TVNZ gets OCD over Destiny

Pat Brittenden blogs:

I have to say again that the news seems slow at the moment. I don’t mean that disrespectfully to Destiny, but this doesn’t seem to be a story news worthy of leading our largest source of daily news.

Is it a story? Yes! Is it interesting? Yes again! Is it something to be concerned about and spun how media outlets are portraying at the moment? Hell No!

The story is…Destiny Church purchases land to build a community on…that’s it.

Brittenden is right on the money. Having milked Rena and the Carterton ballooning tragedy for all they're worth, TVNZ gets all obsessive over the latest plans that Bishop Brian Tamaki has to establish a "community" in South Auckland.

First and foremost, we are not, nor will we ever be members of Destiny Church. We completely disagree with Tamaki's theology on tithing; we believe that what we give to the Church (a not-insubstantial amount) is between us and God. There are other elements of his teachings about which we are uncomfortable. But credit where it's due.

Destiny Church works predominantly in lower socio-economic areas. Many of the people who go there are people that mainstream churches have placed in the too-hard basket; the unlovely, the addicted, the abusive and the abused. And Destiny has established a pretty good track record in getting God to change lives. For that they ought to be acknowledged.

Brian Tamaki is the author of much of his own bad press. His opulent lifestyle grates; the cliff-top mansion, the motorcycles, the gifts from his flock, the covenant rings that members purchase. We're decidedly uncomfortable with all that. But that's not all there is to Destiny Church.

Brittenden thinks likewise; read on:

Tonight on TVNZ the lead story was “Brian Tamaki suggests the government gives him money, instead of building more prisons.”

The truth is, Destiny Church…or any group…who follows the rules, ticks the boxes, crosses the t’s, dots the i’s is eligible for funding from the government to start a school, or run programmes to keep people out of prison. Why the immediate mistrust when Brian Tamaki’s name gets mentioned?

Again I’ll say it, I don’t agree with everything that Brian Tamaki says, or everything that Destiny believes, but there is no question that Destiny does some good work in the community.

Would you rather live next door to a Destiny Church member…or a gang member?

He's nailed it with that final question. We know who we'd rather have as a neighbour.