How To Avoid Extortion By Predatory Evangelists

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

This passage from Matthew 7:15 advises Christians, as well as all practitioners of all creeds, to be wary of religious authority figures who, as a means of fulfilling their own needs, deliberately exploit the faiths of those who look up to them. History is unfortunately littered with heartbreaking instances wherein virtuous, innocent people trying to better understand their religion found themselves taken advantage of by opportunistic, dishonest charlatans who wore a mask of false divinity. Such manipulation can sometimes result in bankruptcy and further monetary issues, and on other occasions, the consequences can be significantly more dire. These all-too-common instances of manipulation have all but increased as a result of the internet and social media making it easier for predatory evangelists to extend their reach and grow larger audiences consisting of vulnerable people eager for a closer relationship with their faith.

In order for all people to practice their faith safely and with deserved security, not only is awareness of the existence of these wool-clad wolves a necessity, but the steps one must take in order to detect both them, and the harm they do to their followers are also required. 

THEIR LIFESTYLES

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” This quote from Mark 10:15 perfectly summarizes how people of faith can effectively suss out those who may wish to exploit their beliefs for monetary gain. 

The bible and a fair number of its teachings heavily advocate for the practice of charity and scarcity in terms of material possessions, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” 

Knowing this, researching the lifestyle of an evangelist with a tendency to request monetary donations, and determining if theirs is one typical for someone expected to adhere to such charitable principles, can be an efficient way of determining if an evangelist's intentions are wholly in the name of the churches. If they’re prone to excessive, abnormal purchases and live lives that would be seen as frugal even by the standards of most celebrities, it is likely they are operating in pursuit of their own interests.

THEIR FOCUS ON MONEY

It is no secret that churches and pastors rely on donations from churchgoers in order to sustain themselves and continue to provide their services. Whenever a religious organization is truly in need of monetary support from its constituents, especially if said support goes directly to services that benefit underprivileged or marginalized people, the gift of currency can be a great way to support the church community and express faith. 

However, whenever monetary donations become a frequent point of discussion for evangelists, especially those whose churches seem in little need of support and whose lifestyles seem particularly frugal as stated above, it is again possible that these religious authority figures are less so concerned with spreading the gospel, and more so with lining their own pockets. This is especially more likely whenever monetary donations are stressed as effective means to garner favor in the eyes of God and increase chances of getting into heaven. In many cases, this is a blatant act of manipulation exploiting vulnerable churchgoers’ reverence for the deity they worship and their hope for a fruitful afterlife.

THEIR SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT

This signifier of a predatory evangelist can also be applied to authority figures in many areas outside of religion. Whether it be in church, the workplace, school, or home, self-aggrandizement is a classic tactic utilized by exploitative abusers trying to take advantage of those over whom they preside.

By aggrandizing themselves and elevating their stature in the eyes of those around them, while simultaneously discrediting and disavowing separate figures or institutions, predatory evangelists succeed in portraying themselves as figureheads whose words are to be taken as gospel and whose demands are to be obeyed with both haste and minimal questioning. By doing this, they effectively diminish their followers’ ability to think critically and determine whether or not they are being exploited. 

Whenever a religious authority figure, or any figure in any position of power, actively works to cement themselves as the only voice worth listening to, and the only individual acting on behalf of their subordinates, it would be safe to assume that they are not far from carrying out actions meant to exploit those whom they preside over. 

As stated previously, history is littered with examples of people taking advantage of the religious beliefs of those around them in order to further their own interests and grow both their power and their capital. In order to prevent these individuals from doing further harm, and in order for people of faith to be able to exercise their freedom of religion without fear of exploitation; awareness of both these snakes in the grass and the ways in which they operate is imperative.

— Tucker Shuff