When asked about the conviction of David Yonggi Cho, founder of world's largest Pentecostal congregation in South Korea, for embezzling $12 million from his church, popular pastor John Piper took the opportunity to warn pastors in the U.S. who might "love money," in a recent message.
"With every public dishonoring of Christ, every public dishonoring of His Word and His Gospel, and His Church, it makes me angry and it makes me sorrowful," said Piper in a recent episode of Ask Pastor John.
Yonggi Cho who pastors Yoido Full Gospel Church and oversees a network of churches numbering 800,000, was found guilty by a South Korean court for committing breach of trust and corruption amounting to $12 million, according to Yonhap News Agency.
He received a suspended sentence of three years in prison with a five year probation and was ordered to pay a penalty of $4.7 million by Seoul Central District Court on Feb. 20.
One of Cho's sons, Hee-jun, who serves as secretary general of Yeongsan Christian Cultural Center and was a former chairman of Next Media, was sentenced to three years in prison.
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| Glende demonstrates pastoral counseling - at least he didn't take this sheep to court! |
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GJ - Mrs. Ichabod and I went to the Billy Graham School of Evangelism at Wheaton College when I was in the LCA. Don't judge - Paul Kelm and WELS sent people there too.
Cho was quite famous already, and this was in the mid-80s. When he was done with his talk, I went up on the stage and shook hands with him. I try to meet celebs, because there is only one chance - usually. That is how I shook hands with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and the CEOs of Walmart and Sam's Club.
Cho had the weakest handshake I have ever experienced, second only to Charles Colson (Watergate fame), who was also a speaker at Wheaton College.
Later I read Cho's horrible Fourth Dimension book, where he promoted Asian occult religion in the name of Christianity. The basic theme was - God can only give you what you demand in prayers. Be specific and he will give you every single thing you want. Not a bike, but a 15 speed with a bell and a leather seat and a special light. The so-called Vision Statements are a reflection of Cho's sick, narcissistic, pagan religion. As you can see below, WELS was lapping it up like ice cream about to melt in July.
When Paul Kelm ran his evangelism school, I was required to go. The place was packed with Shrinkers and minders (but I repeat myself). One of these dolts began extolling Cho. I raised the objection that Cho was a pagan false teacher. The Assemblies of God kicked him out, and the AG is not known for its discipline.
My critical response was met with awkward silence. I had panned someone's favorite author, his hero, his path to fame and fortune. Later, Jim Huebner (one of the Shrinker-minders) said they laughed at me behind my back for objecting to Cho.
The Shrinker who followed Rogerz Zehms in St. Louis sold Cho books out of a case of them he brought to a WELS seminar on campus ministry. WELS used every single structural element to promote Church Growth, because the Church Growth stars were already in charge of the apparatus.
You like Andy Stanley, the gay activist son of Charles Stanley? Charles went to South Korea to study under Cho.
You like Fuller Seminary? Cho lectured there. In fact, Cho toured America, lecturing Christians about how to use the spirit world to get what they want. We spoke to two hynotized Pentecostals who just loved Cho.
Robert Schuller wrote the introduction to Cho's Fourth Dimension. Schuller's cathedral was sold off to pay for his debts.
WELS leaders promoted Cho because the South Korean phony had the same covetous eyes for loot. They have wasted millions of dollars on their pet plans and yet insist on even more to lavish on their favorites. If you want to know where WELS and Missouri are headed, look at Cho and his son.
