals, all personally responsible, and must all make our own free choices. It is entirely up to you, if you wish to send money when someone sends you a cellophane glove, and no particular business of mine, except that, as a minister of Jesus Christ, I would urge you to search the Scriptures diligently, and see whether these fund-raising tactics are truly authorized of God.

Jesus plainly said "Freely ye have received, freely give!" (Matthew 10:8). While the "laborer is worthy of his hire," and the ox that treads out the corn may eat of the threshing floor, Christ did not intend that the Gospel carry a price tag! The wonderful truth of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God, is FREE!

Can any so-called "evangelist," in good conscience, put a price on God's truth? Can you BUY a miracle? Can you BUY healing, peace of mind, a happy marriage, obedient children, financial relief, or physical well-being?

This message about the purpose for Christ's sojourn on this earth in human flesh is absolutely pivotal to the Gospel. But is not the whole Gospel, for Christ insisted the Gospel was a message He brought from His Father! All the Gospel writers called His Gospel "the Gospel of the Kingdom of God," except Matthew, who called it, on several occasions, "the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven."

In brief, the Gospel message can be summarized by asking a few simple questions about the Kingdom of God.

What IS a kingdom?

If one were to ask this question about the kingdom of Great Britain, or any other kingdom on this earth, one could immediately see that in order to be a kingdom, it must have the following four things:
(1) A king who rules over the kingdom.
(2) A realm, or territory over which the king rules.
(3) Subjects, who live in that realm, ruled by that king.
(4) Laws, or a system of government through which the king rules.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God ultimately includes the entirety of the Bible. The Bible is God's handbook to man, which tells man WHY the human family was created in the first place; what we humans really are; where we are headed.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth portrayed Himself as a young nobleman who went away into a far country to get for himself a kingdom, and to return!

Who will be the king of the coming Kingdom of God? The Bible answers many, many times over, Jesus Christ!

Where will be the place of His Kingdom? The Bible answers again and again, on this earth! For a few quick proofs of this statement, read Revelation 19, Micah 4, Isaiah 2, Isaiah 11, and the entire book of Zephaniah. Read also Zechariah's 14th chapter.

Epitomizing these and many other scriptures is Christ's promise to those who overcome, "To him that overcometh will I give power over the nations" (Revelation 2:26). The place of Christ's future rulership is on this earth. The subjects over which Christ will rule for the first one thousand years, and then on into all eternity are people! The laws through which the great "King of kings and Lord of lords" will rule are the Ten Commandments of God as magnified by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount; God's righteous and holy statutes and judgments.

Now, compare as you analyze all the many beautiful facets of the good news that Jesus Christ not only died for the sins of the world, but has been resurrected, and presently awaits His return to this earth to rule it with a rod of iron with the message" usually seen on television by various "televangelists."

Is what many of them preach "the Gospel"? To be sure, all mention the name of Jesus. Is it possible to preach about Christ, to praise Christ as Lord, to continually exalt His name, use His name in sermons, and still deceive?

Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). When a wolf appears as a sheep, the flock does not know that he is a wolf. They assume he is merely a lamb-like, unthreatening creature just like themselves! If he makes sounds like a sheep, and looks like a sheep, then how is the flock to tell the difference?

Christ went on to say, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:16-20). The word "fruit" obviously means what is produced, what is established and maintained, what is being accomplished. To be sure, there are many "televangelists" who apparently do "good works." It is up to you to discern which is which; to separate the wheat from the chaff, the wheat from the tares, the good from the bad.

Sadly, viewers to the sensational expose on Prime Time Live were treated to interviews with leaders of various orphanages in other countries, such as Haiti. Allegedly, one or two of the televangelists being exposed were soliciting contributions for the maintenance of orphanages or other relief agencies outside of the United States. Prime Time crews interviewed these orphanages, and revealed that only a tiny fraction of the moneys allegedly going to these orphanages ever arrived, and in at least one case, no money at all had ever arrived. Prime Time indicated that one of the "televangelists" spent more money on billboards to advertise himself and his organization than he spent on relief of orphaned children.

Are there worthy causes which deserve support? To be sure. It is right and good for discerning Christians to help the poor, the elderly, the infirm, and to give shelter to orphans where it is possible. How sad it is that many otherwise ethical and deserving charities receive fallout from such television exposes, being painted with a broad brush of suspicion by the general public, who, viewing the antics and unethical behavior of a few tend to doubt the many.

Notice what Jesus said about those who claim to preach a message about Christ: "Not everyone that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

"Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils [demons]? And in thy name done many wonderful works9'

"And then will I profess unto them, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [lawlessness!]"' (Matthew 7:21-23). Notice! Jesus is identifying people who call Him Lord! They exalt His name! They say they "know the Lord." They argue that they have preached or prophesied in the name of Jesus! They claim they have even cast out demons and done many "wonderful works," perhaps performing alleged "miracles"! Yet Jesus is going to say to such people, "I never knew you—DEPART from me, you that are working lawlessness!"

How can this be? Simple. No matter their emphasis of the "name of Jesus," if they are not obedient to the laws of God; if they are not accomplishing the will of the Father in heaven, they can preach in the name of Jesus all their lives, and still not be preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God Jesus Christ brought to this earth; not remain faithful to the entire Word of God, the Bible; not be upstanding and ethical in their behavior—but be frauds, charlatans, and false prophets!

Jesus warned, "Take heed that no man deceive you.

"For many shall come in my name [they continually emphasize the name of Jesus, saying His name over and over again!], saying, I am Christ [not claiming they are Christ, but that Jesus is the Christ!]; and shall deceive many!" (Matthew 24:4,5). A little later He said, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.... For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that IF it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:11,24).

Are you one of the "very elect"?

It is Christ's own "very elect," members of the Body of Jesus Christ, the one true church Jesus built (Matthew 16:18), who simply will not be deceived!

Your Bible says Satan the devil is the deceiver of all nations! But a deceived person does not know he or she is deceived. The deceived may be perfectly sincere. They may be some of the finest people you have ever met; they may be thrifty, hard-working, honest, "good folks." They may be perfectly sincere in their beliefs and convictions. After all, are not there literally millions of Americans who might fit such a description, but who are Catholics, Jews, Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, members of the Church of Christ, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists, or members of one of the other more than four hundred differing churches? Not all of these individuals can be right. For if any one of them is right, then all the others are wrong!

Somewhere, somehow, some of them simply MUST be "deceived," according to your Bible!

What is the message commonly heard across America and Canada most Sunday mornings?

Recent articles have indicated that many "televangelists" spend up to thirty percent and more of their air time (in some cases it went up to fifty percent and above) begging for money!

What do most of them not preach?

Ask yourself a few simple questions, and perhaps, the next time you are searching around your television channels for a program to watch, you may want to compare what you are seeing and hearing with a few simple tests.

First, are they preaching the law of God? Are they preaching that Almighty God is the RULER, Who must be obeyed? Are they preaching that Christ is the soon-coming King, to rule this world with a rod of iron for one thousand years (Revelation 2:26; 20:4)? Do they preach repentance, meticulously going through the Scriptures to show what sin is (I John 3:4), what repentance is (Romans 12:1,2), that when one repents, one should be baptized, and receive the laying-on-of-hands for God's Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38).

Do they go through the many facets of the Gospel, showing how and why Jesus Christ came into this earth; proving Jesus Christ was human, that He took upon Himself "the seed of Abraham," yet was very God in the flesh?

Do they show the major parts of the Gospel message, that Christ is the soon-coming King, that the seat of His authority will be this earth, that He will rule human beings of all nations on this earth for the first one thousand years by imposing the righteous laws of Almighty God on all mankind?

For, if they are not preaching the whole Gospel, then they are not "evangelists" at all. An "evangelist," by Bible definition, is one who preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps these men are religious fund-raisers. But are they preachers of the Gospel?

Only when you have come to understand the truth of the whole Gospel can you know the difference!

For decades, I have said, "Don't believe ME, BELIEVE YOUR BIBLE!" I have urged my audiences to check up, look up the scriptures, and prove all things (I Thessalonians 5:23). Now, some positive advice:

Are you a lonely person?

If you are elderly, or sick, or crippled, perhaps living on a fixed income, such as a pension, or welfare, you may own a television set.

That TV set is your "window" to the world.

While you would never think of inviting a strange-looking, strange-talking stranger into your home who rang your doorbell, scrinched up his face, and began claiming to cast out demons, you do "invite" some of these so-called "evangelists" into your home over television.

The first time you watched one or another of them, you may have felt repulsed, perhaps even angry. Maybe you were merely bemused, saying to yourself, "This guy has got to be joking! "

But then, if you are "curious" the next week, and the next, you may find that early repulsion slowly gives way to an easy familiarity.

A couple of months later, and you may find yourself drawn to some particular program. Now, this total stranger in some distant town has become your "friend." Now, you have spent HOURS watching him, listening to him. Now, some of his suggestions seemed aimed at YOU.

Do you find yourself reaching your hands toward the TV set? Saying amen? Echoing his words? Believing in him?

For, believe it or not, millions DO!

Lonely people, sick people, elderly, poor people are very susceptible to this kind of TV hucksterism, and the charlatans among the "evangelists" on television know this!

Is Christ angry at false prophets who prey on widows and elderly; who cajole, cry, whimper, "pray," blather in "tongues," twist their faces into a grimace, pretend to be fighting demons; who "peep and mutter"?

Let Christ Himself answer, through the apostle Peter, who wrote, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you ... and many shall follow their pernicious [noxious, or destructive—damaging, violent] ways; by reason of whom the WAY OF TRUTH shall be evil spoken of" (II Peter 2:1,2).

How true! As a result of the chicanery of a few, millions in the general public paint all TV "evangelism" with a broad brush of guilt!

Continuing, "And [these false prophets shall] through covetousness [their lust for money!] MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (II Peter 2:3).

Is there any more accurate description of what millions saw on Prime Time Live?

The next time you find yourself mesmerized, drawn in, tempted to print an outline of your hand on paper, and send it to some TV "evangelist," or send him your family pictures, stop! Take time to think! Flip the TV set to another channel for a few moments. Get up and get a drink of water. Look away from the man's eyes. Think!

Is he preaching the Gospel?

Is what he says, and what he sends out, free of charge?

Is he faithfully preaching God's Word, expounding, explaining the Bible? Is he relying on God, in faith, for his financial support—never mentioning money on the air?

To be sure, there are ministers out there who are sincere. No doubt many are honest. But neither sincerity nor honesty are the test of truth.

The responsibility remains yours for determining who God's true servants are, for Christ said, "Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many." Only the very elect cannot be deceived.

Are you one of those?

What Is the Real Gospel?

Should Christians Observe Easter or the Passover?

The REAL Jesus

The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association
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