Many observers point out Rod Parsley has little formal training as far as an education for the ministry. Liberty University is reported to have given him an honorary doctorate.  Rod's myspace posting claims he is a college graduate. Regardless, he grew a small group into a huge mega church occupying 132 acres.  There are over 400 staff members working at the facility.
     TV evangelist watchdog group the Trinity Foundation, accuses Parsley of being a "power hungry" man living in a million dollar home.  Rod has little accountability with any organization, even at his own church.1 His family makes up the church board and Rod has let it be known if anyone wants to know what is going on with his salary, it's none of their business.  The prosperity gospel minister has amassed a fortune and some suggest he has manipulated critically ill people to send him money for healing.  
     Richard Fisher, a St. Louis Christian researcher, says of Rod's preaching, "Its primal scream set to spiritual aerobics."  Rod's luxurious lifestyle is exceeded by his drama queen performances behind the pulpit.  He has been known to dramatically overstate the state of affairs.  Defeating his enemy is portrayed in statements like "standing over the carcass" to humiliate the defeated.2 I watched his program once when he was hosting a guest speaker.  The speaker looked in Rod's direction and Rod immediately collapsed on stage to assure the audience that God had overwhelmed him on the spot.  With yell-leader-like-precision Rod whips up his congregation into feats of dancing and shouting as he both warns and assures them.
     At times the outbursts grow so intense Rod appears out of control.  His mandate for battle in the cultural wars border on the extreme.  "They say this rhetoric is so inciting. I came to incite a riot.  I came to affect a divine disturbance in the heart and soul of the church.  Man your battle station.  Ready your weapons.  Lock and load--for the thirty four liberal pastor who filed against our ministry with the Internal Revenue Service," proclaims the pastor.
     One of Rod's revealed evils is Social Security which he said is satanic. He is not too fond of lawyers and once paid $3 million for a child care abuse case at his church. Court cases have arisen more than once against the preacher regarding the church.  The fact that the IRS has not taken him on with his 501c3 status is mild by comparison to other legal issues.  There is little recourse the church can take against Rod according to the legal documents of the church. Rod has complete legal governorship of the organization.  He has stated they gave the money and its none of their business how he spreads it around.  One of those expenditures is the jet airplane he owns.
     People for the American Way report that Rod encourages the hording of food, guns and supplies. PFAW's web site has a chronicled account of the $3 million settlement over the child care case at the church. The files contain disturbing accounts of neglect, threats and a lack of concern for a hurt child.  The account of a preschool child taken to the hospital to verify he was beaten with a ruler gives verification to the suit.  Rod claims the lawsuit was an attack from the devil.
     Rod had gone on record claiming he healed a child born without a brain.  The prosperity gospel preacher promises his listeners that "no weapon formed against thee shall prosper".  You can secure this protection for a small fee.  For the fee you get the help and a backpack, dog tags, wristband and a handbook.  Needed ingredients for survival with Van Impe's coming end of the world upon us.4
     Rod's reputation with secular journalists and many Christian authors is shady. One of the most often quoted of Rod's sermon points is "I just love to talk about your money.  Let me be very clear--I want your money.  I deserve it." What has many around the nation concerned is that Rod is talking about more than just our money.

Endnotes:

1.  "People and Events", CHURCH AND STATE, Jan. 2008.  pg. 16.
   
2.  Rob Boston, "Churches, Politics and the IRS", CHURCH AND STATE, Sept. 2006, pg. 4.
   

3,  Chris Hedges, AMERICAN FASCISTS, Free Press, N.Y., N.Y., 2006, pg. 162.
4.  Sarah Posner, GOD'S PROFITS, Pilipoint Press, Sausalito, Calif., 2008, pgs. 11, 120.