Friday, June 1, 2018

SHOULD PEOPLE HELP JESSE DUPLANTIS PURCHASE A $54 MILLION PRIVATE JET?


http://www.jdm.org/xw-partnerupdate.aspx


I have been observing this conversation on the sidelines. What drew me into it, was the fact that I received this video from Jesse Duplantis Ministries, tonight in my email; addressed to all of his partners. In the video he addresses the controversy regarding the private jet.

For ministries of the caliber of Duplantis’ (colloquially called “mega ministries”) that reach millions (and possibly billions) of people; having a private jet is not unusual at all. For 17 years I was on staff with Joyce Meyer Ministries. She travelled the world in a private jet. But, I can tell you first hand (1) she was a good steward over her finances (2) she ministered to millions of poor people around the world (3) she took good care of all of her employees. So the (ministry owned) private jet was very much in order with the type of finances on hand and the immense amount of people reached.

In the video Jesse said that he was “believing” for a new jet. It is really hard to criticize Jesse for “believing” for something; when there are so many Scriptures that apparently back up his statement, for example:

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Mark 11:24 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

No one is forced to give Jesse any money for a jet. If you believe in his ministry; help him get the jet. If you do not believe in it; do not help him. Yes, it would be wrong for a person struggling to feed their family to send Jesse money. First, they should be paying tithes to their own local church. Next, they should be taking care of their own family. IF, there is anything left over; it is their choice to give to Jesse’s ministry OR not at all.

I have had personal situations happen in my family’s history where I have “been there done that.” Our family was going through financial difficulty that was brutal and (to me) demonic. I continued to pay my tithes. I worked and provided for my family. Then I took little small offerings of $2.00 here and there and (as an act of faith) gave offerings to different ministries that were doing what I was “believing” God for me to do. I was not trying to buy anything from God. I was simply demonstrating my faith in Him. According to Hebrews 11:6 God rewarded my faith and blessed my family beyond anything we could have imagined.

Its situations like this that really cause us to do inventory on our own heart. WHY are we so upset? Is it that we are really concerned about the poor? Or are we covetous of Jesse’s success? I am certain that if anyone reading this blog was offered a $54 million private jet we would take it; and then testify that God has blessed us! 

Why can’t God bless someone else? Covetousness and jealousy are JUST AS BAD as failing to take care of the poor and less fortunate. Covetousness is defined as, “having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else.”[1] Jealousy is defined as, “feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages.”[2] As a matter of fact; it’s included as one of the Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:17 17"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

1 Corinthians 3:3 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

Ephesians 5:3 3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints;

The Bible admonishes us to take care of the poor. If Jesse Duplantis is keeping this as a priority; he will be in line with Scripture (during my Joyce Meyer days, Jesse Duplantis Ministries was somewhat of a “sister ministry.” You would be surprised at the amount of money that ministries like that spend on feeding, clothing, sheltering and ministering to the poor):

Matthew 25:34-35 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

Galatians 2:10 10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

But, the Bible also allows for some luxuries to be enjoyed by ministers. There was much controversy about a VERY EXPENSIVE fragrance being spent on Jesus. The backlash wasn’t from the public; it was from HIS OWN DISCIPLES!  But, here was his response:

Matthew 26:6-11 6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9"This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

The good thing about the Word of God, is that it fits everyone’s circumstances. It does not have a “cookie cutter” approach. Every Bible character’s experience is not the same. For example, some Bible characters were very rich and some Bible characters were very poor.

The Bible is filled with people who were fairly wealthy; for example: Abraham, Moses (he was raised in lavish wealth even though he chose latter to suffer with God’s people – Hebrews 11:24) and David:

Genesis 13:2 2Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

Acts 7:21 21When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

2 Samuel 12:2 2The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle.

And, in contrast, the Bible also has people who were very poor: for example: Lazarus and also the members of the Corinthian church

Luke 16:20 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores.

1 Corinthians 1:26 26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

So, if Bible characters lived in our time; you would have some with private jets and others who were restricted to catching rides with other people. Neither poverty nor wealth is a virtue. Neither being rich or poor makes a person holy or not. This is why the writer of proverbs asked for neither one:

Proverbs 30:9 9Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

To be brutally honest (as one that travels and crisscrosses this nation and abroad on a regular basis) I wish that EVERY minister could fly by private jet (and I know that most ministers WOULD accept flying that way – I know I would  - so we need to leave Jesse alone). Flying is not what is used to be. Airlines have always been after profit. But, customer service and comfort has completely gone out of the window. And, that is AFTER everything you have to endure with TSA (safety is understood; lack of professionalism and customer service is NOT)

As a traveler, it is my observation that things changed after 9/11. An evil terrorist situation (9/11) was used to start cutting any amenities that at one time made airline travel (in a metal tube, 35,000 ft. in the air, surrounded by complete strangers) more endurable: snacks, free transport of luggage, sufficient leg room, etc. Travel in “economy” is pretty much a “cattle call.” You make the best of it on short hauls. But, it is torture on 13 hour flights across the Atlantic. First Class (from my experience) is not that much better; the advantage is legroom and more personal space.

While I like Delta; wherever you go in the United States and abroad, if you fly on that airline, you will have to go through Atlanta; no matter how far out of the way it is. That is extremely taxing on your body. Especially if your inbound flight is late and your next flight is on the other side of the airport.

I was travelling on Southwest Airlines (where you can choose any seat) nonstop from Saint Louis to Los Angeles. The section of the plane I was in literally wreaked of Marijuana. It was like the party bus. I went to the back to rest. But that was where the party was. By the time I arrived in Los Angeles I was literally sick from the smell. It took at least 24 hours to recover from that. (You may ask, “Why didn’t you evangelize?” One thing laypersons must realize is that no minister should work 24/7. There are times (just like other normal people) you need to rest, eat, recreate or simply get from point A to point B. If anyone is preaching 24/7 that person is definitely out of balance).

As far as United, they are notorious (in my experience) for late flights and cancellations. Once I had to drive halfway across the country to make a ministerial event because I experienced two cancellations and a delay on this airline.

And the attitude of the airlines most times is, “it’s your problem deal with it.” I felt real bad for an older couple I observed recently that missed their cruise because of a delay with American Airlines. I also was delayed; however, my circumstances was not as dire as people who were looking forward to a once in a lifetime experience as a couple.

So while it is valid to discuss Jesse Duplantis and the $54 million dollar jet; let’s also add to the narrative the way travelers are treated by the airline industry. 
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