I’m not happy about it – not at all. I’m sickened and very sad that this is happening. Paula White and her husband – “Bishop” Randy White are divorcing, yet are continuing in the ministry…
How will she be introduced at the mega-churches? What will her “daddy” Bishop TD Jakes say about this? How will he effectively lead a large congregation? We need to pray – each and every one of us - that false teachers will be exposed and will no longer have influence.
I believe that both Paula and Randy can continue on in ministry and be effective because they are gifted teachers. What I know for sure is that both of them should sit down for some time and get healed. The time for putting on the front of “superpeacher” has come and gone. We are all human and all vunerable to error in one way or another. The body of Christ will be affected by the things that have taken place in the past few weeks simply because people literally put too much confidience in flesh and when people that they have placed on pedistals fall, it causes a fall in their hearts and spirits as well. I am praying for all involved and praying for the church as a whole. The preacher
Yeah, it doesn’t say much for the American Christian culture that these two people KNOW that they can stand before this throng and announce that, for unbiblical reasons, they are dissolving their marriage. I honestly thimk that two “ministers” more concerned with fleeing the appearance of evil, would fake it and maintain their COMMITMENT regardless of what life throws their way. If they honestly believe the things they preach (aside from all the numerology, give-to-get, and pop psychology), how can they throw away eighteen years of marriage? What God are they so forcefully, charismatically, proclaiming?
They don’t sound any different than Brad Pitt or Liz Taylor! “We’re still friends. We still love you kids (congregation).”
Mature folks stick it out. This is bogus.
And we Christians will say that “Sometimes things just don’t work out. They’re human just like all of us.” We have to do better than this. People need to be held accountable. They hold the purse-strings (and mind-strings) of many thousands.
Maxdaddy says, “They hold the purse-strings (and mind-strings) of many thousands.”
We say: You’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s why the Bible talks about teachers being held to a higher standard.
It’s a hard line to walk. We’re told not to sit in judgment, but we’re also told, at the same time, to exercise discernment.
We as the church were given specific standards for what to expect from our leadership in terms of their marital status. If God didn’t want us to take notice of a preacher’s divorce, if God didn’t intend for it to become an issue, He never would have had Paul write those instructions to the early church.
On another level, we’re very curious as to how our former pastor (“Pastor Smith”) is going to handle this whole debacle. Paula White was a favorite guest speaker at Living Word. Her “daddy,” T.D. Jakes, is Pastor Smith’s most admired mentor. Rick Hawkins, the San Antonio pastor whose name is being whispered as Paula’s new “close associate,” has also been a featured speaker at Living Word.
It’s kind of interesting that Pastor Smith, a supposed “prophet” who often claims that “God told him” this or that, allowed these two to minister in his pulpit. Smith constantly says that he only brings in the best to preach.
I think it’s sad that two people with such strong influence chose to do something like this for reasons that aren’t biblical. As far as Pastor Smith is concerned, the issue probably won’t even be mentioned from the pulpit.
We really should hold Christian leaders to the standards set forth in scripture. In reality, I don’t believe they’re difficult standards to maintain if one walks with God and carries on a strong relationship with him.
i know that people expect preachers to be flawless,but let’s face it they are human and unforetunately that means they will make mistakes or bad decisions sometimes. it is not they’re falt when they disappoint us it’s our because we put them on such a high pedistal then when they fall of we basically crusify them for not living up to our expectations of them GOD did not say we would not make mistakes i mean come on we strugle in the spirit everyday about sitiuations that are going on in our own personal lives, the only difference is that we are not in the public eye so instead of gossiping about randy and paula’s divorce decision pray that GOD will help them to realize that this is not the answer ,especially if this is not being done on a biblical standpoint. those of us who are strong in the faith should realize these people need our strength and prayers right simply because,but for the grace of GOD this could be one of us in this position right and i know what i’m talking about because has had to step in and save my marraige many times not because of sin but simply because someone got tired of the other.so let us pray the GOD’S will be done whatever it be.
Nida, thanks for your comment.
We’ll have to respectfully disagree with you, however. I’d hardly classify discussing two very public figures’ qualifications for the ministry as “gossip.”
Read your Bible. Yes, God knows that we’re not, in our humanness, going to be sinless. I’m afraid that’s not going to happen till we all get to heaven. All we can do in the meantime to be acceptable in God’s sight is to stand in the shadow of the Cross, so that God views us and our sin through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ His Son. (Praise God that this great salvation is available to us!)
And yes, we all sin. But God wants us to hold our leaders to a higher standard. Otherwise, He wouldn’t have bothered to have Paul write about those things in I and II Timothy.
Also, aside from expressing their regrets and their “pain,” neither Paula nor Randy, to the best of our knowledge, has yet REPENTED OF THEIR SIN AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS. Shouldn’t there at least be a period of restoration before they’re back in the pulpit? Or worse, out pursuing what may be innocent but APPEARS TO BE a highly inappropriate association with Rick Hawkins?
On another related topic, doesn’t the bust-up of their marriage basically negate all their talk about how we can “believe God” to restore our relationships? At the very least, before either of them takes that pulpit again, it seems like they need to re-tool their basic message to fit the reality of their lives.
Well sure pray for Mr. and Mrs. White, but who I pray for are all the millions of people who are now thinking it is ok to divorce when hard times fall.
What good is a preacher if he/she can’t live by the word of God. When you jump in to the ministry like the White’s did you can’t look back. You got to be in it for the long haul. Look at what happened to Lot’s wife.
All I have to say is thank God He sent Jesus to set an exsample for the lost. Because for some reason we can’t seem to get it together.
Where much is given much is required!!!
Plus I belive there is set structure for man and woman and the White’s seem a little off. Thank God for men and women of God. Also thank God for men that lead there house hold and women that set good exsamples for their childern by sticking by the head of the house. I’m not crazy either. If you think I am read your bible. Read Proverbs!!!
Peolpe can take that up with God. He seems to know better than we do. I belive the Bible!!! ALL OF IT!! It just doesn’t look right when a woman over dominates her husband. It is out of nature. And don’t even get me going on women presidents. We flip out and can’t make rational desicions at leat one week out of the month. How are we going to run a country. Again if you don’t agree, thats fine. READ YOUR BIBLE!!! This is just my opinon.
All I ask is that if we are going to call ourselves chistians, than lets go back and read the Gospel’s and set the examples that God Himself has sent for us.
Christian means Christ like!!(longsuffering…)
Not what feels good at the time.
God please help me to become Christlike.
Sister Angela,
Amen!
Humbly, I believe that for the time being, they should apologize for their mistakes in public, because they lived in the public,ask God for guidance and forgiveness, and leave the limelight for a while until they can figure out what their next move will be. I do believe however, that they can still be used by the Kingdom of God at the appropriate time, as the bible is full of flawed people, who repented and came back stronger than ever. I also believe that the comments that Paul made about the women represented the times and the culture of back when, because they (women) were not allowed to go to churches or synagogues, society simply did not allow it, even still in some cultures. However, God did tell them to go home and inguire of their husbands, he understood the times but still provided a way for them to learn and to be taught. But women were used, and served with might as shown by Esther, Deborah, the women who supported the apostles (finacially and for food etc,) to those whom He spoke to after His resurrection and told to ” Go tell the Good News” and so many more. In addition, the bible commands the man to be head of the household and to rear up the home in HIS WORD, but if he is non-exsistant, or a non-christian, or simply not able to, the woman must and should be the example and bring up her family as the head of the family, In Christ. Don’t diss women beloved, instead pray for them. Furthermore,I believe that once someone vears off of the true message of God for their own personal gain and wealth, and do it in a judgemental manner, eventually, because they put themselves so high above others, and some believed and played into it AND helped, the fall will come, and it will shatter the emptiness and allow them to come to submission to HIs will, as is the ONLY way…let us all pray for each other, in Love and forgiveness,,amen
I am not dissing women. I am a woman. I go to church and God uses me at church. All I am saying is judge the sin and not the sinner.
love ya!!
And thats why God, the only ONE who truly knows the heart and is the Only PURE source yesterday, today, and tomorrow, is the only ONE who can judge. That being said, we can dislike or even hate the ACTIONS they do, as God dispises the sin, not the sinner, so should we, for only He and the ones involved really know what the truth is. I do feel, that because there is so much confusuion going on that therefor they are non effective for Gods Kingdom at this point, they should remove themselves and pray and seek for Gods Way for them.
) shalom and joy
And PS. I kinda gathered by the name Angela, that you were a women, of course these days, who really knows but God..lol
sorry for plural,,,a woman,,,and God uses me in the church as well…..God bless women AND men for HIS GLORY…shalom and joy
I agree with you. I thank God that He is God and not I. I just wish we (me included) took more time to stop and think about how our actions affect others. And you are right we can’t judge the person we have to love them. We also need to be forgiving. I know that there will come a day that I will be before God and I am going to be judged according to how Judge others. I am not judging Paula White. There is just something there that does not agree with my spirit. Ya know.
I love her. She is a child of God. The point I was making was that she is going to be held accountable for a lot!! There are a lot of people out there that count on her to be an example to them and she is not setting a good example right now. There are a lot of babes in Christ under her and my heart goes out to them. Sure she is human and I understand that. But when God sets you in a place of authority there is not a lot of room for mistakes. (At least not this big.) What is Paul got married and decided “Well this isn’t working out I guess we need to get a divorce.” I don’t think many people would be reading much of the New Testament.
What if Hannah left Elkanah? All we would have to read would be Genesis to Ruth. Not all Christians know not to put their trust in man/woman. They are expecting the church to be the example.
Any Who!!! What is going to be will be. Please know that I don’t hold any bitterness in my heart towards The Whites. I just have a burden for the people that sit under her ministry. I know that satan is the author of confusion and I am sure that there are a lot of confused saints of God.
Well I pray you be blessed today. And please know that I am not trying to argue. I love you, and I pray God bless you and keep you. And may His face shine down upon you.
God bless you
p.s. when I said that God uses me I didn’t mean it in a boastful way. I was just meaning that I know God uses women in church.
I understand and am in areement. Truly there are many mislead and misguided ‘babes’ taken by the wiles of those who cliam to do HIS will. And it breaks my heart, thats why I write ALOT, of letters, even to those in big ministries, because at some point or another, even they interject personal opionion for the true word, and so many are vulnerable because they want so desperately to belong, and so they follow. We have that in ministry, and in the secular world. For instance, and I’m not knocking her, Oprah has so many who watch her intently, however, If she is a Christian (dunno, I don’t profess to know her heart), she is doing harm to other possible newcomers as she advocates non marriage, self will, and OTHER forms of non Christian beliefs, and because so many want to belong she may be driving many souls from the True Way of God. Thus as you stated, so are too other “Christians” who advocate (soley) personal gain, or other ideas they claim are the only way to HIM. However, together, we can continue to pray for ourselves, our nation, and our christian leaders .:))
)))
ps…I did not feel you were being boastful when you told me that, I was just happy and letting you know, me too
the easiest thing is to point fingers and give advice on how this and that ought to be done, but when the person in question is you, then it is another ball game. i love these people so much and it hurts. lets us stop commenting and get on our knees for them. AND bishop jakes should see these issues as one that we expect him to act. please the world is watching and mocking.keep in mind that all men fall only the great ones rise again.
When a child does something he should not have done, it is up to the parent or guardian to let him know what he/she has done, that it was improper, not correct, and why, and then to guide them and show them otherwise with love. So too must a fellow sister and brother in Christ do to and for one another, in Love and as God has instructed us to do. I do think there is a difference between pointing fingers and attacking and exhorting and bringing instruction and correction. It is sad things are so public, but that is where their ministry is, in the public eye. It always hurts us when someone we care for goes through pain and in such a grave magnitude, but if we choose not to go to God for guidance and to STAND for HIM alone, ultimately HE brings us to the point where we must KNEEL before HIM. The good news is that it’s never too late, and this too shall pass, and God forgives us time and time again,thankfully…
It breaks my heart to hear of a man of God and a woman of God getting a divorce. It sometimes hinders the witness that we have to the world the power of God; in spite of signs, wonders, and miracles. My prayer is that Believers continue to put their trust in God and that Unbelievers have something to look forward to. As a woman, I still believe in the beautiful institution of marriage that God designed. As we follow God’s plan we can sure that love and marriage will never fail.
I Corinthians 13 for life,
Karen
Amen!!!
I don’t believe in condemning our brothers and sisters in Christ. By all means love them and pray for them and get on you knees and ask God for a burden for their souls.
It is sad because, I know there are saints of God out there that want to be “the next Paula White” and they are going to be really hurt. She is someone that people look up to. She is an inspiration to MANY women. She has never done much for me; she is just not my cup of tea. However she is a child of God, and the bible says touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.
Having said that as the church, have to see things for what they are. What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. The road is straight.
We have instructions to live by. God is “ALL RIGHT.” It is either of God or its not.
I don’t think this means we hate the White’s, or judging them. I honestly hope and pray things work out and God turns this whole thing around for HIS glory. I don’t know the mind of God, but I know if you get high minded He will remind you real fast who mind your of or suppose to be of. Hey this might be a big testimony in the making. God is till on the throne, all things are possible.
All that we are doing is speaking truth. Sometimes truth hurts. If we don’t set an example of truth who will. My hearts motive is not to kick them while they are down. My motive is to help win souls to Christ. It saddens me to see what is going on. I can’t imagine what they are going through. They are adults and they know the word. They are responsible for their actions.
They also know how many people are going to be effected by their actions.
So lets pray for them and lift their names before God. Lets love them and let them know they are loved.
Let’s also back up truth and righteousness. Let’s set an example for the lost, and remember that the road is straight and narrow. This life will soon be over and gone and we will have a choice of where to spend eternity. Or actions today determine were we will spend it. (I am not saying they are going to hell ok. PLEASE know that)
Any who, I love you guys and pray peace be with you.
My sisters and brothers in christ, I would first like to say greetings and that I love al of you. What can I say….Paula and Randy, Juanita and Weeks, it can all be very depressing. That’s why the bible tells us to set our affections on things above. There’s been a lot of discussion on whether or not Paula and Randy made the right decision. Well, according to God’s word, absolutely not!!! Especially if their reason for divorcing is because they’ve “grown apart”. First of all, that is definitely a secular approach to a restorative situation turned over to a God of restoration. Yes, like all of us, Paula and Randy are human and therefore subjected to the same temptations of the enemy. However, as spiritual leaders the bible is clear, “To whom much is given, much is required”. God said that not me. As for everyone else gossiping and talking it up, the bible is clear; If you are not edifying your brother and sister in love, or giving correction in love than you are totally out of line with God’s word. Alot of times as christians wew are quick to pull out part of a scripture and misapply it in order to fit our own need. I too have fallen into the trap of talking about the “Paula and Juanita scandal” without first getting on my knees to pray for clarity, so I’ve had to ask God to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Please be encouraged and let’s beleive by faith that this event will not taint the lives of our fellow beleivers especially the new converts.
Bro. John
What a heartbreak, not that you two selfishly agreed to divorce, but that you don’t have enough faith to believe God to heal your marriage. Don’t tell me about trials and tribulations in a marriage, I know all about them. I am married to a man who has been struggling with drug addiction for years AND I never left because I knew that the Word of GOD says, if the unbelieving depart. . . I have a professional standing in the community, have I been ashamed of him, YES, have I been embarassed by him, YES, but I have enought background in the WORD to know that I can not pick and choose what scriptures I will abide by and which ones I won’t. THe WORD is the WORD and cannot be altered Paula. Isn’t that what you how taught through the years! I think you need to stop focusing on your vanity and go back to being a preacher of the Word and not some Biblical example of Jeremiah 23. Stop with all the cosmetics, vanity dress code and get back to the fundamentals of YOUR salvation. Is God pleased with you? Stop boo-hooing, square your shoulders and proclaim, “I will NOT let Satan have final say in my marriage”. You were the one that instilled that into me, physician heal thyself. Maybe you are a lliving example of “the LOVE of money is the root of all evil… Repent, both of you, and stand for the Lord in this last day, NO WEAPON….. I am very hurt by this disappointment, I personally feel betrayed.
Salisbury Sadness
randy & paula-your in the business to win souls-have you thought of the impact on sinners
my marriage was over 10 years ago-i & my wife give it to the Lord-there is no way i should be married today-but God changes things-still married after going to God-i am not a preacher like you are-why are you not doing what you tell others
I hate this..But they are not the first and will not be the last to get a divorce..I don’t care if they are ministers, they are just like you and me and the devil is running to and fro seeking whom he may devour in these last days..This is not shocking to me..I just hate it thats all..
Bonnie Stark
Smith County, Tennessee
some of you people are getting yourselves too involved in their relationship. Yes they are ministers but no one is perfect. just because they stand infront of a pulpit every sunday preaching the word of God doesnt mean they cant have any issues. how is it that some of you feel betrayed as though they owe you something? now i know this post is old but it just amazes me how judgemental some of you “so called christians” can be. I dont think the possible death of his daughter or whatever else it is that they stated should make them divorce. however people handle their situations differently and maybe this really is just too much for them to deal with. people have no idea how much pressure these preachers are under because they constantly have to walk around acting perfect just to impress a bunch of sinners who are no different then them. Its ok for people to go to them for guidance and help but yet they cant do the same. how about instead of bashing them , support them and hope that God (which he will) can work things out. Just because we are not standing up preaching the sermons doesnt mean that we have more of an excuse to sin. people are quick to suggest people to read the Bible but yet they fail to do the same.
riana,
I don’t think anybody is judging the Whites as PEOPLE. Rather, we are discerning that their own lifestyles sort of wipe out the stuff they teach. We are evaluating them as TEACHERS.
It’s not my place to question either Randy’s or Paula’s own personal relationship with the Lord. But if you stand up and call yourself a “life coach” and write books about fulfilling your destiny, then it’s perfectly legitimate and biblical that your own life would line up with your teachings…and that your own life would be worthy of following.
I don’t know how Paula White continues to have the moxie to think she can “coach” others on how to live, when her own life is so jacked up.
That’s all that this is about. Teachers and their teaching. The Bible is clear that a teacher’s life must line up with what he or she teaches, or those teachings are null and void for them.
As Christians do we not realize that God’s word says these things will happen in the last days. M-A-N-Y will be deceived. These people proclaiming that they are ministers are many times wolves in sheeps clothing.
We must get our eyes back on Jesus. We must study his word and ask God to give us greater wisdom, knowledge, understanding and decernment than we have ever had.
If you are sitting under one of these wolfs then talk to our Lord about it. Ask him to direct you to a stable, Bible believing Church where the truth is taught and not just hipe. God’s word says he will give each one of us wisdom if we ask for it so lets get back to asking God for ourselves instead of believing the minister should ask for us.
My Daddy and Mama lived godly, solid Christian lives as long as I can remember. When my Daddy turned 80 he had mini strokes and became a total invalid. He couldn’t even talk and yet he was prayed for over and over and yet was never healed. My Mama was his primary care taker and took that task very seriously as a Godly wife and Christian should. They had been married over 60 years and they had a great marriage and a great love for one another. The grandchildren don’t remember a harsh word ever spoken between them and I only remember a hand full in my entire life.
During this time my Mama would love on my Daddy and tell him she was believing God to heal him. She was always known as a prayer warrior and many people from all kinds of Churches called her for prayer though the years.
She had two pacemakers installed during this period of my Daddy’s illness and yet she kept trusting God to heal she and my Daddy. The last two years of her life she finally developed congestive heart failure, was on oxegen around the clock, was in the hospital at least 8 times that last two years and could hardly breath, yet two of her own daughters expected her, and even condemed her to other family members, for not attending church every week without fail. She required help to walk to the car and then could hardly breath. It hurt her to have her children condemn her, but she just turned around and prayed for them daily. You see she taught me to pray for my sisters also because I cared for her several days a week and my sisters comments hurt me also. I learned so much from her love for her Lord.
She loved history and could give you in great detail the history of the Bible because you see she actually READ HER BIBLE every day. When she was 87 years old she was STILL KNEELING BESIDE HER BED TO PRAY even with her health problems and she called all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren out to God by name, prayed for other family members, her church family and friends and Churches, Ministers and Missionaries around the world.
She never gave up on God no matter that she couldn’t attend church. She still talked to God continually. Praying to her was like breathing. She saw on t.v. the wolfs coming into the Churches and it disturbed her. She would say they are preaching from a head knowledge and not a heart knowledge and making up their own gospel to appeal to those who have itching ears and don’t know God’s word. She would then tell me make sure you know God’s word so you can measure it against what you hear in this world and in the Church.
My Mama prayed for revival in the churches around the world and wanted to live to see a great revival before she died, but she died at age 88 without being able to see that great revival take place, but I believe God heard her faithful prayers and will answer them in his time.
You see she kept her eyes on her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and never trusted a minister to get her to heaven. She knew she would stand before God on Judgement day for herself, and believed that God required her to do her part in learning from his word each day and learning from talking to him personally each day.
Lets all get in a solid Bible based Church, get back to reading and studing God’s word and get back to praying and talking to God for ourselves. People we can’t put our trust in others, we must put our trust in God.
Keep your eyes on Jesus and he will never lead you wrong as many wolves in sheeps clothing do. Put these people in God’s hands because no matter what you say you cannot change them, only Jesus can. One day very soon they will stand before Almighty God and give account for each sheep they have lead astray.
Lets pray for them and leave them to God’s Judgement.
Concerning Randy and Paula White:
I think each of us should ask God to show us how to pray for them.
Sometimes people make up a story to protect their children from the truth and sometimes even protect their own career. I truly believe this is the case here and I believe God will bring it to light before long. Lets just keep praying for that family that God will bring deliverance.
Worship in spirit and in truth .
The spirit that gives the truth also allow us to live the truth.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.