A wealthy televangelist explains his fleet of private jets: 'It's a biblical thing'

[mfcorey1]

In the waning days of 2015, renowned televangelist Kenneth Copeland laid out exactly why he needs a luxury private jet to do his job: you can’t “talk to God” while riding commercial.

Criticized at the time for his use of extravagant planes, Copeland argued travel for his work would be difficult, nay, impossible without them. The Texas-based preacher invoked his mentor, prosperity gospel preacher Oral Roberts, who Copeland said faced unsolicited requests for prayer when he flew on public airliners, “agitating his spirit.”

“You can’t manage that today, in this dope-filled world, get in a long tube with a bunch of demons,” Copeland told fellow televangelist Jesse Duplantis, who’s faced similar backlash for asking his followers to bankroll a $54 million jet. “And it’s deadly.”

Copeland’s defense, viewed by millions and widely mocked at the time, did little to help his case. Many figured the “demons” he spoke of were the same people he was asking for donations. The preacher was asked to clarify his remarks last month by “Inside Edition” reporter Lisa Guerrero, and the exchange has recently gone viral, reigniting conversations about televangelists and the tax-exempt status of churches.

Captured on video confronting Copeland as he got into a car, Guerrero pressed him repeatedly on his 2015 comments, at one point asking: “Do you really believe that humans are demons?”

“No I do not, and don’t you ever say I did,” Copeland responded, visibly perturbed. He added, “It’s a biblical thing, it’s a spiritual thing, it doesn’t have anything to do with people. People? I love people. Jesus loves people. But people get pushed in alcohol. Do you think that’s a good place for a preacher to be and prepare to preach?”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-wealthy-televangelist-explains-his-fleet-of-private-jets-its-a-biblical-thing/ar-AAClpZV?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

[struggle4progress]

1. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came

and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

[tanyev]

2. Too late, buddy. I think the demons are riding with you wherever you are.

[Dennis Donovan]

4. Unhinged - the full interview

[ooky]

13. Certified Looney-toon.

[sop]

14. When he wags his finger and says, "No I do not, and don't you ever say I did"

is the creepiest moment in the interview. And those eyes, what a complete psychopath. Hucksters and charlatans like Copeland are the reason churches should not be exempt from federal, state, and local income and property taxes.

[Kid Berwyn]

24. He steals.

Pass The Loot.

[trev]

26. Ugh.

He looks like something out of a Chucky movie.

[Zambero]

3. Can he pray and chew gum at the same time?

Apparently not!

[Docreed2003]

5. Lol that these charlatans can keep a straight face with this crap

And people continue to send them money...amazing

[volstork]

11. P. T. Barnum was right.

n/t

[rampartc]

6. jesus traveled as far as he needed to go on one borrowed jackass

Copeland can't even fly coach.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. All crooks. It seems like we see these kinds of people (scumbag preachers) popping out from ...

underneath the rocks they've been hiding on a daily basis. The worse kind of human behavior. I recall reading a recent DU post where one family in need tried contacting one of these 'preachers' (a word that is definitely being abused by the likes of these crooks) for financial help, and of course you already know the results, 'nope, if we helped you, we would have to help everyone else too'.

I know that some folks are desperately in need of help, and some churches do help people, so I don't want to give a broad stroke of recrimination against all churches.

Why is it that some people think these preachers will help them? Unfortunately, endless broadcasting of these so called 'preachers' and their so called 'values' and 'Christian charity' has brainwashed a lot of innocent people, especially the most vulnerable.

[Andy823]

17. Exactly!

There are a whole lot of gullible people, and there are whole lot of other people that want to take their money. All you have to do is convince them you are speaking for God, and that you can save them. Cults are really good at taking your money and using it for their own personal pleasure. One example is trump and his followers.

[sop]

8. Who knew Jesus believed in trickle down economics?

Propsperity Doctrine is Copeland's version of Republican Supply Side theory: the wealthier the preacher, the holier his flock.

[Initech]

9. Because frequent flyer miles are for godless heathens!

[colsohlibgal]

10. These Types Are Nothing But Scammers.

I was quite close to my paternal Grandparents, loved them but my Grandmother used to send money to Oral Roberts. My Grandfather made it clear to my Sister and I that it annoyed him but he was loyal to her and didn’t say anything to her.

These folks are grifters and often hypocritical to the max.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Didn't he say that his friend gave him a price he couldn't walk away from?

[Bayard]

15. Saw this clip last night on Chris Hayes

Freaky, especially when he turned into Satan.

[Blue_Tires]

16. And "Big Religion" slips further into irrelevance...

[LuvNewcastle]

18. If people want to help people who travel around doing good work,

they can give their money to Doctors Without Borders or give to those dentists who travel around the country providing relief to poor communities. Televangelists don't exist to help others. They're on an ego trip and their goal is simply to gain more converts and bring in more donations.

[Sneederbunk]

19. Camel meet needle.

[bobbieinok]

20. Copeland was an early student at ORU. He was also a pilot for Oral

[SweepPicker]

21. There's evil

in his eyes. He's nuts.

[raccoon]

22. What a slimeball. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

23. And THIS is why these are Trump folk.

[Windy City Charlie]

25. So phony and hypocritical

It always amazes me how so many people fall for this baloney. Sending money over and over thinking these people are really doing something for them. It's funny to watch this, because you can see the nerves being struck, and the way he kills time trying to come up with an answer and it always ends up being some religious statement, and always come up with a justification as to why they do what they've been accused of. The guy rails against alcohol and such, but truth be told he probably gets drunk on a nightly basis himself. Again, I'm astonished so many people don't see through what these televangelists are really about.

[Chin music]

27. That man's a lunatic. You can see it in his eyes.

"Costs a lot to do what we do." What's that? Lie to people about salvation? All from a book edited by Costantine and others so many times over the centuries it doesn't even resemble the "word of God." Religion is a scam to keep us following rules, while governments break them.
Pres Obama....I sure miss you. Pres Clintons, I sure miss you. Pres GORE and KERRY...you were robbed. It's clearer, and clearer everyday. Only difference back then, was, we couldn't fathom a breech in our electoral systems and were beaten to death about patriotism during the bush war years and PNAC reshuffling.
The gop poisons everything. Weneed to rub them off the face of the earth. IMHO.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

28. Creepy fucker

I don't see his appeal.

[Blue Owl]

29. I've never been one to believe in demons...

But this guy has me re-thinking...