Of course they would! To compare a man who made a career out of preaching false doctrine, and swindling gullible Christians, for enormous, personal, financial gain, to great men like Peter and Paul who gave up everything to preach the truth of the Gospel, is absurd. To compare such a man to the Lord Jesus Christ, is blasphemous.
It certainly IS blasphemous!
On October 9, 1859, Brigham Young said, "From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are -- I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent" (Journal of Discourses 7:289).
Brigham Young claimed "Well now, examine the character of the Savior, and examine the characters of those who have written the Old and New Testaments; and then compare them with the character of Joseph Smith... and you will find that his character stands as fair as any man's mentioned in the Bible" (Journal of Discourses 14:203, August 31, 1871).
I was not intending to compare Oral Roberts to Jesus, though I understand you might think I was. I was just pointing out the severe nature of your comments directed at a brother in Christ (unless you propose that Oral Roberts was not a Christian) and hoping you might show more “mercy” in your “judgment.”
Your words:
1. He twisted the Scriptures
2. He fleeced old ladies
3. He preached and practiced covetousness
4. He taught all sorts or heresies
5. He brought shame to the name Jesus Christ and to His Church
Of course, you didn’t elaborate on these accusations and, as far as I know he was not convicted of any crimes regarding fraud, nor defrocked by any ministerial bodies for misconduct (my knowledge is sketchy because I wasn’t a close follower of his ministry).
I would hate to have you as my judge, and would prefer to leave his final judgment in the hands of the Lord he served.
Are you implying you are guiltless in each of the areas you indicted Roberts for?
What kind of judgment do you expect?
I expect those who contributed financially to his ministry did so of their own free will, and received either actual benefit from his ministry and/or the credit that our Lord gives to those that serve Him and freely give regardless of how that money may be used or abused by those whom it is entrusted to.
You are free not to give, but I would be hesitant if I were you to “trash” another’s ministry just because it isn’t your cup of tea.
BTW, do you think all ministers of the gospel of Christ need take a vow of poverty? If not, what is the acceptable level of material possessions, in your opinion, that they are allowed to accumulate and stay within God’s good graces?