1. When men
of God abandon the preaching of the gospel to become "social engineers and would be politicians" consumed with the temporary affairs of society
2. When the preaching of God's Word is substituted with relational anecdotal experience, personal happiness programs, health and wealth gospel, and human potentiality makeovers
3. When pastors no longer shepherd God's people and the pulpits become playgrounds
4. When psychology replaces biblical discipleship
5. When men ...
What are we to do with teachers such as: Creflo Dollar, T.D Jakes, Eddie Long, Noel Jones, Ike Hillard, Joyce Meyers, Benny Hinn and I have to throw Juanita Bynum in the mix? Here are some quotes and theological positions from some of these teachers.
What bibical scriptures and precepts do you see violated in each of the following quotes. To leave your answers click on the comment bar at the end of this post. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. I'll be posting the answers next week, so stay tuned. (These quizzes are printable; click more [at the bottom] to view the entire post and then the print icon).
1. Listen to this dialogue and tell me who you think it is.
CALLER: I’m a Muslim here in Portland. I’m part of a Shiite community. And we had a wonderful interface dialogue last weekend with a local Unitarian church. And I’d like to ask you please to speak about concrete experiences you’ve had as far as interfaith dialogue goes. And also would like to ask you, do you feel that only Christians could hope to enter Heaven?
Famous Pastor’s response: Very great question. When it comes to interfaith experiences, I’m currently serving by the appointment of former President Bush and President Clinton, as co-chair of an interfaith advisory committee to help people get back up on their feet.
And we do have on the board Muslims, Catholics, a Jewish Rabbi, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals across the board. And we’re working together very effectively because we all care about common goals. We have our distinct theologies and our own ideologies but there are common grounds that we can work together very effectively in many, many cases.
When it comes to Heaven, I try to leave that up to God. I certainly believe that Christianity is right, but when it comes down to the final test–who goes and who doesn’t go–Jesus said, Other sheep have I who are not of this fold. Them also must I bring. I’ll let Him identify who those sheep are and I stay out of the conversation.,
(See John 10:16 for this quote in context)
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Ike Hillard TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Joel Osteen Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
2. Here is another one.
I am looked at as one of the churches fathers. One of God’s CEO’s.”
“We’re not just a church, we’re an international corporation,” Famous Pastor said. “We’re not just a bumbling bunch of preachers who can’t talk and all we’re doing is baptizing babies. I deal with the White House. I deal with Tony Blair. I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multimillion-dollar congregation. You’ve got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that’s supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering.”
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Ike Hillard TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Noel Jones Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
3. "He allowed the devil to drag Him into the depths of hell as if He were the most wicked sinner who ever lived ... Every demon in hell came down on Him to annihilate Him ... [They] tortured Him beyond anything that anybody has ever conceived ... In a thunder of spiritual force, the voice of God spoke to the death-whipped, broken, punished spirit of Jesus ... [in] the pit of destruction, and charged the spirit of Jesus with resurrection power! Suddenly His twisted, death-wracked spirit began to fill out and come back to life…".
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Benny Hinn TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Noel Jones Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
4. “Yes! You are in control! So, if man has control, who no longer has it? God.”
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Ike Hillard TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Noel Jones Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
5. During this interview the following very disturbing dialogue occurred between the Moderator and this Popular Pastor.
Moderator: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?
POPULAR PASTOR: You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ...
At this point, even The Moderator appears surprised by Popular Pastors answer. Then the Moderator tosses the Popular Pastor a "soft-ball" to explain his previous answer. And again Osteen openly denies that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation.
Moderator: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?
POPULAR PASTOR: Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus
Moderator: What about atheists?
POPULAR PASTOR: You know what, I'm going to let someone -- I'm going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell. I just -- again, I present the truth, and I say it every week. You know, I believe it's a relationship with Jesus. But you know what? I'm not going to go around telling everybody else if they don't want to believe that that's going to be their choice. God's got to look at your own heart. God's got to look at your heart, and only God knows that.
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Benny Hinn TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Joel Osteen Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
6. "The Spirit tells me - Fidel Castro will die - in the 90's. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God."
"The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid 90's, about '94-'95, no later than that, God will destroy the homosexual community of America. [audience applauds] But He will not destroy it - with what many minds have thought Him to be, He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed."(Please read Deut 18:20-22 to view God's response)
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Benny Hinn TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Joel Osteen Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
7. “I’m going to tell you something folks, I didn’t stop sinning until I finally got it through my thick head I wasn’t a sinner anymore. And the religious world thinks that’s heresy and they want to hang you for it. But the Bible says that I’m righteous and I can’t be righteous and be a sinner at the same time ... All I was ever taught to say was, ‘I’m a poor, miserable sinner.’ I am not poor, I am not miserable and I am not a sinner. That is a lie from the pit of hell. That is what I was and if I still am then Jesus died in vain. Amen?”
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Benny Hinn TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Joel Osteen Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
8. "Now I gotta hit this thing real hard in the very beginning because I ain’t got time to go through all this, but I am going to say to you right now you are gods, little “g”, you are gods because you came from God and you are gods. You are not just human. The only human part about you is this physical body that you live in." (hint: This verse comes from John:34 and is a quote from Jesus which he was reciting Psalms 82:6 and this is referring to Man having the authority from God to judge.)
(circle the correct answer to the above statement)
Eddie Long Benny Hinn TD Jakes Joyce Meyers Creflo Dollar Joel Osteen Fred Price Kenneth Copeland
I pray that you all will see the heresy in such teachings. None of this is of God. I do mean none of it. In Deut 13 & 18 God tells Moses to do some pretty harsh things (from a human standard) with such false prophets. I will let you decide. However, please beware. If you are under the teaching of any such “Pastors” flee immediately. Find a healthy church and ask God to open your eyes to the deceit there.
Download | Duration: 00:25:21
Bill, you say that Joyce Meyer doesn’t run a cult, otherwise you wouldn’t be in it. Let me say that the people who are in cults think the same way! Nobody likes to think that they have been deceived,. They want to think they are smart enough to know better. I assure you that if Joyce Meyer teaches the prosperity gospel or that Jesus went to hell so you wouldn’t have to (and she does!), then she IS running a cult, and if you are supporting her, then YOU ARE in a cult and you don’t even know it!
What’s more, there is probably nothing anyone here can say to you that will convince you otherwise, and I for one will not attempt to do so. All anyone here can do for you is speak the truth. It’s up to God and you from there. If God can’t take some of what we say here and get it through to you, then you cannot be reached sir.
A few years ago, I supported Joyce Meyer with everything I had. I regarded her as a true, down to earth, sincere, and prosperous role model. I hung on every word that came out of her mouth as if they were the words of God straight to me. I never missed a show, and if I did, I watched her internet broadcasts. When she held her conferences in my area, I went to see her in person. I would do as she said to prove my commitment to God and take vacation days and drive 3 hours to Tulsa to see her preach at the ORU campus and drive 3 hours back home, justifying myself to God by reminding Him of these sacrifices.
Talking about sacrifice, not only did I give up a day’s pay to see her, but it was nothing for me to sacrifice $100 or more into the white buckets they’d pass around as offering plates, knowing all along that I’d have to sacrifice again when I didn’t have that money to pay a bill with! That, in addition to the hundreds of dollars I’d send her through the mail every month! In the typical Word of Faith fashion, I would then go to God in “prayer” and tell Him what He had to do (you [God] MUST keep your word; you MUST provide ‘pressed down, shaken-together’ etc; if I delight myself in you, you MUST give me the desire of my heart, ad nausea!).
Bill, that’s NOT praying! When a WoF preacher “prays” by saying “we bind you Satan, we come against all the powers of darkness, we rebuke all poverty and lack” etc, they are NOT praying to God! They are talking to the devil and speaking as if they were God Himself. It is NOT prayer. But I digress.
I absolutely LOVED Joyce Meyer! But God had other plans for me. I was DEEP into the Word of Faith . It was all I had ever known all my life. My grandmother latched onto the seed faith teachings of Oral Roberts back when it first came out. She taught my mother in the ways of the WoF, and my mother in turn taught us the same way!
I grew up thanking God for being numbered among those who knew the “truth!” Needless to say, I naturally equated the WoF to be the one and only WILL OF GOD, and anyone who believed otherwise was deceived and damned to hell! That being the case, I grew up feeling at one with all the T.V. ministers. I loved them ALL! As a young boy, I read Copeland’s “The Laws of Prosperity” and I was determined to make those laws work … after all they are LAWS and even God must abide by them!
But taking an honest look back over the past 30 years, I had to admit that they never worked for me. I grew up into my 40’s all along thinking there was something wrong with me. I would actually look at a mustard seed in the spice rack and wonder why my faith was so much smaller that that and didn’t work. Then I would get depressed because my faith was so much tinier than that mustard seed that God wouldn’t honor it.
I felt rejected by God. Sometimes that feeling of rejection made me angry at Him and there were times I actually told Him that he was a liar! That He WAS a respecter of persons; that He showed favoritism, and that He didn’t love me, even though I was doing everything I knew to do to keep with “His” teachings as I was taught them!
All that being said, let me say this: there was nothing wrong with my faith, so don’t even try to tell me “oh ye of little faith!” I’ve heard that all my life and now I know better. My faith was fine, but the problem was that my faith was in a LIE! The “god” I was mad at was NOT the God of the Bible! The “god” of the Word of Faith is a demon straight from HELL! I know that now, but therein lies the danger in Word of Faith teachings. The people in that CULT don’t even know who the TRUE God really is, and are damned as a result!
Back to Joyce Meyer. I supported her “ministry” with ALL of my substance, and I thought she was truly God speaking straight to me. But the more I gave to her, the poorer I got (the story of my life)! It wasn’t until I got down to where I was about to LOSE MY HOUSE the Lord began to act on the anguish inside me. I remember back in 2005, watching Joyce on T.V. One day she was talking about how she had brought her parents to St Louis and bought them a house close to her. She said “I was just in the mood to buy houses!” I almost screamed at her “why don’t you buy MINE for me?”
I pleaded with God to speak to her heart to send me a check and prevent the impending disaster facing me. Then I would know that God really heard me and loved me enough to finally do something after 30 years of giving!
But of course Joyce never did do that, and since I thought she was close to God and had his attentive ear, that it must be that God wanted me to suffer all the more! I couldn’t understand it. I had donated to her (God’s?) ministry, I helped her build her headquarters building and all the furnishings in it. According to her plea for funds back then, I was promised that I would “own” one square foot for each $100 I gave towards it (I gave $300, so I “owned” 3 square feet).
Had God forgotten that ????? Now I was in desperate need, had NOBODY to beg from like she did, and I felt God didn’t care. I told Him He was cruel and mean! But I still loved Him because even then, if I had given up on my ONLY hope, then I REALLY had no hope at all. Even then, I felt that my breakthrough might still come, so I’d pick myself up and apologize to God for my ill will towards Him.
Then one day, as I was watching Joyce on T.V. it seemed like literally “scales” fell from my eyes! Near the end of the show, as she was begging for donations, and her announcer came on talking about all her books that we could have for a “gift” of X-dollars, and then talked about “seeing Joyce in person” and hearing “Joyce preach the word as only she can do.” God Himself spoke to my spirit in that still small voice and told me “this isn’t about God, this is about JOYCE!” “Joyce” this, and “Joyce” that! And all the dollar signs on the T.V. screen seemed to “stick-out” like sore thumbs, and the whole thing smacked of one big long INFOMERCIAL about Joyce Meyer!!
That, my friend, was the beginning of my exodus from the Word of Faith! Each time I saw her show, it got even more disgusting to me … and I stopped giving to her. S L O W L Y, by putting a stop to the hemorrhage of money flowing out of my bank account to these people, I was able to recover somewhat, and I never did lose my house. But it was close. That, my friend was GOD showing me that He really did care about my financial well-being. He didn’t want my money!!!!! And not only did He NOT want my money, I was NOT cursed with a curse if I KEPT it !!!! That is freedom!
About the same time, I just happened to stumble upon this website, Pulpit-Pimps.org, and God has used this site TREMENDOUSLY to teach me the truth about where I had been all my life and that the Lord loved me enough to lead me out of it into the truth!
Unbeknownst to me, my mother, who had raised me in the WoF, had been led out of their heresy about a year before I had! She never told me though. I asked her why, and she said that I would have thought she was backslidden and lost in heresy forever. And she was right. Some other members of my extended family are not convinced, and there is a definite divide - but even that is mentioned in the Bible. That’s why I say that nothing any of us say will EVER convince you of the truth. You will just think that we are deceived and damned to hell. If God doesn’t get through to you, then YOU are not reachable. It’s as simple as that!
I know this is a LONG post, but before I stop there is some more I want to say about the Word of Faith.
The salvation of Jesus Christ is NOT about all the things that the Lord gives to His people! And people who seek the Lord for what He can give them are seeking Him for all the WRONG reasons! A person cannot receive the salvation of Christ unless first he realizes that he is a wretched sinner who deserves HELL, not all of the worldly stuff you WoF people clamor after! It’s not about getting all the STUFF. It’s about giving up their lives for HIM and becoming His slaves. Somehow you Word of Faith people have gotten that all backwards. You think salvation is about getting, and getting more It’s just STUFF, material worldly stuff, it’s CARNAL and ungodly! You think that all your STUFF is proof that you are blessed. There is one thing that is promised for sure to all true followers of Christ and that is PERSECUTION!
You Word of Faithers only think of earthly “blessings”. But God does not promise us the things of this world. Think about it What would it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your own SOUL? Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, all of those hellish creatures on TBN - I can’t even name all of the pulpit pimps on TV (and maybe even your pastor too by the way) all of them have their reward. They have their “Best Life Now” But they can’t take any of it with them where they go
What about later on? The Bible speaks of the rich man and Lazarus. That kind of reminds me of the relationship between all these RICH pastors and their pimped followers. I believe they will suffer the same fate!
God does promise us SPIRITUAL prosperity, but you Word of Faith people only think on things of this world. When people like you give expecting your 100-fold return, you are giving to GET !!!! But the true Jesus tells us to give, expecting NOTHING in return. Do any of you honestly do that? Neither are we supposed to give out of NECESSITY or of COMPULSION … tell THAT to all of the pimp preachers on TV who incessantly compel us to give to their ministries ad nausea! It’s WRONG! If any of them really believed what they “preach” then all they really have to do is give and expect their 100-fold return and leave their audiences ALONE! But they won’t ever do that, because they really don’t believe what they preach either. Otherwise they would practice what they preach. YOU are profitable to them, and they fear that if they don’t ask YOU for it, YOU won’t give it to them. YOU are their cash cow, not GOD.
I am not attacking you, so don’t even go there. I am speaking from a life of experience. As I said, I was all bound up and hog-tied in all that Word of Faith crap for almost 30 YEARS!!! I gave, and I gave. I did all of the right things according to our famous PIMPS! It was nothing for me to fork over almost everything I had … tithes and offerings above and beyond what was expected, because I BELIEVED what the pimps said. I thought that I was doing what GOD wanted, and I suffered the consequences of that for far too long.
Like Joyce Meyer always says “give until it hurts!” — “give SACRIFICIALLY!” My intentions were good. And I had faith. But my faith was in a LIE! I was sincere and honest, but I was sincerely and honestly WRONG. I think that the Lord really knew that, and finally got through to me to just STOP IT! Like, HELL-OOOOO! If this thing still doesn’t work after nearly 30 years, guess what - IT DOESN’T WORK!!
I see myself all over all of you defenders of these people. I was just like ALL of you. And a couple of years ago, I would have been standing right there by your side. That’s why I say that ONLY THE LORD will ever get through to you. Nobody could have EVER gotten through to me so I know that.
I guess you can tell I am just a little bit angry about this lie that is continuously propagated by the deluge of televangelists spewing this prosperity vomit into living rooms across this country and bringing millions to hell with them. But maybe somehow the Lord can use my experience to help lead someone else out of this DELUSION you call faith. It is another gospel, and the “Jesus” you think you worship will someday be crystal clear to you. I just hope that you find out who it really is before it’s too late. REALLY! The Bible is the truth, and it contains the way to the real Jesus. This Word of Faith gospel is pure MADNESS !!!!!
(Now that you have to face the truth about this heretic, what do you do? This article can help!!)
Let's look at sold biblical truth in a sarcastic fashion. It's sad that these are true stories, what is sadder is that some of them might apply to you right now. Are you willing to review the scripture following each passage and run cross references from there. If you believe the bible to be the inerrant Word of God, then get ready for change. Isn't it interesting how Truth once revealed put us in a position to make a decision, a choice.
DON'T GET PIMPED AGAIN
If the pastor says that you can’t get to God unless you go through him. . . . you might be getting pimped! 1Tim 2:5; Heb 9:15, Heb 12:24
If instead of the church treasurer, secretary or elders your pastor carries the church check book and only needs his signature . . . you might be getting pimped! 1Thes 5:23; Eph 4:27; Rom 13:14
If your pastor refuses to admit that TD Jakes or Joel Osteen are heretics, and still defend them, even after they CLEARLY state that Jesus is not the only way to be saved!!! . . . you might be getting pimped! 2John 1:10; 1John 2:22-23;Tit 3:10
TD Jakes
Download | Duration: 00:01:17
If you give your pastor a “love offering” and he pulls you to the side and says “you can do better this, now add another zero”. . . . you might be getting pimped! 1 Pet 5:2; 1Tim 3:3,8; Tit 1:7
If your pastor's breatplate of righteousness needs room for a "bra" you are getting pimped. 1Tim 3:1-7, 1Tim 2:11-15, Tit 1:5-9
If your pastor allows someone to stand up and prophesy to the church that they need to PAY FOR THE ANOINTING ON THEIR LIFE by giving $100.00 to the pastor . . . you might be getting pimped! 1John 2:20,27; Act 8:20; 2 King 5:15,16
If your pastor is exposed as an adulterer, his home is a wreck and he still refuses to step down even though scripture says he is permanently disqualified. He is no longer your pastor but your pimp. Prov 6:32,33; 1Tim 3:2-7; Tit 1:2
If your favorite false prophet got beat down in a parking lot and you are still sending them money . . . you might be getting pimped! Deut 18:20-22; Jere 23:25; Mic 3:11
If a pastor tells you that NOT paying him 10% of your gross income is “robbing God”. . . . you might be getting pimped! Gal 5:18; Rom 6:14; Jer 6:13; 2Cor 9:7; 2Cor 8:12
If a pastor tells you that paying him is more important than addressing your debt and you should give to him in faith and “stretch our on faith for God to handle the rest”. . . . you might be getting pimped! Rom 12:3; 1Tim 3:2-3;1Tim 6:10; 1Tim 5:8!
If we would stop giving permission to be pimped and moved to biblically driven "authentic" churches we could change the way the church is viewed. We are often viewed as being foolish when we stay in compromising situations contrary to scripture. Stop using the excuse that you're waiting for God to speak, God has spoken in His Holy Word. His Word has already given us instructions. Listen to 2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:. God has given us a book full of answers, however we refuse to obey and come up with a list of excuses. Heading that list quite often is "I'm waiting for God to Speak". Read the scriptures and you will see that God has spoken. Obey the scriptures and bring about change. If you are wondering "how to respond" to an exposed pastor click here for quidance.
Thanks to Melvin at pulpit-pimps.org
We hope that you have already reviewed "Pick A Pastor Package Pt 1", if not go therenow. It is of primary paramount importance that you look and analyze your potential pastor in the light of scripture. That is the purpose of 1 Timothy and Titus.
1Ti 3:14 ¶ These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Look at the commandment Paul gives for the letter to Titus "to set order and ordain elders". Paul then precedes to give the qualifications for eldership.
Tit 1:5 ¶ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
If your potential pastor has passed the authority of scripture, we move on to the next portion of selecting a pastor. If he failed to pass the scrutiny of scripture there is no need in interviewing him further because he has shown himself to be disqualified. We ask you to simply review this list of questions (of course you can print them out). Some questions you may know the answer to, others questions you may be able to get answered by people already attending the congregation. Often the premilnary answer will let you know that no further interview is necessary.
i.e. If you find out that his last two conferences where Creflo and TD Jakes you need to move on.
i.e. If the pastor chooses books and cd's from Fred Price to be marooned with, move on.
i.e. If the pastor confirms belief in lesbian pastors, run quickly.
THE INTERVIEW
When was your Last sermon on hell or heaven?
Do you have Business meetings regularly scheduled?
Is evangelism taught to the body?
What tools, (I.e. Tapes, cds', books) are used in training?
What are your requirements for leadership?
Is evangelism a requirement for leadership?
Are there regularly scheduled outings for witnessing?
Do you teach on biblical doctrine?
What are your favorite 3 authors?
Could you list the last 3 books you read?
What is the name of the last book you read twice?
Who are your favorite 2 tv evangelist.
Are you pro-life?
What Denomination or ministries are you associated with?
Have you ever taught a sermon out of Malachi that didn't include 3:8-10?
What seminary did you attend?
If you were marooned on an island with a choice of books and tapes by one Christian author who would that be?
Do you support women as pastors?
What made you choose your youth pastor?
Do you believe in the inerrancy of scripture?
What is your ministry Doctrine or Statement of Belief?
Have you taught on Hamartiology or Soteriology?*
How long have you been married?
What are the ages of your children?
Do you present an annual budget to the body?
What annual conferences do you host?
Do you teach tithing or free will giving or both?
Do you have a ladies ministry? If yes, when do they meet, what special functions do they have, etc?
Do you systematically go through the bible?
What bible or church conferences have you attended the last 2 years?
If you could invite any nationally known speaker, who would that be?
Do you preach topically or expositionally?
Can a person who is living in a persistent lifestyle of sin inherit eternal life?
These questions are designed to determine the position of the potential pastor on a variety of issues. The quickie three are; conferences, books and speakers. Generally if you know these three you can determine whether to conclude or continue the interview. If you don’t know what Hamartiology or Soteriology are don’t worry but a true pastor should. These questions help to expose any affinity to false teachers and doctrines. These questions will also give insight as to whether the pastor is Bible driven or cultural driven. This selection process is prayer and bible driven. Refuse to sit under any pastor that boldly contradicts scripture.
Do you think they really care? After all its only one day out of the year. We are so caught up on what they promise we never check to see if they deliver. I realize the campaign trail is rough but MLK deserves more than this. What or who do you think he was dreaming about? Could it be Monica or Paul? What do you think?
Whether you are interested in escaping the tithing error yourself or if you are already free from it and would like to help others escape, the following information will hopefully help. This
article will also help you avoid getting ripped off by the "firstfruit" scam.( Please read Numbers 18 and carefully underline tithe, tenth, Levi, Levite,
first and
fruits. You will immediately realize that both the tithe and first fruit belonged primarily to the Levite. Do you know of any Levites today)?
Because of all the fear of being “cursed” which dubious teachers have incorrectly instilled in Christians regarding any failure to tithe, tithing ...
Is it really hard to pick a pastor? As I go out witnessing a common statement among those not attending church is “how to pick a pastor”. But what is even more distressing is talking to Christians who justly complain about their pastor being an adulterer, fornicator or greedy for money. Others mention the ungodly behavior of the pastor’s children. You visit the forums and complaint after complaint of people experiencing leadership under a pastor of ill repute. Sometimes the person complaining is the very one involved in an illicit relationship with leadership.
The disqualified pastor often chooses to remain in the church leadership in direct contradiction to the bible guidelines of Timothy and Titus. Those who would stand on the side of scripture are quickly labeled as unforgiving, judging or rebellious. Those leaders who remain in their position knowing that they don’t qualify justly assign themselves to the group of Mt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Those leaders mentioned above and other who choose to remain in leadership after failing to qualify are blaspheming the name of God and assigning themselves to eternal damnation. Yes it brings ill fame to the Church when pastors are living in sin and living in the pulpit. How could they claim to be leaders but yet deny the directives of the Holy Scriptures? Let me ask when is the last time your pastor taught an expository sermon on 1 Timothy 3 or Titus 1. Could it be that he may be disqualified and doesn’t want you enlightened to the words of the Scripture. The scriptures alone are our standard, Listen to Ps 19:7 ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Ps 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Please take out your bible and read the entire book of 1 Timothy (okay at least the first chapter of first Timothy). Please remember the importance of context when reading God’s Holy Scripture. Then remember the necessity of application!! Without application, interpretation is useless. (a man who can read and doesn't is no better off than a man who can't read)
Are you bold enough to take the quiz? Are you honest enough to face the answer? Analyze your pastor or potential pastor in light of the following passage in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. You ARE NOT judging, God’s word is.
The notes shown below the scripture are excerpts taken from various commentaries on LOGOS. Warning, many are incomplete sentences and short quotes.
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1Ti 3:1 ¶ This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
Pass or Fail :1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless
Exemplary, free from scandal. It means to have nothing in one’s conduct on which someone could ground a charge or accusation.(does NOT mean sinless)
Pass or Fail :the husband of one wife,
A “one-woman man” is one totally devoted to his wife, maintaining singular devotion, affection and sexual purity in both thought and deed. This phrase prohibits both polygamy and promiscuity. If single abstinence is only alternative. Can not be one having multiple divorces
Pass or Fail :temperate,
“alert,” “watchful,” “vigilant,” or “clear-headed.”
A minister should have a watchful care over his own conduct. He should be on his guard against sin in any form. Wineless
Pass or Fail :sober-minded,
discreet, sober, composed, one who follows sound reason, and who is not under the control of passion. The idea is, that he should have his desires and passions well regulated. A man of a sound mind; prudent
Pass or Fail :of good behavior,
modest, seemly, humble, unpresumptuous, reserved, meek, orderly, leads a non-chaotic life, sensible, decent, respectable orderly, decent, grave, and correct in the whole of his appearance, carriage, and conduct, a gentleman, mannerable
Pass or Fail :hospitable,
compound word meaning “love of strangers” Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2; cf. 1 Pet. 4:9. Charity in entertaining strangers, poor Christians, ready to express his love to strangers, generous to guests.
Pass or Fail :able to teach;
apt and skilful in teaching. The preaching and teaching of God’s Word is the overseer/pastor/elder’s primary duty (4:6,11,13; 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15,24; Titus 2:1). Communicate the truth to others, as well as to refute those who mishandle it (cf. Titus 1:9) Capable of instructing, He must be able to feed the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:2)
Pass or Fail :not given to wine
must not have a reputation as a drinker, his judgment must never be clouded by alcohol, must not be a man who over-indulges in wine. Not a drunken brawler or a common drinker and one that will often partake of it.
Pass or Fail :not violent,
Quarrelsome, striker, given to blows, brawler, pugnacious. Avoids physical violence, keeps his fists to himself, React to violent situations calmly
Pass or Fail :not greedy for money
one that abhors all filthy and dishonest gain, any kind of way. nor pursues his ministry for personal gain. Not fond of money. Does not use schemes, tactic to extort money from the weaker
Pass or Fail :but gentle
moderation, patient, equitable, fair, mild, gentle.
The word suggests a character that is equitable, reasonable, forbearing, moderate, fair, and considerate. It is the opposite of harsh, abrasive, sarcastic, cruel, and contentious.
Pass or Fail :not quarrelsome,
The Greek is, literally, Not disposed to fight. The word means that the minister of the gospel should be a man of mild and kind demeanor, abstaining from fighting. Peaceable:--not a brawler.
Pass or Fail :not covetous;
not greedy of filthy lucre,implies inordinate desire often for another’s possessions having a craving for possession, lovers of money. So eager for gain that it will defraud others. He does not pursues his ministry for personal gain (cf. 1 Peter 5:2).
Pass or Fail :1Ti 3:4 one who rules his own house well,
A divorced man gives no evidence of a well-managed home. Nor does an adulterer show a home that is orderly, one who has good control of his own family. One who hath given proof of his lifestyle and ability to take care of a church, by the care that he hath taken of his family, and his ruling in that lesser society. The home always reflects the character and ability of its leader.
Pass or Fail :having his children in submission with all reverence
It must be done by a loving leadership and not a dominating dictatorship
His children must submit to his leadership with reverence or respect
He must be a father with obedient children. Have faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
Pass or Fail :1Ti 3:5 for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?;
If he cannot rule the smaller, how can he rule the bigger
As he succeeds or fails to govern his family, so he is likely also to succeed or fail in governing the church. An elder must first prove in the intimacy and exposure of his own home his ability to lead others Failure in a home raises a red flag about one’s ability to lead in a congregation. The sins of Eli's sons showed that Eli, though a good man, was unfitted to rule [1Sa 2:22-25].
Pass or Fail :1Ti 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
Not newly planted, not a young convert, not newly converted to the faith;
Nearly all the qualifications here cited can be known only from one's actual life. This requires time until the real fruits of his life and character are known
Not an inexperienced person; yet not so much young in years as in knowledge;
Undertaking to teach others before he has learned himself.
Pass or Fail :1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Persons even outside of the church will bear good testimony of him
good report, reputation, name, character, testimony with those outside the church
be of unblemished reputation in view not only of Christians, but of others.
Have an established character which speaks well for the church among the unconverted. A leader in the church must have an unimpeachable reputation in the unbelieving community.
if a man has a bad reputation on the outside—if he doesn’t pay his bills, is untrustworthy, or is a liar—he immediately is not a candidate to be an officer in the church.
Click here if your pastor failed God's examination?
My job causes me to criss cross this city quite frequently . Often my heart becomes saddened as I past by the churches who are pastored by scripturally disqualified men. Men who in defiance of scripture maintain their post in direct opposition to the written word. These are the men Jesus spoke of in Mat 7:1-2 because they were hypocritical judges. Paul even spoke of them in Romans:
Ro 2:3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Ro 2:21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
Ro 2:22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?Jer 5:7; 7:9; Eze 22:11;
Often it is quite solemn, how about your community? As you drive by a church where the pastor has divorced his wife without cause and married another women in the church ,how do you feel? You drive by another church where the pastor has had children out of wedlock since becoming a pastor, does your heart hurt? You turn the corner and see the billboard of the pastor accused of stealing funds, but he stays in leadership and promises to pay it back (lol, payback what I stole from you with what I’m going to steal from you). You drive bythat big church on the corner where the pastor has biggee sized his house, his car, his wardrobe and his concubine. Do you really think God is pleased? How do you think God feels about those who knowingly support them? You are on your way home and this church has a pastor who has on numerous occasions been accused of pedophilia (several have been paid off to be quiet), but the lot is full for choir rehearsal, does it hurt? It hurts to see God's name blashpemed and ridiculed!
How about you, are you knowingly supporting people whom God has disqualified? Is that honoring God with your substance? Don’t you understand that the money earned by the sweat of your brow is supporting them, your attendance is endorsing them, and your membership approves them?
Stop letting your leader throw Romans 3:23 in your face as a crutch to continue in their sinful ways. When you continue to overlook their sins of disqualification and fail to move on, you cause others (the weaker brothers) to stumble. When they fail to submit to the written scripture and continue to place themselves above the word of God (like God has an * by their name giving them an exception) they sin. They are in reality guilty of idolatry because they have made up a god in their own minds.
If they fail to truly repent and cease from their wicked ways their end could be like that of Earl Paulk.
or Jamal Byrant or Darrell Gilyard
or
We could give more but it hurts so bad. What do you think is obtained by deciding to fellowship with unholiness.
Listen to Hag 2:12 "If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?"'" Then the priests answered and said, "No."
Hag 2:13 And Haggai said, "If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?" So the priests answered and said, "It shall be unclean." Please grasp the principle exposed by these verses.
Don't become unclean!! Heed the warning of the Lord 2Co 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."(pleae read this entire passage). Honestly has the Lord according to his written word "received you" or do you still cohabitate with the unclean.
If a pastor stays in leadership in direct contradiction to the written word of God is that pastor clean or unclean?
If you persist in fellowship what could eventually happen to you according to Haggai and 2 Corinthian.
CLEAN OR UNCLEAN WHAT SHALL IT BE
