Thursday, November 21, 2024

Click-click-clicking through the channels...hmmm, what's on TV tonight? Look at this, B.E.T. is running a show about God with Pastor Robert Tilton. He is a fairly convincing speaker like many of his televangelist cohorts, but what's his message? You may think it is the same message as the majority of these charismatic "shepherds" however, this guy caught my attention when he said to call for his free booklet titled, How to Pay Your Bills Supernaturally.

Wow! I'd certainly like to pay my bills "supernaturally." Who wouldn't? But how can this happen? Will I twitch my nose like Samantha from Bewitched? Will I ask my wife to blink like Jeanie or, maybe some more current supernatural assistance from the gals of Charmed?

No matter the theories, I just had to get this booklet, and I did. The first thing I noticed is that it contains many of the stock photos I see used in material from credit counselors. You know, you've seen these, a guy holding his chin, elbows on a table full of bills looking all sad while staring at his calculator. The business woman with a pen in one hand, pad of paper in the other, ready to learn the "secrets" of supernatural bill payment.

Can you guess how you are to pay your bills supernaturally? I will give you just one guess! Got it?

It's the obvious. You send Pastor Robert Tilton money and he prays for you. Tilton calls this a "seed gift" a "vow." And how does it work? Why does it work?

According to Tilton, the Bible, to make a long story short, says that God will supply all our needs and that God will return more than we give.

This may be true in a spiritual sense, but I have a feeling that God doesn't have a division in Heaven set up to receive the paid prayers of Robert Tilton. I very much doubt that God only helps those who pay Tilton and rejects those who do not.

Here's a quote from his booklet, "God takes pleasure in those who vow and have the corresponding actions to go along with paying it. God sees your actions of faith, and that pleases Him."

I guess that means that those of us that donate our time to help the needy, or food, or gifts, are just not going to get help paying our bills supernaturally.

Of course, he has a few testimonies from people that say his "system" works. How they gave and then received help from above! I guess that's because God has nothing else to do but help people pay bills.

I can see it now, God taking note as to what's going on here on earth. He sees earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, people dying of disease, homeless children, and then He thinks, "You know, I really have to help those people who paid Robert Tilton. They need to get that electric bill paid pronto!"

According to Evangelize America Ministries, Texas Attorney General Dan Morales called Pastor Tilton, "a charlatan" and accused him of "raping the most vulnerable segments of our society; the poor, the infirm, the ignorant."

They also reported that, at the height of his ministry, he was bringing in $80 million annually! Holy Moola! I'm sure that you, as do I, find it amazing that people can be so easily duped. I guess the reality is that they're not as duped as they are desperate for help when they run across this thief who purports the teachings of the Bible.

There are also other reports I've found that say that Robert Tilton doesn't even do the praying! How lazy can he be! He just takes the money--and that's it! Come on, at least do the prayer.

For those of you that want to hear my take on religion and money, here goes...You have your life and it's the greatest gift there is. It is worth more than all the money you can ever receive. And when you're sick or injured all you wish for is to be well again, you're not thinking about money. The key to happiness is to be happy. To be thankful for what you have, and you do have a lot. If you can read this article you have your life! You also have the chance, and opportunity, to earn all the money you want by simply working hard. And, if you work hard in the pursuit of helping others, you're sure to make a lot of money because if your product, or you company's products, better the lives of people, then consumers will purchase these items and therefore, bring money your way.

As far as donating money goes, I don't like to give cash because I not sure it's going to get to those people that actually need it. Too many times I hear about people, like Pastor Tilton, misusing funds for personal purchases. Instead I'd rather give stuff. Stuff that people can use like clothing, electronics, vehicles, or purchase a toy and give it to an organization that delivers these gifts to needy children. I believe that you can do more by getting involved than sending money, especially if you don't have the money. Help deliver the toys, donate your time or do public service.

In conclusion, Robert Tilton, and his "supernatural" bill-paying scheme makes money for Tilton only. He is stealing from those who have faith. Even if he's not committing any crimes on this earth, I believe he's committing a crime against the believers of his faith.

Keep this in mind the next time you're clicking through the channels. When you run across something that doesn't sound possible, then you know it's probably not. You cannot pay your bills supernaturally. Just sit back, laugh at the show, and be thankful that he cannot steal from you!

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