Christianity Today

Scott, scandals which come to mind, which have been nationally broadcast and thus are sometimes cited by unbelievers as reasons/excuses to reject Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord, were not associated with TBN or The 700 Club. I don't say that to excuse any wrongdoing on their parts, just to address that issue. I also don't believe that we have the authority to consign any person who professes Christ Jesus as Lord to Hell. God IS the only Righteous Judge, and He will deal with each person (as well as nations) as He knows best. Paul spoke of people whom he knew who did not live as they should, yet proclaimed the Gospel. He said that he did nothing to stop them, but was glad the Gospel was getting out to unbelievers. I think of that when I think of situations like this (and TBN is not the only one, sad to say). Ole Anthony (their accuser in this article) does not have a spotless reputation either: http://www.dallasobserver.com/2006-08-03/news/the-cult-of-ole/

TBN, the rare moments I think about it anymore, reminds me of a comment made by the model who's life is dedicated to making herself look as much like Mattel's "Barbie Doll" as is possible. "I'm happy when I seem unreal to them. It means I'm doing a good job."

I remember when a child stuck at home because of a cold, I would watch TBN and mock the phony so called preachers soliciting money for prayers and all the other enticments to get money out of the elderly or desperate all TBN did was fuel (At that time) my unbelieve, and anger at the dog and pony show they presented there is a special place in hell for the benny hinns and false teachers in the world just out to fleece the flock, I cannot count the number of times conversations about my belief and love of Christ have been dashed because the person I was witnessing to, would bring up TBN or the 700 club as an exsample of Christianity and of course all the scandal's associated with people on the program. I believe that the farther we as true Bible believing Christians can distance our selfs the better, Trust GOD, be a living exsample of your faith and go for quality not quanity.

P.S. to Jeremy Kelly: It is great to see that another poster here agrees with me (most importantly, with God's Word) about abortion, that you feel strongly about it too. If you read the history of Roe v. Wade from the beginning, in Dr. Bernard Nathanson's book, The Hand of God - he was a highly-respected doctor and co-founder of NARAL who committed at least 75,000 abortions, including at least one on his own child(ren), until his view of abortion radically changed via the advent of ultrasound - you'll see that he and his cohort were not able to 'sell' abortion on demand to the church or even America in general, which is why it had to be legislated from the bench of the Supreme Court. You can read at this website his confessions as to the underhanded tactics they used: www.aboutabortions.com/Confess.html BUT, his book I mentioned above gives MUCH more info, including related issues like euthanasia. IMHO, every American should read his book before making any decision about abortion.

One more post to Jeremy Kelly, to fully answer your last post: You said, "Its time the church steps up to the plate and stops complaining about it all and start acting on behalf of the mothers who feel that their only choice is abortion. Instead of protesting abortion clinics how about helping." Jeremy, have you read unPlanned, by Abby Johnson, who was a manager of a Planned Parenthood "clinic" for several years? She tells of those who came to protest abortion at her clinic. What she learned and shared in her book is of great worth to anyone at any point on the spectrum in regard to abortion. ITA agree with you that every Christian who truly cares for "the least of these" should HELP in whatever way God has called them. God has called some to pray and interecede at abortion "clinics", and some of these have had golden opportunities to help the women as they arrive for their "procedures". Things are not always as they may seem. "The foot cannot say it doesn't need the hand."