No “Hard Question” today…just some reflections.
The rumblings last May about Paula and Randy White – about their apparently insatiable appetite for luxury homes, cars, planes, fancy clothes, and plastic surgery, about their seemingly inappropriate use of church funds, about their insensitivity toward the needs of their own congregation - along with the current news story about their recently announced divorce, have really been bothering us.
You see, we used to think that Paula White was a great preacher, a great “woman of the Word.”
She was a guest speaker at Living Word Church (again, for the record, a pseudonym, as are all the other non-celebrity names we use here) on more than one occasion. That last time that she preached at Living Word, we were privileged to have a front-row seat (which, as we’ve previously discussed, was a BIG DEAL). As her eyes seemed to lock into mine throughout much of her message, I found myself mesmerized by her authority, by the way she spouted off Scripture, by the way she exhorted us to have the faith of the Syro-Phoenician woman for whatever obstacle we were facing.
When, toward the end of her sermon, she proclaimed with absolute assurance that we would find ourselves delivered out of our bad situations within just a matter of days, I actually believed her. In her rapid-fire style, and with complete authority, she said, “I have been sent by God as His messenger to tell you that you WILL have victory. You WILL see His miraculous hand moving on your behalf!”
I can remember leaving that service feeling absolutely energized, revived in my faith, full of expectancy for how God was going to move in a particular situation my husband and I were facing at that time.
Paula’s preaching so moved me, in fact, that the next day, I logged on to her website and signed up to be one of her prayer partners. Even when her absolute proclamation ended up not working out exactly as she’d said, I was still her fan.
So to read of her “fall” has been especially troubling to me. I feel like I had invested a little something of myself personally into her ministry.
Of course, as with all of this stuff in Charismania, the truth is, I should have known better. The “gospel” that most of these folks preach – including Paula’s faith-filled exhortations about the Syro-Phoenician woman – is not even the real Gospel of Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for us. Jesus may get a courtesy mention, but the real “gospel” these folks preach is the “Prosperity Gospel,” where how Jesus came to reconcile us sinners with God is just an incidental part of what He REALLY came to do, which is to make you healthy, wealthy, and (worldly-)wise.
We’ve been having some discussions at our house about how this all could have happened. How DID Randy and Paula – and, in a less public but no less intense fashion, our former pastor, Pastor Smith and his society-wannabe wife Mary – get it so wrong? How did they turn the truth of the Bible into the pursuit of money and celebrity? How did the simple Gospel of Christ and what He did for us on the cross get lost in that shuffle?
We don’t believe that all these “prosperity preachers” actually sat down one day and, rubbing their hands together in glee, plotted how they were going to preach twisted half-truths from the Bible mixed with downright lies and then fleece the people for enough money to fund their extravagant lifestyles. We think that most of these folks probably started out with sincere motivations.
So what happened along the way? How did they grow so corrupt?
Awhile back, as part of my personal “therapy” to work through our experiences at Living Word, I actually sat down and wrote out my theory as to how this stuff happened to Pastor Smith. As I read it again, it struck me that you could replace “Pastor Smith” with “Paula and Randy” and it’d probably be pretty close to accurate.
I put it up on this site quite some time ago, so I’m going to post it again here today:
The other night, I realized that I could rather succinctly sum up a few of the things that I believe caused such a once-good ministry to go sour. In no particular order, here are some observations:
Lack of Formal Education/Lack of Doctrinal Knowledge. As an essentially uneducated (or to be more fair, “self-educated”) man, who by his own admission learned most of what he knows from listening to other preachers on the road, Pastor Smith is not very well-grounded in Christian orthodoxy. He’s a smart man, but he lacks the perspective that a formal education could have given him. This is why his preaching is so heavy on the so-called “Prosperity Gospel” – it just reflects what he has absorbed from all the other prosperity preachers through the years.
I actually have come to believe that Pastor Smith didn’t initially buy into the Prosperity Gospel because he was greedy for money. Rather, although he’s intelligent, he just didn’t know enough to know that teachings like the “Manifest Sons” doctrine, for instance, are heretical.
And then, because tenets of the Prosperity Gospel just about ALWAYS work for the preacher taking up the collection, Smith tasted the fruits of declaring, “Give your best sacrificial offering and you will reap a hundredfold harvest,” and those fruits – his own financial success – made him believe even more in the Prosperity Gospel.
A hardened heart. And then, even if Pastor Smith had dark moments of conscience – even if he had a doubt or two about preaching so much about money and “blessings” for the here and now – once he’d attained financial success and had grown accustomed to his luxurious lifestyle, I believe that he hardened his heart against any such questioning.
I also believe that there is something about money and its fruits that naturally tends to corrupt human nature. There’s a reason why we are cautioned over and over and OVER AGAIN not to pursue or love money. (Somehow, “prosperity preachers” conveniently manage to overlook all these passages when telling their cheering crowds of all the material blessings that God is going to give them.)
As Smith’s appetite for luxury grew, and as his sons became adults, got married, and had to fund their own lifestyles in the manner in which they’d grown up accustomed to, it was like Smith was now on a terrible money treadmill, where he had to keep pulling in larger and larger offerings.
His initial taste of luxury grew into a necessity, and there was no way the truth of God’s Word could even penetrate his heart.
It reminds me of I Timothy 4:1-2, where Paul writes, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”
The “Emperor’s New Clothes” Syndrome. Pastor Smith has, over the years, surrounded himself with nothing but “yes people” who are so enamored of their proximity and access to Smith’s “anointing” that they’d never dream of giving him honest feedback about anything that could be perceived as “negative.” This explains why nobody has ever dared correct Smith on obviously wrong practices like asking people to give his family personal gifts.
Blurred Identity. Somewhere along the line, Pastor Smith grew confused about where his own personal identity ends and where that of the church and/or “his ministry” begins.
This is actually a huge thing that explains so much of the strange stuff that goes on at our former church. It explains why Pastor Smith has no problem soliciting offerings for his wife’s birthday, or simply declaring several times from the pulpit that we needed to give his son and bride cash gifts for their wedding.
It explains why Pastor Smith seems to see nothing wrong with being treated like a celebrity. After all, in his mind, if HE is treated well, that just means that the cause of Christ is advanced, because his sense of himself as an individual has morphed into (and become all intertwined with) his ministry, and his ministry is, after all, about preaching the Gospel. It’s sort of like the old, “If A = B, and B = C, then A = C.” If Smith the man is one and the same as Smith’s ministry, and if Smith’s ministry is one and the same as the Gospel, then Smith is actually…the gospel?
I have come to believe that this identity confusion is why Pastor Smith is still able to convey such a total sincerity both when he preaches and when he engages in questionable behaviors, such as soliciting gifts or favoring the rich. It’s because he honestly has ceased to see any difference between what he does on behalf of himself-and, because his wife and two sons are all on the church dole, of his entire family-and on behalf of the cause of Christ. Hook Smith up to a lie detector, ask him if he’s ever abused ministry funds, and I’m willing to bet he’d firmly declare, “No!” And he’d pass the lie detector with flying colors, because in his mind, his $80,000 Mercedes, his million-dollar mansion, his designer clothing, are all purchased on behalf of the ministry, because they were purchased for HIM. And since he works for Jesus, then it’s actually Jesus who is benefiting from the expensive suits and the luxury car.
Those are some of the observations that time has distilled.
I don’t know who you are, or how I got to this section but I hope I can find it again.
)
Anywho, honestly, Paula W.,God love her, has always scared me. Kinda like the way Martha S., (a famous homemaker), does. Pretty much anyone who puts out an air of perfection, whether male or female. Thats why I don’t care for the sculpted body look, give me the natural look any O’ time. I know, way off the subject, back to the ministers of God. I also don’t like to be yelled at all the time, nor do I wish to “smack” anybody around to get a point across. Also, when speaking on the subject of disciplin, or lack thereof, I would appreciate something other than over eating to be used as an example. No,it’s not just cuz I have to lose 20 lbs., I will battle that to the end, (one of my many fleshly issues,) thank God HE is more interested with my soul, the rest is up to us. Why not preach on having the dicsiplin to not beat a spouse, or cheat on them, or to not molest a child, or to let go of porn, and so on.? Now, you even have to look a certain way, or God won’t grant you HIS provsions. What happened to come as you are? My point is this, you reflect on why these things happen to those who seemingly have their act together, well, because the bible said it would happen. Though many come to proclaim His word, they loose their way and submit to their own greed and need, in other words, the flesh. I don’t necessarily agree that lack of proper academic knowledge is the sole cause, however I do believe we should all be continuously taught and trained in the WORD, especially those in high profile ministries and leadership. Some of them can quote the bible inside and out, and it still doesn’t mean they are being led by the TRUE WORD, they just sound important and talk the talk. More like mimicking, I would say, but if they don’t daily submit to His will and ask for the deeds and needs of the flesh to be killed, the greed, indeed, will conquer their will. And as you aptly stated, once they get a taste of the power that money and status brings, they require more of it, to be saciated at all cost, which incudes tossing the Word aside, and ascribing to financiers and the existencial needs of the carnal life.
God has asked us to confront and exhort one another if we feel there is a problem with what they are doing, but many choose to look the other way and thus allowing those doing wrong to continue to do so till it is too late. We must be respectfull of the way we approach them, however, and not be insensitive to them as fellow brothers and sisters, just as Christ forgives us daily reguardless of the number of times we break His laws, commandments, ordinances, and statutes. We must also not allow them to continue to do damage to His people,and by cutting off funding to their ministries we can disrupt their intent and burst their bubble. Finally, we need to pray for them and for ourselves that we may see those who truly belong to HIM, and to discern those wolves in sheeps clothing. God help us all…May God bless you today and always,,,,,,
Yoli,
We hope you keep coming back, and keep leaving comments, too.
We agree with what you said, particularly the part about confronting and exhorting each other. It seems the canned answer that everybody has these days is, “We’re all sinners, so we can’t judge.” This isn’t about judging someone’s heart, only God can do that, but there ARE standards for behavior for leaders.
I also like what you said about the “perfection” thing, and appearances. At our old church, appearances were EVERYTHING. If you wanted to be in leadership, you basically had to be skinny and put-together. I’ll never forget a time when I got the head-to-toe glance of disapproval from the “First Lady” because I went forward for prayer and was wearing some jeans that, uh, didn’t fit too well. (I guess just about everybody has 20 pounds to lose, right?)
At the time, I wanted to fit in and get the First Lady’s approval, so I made sure I never wore those jeans again (or the unfashionable shoes that also got the eye).
Nothing wrong with trying to look nice. But there IS something wrong with focusing so much energy on appearances, something our former church, and lots of others in Charismania, seem to have a problem with.
If you’re spending God’s money on plastic surgery or Prada handbags, you got issues!!
Amen to that!! When we aim to please each other, we’ve left the narrow road and ventured into the wide divide. I believe once we start imputting our own thoughts and passions and incorporating pieces of His true Word and calling it ministry, we have become subject to discredit and correction. If we stick to what the bible says, and remind one another not to judge but to love, and to encourage and redirect each other back to the narrow road, then we all win. I believe many who have the means usurp their title, vocation, and the airwaves. And though the Word tells us not to attack those who bring the Word to His flock, it is up to us to disecern whether or not the person bringing it is truly appointment for and by HIM,and it is up to us to do something about it if they are not. So, keep your ears and eyes open fellow Christians, if it sounds too good to be true, or if it seems fishy, or if it plain sounds silly, then bid them adieu, fare them well, and pray for them, and march on foward Christian soldiers, and find a leader or church that makes you feel good everytime you hear them on tv or the radio, as well as every time you enter and leave the church, synagogue or temple.I realize some sermons may not be the most pleasant of topics, but you must at least be glad you are surrounded by people who truly love the Lord. God bless us all and give us strength and the courage to do what we must..
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ps,,,ok…it may be closer to 30 lbs,,but shhhh…its our secret
Yes it is a sad thing that Paula and Juanita have gone through these terrible things. They are really God-send with their messages of hope and faith. They also bring something else to my attention: they are HUMAN. We humans are subject to error, no matter how old we are. I think more Prosperity gospel preachers are “talked about” than prayed for, which is probably one of the reasons why they are “innocently” veering off-track when it comes to money. I go to a Prosperity-teaching church and the boundaries are tight there. My pastor tries to make sure that he makes things clear to the congregation by rightly separating money and faith. We’re doing good because weekly, we hold prayer specifically for our pastor, so maybe other churches need to do that too.
Joshua, I agree that pastors should be prayed for, no doubt. However, even if they’re not, there are standards that should be upheld when in a pastoral position, specifically one of high visibility. What does it say about our faith if those in positions of authority twist scripture to fill their pockets? Or if they can’t stand by their vows in marriage where there is no biblical support for a divorce. It truly is a shame, I’m not disagreeing with that. What I’m saying though, is that it is rather interesting to note that the churches that are all about the “Prosperity Gospel” start off legit, but within a few years veer into undoubtable unbiblical waters. The part that makes this worse, is as pointed out in the blog, the preachers are surrounding themselves with “yes men” to the point where they become so overly confident that they refuse to acknowledge their shortcomings, as well as issues within their congregation that require immediate attention. I’ve seen it before, and I’m sure i’ll see it again.
In most of these churches, if you have any sort of rebuke, you’re shunned for straying from the path, even though you probably are dead on with what 2000 years of orthodox thought has agreed is correct.
We can’t say that these “pastors” are the victims here. They are the product of their own ignorance. If it were not willful ignorance, then perhaps this would not be the case. they’ve failed to see that they’ve failed the walk by putting money, status, and pride above the greater things of God. The Word says we should be humble, unselfish, generous, and loving. How many of these big name prosperity teachers do you know of that walk in true humility? I can’t think of any. Although she’s not necessarily on the same wavelength, I think a good example of humility within a position of fame was Mother Teresa. It is obvious by how she lived her life that she loved Jesus very much. She could have been very cocky and showy with her high position. Yet, she never lost sight of why she was on Earth–to show love to the broken and the poor. I doubt any of these high-class “preachers” would embrace a child dying of some skin disease and show them love. Essentially what I’m saying is that these people have allowed money and power to replace God’s role in their lives. If Paula White where suddenly to lose everything and go back to being a poor girl in a trailor park in mississippi, do you honestly think she’d give thanks to God for who he is and his goodness?
My basic thought is that any preacher that allows him/her self to get swept into a love of more money, he’s playing with fire. I am not saying we shouldn’t take care of our pastors, but a multimillion dollar mansion, a couple of cars that value over $75,000 each, a probably equally pricey wardrobe, etc… is over the line.
Wow, TKP–well said!
And Joshua, at our old church, the prayer meeting that everybody wanted to go to, the prayer meeting with the most “status,” was the one that met each week and did nothing BUT pray for Pastor and the First Lady and their sons. These “choice prayer warriors” focused exclusively on the pastor and his family. The rest of the church was exhorted to pray for them, too. So it’s not always the case that people aren’t praying for these preachers.
Ditto TKP, I agree as well. I too would stand in the church prior to a special song I would do, and gently remind all of us simply to just BE an inspiritation of God and not just TALK about being one. Eventually they pretty much told me to just sing and not say a word, so I told them in letter I love them, and bid them adieu. Some people don’t wish to hear the truth, they just look at the piece of paper in front of them, start with blah, blah, blah words words, and boy, woe to you if you diviate from the “program”.
And to you Charismania, I too have been victim of fashion fauxpas, (ala religiosity style).At a church I was going to, one lady said to the other, “I agree, shoes do make all the difference”, then I looked down at my mocassins, Ive worn them since I was knee high to a grasshopper, especially in the winter, I felt a little bad, but then I just simply said to myself, thats ok baby girl, Jesus loves you as you are. That is one of oh so many personal instances I’ve experienced on how off the track we have gone. We know it is the end of times, and we know this has happened before and will continue to do so even more fiercely, however, it is still hurtfull, shocking, and sad all the same. We must tho, those who have the spirit ears and eyes to see, continue to rescue those who remain stuck on the wiles and misguidances of those who themselves are misdirected, for the sake of Gods kindgdom. Having said that, I by no means lay claim to a sinfree life, I don’t believe no one really can, all we can do is try. I do believe tho, if we set ourselves up high and claim to be of God, then we become fair game and prone to scrutiny, as well we should be. Especially when some give tirelessly and undconditionally thinking they will reap a “special benefit” if its a certain amount and within a particular timeframe. Brehtren, beware.
Get in the Word. Stay in the Word. Live by the Word. That’s the only answer to any and all of our questions and issues. When is the last time any of us shared absolutely anything about Jesus Christ, His love, and living for Him? We get so “caught up” in man. I will continue to pray for those who are working in the ministry, that they may be true to their call, and uplift the name of Jesus.
“We don’t believe that all these “prosperity preachers” actually sat down one day and, rubbing their hands together in glee, plotted how they were going to preach twisted half-truths from the Bible mixed with downright lies and then fleece the people for enough money to fund their extravagant lifestyles. We think that most of these folks probably started out with sincere motivations.” I actually disagree with you here. The ministry in America has long been a profession just like anything else, and as our population became more and more wealthy, the ministry became an easy way to make a lot of money and become famous with very little accountability, and this is even more so if you are A) nondenominational (which means absolutely no oversight, not that the denominations don’t have their problems) and B) if ministry is “the family business.” There really is a whole subculture out there where if you want to make a name – and some money – for yourself, there are certain people that you need to get to know and certain things that you have to do. One of the better tricks of the trade: get an attractive “wife” with an assertive magnetic public persona, especially if she can emotionally manipulate an audience with her tragic life story. Sound familiar? A lot of these preachers invest a lot of time in looking for wives precisely so they can grow their church and increase donations, and once they find themselves a good ringer they train their wives in preachin’ and manipulatin’. It is obvious that Randy White, who had been trying and failing in ministry for years, did this with Paula. Juanita Bynum and Bishop Weeks? More of the same. Both were pretty well known previous to their “marriage” (which some called a “merger”), but after their (made for the Christian TV/DVD/book/video market) “wedding”, both their profiles skyrocketed. The overwhelming majority of these people know what they are after from the beginning. After all, it is much easier to make $10 million dollars and gain a huge number of unquestionably loyal followers willing to work long hours for you FOR FREE in the church than it is anywhere else.
As I was reading I started to think, “what about the ‘Yes’ men” and then, there it was. It’s the same story all over.
His has the right answer. We are to read and study our bible and pray for our leaders no matter if it political or our church leaders. If we find that our church leaders are not teaching the bible and that Jesus is the only way, then we need to keep searching until we find a group that does. Jesus always said that there is nothing wrong with you having money, it is when you let money have you. We are to give and in the end, God will deal with those who misuse their position. I guess we need to just continue to pray, because unfortuantely lots of church leaders are turning people away from God instead of leading them to a relationship with the real Savior.
I read all this and one thing continually strikes me, these people aren’t saved. To perpetuate this unbiblical garbage for years and years without the Holy Spirit convicting them of their heresies shows me that they never had the Holy Spirit in the first place to convict them. They aren’t regenerated, so it is easy to preach a false gospel, roll in the loot, and not have any qualms about doing it. They all preach you can lose your salvation, which should be enough for anyone grounded in correct bible doctrine to know they are not regenerated.
Bill, I respect your opinion, but I’m glad we don’t have the duty of figuring out who is saved and who isn’t.
I agree with you in that sometimes, I wonder how these people can live with themselves and still preach even SOME of the Gospel. How do they not get convicted by the very Scriptures they teach?
Of course, what I’ve realized is that they take the salad bar approach to the Bible. Those verses about avoiding the love of money and the love of the world? Just ignore them, or rationalize what they’re really talking about. Then focus only on the Scriptures that support what you want to say. That’s the Charismaniac approach to the Bible.
It’s sad.
I came across this web site while trying to look up more info on Paula White’s appearance on Larry King the other night. I was FLOORED when Larry King asked her POINT BLANK, “What is God to you? Is He a Spirit? Who is He?” And all she could say was, “Yes, Larry, God IS a Spirit, and I don’t profess to know everything about Him,” or something to the extent. She could NOT tell Mr. King that God was in Christ, that to see Christ is to see the Second Person of the Godhead; that Christ came FROM Heaven so that we may know God. She had NO ANSWER for Larry King…and believe me, from the looks of it…Larry King has been searching,it seems, for a very long time…having one spiritual person on after another, asking them all, “how do you get to heaven? Do you think Jews will go to heaven if they don’t believe in Jesus?” This man is older…has a young wife, and two young children…he doesn’t want to leave this earth….and he’s looking for the fountain of youth…trying, like my former boss….to keep from dying. But…knowing we all die…you can tell that he wants ANSWERS…and yet he keeps having people on like Paula White, and Joel Olsteen…who WON’T TELL HIM the truth, for fear of the gospel, and that it will shame them in front of the whole world. They won’t tell him that JESUS HIMSELF SAID He was the gate, to enter by the narrow way. Nor did Paula tell him, “Larry…Jesus said you MUST be born again of His Spirit….due to the fall of Adam…that’s why He entered thru the belly of a woman…to bypass the human fallen line.” Because of what she did…I began to read over her entire web site, and I saw a very familiar thing that I see with many of these seed faith people…they will talk about GOD…and about JESUS…and they will always say, Jesus AND God…but they NEVER say Jesus IS God….ever. I didn’t see her say it once. I see her say, “the Lord,” but never the LORD JESUS….or that Jesus IS the Holy Spirit…(I Corinthians 15:45; John 20:22)….
Anyway…this is what I noticed….I’m relieved to see that I wasn’t the only person who was put off by this woman’s ministry…It just always struck me as a ministry of “self-help,”…trying to make the flesh stronger…when Jesus said that apart from Him we could do nothing…and the flesh availeth nothing. If anything…these people need to help people DIE TO THEMSELVES…SO THAT CHRIST can ALONE reign in their hearts… after all…it’s HIS LIFE…not ours…(Gal. 2:20). What do these people think they’re doing telling DEAD PEOPLE….(who no longer live…but it’s CHRIST WHO LIVES IN THEM)…..to clean up their lives, and become stronger? The original sin is one of PRIDE…and the holy spirit brings us to see our WEAKNESS…not our strength…so that like Paul, we can glory IN OUR WEAKNESS, so that then we will be strong IN THE LORD AND HIS MIGHTY POWER.
These people truly have not grasped the good news that the people they’re trying to reach don’t need “things” or a “good SELF image”…they need LIFE….Jesus’ life….He is the resurrection and THE LIFE.
Thank you all for letting me interrupt…I was pretty upset when I saw both Paula…and Joel Olsteen BOTH have no answer for Mr. King. Please pray for this Jewish man…he sincerely wants to know “how to get to heaven”…and “Who is God.” Thank you.
Hi, Linda…
Welcome to the site!
Your comment was so good that, if it’s OK with you, I’d like to put it up as a post.
Thank you so much charismania, I appreciate your letting me “pipe in”…after reading all the other posts. This just seems to be another instance where the bible is proved true…the church seems to be falling away…big time! Homosexual pastors….worship of Mary….less talk about the Lord Jesus Christ…. I can’t understand, however, how these people can “seem” to say all the right things….but then leave JESUS, out of it…when the ENTIRE WORD OF GOD….is…about Jesus. Surely they have to be teaching what they are “prosperity” knowingly, in orderr to keep themselves in a certain lifestyle. It can’t be done out of ignorance of the word of God in my opinion….because no one can know all the right scriptures, and use them so decisively as Paula White does. Surely, the LOVE of $$ is at the root of all this “evil” teaching….and, evil…it is. They’ve trampled under foot the cross of Christ! And are trying to justify themselves…which makes Christ’s blood of no avail whatsoever to them. They’re trying to make themselves “right” instead of being made right “by faith” in Christ and His FINISHED work on the cross. Their “gospel” is really no good news at all, as Paul said.
Thank you for this site. Good day.
I got saved 14 years ago after being healed of leaukemia in the last stage.I had attended an Assembly of God church a couple of times before I got sick and when I was healed I went back to that same church then joined it.At the time I had only attended Baptist churches when i was a child. I did not know much about religions .
I became friends with a lady at the church who began to ask if I had cable she then began to tell me about different ministeres that she watched and how she had learned a lot from listening to them bring forth the word.I lived in the country and was not able to get cable, but one day I was surfing the channesl and low and behold I got a hold of TBN.It so happened that I got a hold of it during telethon.
but later when it was broadcasted in Tennessee I began to see John Haggee,Jesse Duplants,etc and I was so overjoyed I even began to sow in the ministry then flash forward everybody started having their own programs and then the begging started then the new kids on the block began to come on really everyone it seems was saying the same thing,or rather trying to out do each other.
I am saying this to say it was all good it seemed they brought forth a good word but when the begging started I began to pull away .First of all their was an uneasiness in my spirit I could not pinpoint it but I saw something in those guys ,so by 2000 I started watching less and less .I thought something was very wrong with me but now I see I was not wrong to feel that way.It seemed to me that they preached a good word but in the end when they began to beg for money so they could go preach the gospel I kept thinking for all the money the different ministers accumilate,if all the moneis collected from all those ministers was for the preaching of the gospel why not pool all the monies in one bank sponsor people from those countries in a bible college and have them go back and evangelize their own countries,use the balance to help feed the poor starving children of the world.If all the money spent on those jets,mansions,plastic surgery , BMW’s etc. the money accumilated put together could feed the whole starving world .”If you love me Jesus said “feed my sheep” Sorry Jesus but your so called people are too busy feeding thier own desires”and they have influenced the little guys who are believing those untruths I see even small town churches trying to keep up with the big guys and are fleecing the flock dry,and coming up with titles like Apostle,Bishops, Prophets etc in a sense The Pharaises are alive and well .
Paula WHite is of the devil.. She thrist after MONEY.Greed.. What is there missing……. when one preaches on only getting a blessing by planting a seed(of course to plant that seed to PAULA’s ministry) or you will not be blessed.. What a big lie..not just by her but by many preachers who are nothing more than thieves…. YES THEIVES>>>>> you know them…. Mike Murdock is famous for yes,, Let go whats in your hand so God can let go of whats in His hand,,, what a pile of crap.. So if you have nothing in your hand you get nothing……WOW or Cefalo DOLLAR(what a good last name) another thief who live high on the hjog an said if Jesus we’re here today he would be driving around in a royal royce.. I mena can you believe these defamers of the Gospel, And of our Lord Jesus???Call me a judger but call me truth for there is no lie in truth an what i have shared is truth.. I asked God to crush them an grind them to there lies an greedy hearts.
My Bible says that if any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. This scares me. I heard a Christian man once say, “I love my boat.” I just shuttered, prayed and quoted scripture. My Bible also says, “All those who love me hate sin.” I did alot of repenting. I have tolerated it. Let it entertain me. Even watched it on TV without it bothering me. I no longer have television. And I can say that I truely love God and hate sin. So Help me God (This is a prayer and not swearing, I hate swearing). Blessings-L.C.
Hey..i dont agree with those people who are against Paula She was and she is still agreat woman of God…..men should not take advantage of their women ministers we are human beings and the bible says if your eye makes you sin pluck it ..thank God Paula and Juanita as plucked theirs coz there is no need of preaching infront of congregation with someone who was beating you last night………….and what is marriage anyway if there aint Happiness
I love Paula And Juanita
Kenya
Great web site.
I just want to say that all that is being discussed here is, in my opinion, part of what Paul describes as happening in the last days (Israel is a nation again) where men “shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” and having “a form of godliness”. He also speaks about “when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers…”
I try to read my Bible more than watch T.V. and the people on it. I can only think of one man that I believe has it right, and he is buried under all the “big names.” Where are the mighty men of God these days? Not on T.V. Again, all this is part of the great falling away that Paul talked about. Amen?
all i would say is that God is the ultimate judge and he alone has the right to judge. Divorce is in the bible actually but the rule there is not to marry again.nobody is forcing anybody to be a beliver of the gospel it is purely by choice choose a side and stay there and leave others to pick theirs
Hey Lance,
I don’t think we are called to be monks with no posessions or recreation…boats are a means of recreation, rest, enjoying God’s creation.
Noah loved his boat, I would guess