Are Christians suckers for scams? (churches, believe, faith, bishop)

[yydanay515]

Ok, before you all run for cover, just hear me out. I'm serious on this one.

Living in South Florida (which seems like the scam capital of the nation) I often read about all kinds of scams and schemes being busted up by the Feds. What I have also noticed is that some of them originated in churches and often in black churches. This includes churches filled with Caribbean people, the community I am a part of.

What a better place to network than church, right? You have the people and you have people that build their lives around the notion of trust a.k.a "faith." I think that [some] people in churches feel that if someone from their midst brings a "great money making idea" to them it is easier to trust them ESPECIALLY if it is their pastor presenting the idea. You can see an example of what I mean by clicking HERE. I happen to know this guy and his church is about 2 miles away from my house. He is ALWAYS in some get rich quick project.

Just last year I was speaking to a girl who happened to know a "bishop" who had about 7 houses, 5 high priced cars and loads of money. She said he was making his money in real estate while claiming to] simultaneously helping people in his church attain the American Dream as well as financial independence. The Feds showed up and arrested him and his wife and begged to differ. Church members were being defrauded and his business partner escaped back to Jamaica to avoid capture. Many people in their church found themselves losing their homes, found out their identities were stolen and being used to make the scam move forward.

What I have come to notice is that these ideas sound great on paper. Often there is a speaker who stands before the church audience (at some location other than the church) who tells them how he or she made a fortune using some program. The speech is sometimes peppered with "God" and "faith" and it is often some person telling the audience how they were a financial mess, that their life was one of misery, hopelessness and stress due to financial issues. Then they came across the program that liberated them and now they are sharing it often for a price. You are led to believe that if you just have faith, a passion to "make it" and want to turn your life around, you can be just as successful. The same advertisement on television would have a fine print at the bottom that says "individual results may vary" to head off any lawsuits.

I can't help but notice a striking similarity with a church service. A minster stands on a pulpit each week "selling" a product, an invisible one at that. If he is a minister that is obsessed with "saving souls" he might be inclined to make altar call offers that includes all kinds of promises from mansions in heaven to turning your life around for the better. All you have to do is buy into the product. Sometimes said ministers might tell you about his their lives were full of misery, hopelessness and stress due to "sin" and only by accepting what is being offered will a person be able be rid of at least two of them.

So I wonder, does one make a person susceptible to the other?

[noland123]

Originally Posted by yydanay515

Ok, before you all run for cover, just hear me out. I'm serious on this one.

Living in South Florida (which seems like the scam capital of the nation) I often read about all kinds of scams and schemes being busted up by the Feds. What I have also noticed is that some of them originated in churches and often in black churches. This includes churches filled with Caribbean people, the community I am a part of.

What a better place to network than church, right? You have the people and you have people that build their lives around the notion of trust a.k.a "faith." I think that [some] people in churches feel that if someone from their midst brings a "great money making idea" to them it is easier to trust them ESPECIALLY if it is their pastor presenting the idea. You can see an example of what I mean by clicking HERE. I happen to know this guy and his church is about 2 miles away from my house. He is ALWAYS in some get rich quick project.

Just last year I was speaking to a girl who happened to know a "bishop" who had about 7 houses, 5 high priced cars and loads of money. She said he was making his money in real estate while claiming to] simultaneously helping people in his church attain the American Dream as well as financial independence. The Feds showed up and arrested him and his wife and begged to differ. Church members were being defrauded and his business partner escaped back to Jamaica to avoid capture. Many people in their church found themselves losing their homes, found out their identities were stolen and being used to make the scam move forward.

What I have come to notice is that these ideas sound great on paper. Often there is a speaker who stands before the church audience (at some location other than the church) who tells them how he or she made a fortune using some program. The speech is sometimes peppered with "God" and "faith" and it is often some person telling the audience how they were a financial mess, that their life was one of misery, hopelessness and stress due to financial issues. Then they came across the program that liberated them and now they are sharing it often for a price. You are led to believe that if you just have faith, a passion to "make it" and want to turn your life around, you can be just as successful. The same advertisement on television would have a fine print at the bottom that says "individual results may vary" to head off any lawsuits.

I can't help but notice a striking similarity with a church service. A minster stands on a pulpit each week "selling" a product, an invisible one at that. If he is a minister that is obsessed with "saving souls" he might be inclined to make altar call offers that includes all kinds of promises from mansions in heaven to turning your life around for the better. All you have to do is buy into the product. Sometimes said ministers might tell you about his their lives were full of misery, hopelessness and stress due to "sin" and only by accepting what is being offered will a person be able be rid of at least two of them.

So I wonder, does one make a person susceptible to the other?

I know that I wouldn't buy anything that you had to sell and that is for sure,because I know it would be a scam .End of discussion!!!

[Coldjensens]

Although I could debate a lot of your assertions with you, it does seem that there is merit to your original question. If you listen to Christain radio, there are an unusual number of scam advertisers. You would end up thinking that all Christians are: 1. gullable; 2. bankrupt; 3. greedy; 4. desperate.

That is not true, but the advertising on Christian radio stations seems to target such people. This helps create absurd generalizations abotu Christians. the fact is that you cannot genearlize. Christians are the majority of our population and include every kind of person.

[denverian]

I know my own parents seem to put way too much faith in anyone proclaiming to be Christian, and that worries me as they get older. Seniors, in general, are vulnerable and it's pathetic that anyone would take advantage old people or anyone using religion as a disguise.

[Dave1215]

Quixtar and related organizations seem to have a lot of Christians...

[calmdude]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Although I could debate a lot of your assertions with you, it does seem that there is merit to your original question. If you listen to Christain radio, there are an unusual number of scam advertisers. You would end up thinking that all Christians are: 1. gullable; 2. bankrupt; 3. greedy; 4. desperate.

That is not true, but the advertising on Christian radio stations seems to target such people. This helps create absurd generalizations abotu Christians. the fact is that you cannot genearlize. Christians are the majority of our population and include every kind of person.

Do you think that these scam artists are targeting older folks (not christians) -as denverian said earlier?

[Asthedeer]

It's people in general, not just Christians. If you think you have'nt been duped by following the elite in this coutry, think again.

[Oakback]

I've said it before. Materialism is a cancer infecting the Church.

[GloryB]

People, Christian or not, are many times duped by what promises to be a 'quick fix'. I don't know if it the scammer I blame....as much as it is people who have no mature patience factor going on in their lives.

For Christians, they really should know better. There is nothing anyone can sell you that is going to speed up God. He is never late...but rarely early....so learn to trust in Him and have patience for your petitions.

BTW: I was saying this as much to myself as everyone else.