Charlatans of the 21st Century
The Bible warns believers of charlatans (II Corinthians 2:17; 11:13–15; I Timothy 6:5) — people who promote religion for their own profit. This was a problem in the first century, as addressed by the Apostles Paul and Peter. The same issue continues today.
Some false teachers are less subtle in their plea for Christians to give money to enrich themselves. Prosperity Gospel preachers “motivate” believers to give them money in exchange for prosperity. So-called faith healers charge for praying over a scarf or claim they can make a person whole if “the person exercises enough faith”. This simply means if the healing doesn’t work, it’s the person’s fault, not the scammer’s inability to heal. False preachers claim they need believers to give money because “God told me to tell you” to give it. These are all scammers — false teachers and charlatans profiting from others using the name of Jesus.
Some groups are more subtle for scamming believers out of money. Just recently, there was a business who marketed and promoted a day-long event that was hosted by a large church. They were hawking celebrities, a preacher, and even a Christian music group to convince believers that this day would be filled with worship, Christian community, and learning why and how we can build resources to use for furthering God’s kingdom.
It all sounds innocent enough, as if they are sharing Biblical truths and lessons on stewardship. The price of tickets ranges from $27/person for balcony seats to $247/person for seats next to the stage, which includes getting in line and herding across the stage to have your photo taken with the celebrities. A boxed lunch is included, delivered to your seat, so you don’t have to leave. The host church seats thousands, and the group expects to fill every seat, just like previous events they held across the US.
Organizers claim the speakers are all ‘Spirit-filled’ and “motivational” to help Christian attendees learn how to make an impact for God’s kingdom. Marketing materials for this group deliberately hide the real intent of this day-long meeting: to motivate attendees to buy their how-to business programs on stock trading, house flipping, and becoming a public speaker to collect exorbitant fees.
Christians by the thousands are duped into buying tickets and jumping on the speakers’ business ventures as they motivate believers into how God wants them to be successful to build His kingdom. It’s another form of duping people into a false prosperity gospel message, motivating them through intimidation and condescending rhetoric on what God wants them to do.
At the end of the day, these believers paid for the privilege to attend and purchase this package of how-to businesses for which they have zero knowledge of how to start nor understand the overwhelming risk that they could literally go broke — for which they didn’t have enough faith for God to bless them.
The Bible says these charlatans have already gained their reward and that they will not inherit an eternal reward. This is why the Bible warns that the way to God is narrow and few there are who are on the right path. The other warning, one that should cause every believer to pause, is Jesus teaching that one day there will be people who have claimed to know Jesus, who have worked and performed deeds to earn favor with Him, who will hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21–23).
Be discerning. Be wise (shrewd) as a serpent and gentle as a dove (Matthew 10:16). Seek first the Kingdom of God. Be content in whatever state or circumstances you are in as God is in control and does everything for your good. Don’t be deceived by these charlatans, who take your sustenance for their own profit.
