CBN, 700 Club

[TimK]

I was just wondering how many have watched this program and what there opinions about it. The show seems pretty good to me and they have a good organization that helps a lot of people around the world. There show also helped me come to Christ and I have been donating money to them for the past year.

The only thing that I question is the way they describe the details of tithing. They talk about how people should give even in times of financial stress and I agree with that. But they also go on to say that if you give you will recieve above and beyond what you gave. When they say you will recieve they are clearley talking about money. They have featured real people who were in financial trouble and God put it in their heart that they need to let go and give their money to the Lord. Of course after that they all get great paying jobs or their home business takes of and they become very financially gifted. Then they talk about giving more and more money as the Lord gives them more.

While I believe that we should give with a happy heart and leave our financial concerns in Gods hands, I'm not so sure God gives every one a compounded financial gift. Like I said they seem like a very good organization and every thing else about the show seems legit. They also broadcast to more country's and in more languages than any other Christian organization. They also do a lot of good around the world as I stated earlier.

I would just like the opinion of everyone else about this show. Also, what are your views of Pat Robertson and his prophecies from God as of late?

 

[Richie]

I was just wondering how many have watched this program and what there opinions about it. The show seems pretty good to me and they have a good organization that helps a lot of people around the world. There show also helped me come to Christ and I have been donating money to them for the past year.

The only thing that I question is the way they describe the details of tithing. They talk about how people should give even in times of financial stress and I agree with that. But they also go on to say that if you give you will recieve above and beyond what you gave. When they say you will recieve they are clearley talking about money. They have featured real people who were in financial trouble and God put it in their heart that they need to let go and give their money to the Lord. Of course after that they all get great paying jobs or their home business takes of and they become very financially gifted. Then they talk about giving more and more money as the Lord gives them more.

While I believe that we should give with a happy heart and leave our financial concerns in Gods hands, I'm not so sure God gives every one a compounded financial gift. Like I said they seem like a very good organization and every thing else about the show seems legit. They also broadcast to more country's and in more languages than any other Christian organization. They also do a lot of good around the world as I stated earlier.

I would just like the opinion of everyone else about this show. Also, what are your views of Pat Robertson and his prophecies from God as of late?

Well Brother, what they are saying is absolutely right, because when we can see them do God's work on a large scale, what should stop us from giving them?

God sees our faith in such kind of situations and blesses us accordingly.

More over they don't force you to give. They say it is upto you if you want to give or not.

God bless you.

NOTE:
1) When you give to a ministry that is misusing the money that was already kept for God's work, then giving such kind of ministries is of absolutely no use.

2) We should give to a ministry, especially where God's work is being done, and He will shower His blessings upon us.

 

[Chad]

Tim, what they say are right. They are encouraging people to have faith and guess what, one of the biggest concerns and issue in modern times is money. Financing troubles are rampant unfortunately for many people. The times are hard. What they [CBN] say is of encouraging Words to have faith in GOD to bless you and bless you more. They are not visualizing GOD to people as a guaranteed money machine. What they are doing is reminding people to trust in Jesus and the real giver and to be a giving person.

Jesus gave us His own life, His flesh and blood on the Cross. The least we can do for Him is to help expand His kingdom by tithing to such legitimate ministries as CBN. People need to be careful not to jump the gun and accuse preachers of talking about money and receiving a reward from GOD. GOD said it Himself in the Word that He will bless those that bless others and He allowed only this area (tithing) for us to test Him on.

Malachi 3:10-12 KJV
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

10Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.
12And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

***end***

The blessing from GOD here does not have to be money specifically, but likely it is if that is your offering. I am living proof that my financial tithes to Christian organizations has been rewarded by GOD. GOD saw it as a sincere offering back to those in need and my thankfulness to Him for giving to me, a sinner.

One thing I must say is that GOD is not mocked nor fooled.

#1 You can never trick GOD with your offering
#2 A main purpose of giving is to learn how to rely solely on Jesus and to be selfless (loving) like Jesus.
#3 Giving is meant for giving and not expecting in return. Its a 'gift'.

 

[rizen1]

I've watched CBN , 700 club growing up.
I can understand the whole prosperity doctrine concern, but I think as Christian we need to use discernment.

Our thinking and opinions should not be based on what everyone is saying. Christianity today is all about pointing fingers at the false prophets and I think alot of innocent by standers get attacked.

Lets be rational...
The subject is money.

With a television network, we have
Camera Men, engineering personnel,sound men,producers,managers
Studio cost, studio equipment,stationary, permits,insurance, license, everyday expenses (food ,transport, makeup ,utilities ( water,lights, phone, heating oil or gas, air condition cost.) now we add make up artist, financial accountants , and General labor (the behind the scene crew, writers, researchers etc.)

And this is Just Production, they have to pay to get on air.
x amount of $ per viewer or X amount $ per minute.
I'm sure production and Finance help determine the cost for one minute or one viewer.

Now lets look at the Ministries and services they provide.

Cleft Lip and Palate Surgeries
Each year, hundreds of thousands of children are born with disfiguring cleft lips and palates. CBN WorldReach has partnered with Operation Blessing to provide life changing surgeries...

Disaster Relief
Disaster relief efforts require rapid response and CBN WorldReach staff are often the first to respond.... view details

Living Water Wells and Cisterns
CBN WorldReach and Operation Blessing are providing clean, safe water in Jesus’ name to suffering communities throughout the world... view details

Medical Services
CBN WorldReach partners with Operation Blessing to send medical teams far and wide, providing free health care. CBN.com

We have
transport, accommodation, Food, allowance.
Now we have to total the cost and multiply this to all the Labor and volunteers.
Medication, Food, clothing,Miscellaneous item
Now we have to pay for these products and pay for shipment ( I'm sure they get discounts and some of these products are donated )

If they have land or Housing, they are have maintenance cost.


I did not add the production Cost for books, cd's and tapes because these are the main items that make people think its a business rather than ministry. So I prefer to focus on the tv Show and its services.

 

[TimK]

I agree that CBN is a very good ministry. I just naturally question someone who is asking for money in the name of God. I looked them up in the Better Business Bureau website and CBN doesn't meet four the BBB's standards of charitable accountability.

Some of the reasons were not giving a full breakdown of expenses and having more than one or 10% of their voting board members compensated. They are still a tax exempt organization and 90% of their money does go to their programs. Wether or not the BBB's standards are too stringent or the reasons for CBN's not meeting them are circumstantial I can't say. I just like to know where my money is going to.

As far as the tithing I questioned the fact that we should expect gifts in the form of money, for our giving money to God. I have heard or read somewhere (sorry can't remember where) that the gift isn't necessarily money as you stated Chad. I just don't want to fall into the thinking that I should be expecting a high paying job to fall into my lap or to start a new home business that takes off because I give. I'm not saying God wouldn't bless me like that for giving but I don't think I should expect that.

Aside from all of that I do enjoy giving whole heartedly. I remember when I was about 7 I had been saving change from various sources and keeping it in a little pouch. It was more money than i had ever had in my possesion at that time. I wanted to save up for something but I didn't know what. Well I was in church one day and the offering plate came around (you all see were this is going).

I originally was planning on giving a quarter or so but after I opened the pouch up I felt this overwhelming desire to just dump all of my money into the tray. It must have been about ten dollars of loose change I dumped into the tray. It really felt good.

Thank you all for your reply's, I was just curious about your opinions of CBN.

 

[Chad]

Don't bother with BBB. Instead ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation and perhaps He will answer you if He finds a reason to. I have no right to assume anything on that. The BBB is not quite honest at all, nor accurate. I'm a business man and I can tell you that first hand.

Also, as for not expecting anything from GOD - I say expect. Don't assume what the reward will be, how much manna will rain down on you and when the reward will be. Just expect the blessings from GOD according to His will and His timing. GOD loves to bless His children plain and simple. So I hope you get my point that the expectation we should have is a general one of expecting GOD to bless us for that is part of His love, His character. Its too obvious to deny or debate. This general expectation is not a "I donate $100, I expect more than that in return" but just a general expectation.

Here is Scripture that comes to mind:

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

A great example of why we should not be afraid to give even when we have little left over too.

Luke 21:1-4
1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.