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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

Senate Rather Than IRS

Regarding "Without Walls Finances Face Senator's Scrutiny" (front page, Nov. 6):

It's about time someone in the federal government finally launched an investigation of possible misuse of church donations to Without Walls, even if it was U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley rather than the IRS. Maybe the senator read the article that appeared in The Tampa Tribune a while ago about how wonderful a job church founders Randy and Paula White have been doing amassing a personal fortune for themselves and other family members while the IRS apparently looked the other way. Perhaps the Without Walls International Church could be renamed the "Without IRS Scrutiny International Church."

With all of their possible misdeeds, the Whites are understandably perplexed concerning why the Senate Finance Committee is conducting this probe instead of the IRS. The obvious reason is that under the "Christian right" Bush administration, the IRS apparently has more important things to do than to worry about whether megachurches raking in millions for their leaders are actually following those lengthy U.S. tax codes.

STEPHEN FELDMAN

Valrico

Pleased By Investigation

I was so pleased to read that Sen. Grassley is investigating the finances of several megachurches, including Tampa's own Without Walls International Church.

While The Tampa Tribune has done an outstanding job reporting the questionable behavior of Without Walls, this move by Grassley will hopefully expose the Whites' true colors. These wealth-driven religious crusaders are no different than some hedge funds which we are now finding out are partially responsible for our housing collapse. Both groups are driven by greed, fraud, narcissism and false hope.

As one Without Walls board member was quoted, "How many of these guys would be in ministry if there was no money in it? Not many, I can tell you."

While truer words have never been spoken - by the Whites that is - let's hope that Grassley's investigation will prove what charlatans the Whites really are.

VERONICA KIRCHHEIMER

Tampa

Teaching 'Prosperity'

If I am correct, every person mentioned in this article has at one time mentioned "wealth" or "success" to their audience. They are what some people call "prosperity teachers."

Jesus told His disciples to go out unto the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, not how you can be wealthy and successful. It really sickens me to learn of the lavish homes some of my fellow "Christians" live in and the cars they drive. Some may say, "They are God's spokespeople and deserve to be blessed." As I recall, Jesus' first disciples actually gave up everything to follow Him.

In the book of Thessalonians, it speaks of apostasy, or a "great falling away from the Truth." If you're a Christian and your concerns are more toward riches and success, you have fallen away from the truth.

JAMES THIBODEAU

Sebring

Obey The Government

Regarding "Churches Weigh Release Of Data" (front page, Nov. 7):

What is the cause of all the confusion among the Christian clergy about how to comply with U.S. Senator Grassley's request for their financial information? As leaders in the Christian community, they should be vaguely familiar with the Bible. If they read Romans 13:1-7, they will see that it instructs everyone to be obedient to the government and to government authorities because the government and government authorities are "ordained of God."

Romans 13:1-2 said, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Therefore, they must do all the senator asks.

I'm glad key American founders were deists and not Christians, otherwise they would have been forbidden by the Bible to overthrow the established government!

ROBERT L. JOHNSON

Clearwater

God's Checkbook

Does God have a checkbook problem?

Since the beginning, it appears that God cannot balance his checkbook. Constantly badgering the people who put their trust in some of these ministries, they have abused and probably stolen millions of dollars, not only from the sincere who donate from the heart but also by getting tax breaks from the government for being religious organizations. Without Walls and others say each time they are on TV that God needs help, and this is every day or every week. Therefore before anyone sends another check to their favorite ministry, they should send an accountant first and find out why God cannot balance his checkbook.

JIM COLABELLA

New Port Richey

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