Someone needs to get a good in-depth interview with the staffer (or staffers) on Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s staff who is heading up the investigation of televangelists, which seems to be picking up lately. A couple of meager stories trickled out last week about a couple of ministers/evangelists who are responding to the senator’s inquiries.
One televangelist is not submitting to the tax-exemption inquiry without fuss. The Washington reporter for the Des Moines Register focused on the accusation that Grassley was in the process of taking apart “the wall between church and state.”
At some point this may become a bigger story nationally, but for now, it’s up to the regional papers to follow the letters that are making up this story:
Washington, D.C. — Televangelist Kenneth Copeland, in a letter to his supporters, is accusing Sen. Charles Grassley of attempting to tear down the wall between church and state as the Iowa Republican pursues an investigation of Copeland’s ministry.
“The enemy is not going to steal what the Lord has won through this ministry, and he is not going to use this attack to bring harm to the rest of the churches and ministries in America,” Copeland warns in the letter dated this month.
Aides to Grassley said about three dozen supporters of Copeland, who has a television-based ministry, have called Grassley’s office to complain, though none appear to have been Iowans.
The letter is the latest chapter in the escalating war between Grassley and televangelists unhappy he is questioning spending practices in their tax-exempt churches.
The story rightly points out that Grassley is merely investigating whether Copeland and his organization are following the law. The accusation that Grassley is somehow battering down the supposed wall between church and state falls apart upon closer examination, but the Register articles does little to break it down other than mention that Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in stating his profound belief that state should not interfere with church.
The argument breaks down when you ask whether Jefferson would have stood by and allowed churches to be used as organs to wrongfully avoid paying taxes. Everyone is innocent before found guilty, but that doesn’t mean churches are exempt from investigation if there is probable cause. This of course raises the question of why Grassley’s staff is doing the investigating. Typically the Internal Revenue Service handles this type of job.
As an aside, how ironic is it that a televangelist is raising the church-state wall argument?
The Register story also appropriately points out that Copeland preaches the “prosperity gospel,” but there is little explanation of what that doctrines stands for other than that “adherents will succeed financially.”
The Tampa Tribune had a much shorter version of the story that focused on the local Florida ministries caught up in the investigation, but there is even less information on the more interesting aspects of the story.
There are many ways this story could be followed up on. The two big angles are the actual people behind Grassley heading up this investigation and the theology of the characters being investigated.
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Comments (9) |
March 3, 2008, at 10:06 am
Could it be that the Bush IRS will simply NOT investigate his base? Wouldn’t be the first time someone in Congress decided to poke his nose in where an Administration refused to.
Also, from our side of the fence, these televangelists look to be running the “First Church of Mammon” and is only nominally Christianist. Just enough of a facade so that those who mindlessly jump from fad to fad will stick around long enough to cough up some dough.
“nondenominational” just to make sure there is no oversight possible from a denomination hierarchy or assembly.
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March 3, 2008, at 10:34 am
I despise the prosperity gospel. That being said, given the nature of this theology, no sultan like existence of the televangelist would be offensive to their supporters or to there theology. This is a noxious theology but the state should not interefere with their right to practice their religion. Copeland is right this is a gross interference with the seperation of church and state. These ministries are being selectively targeted because Grassley hates their theology as much as I do.
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March 3, 2008, at 11:55 am
I wouldn’t presume to know what Grassley is thinking theologically. Regardless of the theology involved, in his role as US Senator, he has both the right and the duty to investigate abuses of the US tax system. Is that what is going on here? Well, perhaps Grassley, his committee, and its staffers will go some way in finding out.
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March 3, 2008, at 1:12 pm
Grasserly talked about the investigation while at the New Baptist Covenant event—there’s a video of the press conference at the bottom of this page.
He compared the televangelist investigation to a previous investigation of the Red Cross—and said both were centered on IRS regulations, and making sure donations were used properly. He also seemed oblivious to the details of the “prosperity gospel.”
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March 3, 2008, at 1:16 pm
I meant “Grassley” not Grasserly
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March 3, 2008, at 1:41 pm
I think it’s funny how these televangelists have spent a fair amount of time ripping denominations and other churches that don’t believe what they belive - but now, the Grassley investigation is an attack of the devil on “all of us churches.” Like everything else, particularly money, they manipulate their followers, the press and government to get what they want - MONEY.
Blessings from God like money should be treated as such, and not demanded from Him.
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March 5, 2008, at 11:20 am
Grassley is performing a dual edged sword.
People need to remember two things: one, most people are gullible willing to spend money in hopes of a larger payback (lotto, business opportunities, stocks, etc.) and, two, the fact that Grassley is the ranking member of the Senate’s Finance Committee which oversees all financing in the U.S. including taxation as a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation. As a senator, he is making sure people are protected and not getting ripped off by scams and, as part of his job overlooking taxation, he’s making sure that non-profits are operating within the law. Is he doing his job? Definately.
As for having his staffers perform the work, he is doing what any good leader does - delegate.
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March 5, 2008, at 11:23 am
I support some of these ministries, as a supporter If I give my money or time and talents to them it is no one elses business. I shouldn’t have my record of giving exposed for the general public or the senator.
In addition, the people who are up in arms about our giving so take note that they are in the same position as Judas, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. They are so upset because they are wanting what others have.
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March 5, 2008, at 11:41 am
As for the televangelists: It is written in Scripture that we are not to lie, steal, be conceited nor deceive one another. We are not to grumble against each other or you will be judged. We are not to do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. We are putting a stumbling stone in front of Christians and nonChristians when we go against the wishes of the government when they are trying to protect it’s people from scams. We are to sumit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake. Those who resist and disobey civil government are resisting God. Not only are we to be obedient to our gevernment but also honor (as long as it doesn’t conflict with God’s law). When Christian leaders defy the government, they are showing Christians to do the same. Is that right? God forbid.
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