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Paul Crouch Jr. from the Trinity Broadcasting Network sent an
open letter to J. Lee Grady in response to Grady's Nov. 9 column
titled "Integrity, Accountability and the Grassley Investigation."
November 12, 2007
An open letter to Charisma Magazine, J. Lee Grady and the body
of Christ as a whole:
After finally getting over my shock at J. Lee Grady’s editorial
from a few months ago titled, “Christian TV Needs an Extreme
Makeover,” I see that Mr. Grady is once again heading into
treacherous waters. His recent editorial about U.S. Senator Chuck
Grassley’s call for an investigation of the finances of
several prominent television ministries is something that could
not only harm the church as we know it today, but the body of
Christ as a whole.
On the surface, the Senate Finance Committee’s investigation
(and let’s call it by its real intent: an inquisition) headed
up by Senator Grassley might sound logical, and to some Christians
maybe even a good idea. But the long term effects of this investigation
could be devastating. Put aside your personal opinions about
any of the six ministries being targeted, and forget how you
feel about Christian television as a whole. The much bigger questions
we should all be asking are: Do we want the government deciding
anything when it comes to the faith we all hold dear? Should
government be allowed to dictate what kind a car a minister can
drive, or how large a house is permissible and even how much
a minister may receive as a salary? Do we want to establish another
Church of England, or was that why our forefathers came to this
nation in the first place? Separation of church and state is
a foundational principle guaranteed in our Constitution, and
Mr. Grady’s editorial seems to be ignorant of that fact!
Also, let’s look at the “source” of Senator Grassley’s
information. Ole Anthony, head of the Trinity Foundation, has
been around for over twenty years as a self-proclaimed “reformer
of the church” and “watchdog for the body of Christ.”
Well, it doesn’t take more than one or two Google searches
to find out that Ole Anthony’s claim to being the watchdog
of Christian ministries is a little like the “fox guarding
the chicken coop,” and brings to mind Matthew 7:3 where
Christ said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in
your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your
own eye?” (Read a book by Wendy Duncan called, I Can’t
Hear God Anymore. Enough said….) Why Ole mainly focuses
in on “televangelism” is interesting to me, and obviously
the senator is playing right into his hands. Why aren’t
other faiths or, for that matter, other 501(c) (3) nonprofit
organizations being questioned? What about the Catholic church,
Jewish organizations, or even the Muslims? You get my point.
Martin Luther brought reformation to the church in 1517 with
his “95 Theses” nailed to the Wittenberg door, but
his actions were directed at the church itself and not with the
prevailing government of the day! The body of Christ and God
himself will deal with anyone not doing the right thing or compromising
any ministry. We don’t need the government to step in and
regulate anything when it comes to our faith or the church.
Scripture gives us the criteria by which we may judge fellow
Believers. The Bible says in Matthew 7:20, “Thus, by their
fruit you will recognize them.” Are none of these ministries
“bearing fruit?” I submit that the true test of a ministry
can be determined by asking these questions: Are people getting
saved, lives being touched and faith restored? Is the Word being
communicated? How many suicides have been prevented? How many
people have been delivered from drugs or alcohol and how many
children put up for adoption as opposed to abortion? Are other
benevolent works taking place such as feeding programs, clothing
the naked, sheltering the homeless? How many people have been
guided off of welfare rolls? Or how many people will not be returning
to jail and, instead, become positive influences on society,
because of their faith? Case in point: Just this past week, a
viewer called our prayer lines to report that she was about to
commit suicide, but then saw Bishop Eddie Long—one of the
ministries targeted by Senator Grassley—preach a message
that literally saved her life and brought her to faith in Jesus.
Mr. Grady didn’t bother to mention any of the good works
these ministries are doing. So how much is a soul worth? Maybe
we should direct some of these questions back on Senator Grassley
and demand his responses by December 6th!
When it comes to “accountability,” I also take issue
with Mr. Grady. Whether you agree with the philosophy or theology
of anyone in the pulpit or on Christian TV is not the point.
It doesn’t matter if they preach the prosperity Gospel and
live in mansions, or the poverty Gospel and are all beggars.
We must keep the government OUT of the church, or everything
our founding fathers fought for is lost! The concept that God
would use a senator to “bring on a reformation,” as
Mr. Grady proclaims, is scary and ignorant of the facts. We are
dealing with spiritual warfare here, and we must fight back.
None of these ministries are required by law to do anything in
response to Senator Grassley’s investigation, and I hope
they don’t. All of us in the ministry answer to the IRS,
franchise tax boards, county taxing authorities, etc., and that
is sufficient oversight. I don’t care if Benny Hinn flies
in a private plane, or if Creflo Dollar drives a Bentley. That’s
between them and God. We as Christians are required to give—it’s
an intrinsic part of our faith. God gave his best to redeem our
souls, his only Son, and we are to do the same.
I leave you with a quote from Martin Niemoeller who was a prominent
German pastor put in a concentration camp by the Nazis in 1937:
“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't
speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the
Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they
came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and
I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came
for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
Need I say more?
Paul F. Crouch, Jr.
Chief of Staff
Trinity Broadcasting Network
http://www.charismamag.com/crouchrebuttal/
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