News-Record.com

Forget the Hannity/Pope rankings. The most powerful man in the world (the President of the US) is only the 8th most influential Christian in the US?

What a rogues gallery they have here! Shows that there's quite a huge difference between popularity and quality.

Now please excuse me while a run off to some nearby bushes to retch...

Paul Crouch and Joyce Meyer made the Top 10 even though there have been financial questions (and in Crouch's case, questions of inappropriate behavior)regarding their ministries.

Who should have been on the list?

Well, they're "influential," not necessarily "the best Christians," eh? If they influence millions of people, that qualifies them, regardless of how hateful, idiotic, pathetic or crooked they are.

[more sounds of physical illness come from the background]

Nancy,

Where have you hear the news about Crouch and the allegations of impropriety? If you could provide a link or website, would be appreciated.

My wife sometimes listens to his program (I don't know why, not her faith, must like the entertainment) and I make certain my wallet and her purse are tucked away in a secure place when she does. I get nervous when the preacher of the day pleads for the listener to "sow a seed."

Go here for an overview: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/137/11.0.html,

I also wonder if anyone else noticed that there are no Mormons on this list. Surely, the current head (if you can call him that) of the Mormon empire is a pretty darn influential Christian here in America.

As much as I disagree with you folks on many issues, I have to agree with some of what you’ve said about the 50 most list. As a Scriptural orthodox Christian, I cringe at most Christian TV today. Some of it is religious entertainment and some of it is terribly wrong on a lot of biblical and doctrinal points. I suppose it is the allure of the medium. In fact, just about every sphere of American culture is reduced to pathetic caricature at one time or another by it, so it is not terribly surprising that Christians, who are passionately desirous of sharing their faith, should succumb as well. But there is a bell curve also: there is great stuff and there is abysmally bad stuff.

But, as your comments prove, the programming is fodder for the toss-‘em-to-the-lions crowd. The Paul Crouch show is really just a mix of old line Pentecostalism and Southern Gospel-gone-glitz. The theology is awful, the props pretentious and the appeals for support embarrassing to say the least. T. D. Jakes is just the master of sermonic drama – soul style. What man does to the purity of Jesus teaching and the NT theology of Peter, Paul and John simply reflects human frailty and vulnerability; but in no way impugns its integrity. Fallen humanity has, predictably, done all manner of harm to the Gospel and the Scriptures over the centuries.

There are some on the list that I respect highly, and seem to have a good grasp of serious biblical theology. But the real heroes and heroines of the Faith are unknown, or little known servant types who labor in the shadows of human misery and need; who neither need nor seek notoriety. But they are surely on God’s list, and will receive their reward on that Great Day. But neither will I judge personally the heart of the big media folks either. God has always sovereignly brought good out of even the most abject shortcomings of his people. But the godless and unbelieving always jump at the opportunity to diss God’s people, for just about any reason. It IS too bad, though, that the modern media give them so much great material.