Raise Money or Die
Greed and televangelism have a long and colorful history together. If you search online for them, you can probably discover hundreds, if not thousands, of stories and articles about theft, fraud, and dubious business practices. God required Jesse Duplantis to own a $54 million private plane, he told his audience. He once added that people weren't giving enough money, which was the reason Jesus hadn't yet returned. In order to line their pockets, it appears that some of these so-called men of God will go to any lengths. What about Oral Roberts, though?
When the renowned televangelist was seeking money for the institution that bears his name in 1987, he made headlines. He warned his congregation that if he didn't raise $8 million, God would take him home. In other words, unless people paid him $8 million, God threatened to murder Oral Roberts. That is referred to as ransom or extortion in some sectors.
Roberts has built a career out of using visions to raise money. He claimed to have once seen an angel and later sold figurines of it. He raised money by using a vision of a 900-foot-tall Jesus. He reportedly raised $9.1 million.
