Creflo Dollar and ISIS. A Different Take

Creflo Dollar and ISIS. A Different Take

 

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com)  

 

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  (ANS. MARCH 14) Writing on a blog titled “Happy Sonship,” Pastor Carlos Rodriguez  pens challenging articles that  make you stop and pay attention.

 

Here’s an extract from his latest piece about prosperity preacher Creflo Dollar, titled "Judging Creflo Dollar For Being Just Like Me." 

 

The minister has hit the news recently for saying he “needs” a 65 million dollar jet.

 

Here’s an extract. Carlos writes, “It’s might sound ridiculous that Creflo ‘needs’ a 65 million dollar airplane to preach the gospel. But it might also seem ridiculous to a father of 12 in Niger that I would ‘need’ an iPad to preach my sermons, or an iMac to write my blog, or shoes to go for a walk.”

 

Another challenging piece by Carlos was titled, "How Should Christians Respond to ISIS?"

 

He commented, “I think we should at least consider the ‘old response’-the one lived out in the New Testament ... And maybe we should have tried it back in 2001. The church should have prayed loud and clear, ‘Osama Bin Laden will be saved. But we missed the moment.”

 

He continued, “Understandably after 9/11 we reacted with grief and begged for justice, war, and our version of peace. We forgot the supernatural Jesus-formula to, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’”

 

In an email interview, Carlos told me that while Puerto Rican born, he has been in the U.S. for six years. He said that while Puerto Rico is officially American territory, it is very different culturally. 

 

Carlos said he committed his life to Jesus in March 1995.  His recollection of the event was, “Perfect weather. OK sermon. Best day ever.” 

 

Carlos was “raised Catholic by default.”

 

He added, “I attended mass twice a year for cultural reasons, but I loved it every time. Nuns in my elementary school gave me a hunger for the Bible.  It was in a Billy Graham crusade when I was 13 where I properly met Christ. Classic.” 

 

Carlos said he inherited his thinking process from his father, who he said is a radical thinker.

 

“He taught me to swim upstream. As soon as I got saved and to read the gospels I knew I had found the perfect savior, liberator, radical man to follow. The difference was that Jesus was also lovely.  Perfect combination.”

 

He added, “When I started going to church, I noticed how different my interpretation of Jesus was. But they were my family so I never thought of leaving the church. I just embraced my role in it.”  

 

I asked Carlos how his church flock had reacted to his beliefs. He said while the younger people love it, the older members “hate” it.

 

He continued, “But we always try to create an environment where honor is above arguments. Also,  having a multicultural congregation helps to open up the minds of the locals in the Bible belt.” 

 

Carlos said he tries to show practically what he writes about. He said his church works with then inner city in Raleigh, and helps ESL non-legal students in local high schools. 

 

“I would love to get more into the changing of the system,” he said, “but I have to take it one step at a time, and actually being with the people in the ground makes for the greatest change of hearts.” 

 

I asked Carlos what he thinks members of today's Body of Christ need to do in order that they may fulfil the requirements and imperatives of Jesus, and how far away we are from that.

 

He responded that while we're a long way off, “Jesus is full of hope for his bride."

 

He continue, “So I choose to join his expectation and quiet my cynical voice. I have chosen to teach a lot from the gospels and the book of Acts, and to show the church what life could look like if we tried it.”

 

Carlos said he focuses on members of the younger generation who are willing to test that hypothesis. 

 

“We do radical outreach. We preach radical love. We try to be as Christ-centric as possible while still honoring the local church.” 

 

I asked Carlos what he would most like people to know about him. He said that he is “loved by Abba Father.” 

 

In addition, he said, “That I am afraid to waste my time on earth, that sometimes I wish I was not 'stuck' in ministry, and I believe in the power of love to change the world.” 

 

Carlos said he hopes that people reading his thoughts will actually read the gospels and talk to Jesus.

He also has a wish for them. “And I want people to know that God LOVES them exactly as they are, but too much to leave them there.”

 

For more information about Carlos, visit  www.happysonship.com

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