Conversations

Samaritan’s Purse, Premillennialism, and the Form 990

EDITOR’S NOTE: From time to time we will publish letters and emails we get from readers, sometimes with a response, sometimes without comment. If you would like to share your thoughts about any of our stories or podcasts, please email us: [email protected]

Why did Samaritan’s Purse reject federal money?

Isn’t rejecting federal money like this kind of like the person who won’t receive medical care because “God will heal me?” It must be much more complicated than this and maybe there are too many “strings” attached that would preclude partnering with the Feds. If so, this should be explained to supporters.

I struggle on my fixed income as a retiree to support Samaritan’s Purse at a few hundred dollars per year. It is hurtful to me to see a rejection of so great an amount of funding when, so it appears from what little is published and explained, an offer like this would help people to an even greater degree than “the Purse” is able to accommodate at this time.

What am I missing?

Glen Goldie

Warren Smith responds:

I don’t think you are missing anything, except maybe this:

Samaritan’s Purse spent nearly $100 million on fundraising alone last year. It now has more than $2.4 billion in assets, with nearly $1.4 billion of that in cash.

Samaritan’s Purse is remarkable in many ways. It is large enough to be able to do things that no other ministry can do. But it is sitting on mountains of cash while still spending another mountain of cash to try to get people to give them more.

I think their behavior is questionable, at best, and I think they well deserve the low rating we give them. (Though it grieves me to say so.)

Warren

Is premillennialism heretical?

Although you didn’t expressly equate it, the structure of your article “The Strange Fruit of the Second Great Awakening” and your reference in the headline to premillennialism as “strange fruit” implies that premillennial teaching is in a camp with the other heretical teachings listed.

It is true that the doctrine, like many others, has been refined by more recent biblical theologians, but it has its roots solidly in a literal interpretation of scripture and in the early church fathers such as Polycarp and The Shepherd of Hermes.

Amillennialism, on the other hand, rose out of the Alexandrian school (noted for use of allegory) and was popularized by Augustine, and adopted by Rome.

Bob Syme

Warren Smith responds:

Thanks, Bob. It’s a blessing to have knowledgeable and passionate readers.

My point is not that premillennialism or premillennial dispensationalism is heretical. In truth, I believe these matters are mysteries. Christ will come again. On that we can depend. How or when is something I’m not willing to say with certainty.

My point is that premillennial dispensationalism grew up alongside the heresies of the Second Great Awakening. I don’t want to confuse correlation with causation, and I don’t think I did in my article, but I do stand by the correlation, if not causation.

Warren

Reader appreciates knowing why MinistryWatch cares about the Form 990

I appreciate your article on “Why the Form 990 is Essential for Transparency.” It helps me understand why it carries so much “weight” in your ratings.

David Laube

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