REVEREND IKE: “Close Your Eyes and See Green”

The man behind the philosophy he called “Prosperity Now” died after suffering a stroke in Los Angeles, this past July. I wonder if the reverend is seeing green now.

Rev. Frederick J. Eikernkoetter II, more commonly known as Reverend Ike spread his message of material prosperity to millions of followers nationwide, over four-decades.

Reverend Ike publicly shot down Saint Paul’s philosophy of money being the root of all evil, and reasoned that one’s lack of money is what he believed sparks that evil root. “Close your eyes and see green,” preached Reverend Ike. “Money up to your armpits, a roomful of money and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool.”

As a result of his sermons, Reverend Ike was the one who saw green…lots of it. He generated millions of dollars in cash donations from his followers.

His critics viewed those donations as the sole reason for his ministry, pointing to Reverend Ike as nothing more than a con man.

This is the do-it-yourself church,” he proclaimed. “The only savior in this philosophy is God in you.”

What’s worse is Reverend Ike was one of the first evangelists to utilize television as his medium, ultimately spreading his material-based messages to millions of American households. People like Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson, later followed in his footsteps.

Reverend Ike created a new found lane for white evangelists, after showing the world that people are willing to buy their tickets to heaven. Without Reverend Ike, there would be no Creflo Dollar (another paid figure who preys off of those looking to buy a pass to salvation).

Benny Hinn was by no means the first faith healer…that would be a title earned by Reverend Ike — He was also the first thief on a pulpit, responsible for paving the path for others to follow.

Reverend Ike’s accomplishments are nothing to proud of. When you think about it, all he really did was use religion in order to generate millions of dollars. I’ll say this — If there’s hell below, the good Reverend Ike is sitting in the front row.

Don’t you agree?