Christian Televangelist Robert Tilton Fraud Scandal

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• published: 06 Oct 2012
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The TV "Ministry" Of Robert Tilton Where's The Lightening Bolt? Flipping channels during the early hours after midnight, I had to do a double take and back up to theBlack Entertainment channel. For years I had assumed that God, or at least the criminal justice system, had called him to account. But there he was again I had my first astonished glimpse of this infamous televangelist grifter in 1990. I watched Robert Tilton appallingly compare himself to the apostles, referring to himself as a "fisher of men" (in a way, I suppose you could say that). Tilton then shamelessly went into one of his standard routines to convince the unwary, and in particular the most desperate and vulnerable, to "prove their faith to God" by making a vow. In this case, "vow" meant a cash votive made payable to Robert Tilton's ministry. And God would only take their faith seriously if the vow was beyond their means. Once the vow was "fulfilled" (check or credit card cleared) God would finally be convinced that the person or couple was serious and then bestow financial relief or a miracle cure followed by continuing prosperity. The shameless pitch was followed by a "success story". These stories are also part of the standard play list and are meant to be parable-like dramatizations of the importance of only making "serious" vows. In this particular case, a couple was in dire financial trouble. They miraculously stumbled upon Robert Tilton's show and "knew that they were watching a man of God". They could feel it. They knew that their lives were going to change for the better. The next morning they somehow scraped up a $300 vow and mailed it in. But to their dismay, their current plight changed little. So they went back to Robert Tilton's TV ministry ( Tilton never refers to himself as Reverend or associates his "ministry" with any known Christian denomination) and Robert Tilton had the answer. Listening to him describe a recent "success story" the couple realized that the $300, that they could ill afford to part with, was probably not seen by God as a "serious" vow of faith. So they managed to put together a $3,000 vow and almost overnight the world changed. I don't remember the particulars of this one, but the stories all have the same miraculous ending- an unexpected new job and/or sudden financial windfall. Apparently God knew that the couple truly had faith when they gave $3,000 to Robert Tilton. Then, and only then, did the Almighty finally decide that the couple was worthy of help from above. As I would watch the show, from time to time over a couple of months during 1990, I also witnessed hilling pitches directed toward those stricken with life threatening illness such as cancer, heart disease or emphysema and those desperately trying to break free from horrifying addictions. Tilton would tell the afflicted to place their hands on their television screen (seriously) as he reached out toward the camera with his. He would close his eyes and grimace intensely. Over the airwaves, Robert Tilton could actually "feel the pain" of those stricken and he would try to "send a healing". But, as it turned out, there was really only one sure prescription for the illness or addiction. And if you're in that kind of trouble brother or sister, you best be makin' a pretty serious vow. Another one of Robert's favorite formulas for manufacturing vows of cash was the "prayer request". Any viewer in need of special intervention with God, had merely to mail in the most serious vow possible with a note requesting a special prayer to the Almighty, on their behalf, made by Tilton himself. Again the hands would go toward the camera as Tilton could "feel someone out there" who knew that their situation was so dire that such a prayer by the man himself was the only hope for salvation. That person "knew who they were" and should send a "strong vow of faith" with a special prayer request. Robert Tilton would personally take that prayer to God's ear. The prayer requests would lead to his temporary undoing. But perhaps the most notable observation I made was that Robert Tilton never spoke about what would be done with the money received. He never referenced a school or orphanage, or a hospice or hospital that would be built. He never mentioned any missionary work that would be undertaken. The pitches never promised anything tangible. They simply boiled down to: Send me as much money as you possibly can, and God will recognize your faith and reward you abundantly. Try and prove otherwise. I'd watch saying to myself "Where's the lightening bolt Lord?" Click here to read the full article http://exorcising-christian-fraud.radiantcross.com/2009/04/07/the-tv-ministry-of-robert-tilton