Investment schemes

Netwerk (Dutch television) ran an item yesterday about Rob Allart, one of the leading charismatic pastors in the Netherlands, who together with his son set up a business that supports a South African investment scheme.

He invited rich Christians in his church network to invest substantial amounts (actually millions) in this 'business opportunity'. The Dutch National Bank that in behalf of the government keeps an eye on these kind of practices now fined the Allarts with 5.5 million euro for illegal banking activities. This will likely lead to the bankruptcy of the company and the investors won't see their money back. This week Visie will come with a more elaborate article on the issue.

For some people this may be shocking, but reality is that these practices are quite common among visible charismatic leaders. Over the past years I've heard stories from well-known pastors and ministry leaders that were involved in ponzi schemes, suitcases with black dollars, and other stuff. And in all cases they weren't the masterminds - they were just being naive, bound to money and lacked clear discernment. Charismatic leaders who preach a welfare gospel, step outside their area of competence, keep key responsibilities within the family, and are not being questioned by their followers or corrected by their peers, inevitably bring this kind of deception with them.

It also raises an important question: can a pastor who's leading other Christians in these kind of practices keep his position in the pastorate? I'm afraid most charismatic pastors would say: "of course, why not?"

Comments

[Paul Verhoeven]

We moeten rentmeesters zijn en geen meesters van de rente! We moeten geen winst maken uit het Woord van God.
2 Kor 2:17.

[Dave]

I find this not surprising, sad, but nor surprising. Like you said: many charismatic (church)leaders are involved in 'money-making'. A couple of years ago we've had the ACN telephone business, and even before that, 'Herbalife' was very popular within Charismatic circles.

As long as new schemes pop up, we can be assured that Charismatic people will be the first to adopt them.

Personally I believe that this has to do with the general tendency to 'adopt new things' in these circles. It is a pity that people are constantly focussing on 'new things God is doing' (and call this 'prophetic' insight) while they neglect to critically engage with those new ideas (which, imho, is truly 'prophetic').

Basically it comes down to sinful human nature, I cannot escape the feeling that those financial schemes are just another hope of a 'quick way of making money'.

Another thing is that those charismatic movements often work under a strong hierarchical structure of leadership (the so called 'New Apostolic Reformation' comes to mind). How much does this 'church/leadership-structure' resemble the well-known 'pyramid-scheme' we know from 'Amway', 'ACN' and Herbalife!?

Anyway, I do not presume to know exactly what God is doing: therefore I cannot be judgemental. On the other hand: I do know what God has done and spoken in the past. This calls for a 'truly prophetic' attitude of critical engagement with my world.

"can a pastor who's leading other Christians in these kind of practices keep his position in the pastorate?"
The answer to this question does not really matter: you are a leader as long as you have followers.

I'm afraid some followers will always remain naive, un-critical and un-prophetic...

[Paul Nijmeijer]

Jammer, erg jammer..

[Rudolf Roos]

>> "can a pastor who's leading other Christians in these kind of practices keep his position in the pastorate?"

>> The answer to this question does not really matter: you are a leader as long as you have followers.

I like that answer, never heard that before.

I think the question reveals already that there is much wrong: "keep his position in the pastorate". If there are no 'positions' or 'titles' in God's way of being church, than you cannot keep or lose them.

[Stumbling Pilgrim Marc]

Once the rock of truth starts rolling, because of lack of turning away of sin and true obedience to Creator – Adonai, will it take a long time before it stops again. So hold on this could well be just the beginning….

Thought about prosperity teaching.
Question I asked the Lord; "Why does it seems to work?"
The Lords reply was; "it works because it is one side of a larger truth... your heart will be where your treasure is... you will store treasures or in heaven or on earth.
See it like this: you have a bank account on earth and one in heaven. People who teach prosperity learn you to transfer your wealth from the heavenly account to the earthly account.. this is all right if you want this to happen. However it shows that you have little vision, why? Because you enjoy a wealthy live for a short period of time, let's say 80 or so years, however you empty your account in heaven to get this and loose riches for eternity!
So it up to you to choose do you want to be wealthy here for a short period of time? Or do you want to be wealthy in heaven for eternity?"

[Paul]

^
That's a pretty smart remark of the Lord right there.

[Mirjam]

It is really important to be transparant as a church to your followers, specially about money. Because once sin seaps in, there will be coming a big leak, that cannot be closed. Then after a while "the cover up" will blow up, and backfires. That's what happened now in Holland, with charismatic christian leaders. Greed is a big sin. Not a little one. And eventhough some leaders might cover other leaders, once the lid is off, the mess will come pouring out endlessly. The only one that gets a thrill out of this is the media. Its their work and lifelihood. And their duty to unfold the truth nevertheless. And the truth will eventually set everyone free. So rejoice. Because freedom is what we want. Right?