The King Of Bling

The king of bling, Bishop Brian Tamaki and his cult following have been back in the news as of late. Familiar allegations of fleecing the congregation whilst spending up large on a lavish lifestyle abound. This time they’re in the spotlight because a disgruntled Brisbane pastor has quit, citing that it’s all about Brian rather than God. Apparently the covenant signed last year by 700 spiritual sons is what set him off. This is music to the ears of the corporate media who have had a vendetta against Tamaki and his church over the years.

Some of the practices of Destiny Church are abhorrent to the average Jenny from the block. Such as how all members are REQUIRED to give 10% of their income to the church, and the amount of bling that Bishop Tamaki openly flaunts. His million dollar home, ample assets and luxurious lifestyle have provided plenty of ammunition for raising the public ire.

So far, Tamaki has managed to bat aside the accusations like how Tendulkar would brush aside fast balls. His congregation remains loyal and willing to continue “tithing”. The church continues onward to its destiny.

Despite what the media says, most of the time the arguments used by Destiny to defend itself are justified. For instance, Destiny members having to give 10% of their income to the church is nothing new, this is called tithing. All churches continue the practice of tithing today, which, as Tamaki says, is in the Bible. The media points out that Destiny make their members sign automatic payment forms and have EFTPOS machines within churches. Although not conventional by all standards, the Destiny rebuttal is that these people come to them. Noone makes them come along and sign the AP form, they do it because they want to.

Ok so they have chosen to join the church by their own free will, but what about the lifestyle of the Bishop? Surely he is just taking advantage of these desperate people by spending their donations on his lavish lifestyle?

The Bishop has an answer for that as well. The Bishop said “his expensive car and $1.25 million home at Maraetai in Manukau City were just reward for living right and working hard.” And from another interview “We don’t expect it. We feel very uncomfortable with even a small gift.”  He also claims that he had been ready to take a vow of poverty but that was not what God wanted.

So with all the answers and a congregation that is not diminishing, why exactly does the Media have it in for Destiny Church and their bishop of bling? I would suggest that it is because the establishment eyes Destiny Church as a threat.

Last year, the church revealed plans for creating a self-contained “Destiny City” in South Auckland – to include a 5000-seat church, marae, medical centres and schools – that members would never need to leave. Destiny already has school which has a role of 200 children, expected to grow to to 1400 in 5 years.

Perhaps that is why Destiny members are so willing to turn a blind eye to what is said in the media, because of the strong sense of community that Destiny provides.

Add to that you have the obvious political aspirations of the Church. The Destiny New Zealand party was formed in 2003 and contested the 2005 election, with candidates standing in all electorates. Since that time the party has been dissolved and political moves by the church have stalled. However this gives an important insight into the direction that Destiny wants to be heading… nationwide.

At the end of last year Tamaki proclaimed himself the “spiritual father” of the church and 700 men swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to him at the annual conference. These men are tasked to defend the bishop from any problems arising from mistakes that he might make. So now he has his own personal bodyguard.

These actions sound like those of a sovereignty movement rather than that of a simple church. Could that be why the government is threatened and the media is whipping up popular opposition across New Zealand? Yes is the short answer.

It’s no wonder he needs to charge so much for spiritual salvation, in the words of Brian Tamaki “We just need to finance our vision.”

Awkward