BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) - The pastor of one of Minnesota's largest churches said an IRS investigation into his ministry's finances is "politically motivated."
The Rev. Mac Hammond is recognizable to a wide audience through Sunday morning TV broadcasts of his services at Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park.
Hammond wrote in a letter to congregants that "enemies of the gospel" are behind the inquiry. He preaches the prosperity gospel, which says that God wants his faithful followers to be rewarded spiritually and financially.
In March, the church declined to comply with an IRS summons, arguing that the law states the request must come from a "high-ranking official" of the IRS. The IRS has filed a petition in U.S. District Court to force the church to answer a demand for detailed financial information.
A court hearing is set for Oct. 2.
In his letter, Hammond said the agency's actions are part of "a very clear effort, on a national scale, to discredit, defame and intimidate" prosperity gospel preachers.
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is seeking the financial records of six ministries that follow the same theology to see if they comply with IRS rules on nonprofit spending and compensation.
Hammond's church is not one of the six targeted groups.
Grassley has insisted that he is not focusing on any church teachings, but on whether the ministries follow tax laws for nonprofits.
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Did Obama support the murder of Christians in Kenya? Aparently he raised $1 million dollars to his uncle who did.
This discussion thread is hilarious!
When you people (prodigals / protestants - same thing) are ready to leave kindergarten behind, and start worshiping God at a more mature level by enjoying Christ in His fullness, remember you can always come home to Rome.
It is nothing more than the buying and selling of God's goodness and mercy. Is it any different from the sale of indulgences. These prosperity ministers seem to end up extremely wealty from the sacrifices and gifts of God's people.
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Hypocrites!! you want me to say what you want to hear
Are we to guess whether or not something is polically motivated? Who cares. If you have nothing to hide. As far as vacation homes, jets, etc. Are Christians suppose to be poor? Can we own things? What if I own a jet and I use it to take mission trips sometimes and other times I use it for vacation? Is this wrong somehow? I believe it is okay to have "things" as long as those "things" don't have YOU!
The good thing is that God will shake His church. God will prepare His bride. God will take care of His followers. God will deal with the errant leaders...not any gov't agency.
"I have never heard from any prosperity preacher (the
new gospel (5th) of prosperity)"
It's right after the Book of Second Opinions.... It's not too far the book of the Italian prophet 'Omeeamia'.
I have never heard from any prosperity preacher (the
new gospel (5th) of prosperity) that the believers sow
the seeds in the neighbourhood of poverty or in the local
salvation army bucket, but they want all the seeds
straight to their coffers. This outright misguided
theology is spreading to other poor countries and those
poor preachers are getting rich by telling the poor folks
about sowing seeds to their hands. The prosperity gospel
has gone beyond any sanity: and preachers are getting
prosperious with more jet planes, homes, vacations, custom-made dress, board memberships of other prosperity
religious organization, speaking engagements everywhere,
real estate for them and their relatives.....thus the
showing is going on. It is time to say " enough is enough".
"Same old stuff; jets, vacation homes here and there"
Anyone remember Keith Green? One of his songs said "You pray to prosper and succeed but your flesh is something I just can't feed!"
Same old stuff; jets, vacation homes here and there. Good friends from other prosperity ministries overseeing your church.
"In March, the church declined to comply with an IRS summons, arguing that the law states the request must come from a "high-ranking official" of the IRS. The IRS has filed a petition in U.S. District Court to force the church to answer a demand for detailed financial information. "
If that's what the IRS is suppose to do then why didn't they just do it? Why waste the courts time with it? Follow your own rules guys!
With that said, if the church has been breaking the rules they need to get caught. If they have not then the IRS needs to formally apologize for their actions.
I'd have to disagree with you steiner. Here's why...
To whom much is given, much is required. The problem comes in when these large churches are not taking advantage of the power of a large church to help the poor and the needy.
The real question is why are people leaving the smaller community churches?
I'm at a church of over 7000 because I was sent to the church. There are many people who need to learn to love their neighbor as themselves. In short, they need to love their neighbor more than the neighborhood they live in, the type of car they drive, the brand of clothes they wear and where they vacation.
Any church having more than 500 members should be taxed, and in my opinion, heavily taxed.
These churches are contributing to the death of many smaller community churches.
On the most part they are concerned with money, image(Tv image), and dynastic power as they increase their numbers...
Scripture says that we are to be above reproach. What do such leaders have to hide? The disciples were pulled before the magistrates and they defended the Gospel not their financial books.