Copeland is standing up for what he believes is right - the bigger picture. Future implications could be scary if Grassley is given authority to request and receive this kind of information.

Copeland is doing us all a favor by refusing Grassley's request. There is NO need for Grassley to have access to the type of information he requested. I think that there are donors who wouldn't appreciate that information being shared either.

Please see “A Call for Discernment” by going to http://www.justinpeters.org. Justin is an evangelist and in addition to expository preaching, also holds seminars on the “Word of Faith” movement. He has cerebral palsy and concurs with the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

You can view his brief overview of the misleading Word of Faith movement given at Southwestern Theological Seminary here:

http://www.justinpeters.org/de...

Justin exposes much of the Copeland's teaching in this presentation.

To God be the glory!

I hope Grassley gets what he wants. People that live this lavish lifestyle all based on the donations of people that can't really afford it do not deserve their status as being a religious organization.

@ Happy Friday and Blueskies God disagrees with you. He says to obey authorities for HIS sake. Understand, God put Grassley where he is to do what he is doing. They are not resisting Grassley they are resisting God.

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong." Romans 13
"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." 1 Peter 2:12-14

My thoughts: while I disagree wholeheartedly with what prosperity teachers 'preach,' if indeed Copeland's ministries are complying with the IRS law and are already giving the information required by law to the IRS, then Sen. Grassley's investigation seems to be unwarranted. However, I did some further checking and apparently the senator's motivation for instigating this investigation stems from the complaints of several donors whose donations were used to further lavish lifestyles instead of ministry. If this is why the senator began his investigation, then that is fair, and I am 100% behind him because funds can be filed with the IRS as one thing, and used for something else entirely. Even John Copeland had to hold back a smile in the video when he asserted that if people gave to the ministry, they were in essence giving so that his father could have a jet for ministry and live in an 18.000 square foot house, since these luxuries were used for ministry purposes (trips unhindered by airline delays, fellow ministers staying overnight at the...er, house).

The false gospel being peddled by these teachers is sickening, but if people want to give to them knowing that they refuse to be held accountable through independent firms because those firms "consider us heretical" (as John put it), then they should be free to give to them - as long as they know the monies will be used to "bless the minister" instead of furthering the ministry...and yet, John pointed out vividly in the video that when the minister is blessed, he is blessed to bless others, so any funds given can go to him freely since he is blessing others by letting them stay at his mansion or fly on his personal jet...oh, my, this prosperity stuff DOES get a tad confusing, doesn't it?

What I'm wondering is why most Christians are strangely silent when it comes to standing against these false teachers and their teachings? Why do we refuse to warn people about this false teaching, then take offense when another entity (in this case, the U.S. government) steps in to make sure everything's on the up and up and that people aren't getting ripped off?

Finally, I encourage everybody to run as far away as they can just as fast as they can, from a ministry with leadership/doctrine that proclaims (as John brazenly and unapologetically does in this video), "...We believe that to be poor is to be cursed." What a slap in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ - and the vast majority of Christians around the world!

Pretty funny quote: Jesus calls us to "preach the gospel...well the best means to do that is a jet"

Caron, thank you for the link. What an eye opening video!

Let's see.... Kenneth Copeland's ministry answered 17 of 42 questions posed by Sen. Grassley. That's 40%. I suggest that his ministry retain 40% of its tax-free status and be immediately subject to taxes for the remaining 60%. Theologically, this ministry bears no resemblance to that of Jesus who told his followers to forsake everything, take not even a change of clothes if they chose to follow him. Prosperity was antithetical to the gospel of Jesus. Kenneth Copeland Ministries is not Biblically-based. It's Kenneth Copeland-based.

What's amazing here is that we go over and over about an issue that is not our concern.
If Copeland, and others like him, want to become rich off of other peoples money that let him. They will have their reward.
Just because someone give this guy $2000.00 or more or even less does not make their gift any less for the kingdom of God. In Mark 12:41-44, a poor widow put into the offering of a couple of penny's. This offering was considered more then the rich people who were putting in out of their riches. Why? Because it was given from her heart out of her faith. If I give someone money for food, a car, to make a house payment, or to a church for whatever, then my gift will be blessed as long as I gave it out of my love for Christ and not for personal gain. I shouldn't want anything back in return. The bible talks about my left hand not knowing what my right hand does. This is because my reward is in heaven, not here on earth.

As far as a church not wanting people to know where their finances are going I don't see any reason why someone would care if people see where the money goes. They should be able to tell you exactly where the money they have been given goes. That way they can show non believers that we are doing the work for God. We need to be transparent for all to see. Shout from the roof tops that we love God and want to lead all to Jesus Christ.

That video of Justin Peters is great. I might order the whole seminar after seeing that demo.

If those people that Grassley want to do something then they should request that Copeland ministries return thier offering because they believe it was used for the wrong reasons. This should be able to be done because if anyone asks for us to do that we should do that as a church. It's not our gift, it's theirs. Give them back thier gift. If enough people do that then Copeland wouldn't have the riches he has. It is possible that Copeland started off wanting to do the right things (I doubt it myself) but has now got stuck in the riches he now has. If he is giving as God wants him to do the awesome for him! If not, he has his rewards.

Give from your heart with faith through Christ and it will be honored. If those people you give it to for that ministry do not use it, then it is them that will answer to that by God.