Why all the fuss over Brian’s Destiny?

Nobody asked me, but …why are some in the media so interested in the machinations of Brian Tamaki and the Destiny Church?
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki – and self-proclaimed bishop – appears to be like a red rag to a bull to some hacks. The media versus Destiny saga was stirred up again after the not so shy and retiring Tamaki gave himself another spiritual role at his church’s annual conference in Auckland recently. Tamaki – rather modestly – proclaimed himself the church's spiritual father and designated 700 men of the church his spiritual sons. The men swore a "covenant oath" of loyalty and obedience to Tamaki and were given a "covenant ring" to wear on their right hands.
The covenant is described as "a solemn oath of commitment that is binding, enduring and unbreakable". It instructs the so-called ‘spiritual sons’ to always be respectful and speak of Tamaki in a favourable and positive light. It also requires the sons to stand when the bishop and his wife entered a room and not to begin eating before him.
Also whenever Tamaki speaks all other talking must stop. The sons must never openly disagree with Mr Tamaki in front of others and must not become familiar which could lead to contempt.
It appears this covenant has been the catalyst for the latest round of media bashing of both Tamaki and Destiny. And right out front leading the media pack of critics are TV3’s John Campbell and the NZ Herald.
I am no apologist for Tamaki or Destiny. But so far, he hasn’t done me any harm. I actually think he is a bit spooky, far too flashy and shallow to be a man of god. Also, I have never really been keen on the happy-slapper, type of Pentecostal churches that Destiny is part of.
But, then again, I don’t see big, bad, Bishop Brian (as Campbell et el like to portray him) or his acolytes from Destiny marching down the streets forcing people into his church to worship. In fact, from what I have observed, Destiny church members all seem to somewhat enthusiastically, but voluntarily worship and tithe freely (although admittedly it appears frequently prompted to do so) at the feet of Bishop Brian.
So what is both Campbell and the Herald’s beef with the Bish?
Surely it is not illegal yet to be spooky and flashy. If it were, then the sycophantic and creepy Campbell would be the first one to be locked up. The Herald and the creepy one are quick to lambaste Destiny’s tithing policy or make big news out of one of its pastor’s leaving the church. But do you see them criticising their owners for milking advertising revenue or demanding a full enquiry when someone walks out of TV3 or the Herald?
Meanwhile while media are all too keen to point out the self-proclaimed Bishop’s many faults – and there are many – they continue to ignore the fact that he and his church do a lot of good work in some of the poorer parts of the country. The fact is that Destiny has a helped many families.
"You would think this a breath of good news, positively, over 700 men who represent families who've taken a covenant to be better husbands to their wives, better fathers to their children and better men all round - what's the ruckus?", Tamaki pointed out recently
Is Destiny was a cult? That appears to be the essence of what its critics are saying.
Tamaki’s image and behaviour in public only adds fuel to the fire for his critics. He does himself no favours by flaunting his wealth. But then again, it is his and Destiny’s money and what they choose to do with it is their own business – even if we don’t like it.
Could you imagine the sycophant Campbell stalking the Dali Lama – who appears to be the religious leader du jour of the politically correct – and harassing him about claiming to be a living god and living a jet-style life, while his fellow Tibetans live in abject poverty?
The fact is Tamaki has made many enemies – particularly with the liberal intelligentsia. His staunch criticism of the Helen Clark-led Government’s social engineering policies and Destiny’s ‘enough is enough’ anti-gay march against the Civil Unions Act a few years back has made him public enemy no 1 with the liberal elite.
Brian Tamaki – the Bishop to his followers – has made himself an easy target for media liberal-types like Campbell to attack, because he is the very antipathy of everything they stand for. But this does not make him necessarily evil or bad.
Sure he is different and a little weird, but that is not enough of an excuse for media to ignore some of the good stuff he and his church does in the community. Perhaps they should follow some of the advice the Bishop surely administers to his flock: “Let he without sin, cast the first stone.”