article_snippet: For Dollar, though, these excesses aren't embarrassments.
article_snippet: Instead, these excesses are proof that his theology works, that God blesses the faithful with abundant riches.
article_snippet: Dollar tells his congregants to "sow a seed" with his, promising that a plentiful harvest will be his congregants own blessing and, essentially, a return on his congregants investment.
article_snippet: To promoters of the word of faith, or prosperity gospel, "sowing a seed" with your pastor is required for God's blessing, even if you're taking it out of your rent money or the last remaining cash in your wallet.
article_snippet: Many Christians find word of faith a heretical theology, an embarrassing distortion of Jesus' teachings, not to mention a fraud on congregants.