Televangelist and prosperity gospel preacher Jesse Duplantis, who has an estimated net worth of around $20 million, has called poverty a “curse” and says his wealth — which includes a private jet and a 40,000-square-foot mansion in Louisiana — comes from being “blessed” by God.
“Let me give you a prime example why I don’t care what people think about me, about what I have. Now look at me. Look at me. I am a very blessed man,” Duplantis said in an online “Boardroom Chat” session with his wife, Cathy, earlier this month.
“Me and Cathy are very blessed. I’m spiritually, physically, and financially [blessed]. I’ve had more people criticize me over that jet. They still can’t get over it. Criticize me over my house. They didn’t pay for it. I paid for it. Do you understand what I say?” he asked.
In 2018, Duplantis faced widespread criticism for trying to raise money from his followers to purchase a $54 million jet.
In the “Boardroom Chat” session, Duplantis argued that most people’s troubles stem from disobedience and claimed “Christian propaganda” makes people think “poverty is a blessing.”
“Most people’s troubles come because people disobey. That is just simply the truth. Wars, rumors of wars, people always mad about somebody,” he said. “It’s usually someone who has enough power to change ‘people’s thinking,’ I call it. Especially in the Church, I call it Christian propaganda.”
The televangelist highlighted what he sees as propaganda in the Church.
“You know that ‘poverty is a blessing?’ That’s a lie. Poverty is a curse. It’s not in Heaven, none whatsoever,” he said, quoting common phrases some Christians use to challenge the prosperity gospel. “‘Jesus was poor.’ When was He poor? Did you ever hear Him say, ‘I can’t eat today [because] I don’t have anything?'”
Duplantis further suggested that people frustrated about not being blessed when they give financially to a ministry are emotionally manipulated into giving instead of giving out of obedience to Scripture.
“If you move on people emotionally to give, and you do that a lot of times with poverty … why don’t you move on people to simply obey God’s glorious word that He will do what He says,” Duplantis argued. “A lot of people raising money on people’s emotions, so they don’t get blessed.”
“Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them,” the Scripture states. “Though while they live, they count themselves blessed — and people praise you when you prosper — they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.”
Duplantis shared his thoughts on Christians turning the other cheek, according to Matthew 5:38-48. He argued that Christians should not interpret this as the scripture asking Christians to be pacifists because he does not subscribe to that view.
“I’m just going to be honest with you. … I’ve been spit on, slapped and everything when I’ve been preaching. But I’m not going to let somebody just come up to me and slap me if I’m not preaching and somebody just wants to slap me,” he said.
“You better believe in healing because something’s coming down. … Don’t let this small stature fool you. I get me a baseball bat if I got to. You know what I’m saying? I don’t mean that pridefully but … I know what I can do with a baseball bat.”
According to Got Questions Ministries: “Turning the other cheek does not imply pacifism, nor does it mean we place ourselves or others in danger.”
“Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek is simply a command to forgo retaliation for personal offenses. He was not setting government foreign policy, and He was not throwing out the judicial system,” the ministry notes. “Crimes can still be prosecuted, and wars can still be waged, but the follower of Christ need not defend his personal ‘rights’ or avenge his honor.”
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