Richard and Lindsay Roberts: Dude, Where's My Faith?

Over the past few days I have poked fun at Richard and Lindsay Roberts and the alleged scandalous goings on at Oral Roberts University.

The accusations of the Roberts’ misusing school funds and political clout, and the rumors of Lindsay’s salacious come to Jesus meetings with underage boys has been too juicy for my sarcastic psyche to pass on satirizing. The number of hits to my site by me doing this has, as I have said, been incredible.

Google referrals to Bagwine Ruminations due to search queries that include “Lindsay Roberts and Underage Boys”, or some form of that, have brought hundreds of hits from people trying to get the scoop on the aforementioned allegations against the Roberts’. Many of these hits have come from areas in the Bible Belt…Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and North Carolina among others. None of these hits have resulted in any comments on my posts. It makes me wonder…why?

Sure, maybe some of these folks came by out of curiosity, but I am guessing that the vast majority of people who have come by are not only trying to find out the truth about the Roberts’, but whether or not they have been duped by two people and a ministry in which they put their money...and more importantly, their faith.

If the Roberts’ misused dollars that were intended for University and Ministry use, they have in essence stolen money from thousands of generous believers . I find however, that the more egregious affront is that if all of these accusations are true, the Roberts’ have stolen something much more valuable from their donors...their faith.

Faith is a powerful thing. Faith can save a person from drug and alcohol abuse. Faith can help one to become a good parent. Faith can help to make one a better person, and to steal someone’s faith is to me, among the most heinous of all crimes. Should the Roberts’ be guilty of the charges, I hope that they have enjoyed their ill gotten gains, Lindsay’s, shall we say, Ill-Gotten Booty, and enjoy spending eternity in a pit of fire nestled between Rachel Ray and Dick Cheney.

Speaking strictly from a Christian perspective, I have a few words of advice for those who feel the need to follow so-called “anointed religious leaders”. Richard and Lindsay Roberts, Pastor Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Paul and Jan Crouch, and Pope Benedict are no godlier than you. In fact, the biggest difference between you and them is that, while you find your faith priceless, these criminals put a price on your faith.

One last piece of advice, instead of succumbing to the demand of donating to your church, take a box of food to a homeless shelter, give a pint of blood to the blood bank, or become a mentor to a child who is at-risk. If you do this, instead of filling the coffers of some religious charlatan, you will be fulfilling the teachings of Christ…and whether you believe in him or not, that’s a pretty good thing.

Cheers, and Keep the Faith

NOTE: My best friend and confidante, Schmoop, has created her own blog. If you get a chance stop by and say Hi. Be nice to her, she is just getting started...You can stop over by clicking HERE.