A prominent prosperity gospel preacher is asking is followers to “pray about becoming a partner” in his goal of obtaining a $54 million private jet. Jesse Duplantis, based in Louisiana, has already purchased three other private planes in cash. He says that God told him “I want you to believe in me for a Falcon 7X.”. Duplantis runs a church in Destrehan, Louisiana, outside New Orleans.
In a video posted to his website, he informed his followers that God wants him to have a jet but not to pay for it himself. The three -engine plane would allow he pastor to fly “anywhere in the world in one stop.” He says this would reduce fuel costs while marinating an international reach. He also said that “I really believe that if the Lord Jesus Christ was physically on the Earth today, he wouldn’t be riding a donkey,” Duplantis explained in the video. “He’d be in an airplane flying all over the world.”
However some have objected to his wild spending. Jim Wallis, the founder of Sojourners, a prominent Christian community, said that The prosperity of gospel which many of these ministers are preaching is simply not the gospel of Jesus Christ — it is false gospel.” He went on to say that “The gospel of prosperity is a biblical heresy and needs to be named as that.”
Other pastors have also used their flock to fund lavish lifestyles. Kenneth Copeland has owned several private jets. The last total was calculated in 2008 at around 18 million. He also was criticized for begging for donations to fund the purchase of a Gulfstream V jet. He also owns a private airport. Once he purchased it, he asked followers to donate millions to upgrade the airport’s runway. When he was accused of using the jet for personal vacations, he responded by saying that he “doesn’t want to get into a tube with a bunch of demons”, so he could not fly commercially.
Other users drew attention to Copeland’s significant wealth. “Hey @NinjaJedi1 & @DaronKnol, if this is true, he will probably buy a few more million dollar jets!” one post reacted. “He’s an evil guy man. You can see it in his eyes,” another user mentioned. Another online commentator said that “Kenneth needs to be exposed.” However, some users were more positive.
“The guy has solid teaching. I have read numerous books of his and listened to him extensively. Just about everything people bad mouthing him say is either not true or it is based upon their own preferences, not because he is wrong,” another X user explained. “Only time will tell, hopefully God will continue to speak to him and he will obey,” this user pointed out. lastly, one user argued that “What is blasphemous about this? God speaks to people, in the bible times and also now and many people have got personal promises from the Lord.”
Bible Scholar Justin Peters, known for rebuking the prosperity gospel and other modern perversions of Christianity, called out the pastor.“Kenneth Copeland knows full well that the people listening to him don’t follow him for exposition; they are there for promises of health and wealth. And there are a lot of sick people listening to him. Not just at this convention but all over the world. And they are sick; they are dying, some of them. And some have sick children, children who are dying,” Peters said.
Copeland and his ministry are associated with the heavily criticized prosperity gospel, one of the most prominent false teachings in modern Christianity. Also known as the “Word of Faith” movement, this belief centers around the idea that health and material prosperity are earned from God. Copeland has often boasted an astounding billionaire net worth he has amassed over the years.
In a recent sermon, Copeland bragged about a diamond-encrusted Breitling he was wearing to a man in the front row. “Do you think that one’s pretty?” the pastor asked. “It’s a Breitling. It has diamonds around the edge. Someone gave me that one,” he added. Later in his sermon, Copeland mentioned LeFevre, who was battling cancer and seeking healing from God. Subsequently, he gave a seed offering to Copeland in the form of an exorbitantly expensive luxury vehicle: “Whoa! A Bentley with a … um … Thank you, Jesus!”