I have followed many of the leaders of our convention and few have surprised me with their personal lives. Though, I have not met all of those who are leaders in our convention, I have met some and those I have come to know have integrity and would never promote anything that is questionable. Well, I have not met Dr. James Merritt personally but I sat in a class that he taught once in Orlando. I was very impressed with his conviction and his oratory skills to get his point across. While I was impressed by him then, today I am disappointed and very concerned. Check out the video below and then see if you agree that my questions are some that should be asked.
First, Dr. Merritt seems to be promoting a questionable, already fined, ponzi scheme using the auditorium at Cross Pointe Church. Of course Cross Pointe Church is an autonomous body and that is their business. However, this is certainly not the kind of conference that I am used to seeing Dr. Merritt support and promote.
Second, Dr. Merritt, at around the 3 minute point, expresses how he counsels people at the end of the service concerning financial needs. I am not understanding how Dr. Merritt believes this financial scheme helps people better than sound scriptural advice. According to Dr. Merritt’s statement instead of expressing the Gospel and how people can be set free financially by adhering to the clear teaching of scripture he asks for 30 minutes of their time to sign them up as an employee of his.
Third, Dr. Merritt gives his word that this business has nothing to hide and has done nothing unethical. However, Dr. Merritt forgets to express that the state of Montana fined the company over one million dollars as being a ponzi scheme.
Fourth, Why is Dr. Merritt promoting, in April 2011, a company that, in March 2010, was fined by the state of Montana and had to totally reconstruct their levels in order to do business there?
Fifth, at about the 9:30 mark Dr. Merritt seems to encourage the provision of financial rewards as being “hope” for those who have lost their jobs and are in sad financial conditions. If this is the case, then as a pastor, maybe Dr. Merritt should go to the starving nations of the world and promote Fortune.
Why am I disappointed in Dr. Merritt’s latest promotion? He always struck me as one that would derive his income from the Gospel only and not allow himself to promote anything like this. He has passionately, in the past, presented himself as offering hope only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ but now offers hope for a future in Fortune, an already fined Ponzi scheme company. I guess I have gotten naive in my old age.
Tim,
Wow. Unbelievable. I hadn’t heard of any of this until you put it on your blog.
But I Googled it a bit more. This will hit close to home for you: Here’s a link to an investigation of Fortune by the FTC that the North Carolina AG’s office has joined just this year.
Also, here is a story on this subject by USA Today, a publication well-known to Southern Baptist journalists.
And here is an investigative report by the Louisville ABC affiliate detailing what a scam this is, and explicitly showing how faith has been exploited to take advantage of people.
I’ve had to comfort people who have lost everything to schemes like this. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to have been the cause of their financial destruction.
Sad Tim. Really sad. I posted a follow-up.
Lord bless.
With that, I am…
Peter
I’m with you on this one, brother.
Tim,
I would say that I am surprised, but I am not. Arrogance and pride reveal themselves in multiple ways. Why should finances be immune? I can’t in my wildest dreams fathom using our sanctuary to hawk someone’s business, particularly one that is questionable like FHTM and one that I would personally profit from. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. I know that not everyone may like Dave Ramsey, but his approach has helped my family and many families within my church. His approach is the opposite of a “get rich quick scheme” that most of these multi-level pyramid schemes seem to be. But, when you say, as Dr. Merritt did, that you have “prayed over it,” that is the end of the discussion. Hard to argue with someone who says they have heard a word from God. We can dress up things with spritual language all we want to, but that will never make it Biblical.
As Dave Ramsey says, go read Proverbs and you’ll learn all you need to about handling finances God’s way. What Dr. Merritt is hawking is completely contradictory to God’s word. Last time I check, God’s Spirit does not contradict God’s Word. Apparently that’s not the case at Crosse Pointe. Hope things are well with you in NC. God bless,
Howell
Brother Peter,
Your follow-up has and expose from ABC news. I really do not give that much credence to such organizations, but when they do an investigative expose they usually have their facts. Especially when the state attorney generals office pushes for and receives $1 mil in fines and a restructuring of the company in that state.
Brother Bob,
As you can tell this has nothing to do with politics on my part it is just surprising to me to see this happen with Dr. Merritt.
Brother Howell,
As a lawyer, what do you make of the way Montana law differs from other states. For example, it seems to be perfectly legal in Georgia. What cant you tell us of this?
Blessings,
Tim
Brother Bart,
Your comment had three active links so it was placed in moderation by my default spam filter. Sorry that it took so long for me to find it.
You provide some great information that I did not know. After researching your links I found your link to our AG contained some type of error. However, after reviewing it I found the story here.
Blessings,
Tim
Tim,
One redemptive aspect to the ABC expose is no apparent “ax to grind”. In a day when so many people are looking for jobs and ways to survive an economic crisis, had ABC botched an investigation which potentially could squelch economic assistance, their ratings could have taken a beating. Any way one slices this, it seems to me to be a horrific risk for a pastor to expose his congregants to non-sense like this.
I’m also told by laypeople who are members at Cross Pointe that other staff members–including an executive pastor–are into this thing as well. The rabbit hole apparently goes deep.
With that, I am…
Peter
[...] pastor — and former President of the Southern Baptist Convention — both Tim Rogers (“Surprised by a Hero of Mine”) and Peter Lumpkins (“FHTM and Dr. James Merritt’s Confusing Ministry”) reveal [...]
There are a few Multi-Level Marketing programs that are legitimate, but there seem to be more that are not. While Amway may be a good one, if you want to see the other side, just Google “Koscot Interplanetary Inc” some time. You’ll get several descriptions of what a bad plan is.
I checked the firm Merritt is hawking and all the “products” they purport to sell can be bought through normal sources; Dish Network, for example.
Dr. Merritt is no longer involved with FHTM.
Jihn,
When did he get out and what is your source? If this is the case, great!! However, just showing up here and stating such is not good evidence. Dr. Merritt has never distanced himself from the company in any way, shape, form or fashion. I pray this is the case, but he still has some public relation work to do concerning his statement of directing people to this organization when he comes to them with financial difficulties.
Blessings,
Tim
Tim,
Most of the videos posted on FHTM representative sites were posted from March (2011) to as late as July of this year. Hence, if Merritt is out, high-rolling reps have not got the word. And, according to at least one website, a regional FHTM meeting was held at CP church in October of 2010. To then suggest Merritt is “out of it” makes little sense, if any, to the point of your post.
With that, I am…
Peter
[...] Church in Georgia and a former President of the Southern Baptist Convention, by certain bloggers (here, here, here and here), including yours truly [...]
Peter, why does it make “little sense”. Dr. Merritt doesn’t know every single person in FHTM, or have an idea hat they are putting on their INDEPENDENT web site.
Tim, I heard him say months ago, probably 4-5 months ago, that he was no longer involved.
Since both of you don’t believe me, even though you don’t know and have never spoken to me, why don’t you ask Dr. Merritt? You won’t, because if he confirmed what I have told you, it would take a huge bite out of your whining.
But, alas. someone did ask Dr. Merritt. Dave Miller asked him, and he indeed confirmed, that he is not associated with FHTM anymore.
Do any of you ever make mistakes? Do you ever have sin to confess? Would you admit some of the more grievous sins you have committed to any of us readers?
Have ANY OF YOU, ever been in a position of such importance, that someone with a blog would even care to write about you?
With that, I am, Jihn
Jihn,
I do not know you. You do not know me. Thus we are in the same predicament. As to my confession of “grievous” sins. If I did something in public, I am obligated to confess it publicly. Dr. Merritt stated what he did publicly and if he “made a mistake” as you point out then he is obligated publicly to correct it. For crying out loud, if Dr. Merritt did not know all of the videos were out, how did he get them removed so quickly?
Blessings,
Tim
Excellent post by Dave Miller on SBC Voices. Tim, you and Peter, who have this sense of legalism, would do well to read Dave’s post and incorporate some of it, into your Christian ethics.
http://sbcvoices.com/criticizing-christian-leaders-on-blogs-an-ethical-dilemma/
And Tim, regarding the videos coming down so quickly…I imagine that once you and Peter, so efficiently noted that they existed, that Dr. Merritt of someone on his staff, kindly advised those web site owners that they were using them without permission.
Jihn,
Thank you for calling me a legalist. You would do well to read this post before you start throwing such a word about.
Also, I wish Dr. Merritt all the best, certainly do not desire to see his ministry or that of the churches hurt because of this. However the fact remains the videos were public knowledge and they were being played at ever regional event. I have done nothing wrong in expose these videos. I mean it is not like I have edited the videos. I got the video I posted from a regional directors site that was promoting Dr. Merritts status with the company.
You have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Blessings,
Tim