"Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry" Revisited

Mountain of Fire

(Image from Wikipedia)

A little over one year ago, I posted a light, ironic entry on the "Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry" because it seemed to be preaching the so-called "Gospel of Wealth," an impression made upon me by an invitational flyer -- handed to me on the streets of Seoul -- that told the story of how the faithful 'Brother Enoch' had been showered with material blessings from God:

As a factory employee in S/Korea then, God has elevated him from the dept of the valley to the mountain top, from ordinary to extra ordinary person now. Someone who was regarded a a write off in the family is now an immense source of blessing. As a humble servant of God, he took a giant step and an astronomical rise to stardom. He is now an investor and the C.E.O of a famous company in S/Korea.

Although I myself could really have benefited from some of those material blessings, my response was skeptical:

Enoch's story sounds utterly implausible to me. Foreigners don't easily rise to positions of power here in South Korea, not even Westerners.

If 'Enoch' really were "the C.E.O of a famous company in S/Korea," then the flyer would have identified him and the company more explicitly so that the story would have more impact. I Googled this 'denomination' at the time of my posting and found a noisy website:

MFM Ministries, Lagos, Nigeria

The music was so loud that I didn't stay long enough to investigate further, so I don't know specifically what is being taught. The flyer was therefore my primary source of information . . . until members of that church noticed my post and left comments. Most of these were testimonials -- and friendly enough, I might add. At least until the most recent comment, posted a day or two ago by a certain Dorin:

I happened on this site, not really glad I did, but I have to say something before I go. There seems to be a glaring truth that absolutely NO ONE can dispute and yet, has not been addressed . . . Where there are speakers, THERE IS VOLUME CONTROL, and mute! Good Lord in heaven . . . How many times can you give the excuse of volume for not looking further into a ministry you continue to banter back and forth about?

If you are so concerned about Seoul's soul, then tell somebody who has the authority to do something about it, at least.

As a side note . . . That's why this country is in such trial, because people voice their complaints to a bunch of nobodys instead of speaking up in a meaningful way to the "powers that be" and choose to be a caytalyst for true and lasting change.

The Israelites murmmered and complained amongst each other and where did that get them in the end??

So what if two accented men came up to you with a flyer?? Did they flash you a membership card? Do you know for an absolute that these men were given authority to represent the church?

Go to Vegas, there are 20 guys to every street corner giving out flyer after flyer about this dancer and that strip club. I guarantee that the girls in the ad ARE MODELS! You are not going to see them at the club. Do you believe everything you read? For those idiots who look at the flyer and then go there thinking they are going to see her, you are an idiot! But, I'll tell you what.. at least they go to see for themselves and can walk out of there with the truth . . . YOU can not say as much. Who is the true idiot??

Don't believe everything you read and check the facts. "The idiot's guide to truth 101"

Well, I reckon I've been told off and thus ought to slink away with my tail between my legs, but I instead got up on those hind legs again and posted a response:

Dorin, volume control and mute are not always easy to find, and I don't like having to look for them while being subjected to blaring music.

As for bantering back and forth, I don't see much of that (if any) in my comments. I do try to respond to every commenter's post, and I attempt to do so respectfully, which is not always easy, especially when I receive hostile words, as sometimes happens.

I won't respond in detail to each of your points because most of them seem to have little to do with me particularly, nor do you seem to be defending the "Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry" specifically.

But I do wonder at the analogy that you've made between the church in question and a Las Vegas strip joint and your implicit advice that I check out both. You seem to imply that the flyer given out by the church and one given out by a strip joint are both equally dishonest. Perhaps so, but I don't have to enter a strip joint to know that I shouldn't enter a strip joint, so what conclusion do you expect me to draw from your comparison with this church?

But since you consider me an "idiot," then perhaps you expect me to draw the wrong conclusion.

I've not yet heard back from Dorin, but since he happened onto my site and wasn't really glad that he had, maybe he won't return. I have to admit -- upon further reflection -- that the man does have a point. One ought to investigate carefully before drawing firm conclusions. Perhaps I've been too hasty in drawing an inference about the "Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry" . . . though I thought that I expressed myself tentatively enough.

But to judge more accurately, I would like to hear from that successful CEO, 'Brother Enoch' and find out how miraculously the "Mountain of Fire" has sheltered him in its ministry during the past year's storm of financial trials and tribulations.