I read an article last night that made me angry and sad. And so I come here, to my keyboard, not just to vent about those feelings, but to use my voice to stand up for what I know is right.
The article was featured in USA Today; today, it was trending on CNN and other news outlets. This was the headline: “Televangelist is asking his followers to buy him a $54 million private jet.” I read the article, thinking that that couldn’t possibly be true. But it was true. Jesse Duplantis, a famous (or so he says) televangelist is asking his viewers to donate $54 million so that he can buy his fourth private jet.
In the article, Duplantis says that God specifically told him that he needed a Dassault Falcon 7X, which is a three-engine private jet capable of carrying 12 to 16 passengers at speeds up to 700 miles per hour. Defending his need for a fourth private jet, Duplantis said, “If Jesus was physically on the earth today, He wouldn’t be riding a donkey. He’d be in an airplane preaching the Gospel all over the world.” Duplantis then showed off a photo of the three private jets currently owned by his ministry, with the caption, “It’s not about possessions; it’s about priorities.”
Duplantis, showing his private jets.
I had many questions after reading the article—my first being, why can’t Duplantis fly commercial? He, along with fellow televangelist Kenneth Copeland, answered that question in a 2015 video. They said that private jets let them sleep and pray without disturbing other passengers or being interrupted by other passengers. They also explained that because they are famous, they have to fly on private jets to prevent people from coming up to them and asking for prayer. Copeland added, “You can’t manage that today. This dope-filled world, and get in a long tube [commercial plane] with a bunch of demons. It’s deadly.”
I highly doubt that Jesse Duplantis or Kenneth Copeland would cause a mob scene on an airplane because of their fame—they’re televangelists, not Kardashians. I also wonder what kind of praying these men are doing that would disturb other passengers. They say they don’t want “people coming up to them and asking for prayer.” Why? If people do ask for prayer, isn’t that the perfect opening for these men to share the Gospel? To pray with a person who is hurting? To show compassion and love as Jesus would have done? These men say that they are Christians. And it’s certainly not my place to question that. I do, however, question why a follower of Christ would try to avoid the very people that Jesus Christ Himself would have ministered to. Instead, these men want to isolate themselves on private jets so that they don’t have to deal with people at all—or “demons,” as Copeland called them.
Duplantis assures us that Jesus wouldn’t be riding a donkey if He were on earth today; He’d be in an airplane. I doubt the truth of that statement and find it arrogant that Duplantis thinks he knows what Jesus would be doing if He were on earth today. I don’t presume to know what Jesus would be doing, but I do know what He wouldn’t be doing—isolating Himself from people needing His help. The Jesus that I know welcomed everyone to come to Him; He didn’t turn people away because He was too famous and just couldn’t be bothered to talk to or pray with them. This is how Jesus dealt with people:
Copeland and Duplantis, talking about their jets.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19
“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13b
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36
“When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Mark 10:14
“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
That’s the Jesus I know. He asked sinners to come and follow Him. He was full of compassion for those who needed a Savior. He welcomed children into His arms. He told the world that He would never drive someone away.
I know this Jesus intimately because He saved me from myself and had the greatest compassion and love for me when I was at my very worst. What if instead of listening to my prayers and rescuing me, He’d reacted to me the way that Kenneth Copeland would have—speaking with complete distaste and judgment for this “dope-filled” world? Many do—they think of us addicts, whether we’re in recovery or actively using, as junkies strung out in a back alley with a needle in our arm, unworthy of anyone’s help or love. Jesus didn’t see me that way. He looked past what I was doing and loved me for who I was. He saw that I desperately needed a Savior. And it is only by His compassion, grace, and love that I’m still here.
The Jesus I know didn’t think of ways to avoid people. He built His entire ministry around people—people that the rest of the world often rejected. He chose to spend time with the outcasts, the criminals, the sick, the lost, the blind, the paralyzed, the adulterers—even the lepers. He chose men with violent criminal pasts, short tempers, and rough edges to be His disciples. He chose them not in spite of who they were but because of who they were. That’s my Jesus.
The words of Jesse Duplantis and Kenneth Copeland are counterintuitive to everything I know about Jesus. And they pose a tremendous threat to the kingdom of God. Nonbelievers are closely examining those of us who call ourselves Christians. And these types of outrageous stories, with the gospel of prosperity in place of the actual Gospel, affirm what nonbelievers think of us. They believe Christians are hypocrites who don’t practice what they preach. And I don’t blame them at all for feeling that way—so many of us don’t live and speak and love as if we were followers of Jesus Christ. Yet we say we are. So what will others believe?
Duplantis has a personal net worth of $50 million. Copeland has a personal net worth of $760 million. If they want more private jets so badly, I think they need to find a different way to pay for them instead of asking their viewers for the money. Those millions of dollars could be used in so many different and better ways to build the kingdom of God. If, as they say, they’re using those private jets in order to isolate themselves and withdraw from the distasteful masses of people, then I think they should leave the ministry altogether. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so that we could use His name to ask for whatever selfish thing we wanted while telling people that God wants us to have it. Jesus died to save those same masses of people that Duplantis and Copeland want to avoid. He welcomes every single lost soul into His loving arms.
As for me, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, which means that I want to know Him and become like Him. I make mistakes, as we all do, but I never want someone to turn away from Jesus because of something I’ve said or done. My mission in life is to carry His message—a message of love, grace, and salvation. Because that’s the Jesus I know—a man who is God and Savior to so many, yet still made time to find and rescue a lost sheep like me. That’s amazing grace. Amazing love. That’s my Jesus.
“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”John 6:37
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R ener, another wonderful Blog. I read that same newspaper article, I was sickened by it. Not surprised, because in my adult life, there have been a few other Evangelists, “Men of Jesus Christ’ who have said/done outrageous things. Power, be it religious, political, military, breeds a “self centered attitude of “Me First”, and the followers are expected to pay and support, and ignore the sins or transgressions of these “Powerful, Famous” people. What hurts, damages, the “true believer”, the damage it does , when believers tr6 to preach/teach the “Goodness of Jesus Christ
.We know Jesus loved and cared for all, Rich,poor,sick, non Believers. This i# What drives me personally. . Also, where is Jesse Duplantus, “belt of truth”, when speaks,prays tonGod, and preaches his sermons. “Hypocrite”.But, me, Your, ‘TexGen”, ak@ Christian Soldier, I am learning, t” have My Belt o& Truth. With My Savior. It is not convenient for me, Having to speak, and pray “specifics on all my sins. Jesus Saves,Jesus Welcomes,Jesus Heals
. Me, on the beginning g of my journey, to meet my savior, My Blessed Mother, in Heaven someday, Hiw beautiful you picked, “Amazing Grace”, yes, I once was lost, but now am found, He saved a wretch like me. Thank you, Jesus, Thank you, Renee, You4 Words, give me Focus and Drive, t9 stay on My Earthly Journey. Again wonderfulm, Blog.
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Thank you, Harold. You know, you’re right about power breeding an attitude of “Me First”–whether it’s a preacher or a celebrity. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I know that you mean it when you say that Jesus loving and caring for all is what drives you–because you follow His example every day in your work with your seniors and those with special needs. I so appreciate your humility when you say that you’re still learning. So am I. I, like you, always want to be learning more and more about Jesus. Thank you for your words and for adding your insights to my post. I appreciate you, my friend and General.
Love it, that’s my girl, telling it just how it is. As you already know I do not use the term Christianity for a variety of reasons, but like you I follow a Person whose name is Jesus and who is also very God Himself! Like you I was floored about both the above preachers and while we can not look into their hearts whether they are true followers, we can with surety say that we obviously do not follow the same Jesus as they do, or at least I do dare to say this.
My Jesus, as I know him and especially here in Vancouver, BC, would probably be out on a cardboard mat outside in the rain sleeping along with the many homeless here. Conversing with them about the amount of rain, the lack of food, what brought them together in such a situation as being homeless and about family they may have left behind. That would be my Jesus and the one I want and need the courage from to follow Him as he ministers to all the lost souls, me included. My Jesus would look into the many broken hearts and cry alongside them, He would explain to His Father that He was busy doing all the Father had showed to Him, my Jesus would also see the Laury’s of this world–addicted, thrown out of the hospital because the bed was needed for someone else, dying of AID,s and noticed what I had noticed–her eyes were the same color as mine. His tears would have run along His cheeks as mine did after!
If I did not believe in my Jesus as I do, I could not follow Him, admire Him and try to emulate Him and beg for forgiveness when i fall shso short of Him once more.
As I explain to all, the Person who I follow is called LOVE, nothing more and nothing less. He is LOVE, pure and simple, and no He would not ride on a plane if He could not love all on that plane, it would be one more way to explain His ministry–for all to come to Him so He may love them in His Father’s name, take our burdens and make them His, give us peace that all will be well and give us words of courage when all else fails.
That indeed is my Jesus Renee, just as you picture Him, as you know Him and as you love Him as He loves you and me.
Thank you my friend for this profound reminder of who our Jesus is. Love to you for this post, you have my heart in this.
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Klara–thank you–which are simple words when my heart is so full. Your depiction of Jesus is beautiful and true and touches me deeply. And I know you mean every word with the utmost sincerity–because you have ministered to me in the ways you wrote about. I remember you saying that you wake up and ask God, “Who can I show your love to today?” That has stayed in my mind, and your words reminded me of it again. So–yes–Jesus is love, as you said–plain and simple. When you wrote about the homeless, the lost, and then Laury and said, “Her eyes were the same color as mine,” my eyes filled with tears. Because you SAW her–and I doubt very many people looked closely enough at her to see that. Another beautiful depiction of who you are because of who Jesus is. I hope and pray that everyone who is brought here to read my post reads your comment as well–because it’s so true, so beautiful, and so honoring of Jesus. Thank you so very much, my friend.