Does Mike Murdock’s 58 days seed covenant really work?

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‘You must give in order to receive…’

Many televangelists employ a fundraising tactic known as ’seed-faith giving.’ There are several variations on the theme, but they basically all amount to this: if you wish to receive money - lots of money - you must first give some money to God. well, not exactly to Him, but to whichever preacher claims to represent Him in this investment scheme.

Your donation is the ’seed’ you sow in faith. Or so they claim. Once you do this, God will reward you by giving you lots of money - up to 100 x more than you gave. Again, so they claim.

Naturally, if this scheme really worked the folks who make such claims would be eager to send you money, instead of trying to get you to send it to them. Alas, thus far we have not found any televangelist willing to demonstrate how seed-faith giving works for them by sending us a donation

So we’re watching this blog instead:

Seed Faith Journal
A Christian blogger donates 58 dollars to Mike Murdock and keeps a journal for 58 days to see what happens.

We don’t know who runs the thing, but here’s how the project works:

I just got off the phone with Mike Murdock?s ministry after watching him on Daystar. I have just donated 58 dollars to his ministry. Why, you might ask, would any thinking person do a thing like that? Well, the purpose of my donating the 58 dollars is to prove whether or not Mike Murdock?s 58 days seed covenant really works. I am keeping my donation a secret, and keeping this journal to record what happens. If someone gives me money for no apparent reason, I will record it in this journal. If something unexpected happens causing me to lose money, I?ll write about that too. By the end of this journal you will know if I’m heaven’s latest recipient of a miracle, or if I’ve fallen for a cheap gimmick.

If you’re not familiar with the 58 day seed covenant here’s how it works: Send Mike Murdock 58 dollars and tell him what you want. Got debt? Need healing? Looking for a husband? A Wife? Whatever it is, send Mike Murdock 58 dollars, tell him what you want from God, and within 58 days you’ll have it.

So what do I want from God? I specifically told the woman on the phone that I want to pay off a loan in the amount of $3,340.30 from when I was a student at a Christian University, and I want it paid off in 58 days, according to the 58 day seed covenant. ?Ok,? she said. Great! I can?t wait. I have had this burden on my back for years, and I would love to get rid of it.

Oh yeah, did I mention I don?t have a job? Hey, it?s a miracle I?m hoping for - would it really be a miracle if I just paid it off by working and making the minimum payments? Besides, by making the minimum payment of 40 dollars per month, it would take me 83 months to pay it off. And that?s not even counting interest. Why would I want to do that, when I can send 58 dollars to Mike Murdock and get my debt removed in 58 days? Besides, neither Murdock nor the woman on the phone said there were any restrictions. Plus, I’m a full-time student, and I need to devote myself to my studies. But if the Lord leads me to get a job, I will. In the meantime, I?m doing this little experiment to see if the 58 day seed covenant really works.

So here it is, my Seed Faith Journal.

‘Seed Faith giving’ is one of many unbiblical teachings of the Word-Faith movement. It is also known as ‘Name-it and Claim-it’ (or ‘Blab-it and Grab-it’).

The Bible does speak about money, but those who promote seed-faith giving schemes studiously avoid the most poignant passages.

As for Mike Murdock, it is safe to say that he doesn’t really need your $58:

• Profit in the pulpit
A Denton televangelist who says his mission is to rescue people from poverty is living lavishly, while the ministry he founded spends most of its money on overhead, an examination finds.

• Televangelist Mike Murdock moves financial books behind closed doors

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