By Michal Ortner
Mike Murdock is the epitome of coercive Prosperity Gospel preaching and is the inventor of the “thousand dollar seed,” where he claims that if a person gives a thousand dollars to his ministry, the Lord will multiply that for the giver. Much of his speech involves telling several stories about his past of giving or other people giving and then receiving twice as much in return.
In one segment, Murdock says that he has a “feeling that if someone who wants their credit card debt wiped out, that if they use their faith as sow that $1000 on that credit card, as they use their faith, God’s going to wipe out that credit card debt.”
Unfortunately, this method of the “thousand dollar seed” only seems to benefit Murdock and his ministry salary, rather than those who are doing the giving.
He is shown on a CTVN program, explaining how common it is for newspapers to fly helicopters over his property to canvas his $14 million estate that includes a mansion, tennis court, boats, and NBA style basketball court.
“I didn’t know how nice it was until I saw it how my enemies see it,” he said. “Wow, I am blessed.”
Perhaps one of the most shocking moments during the interview was when he told a story about a man who gave about $100. He explained how the man said he gives to God but never expects anything in return. Murdock says he responded to the man with a little song he wrote himself.
To the tune of “How Great Thou Art,” Murdock began to sing, “How dumb thou art! How dumb thou art!”
He then went on to express his extreme dislike for all the idiots in the world. He could handle a hell with fire so long as he didn’t have to be surrounded by “all the stupid people” of the world.
