It seems as though this whole exploration of pulpit pimps & spiritual fatherhood is getting some attention. While no one is publicly commenting to my thoughts, I am getting feedback in my email - and I’m starting to see visitors stop by from across the web. To God be the glory - I hope that some of you are starting to rethink your relationship with your “spiritual father”…if you have one.
Let’s take a moment to review the nature of the pulpit pimp:
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He attracts you with his charisma
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He tells you of your “potential in the Lord”
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He breaks you down
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He builds you back up as a reflection of and in submission to him
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He convinces you that you need him so that he can tell you what God is saying to you (I guess Jesus’ intercession on our behalf is unnecessary - Romans 8:34)
Got all that? Good, let’s move on…
Now that you understand how much you need the pimp, you’ve got to submit to his “spiritual covering” so that he can “pray for you” and you can be “accountable to him in ministry”. Of course, your submission is going to cost you something.
Call it a love offering (can you find the phrase “love offering” in the bible?), first fruits (another scam where you pay the pimp your first day, week, or months salary so that they can pray over it, causing your “crops” to be blessed for the rest of the year), or any other creatively titled “offering” - you gotta “pay to play”.
Even the pimps themselves are encouraged to submit to “super pimps”. This allows the pimp to flaunt their own “spiritual daddies” and claim a portion of the “anointing” that rests on the superpimp. This perverse thinking is why many of today’s pimps have such disdain for formal biblical education. They call seminaries “cemeteries”, and brag about how they were ordained by their “spiritual fathers”.
My former pimp used to love to say how he was “sent” (by his superpimp) while others “just went“. The implication, of course, is that you can’t possibly be called into the Gospel ministry by God Himself. No, you’ve got to have the superpimp lay his hands on you to “stir up the gifts in you” (another bastardized butchering of Paul’s relationship with Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6).
Now that they’ve convinced you that formal seminary education is a waste of time, you accept their tainted “covering”, as well as the tainted “covering” of their superpimp. Here are a few of the the “covering” ministries out there:
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Dr. I.V. Hilliard of New Light Church of Houston, TX - Association of Independent Ministries
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Bishop Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church of Lithonia, GA - BELL Ministries/The Father’s House
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Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potters House of Dallas, TX - Potters House International Pastoral Alliance
There are many others out there, even “spiritual mothers” that are willing to “cover” you as well. The men listed above represent the most popular “covering” ministries in operation today.
These ministries were formed to “establish, encourage, and cultivate others to God through the personal touch of our Bishop” (according to Long’s website) and to “provide for those member ministries wise counsel and oversight upon their request” (according to Hilliard).
Innocent enough right? All these fellows want to do is help you by giving you wise counsel and oversight - nothing wrong with that, right? Well, you didn’t think you’d get all this covering and counseling for free did you? No, no, no - remember, you’ve got to “pay to play…
Want to be a “son” of Eddie Long? No problem. He’ll give you a subscription to his magazine, access to his quarterly conferences, prayer, and lots of other “ministry resources”. Just fill out the application, get a couple of letters of recommendation (you didn’t think he’d “lay hands” on you, did you?) and send in your annual “membership fee” of $250, and you’re on your way!
Don’t want Long to be your daddy? OK, how about I.V.? He only charges $50 for the application fee and $100 for the annual membership(what a bargain), but I.V. is a bit more demanding. He wants to bill you for monthly administrative costs, he wants you to honor him and accept correction from him, you have to make a “public confession of sonship/daughtership” (huh? do you get a special decoder ring too?) and much much more.
As a side note, I had the pleasure of “encountering” a few of I.V.’s local sons when he spoke at my former church. They wanted to get access to their “daddy” after service, but we were instructed to “keep them away”. Now I know why they were so anxious to meet their daddy - they paid enough!
Anyway, not content with Eddie or I.V.? How about the king alpha pimp - T.D.? No problem…T.D. could always use a new son or two. Besides, he doesn’t require as much as old I.V. does. You only have to be senior pastor with a church that’s larger than the pastor’s immediate family (I know, I had to read that twice myself), fill out the application, and PAY A TITHE FROM YOUR PERSONAL PASTORAL INCOME (I had to read that one a few times).
A I’ve stated before, the concept of spiritual fathering (or mentoring) is not unbiblical. It is incumbent upon a pastor to mentor those who are new and immature in the faith by exemplifying a Christ-like lifestyle, and pointing them to God as their ultimate Father.
Spiritual covering is now simply portrayed as your allegiance to your pulpit pimp, his philosophy, and his band of cronies. Your real spiritual covering is God your Father (1 Corinthians 11:3). As long as you align yourself with God, you’ll never be uncovered. Besides, God was covering you long before you ever crossed paths with your pimp!
It’s easy to see how your pimp can prey upon you week after week - he’s being sanctioned by his own “spiritual father” and practicing what he learns - and aspires to be himself. To drive his point home, the pimp will “invite” (i.e. pay an honorarium or speakers fee) for the superpimp to come to his church so that you can see how close he is to his “daddy” - and thereby legitimizing his hustle.
Meanwhile, the Gospel gets lost in the midst of all of this phony “fathering and covering”. The lost and bound never experience the true liberty of Jesus Christ, and the devil is laughing because he doesn’t have to do anything but stay out of the pimps way.
This “pimpology” will end when you stop allowing your pimp to satisfy your flesh and start allowing your Heavenly Father to satisfy you completely. Like the old preachers used to say: “that old devil will starve if you stop feeding it”.
There I go again, getting myself all worked up. I’m going to reintroduce myself to the Christ to make me feel better…
Thanks for “covering this, IST. Very valuable teaching and information for those who want to avoid this faux network of “fathering”.
I was looking at a church’s website (it was a beautiful site and I love web aesthetics!) but in reading the pastor’s bio I saw this:
I wonder if this pastor knows what he has shackled himself and his church to? Every one of these men in his fathering/covering chain is steeped in scandal and wrongdoing.
This pastor probably thinks that he’ll get the “anointing that flows from Aaron’s beard” by attaching himself to a superpimp and his alpha pimp.
It’s truly amazing to see how pastors are eager to “connect” with someone that they think can “take them places”.
I’m working on a post about the true implications of submitting to a pimp…stay tuned…
You know ST, I grew up without the presence of my father but there is one thing he got right. Every other Friday I went by his office and HE GAVE ME money for school and such.
Fathering, is about serving, not being served. Oh wait and um if you have to pay your father to be your daddy, we call him a pimp-daddy for sure!
thanks for the truth
You hit the nail on the head with this article. I now FULLY understand the “pimp terminology” given to these Bishops. I came across Jakes website and saw the “spiritual father” thing and thought to myself wow, another means of the
“multiple streams of income” he preaches.
And the killer is as it states on his website, there’s no guarantee you will get to speak with Jakes or have him visit or speak at your ministry…even with that “disclaimer” I was AMAZED at all the ministries that were listed as being under his “spiritual covering.” Simply “buying” some fake anointing just to say some mega Pastor is your “spiritual father”…and the man doesn’t even know you exist except from his accounting records.
Truly the church is in an Ichabod state where the true presence of God has departed and has been replaced by the counterfeit anointing of the “mand of gawd.”
Right on GS1:
“Truly the church is in an Ichabod state where the true presence of God has departed and has been replaced by the counterfeit anointing of the “mand of gawd.”
What’s next….Bentley financing!
i just need to shake your hand because the small churches are doing the exact same thing to innocent people and please do not leave out the fact that around holidays they really raise the the tithe sermons especially christmas.
thanks for confirmation of what I have been dealing with for the last year. I am convinced that God is really with me.
To God be the glory rachel.
You’re right - the Christmas offeratory appeals become desperate because “you don’t want to get your kids something and leave out baby Jesus, do you?”.
And don’t forget summertime (between June and August). The pimps hate that time of year because the
giving unitscongregants want to go on vacation - and the pimps see a significant drop in weekly revenues.It’s a sick game that the Lord will deal with in His own time. We must simply continue to shed light on the scam and give as the Lord leads…not as the pimp pleads.
I truly agree with your messege on spiritual covering, but publicly bashing people of God isn’t right!!!! God forbid that you would ever fall. I think we as men and women of God must really watch our deliveries. The messege is truth but the delivery is slanderous. I have one question that I’d like to ask you, ARE YOU PRAYING FOR THEM AS MUCH AS YOU’RE PUBLICLY TEARING THEM DOWN?
I fall everyday Angie, and so you - it’s the nature of our reprobate minds and flesh without DAILY guidance and seeking of the Holy Spirit. The difference is that I don’t stand before millions of people and intentionally deceive them for selfish gain, all in the name of Jesus Christ. As such, I question that these deceivers are even men and women of God at all (Matthew 7:22-23).
Slander is defined as:
As you can see above, I’ve factually documented the games that these vipers are playing - and I’ve linked back to their material where they explain their scam in their own words
You’re welcome to search every article that I’ve ever posted on this blog explaining that I AM praying for them - and admonishing us all to pray that they repent before the Lord and stop their false teachings and doctrinal assualts. If you really agree with “my message”, then do you also agree that these people are operating in doctrinal error - and that they should be publicly rebuked and people should be warned to stay away from them?
We are living in the last days - and demonic disciples like Todd Bentley, Patricia King, and others are busy deceiving the elect. I don’t have time to mince words or politely point out errors. My job is to speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
Thanks for your comment.
Angie,
Let me 1st say I at this moment am praying for YOU. I am praying that you draw to the “Light” and truth of Christ.Do your research before definding a heretic. The Prosperity and Word of Faith Theology is heretic in nature. Don’t take our word study for yourself!
http://escapee.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/the-word-of-faith-movement-whos-your-great-grand-daddy/
Secondly let me say that unfotunately it is people like you that help perpetuate the heresy we see today. IMSPEAKING and countless more in the Body of Christ are boldly proclaiming the “true word of God.”
The true prophets of old said some real harsh things to the southern and northern tribes. They said things in the name of God that upset folks. And oh yea, they too were persected. Not Calling myself a modern day prophet. However There is a trend here. What side are you on? Either you speak out about Godly Truth or you don’t.
WOW! I thought we were to judge sin and not people. I thought that God was the only judge. Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally for speaking truth! You said that you fall daily right? So why don’t you blog about when you fall short and put it on the internet. Let’s get the beam out of our own eye first. My point was and is that even though we speak truth we don’t have to tear down people. We wrestle not against flesh and blood (people) but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians 6:12 God Bless you all.
Not once in this blog did you say that you are going to pray for these people-read it back yourself. What do you hope to achieve with this blog? I mean really? Do you think that you will in any way affect these ministries by your gossip? All these types of things do is to get people upset for fifteen minutes and then life goes on. Are you giving people who read this particular blog a good teaching that will help them with their daily walk with the Lord? NO! This blog is not contributing anything healthy or edifying to the folks that read it. Get some spiritual maturity and tend to your own flock if you have one and stop grinding axes.
Angie,
You missed the point, and I invite you to search this blog (the search box is in the upper right hand corner of this page) to see all of the scriptures that I’ve referenced regarding exposing intentional doctrinal error and the vipers who engage in it. I’ll address your points (again) in light of scripture:
I’ve already blogged about the “judge not” retort and how it’s taken completely out of context. God is the FINAL judge, but scripture clearly dictates our role as followers of Christ when exposing (judging) error FROM WITHIN the church. For example, it’s scriptural for me to call someone out for adultry - as long as I am not doing so as an adulterer myself (thus, hypocrisy). Further, God clearly expresses His desire for us to judge/discern through His Word:
- 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
- Proverbs 3:21
- John 7:24
- Jeremiah 22:3
- Philippians 1:7
- Philippians 1:10
As I stated in my previous comment to you - I do not exercise any godly rule over anyone (except for my wife and my children, as is fitting according to the Word of God). As I am encased in flesh (as are you, the readers of this blog, and the vipers who prey on God’s people), I sin daily - not intentionally and without conviction, but as a human. When I do, I repent before the Lord AND to anyone who I may have wronged (including my wife and family, friends, and even other folks who have commented on this blog that I treated harshly).
I’m still curious as to how you can be both in favor of me speaking truth, yet you seem to think that I am “tearing people down” or “putting their business all over the internet”. I don’t deal with these vipers personal issues - I deal with their public apostasy and heresy. The one exception was Jeremiah Wright’s marriage - but only in the context that it contrasted his self-proclaimed love for the black family. Since these vipers hold influence over millions of people, I’m of the opinion that it is EXTREMELY important to shine the Word of God on their ungodly deeds.
Even though we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, the flesh is still responsible for the harm that the spirits have wrought through it - thus we prosecute and imprison murderers even though “a spirit” may have made them do it. As Christians, we can not excuse these vipers by saying “the spirits made them do it” when they clearly revel in their error, and dare anyone to call them on it (likewise for their followers).
Let’s just agree to disagree, Angie. I respect your perspective but I will continue using God’s Word to expose His enemies so that the sheep stop falling prey to their schemes.
Damon,
Your rhetorical questions can be answered by you if you looked at the various articles that I wrote on this blog. I will, however, address your points as you attempted to make them:
As I said to Angie - do a search OF THE ENTIRE CONTENT of this blog to get the answer to that misstatement. Not that it will matter to you, but I state emphatically that we as Christians should pray for those who claim to be Christian, yet act completely counter to God’s Word - particularly those who claim leadership in the church. When they have been confronted with the truth and reject it, however, then we must avoid them - and warn others to avoid them as well.
What do you consider gossip, Damon? Do you not verify the links that I provide to read or view video of what these vipers say and do? Also, I blog to help shine the light of truth on the apostasy and heresy that is running rampant in the church today. This is not a paid gig, and applying the Word of God as the final arbitor doesn’t make me popular, but I don’t care.
These ministries will continue to thrive because it’s the Lord’s will the we see the counterfeits and can (hopefully) see how they pale in comparison to Him - and the loyal followers will defend these vipers more than they will defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m just another voice calling them on their garbage, so folks can choose to believe the Word or the pimp - that choice is their’s…and yours.
You can use the search box in the upper right hand corner to find my articles on the apostate Roman Catholic Church, salvation through Christ alone, the 5 solas of the reformation, expository preaching, and so on. I’ve obviously struck a nerve by calling out the pimps and vipers yet (strangely) not many people like to comment on the topics I referenced above.
Also, why are you even here commenting - since I’m not “contributing anything healthy” to you as a (temporary) reader?
I have spiritual maturity Damon - especially since I fled the influence of my former pulpit pimps - and it is my passionate pursuit for God through Jesus Christ and His Word that pushes me to learn more and more everyday. Interestingly, the more I learn about Him, the more I learn that those who claim to represent Him are really the wolves and vipers that He and the Apostles told us to avoid in the first place.
I’m not a pastor, so my only flock is my wife and children, and I thank God through Jesus Christ that I’ve been a better “in-home” minister to them since I fled my pimps and returned to His Word. So, I’ll stop “grinding the axe” when the wolves and vipers stop exploiting God’s people and destroying His Word for their own selfish and sordid gain.
And just in case I didn’t say it sufficiently earlier - I am praying for you.
Yes, let’s agree to disagree, and I too will continue to use God’s word to speak Truth and LOVE.
Damon,
Take your personal feelings out of the discussion and look at God’s word. Does it line up?
Spiritual maturity is only gained via feasting on the Word of God. I said feast on His word not on a tape or CD. If you would take the time to read ST’s blog and reference it against the Word of God you’d see that your comments fall short of being correct. Lets tabernacle on some of your comments:
A)”Not once in this blog did you say that you are going to pray for these people-read it back yourself”.
Evidently brother you have not exhausted your perusal of the blog. ST often refers to praying for these heretics!This is the Christian character and I applaud him for his submittal to the word of God MT 5:43-44
B)”What do you hope to achieve with this blog? I mean really? Do you think that you will in any way affect these ministries by your gossip?”
What I “Think” ST hopes to attain is the same thing I hope to attain-Approval from the Lord God of a job well done. We are part of a Royal Priesthood. It is every Christian’s duty to fight against heresy. Read the book of Jude! And if you need some cliff notes to the Priesthood of the Believer feel free to check this out:
http://escapee.wordpress.com/2008/06/07/know-slow-your-role-roll-what-your-pimp-does-not-want-you-to-know-pimpistry-101-part-4/
I bless God for ST because he allowed God to use him to help me see the cultic and metaphysical theology. His blog challenged me to seek the scriptures for myself and draw back to the fundamental tenants of our faith. His blog (and others like ST’s) helped me see just how messed up these pimps and club owners are! I beg you to take a look, a deeper look at the content. You ARE NOT going to agree 100% with ST. When you disagree do it so via the word using Christan Apologetics.
Could it be that you who have made a point to name and target African Americans have an issue with racism?
C’mon Angie - let’s not go there.
I’ve only sat under and served black pulpit pimps, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve cornered the market on apostasy and heresy. Again, search the 90+ aricles that I’ve written to detail how I’ve called out Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Paula White, Todd Bentley, Patricia King, and other “non-black” heretics as well.
The truth - correction, God’s truth - is colorblind. I’m a black man from Chicago so I guess that makes me an Oreo, Uncle Tom, sell out, etc. I guess I should just go in my prayer closet and cover my eyes and ears until they all just go away.
Angie, if you want to continue commenting, it would really serve you well to research this blog and some of the many articles that I’ve posted - then you’d have a better perspective on my point of view. Otherwise, you’re simply wasting your time with your unsubstantiated drive-by comments.
I simply read the current daiy blog that you have posted about about pulpit pimps ( the very term itself, by the way, is derogatory) and nowhere in that specific blog are you noted as saying that you will pray for these individuals–unless you have a double secret daily blog that I am not aware of. I also know from my own dad being an assemblies of God pastor for 45 years that those organizations charge dues and fees as well- why didn’t you expose the “denominational pimps” in that same blog? Get out on the streets, speaking truth and get into the trenches on a daily basis and then you will see that your time is much better spent dealing face to face with people, not ranting about spirituality on the computer.
p.s. You are totally right-I am a very temporary reader of this mess and you will not see me here again. I pray that God will enlighten you further and let you know that the harvest is out there in the streets and that it is about setting your hands to the field work of the gospel and fishing for men–not wasting time making yourself feel spiritually superior to others-again, I say put down that axe and get out and labor for there are so few of us already.
Oops! Sorry, think I hit a nerve. You’re right I am wasting my time. It’s clear that you only want comments that are in agreement to your opinions which seem to stem from hurt and hatred. Continue to do what you think is right and don’t forget that we all fall short.
P.S Please remember to tell The Good News!
You’re right Damon, there are pimps within the AOG…thanks for contributing to the blog
!
The only nerve you hit Angie was the nerve attached to my common sensibility. Again, let’s just agree to disagree - but let’s disagree based on facts and sound doctrine and not just your affinity for “peace” with the pimps. I enjoy having intelligent discussion with those who disagree - you just don’t possess sound reason when attempting to craft your “arguments”.
Thanks for stopping by Angie & Damon but I’ve grown tired of the useless volley. Both of you have been given the truth and (for whatever reason) you choose to reject it. Since you won’t be stopping by again anyway, this is a great place to end.
Thanks again for stopping by…
Speaking Truth,
First, I want to ask for your forgiveness if I’ve offended you in any way, that was never my intention. I too have been hurt in ministry and have discovered some wrong practices and teachings which led me to really dig into the word for myself, but I choose to educate others by sharing my experience and telling my story without hurting those who hurt me. God won’t even allow me to degrade those people. I think about Saul and David and how Saul tried to kill David multiple times but David refused to retaliate. I’m sure he wanted to but he didn’t. I also think of Judas, Jesus knew the very motive of Judas’ heart, that Judas would soon betray him, but still allowed him to sit at the table and have supper with him. My intial point to you was speak truth without name calling and hurting others. I believe that you’ll be more effective if you present your information in the way of LOVE. It seems as if you may have a vengeance against these people but the word of God says that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
P.S I will join you and continue to pray for those who are knowingly and ignorantly deceiving God’s sheep.
God bless you!
As for Damon, he can speak for himself. He’s his own person
Angie, you didn’t offend me, and I appreciate and accept your apology. I’ve admitted countless times on this blog how I’ve been personally disappointed to learn that the men I served and once held in high esteem were nothing more than wolves who intentionally deceive God’s people. I’ve also admitted that I blog from a personal perspective because I know firsthand how easy it is for one to fall into allegiance to a pimpistry when you neglect the Word of God and instead take the word of a pimp.
I am biased when it comes to the things I’ve done, seen, and sanctioned. I am not biased, however, when it comes to applying the Word of God to any of it. I repented before the Lord for my part on the plantations that I served on, processed my emotions, got back into the Word of God, and now I’m just another voice sounding the alarm. I didn’t start this blog the day after I left my pimp - it took time for me to deal with what I went through. In fact, I didn’t want to blog at all - but it was through God’s Word that I learned of my mandate to defend and contend for the faith.
My personal experiences were with pimps, so that’s the perspective that I blog from. I am also a student of reformed theology and expository biblical study and preaching, so I blog on that as well. The names that I use are intentional because they aptly describe exactely what is going on in Christ’s church today (pimp, apostate, heretic, tool of satan, etc.).
I evangelize the Gospel to the lost every time God presents the opportunity to me. I also receive hundreds of emails weekly from people who are (1) stuck on a plantation and afraid to leave, (2) left a plantation and their friends and family stop speaking with them, (3) happy on their plantation and threatning to kill me and my family for “putting my mouth on their man of God”. I educate and present truth as the Lord leads - and move on from there.
My telling the truth or “calling names” doesn’t hurt these vipers and wolves because they could care less about what anybody thinks or says of them (and I know this from first-hand experience). They surround themselves with sycophants who agree with everything that they do, so their surrogates are far more vitriolic about protecting the wolves than the wolves themselves are. I am as effective at what I’m doing as the Lord would allow, and it is my unwavering love for God and His sheep that drags me to this keyboard - especially since this is an unpaid gig and I have a loving family that (surprisingly) enjoy my company as well.
I don’t have a vengeance against anyone - I simply take my responsibility seriously. I didn’t intend to “get snippy” with you or Damon, it just bothers me when people take issue with an article without taking a look at any of the varying topics I’ve blogged about in the past. As I said in my earlier comment (and I apologize for the “tone” of it) - I allow all manor of disagreeing comments on this blog (except for the ignorant ones) and the purpose of the blog is to spark debate in the first place. I’ve gone back and forth with others in a civil manner, and we’ve just agreed to hold to our own positions.
The bottom line is this Angie - we’re on the same side, I simply adopt the Jude method in light of the peril we see today.
God bless you as well.
BTW - I know that Damon is in his own bowl of ignorance soup, so I won’t lump him in with you…
Oh my my my the church is going to Hell. How on earth have we gone so far? This is nothing but another form of slavery if you look at it, the churches are plantations (not all of em) you got your slave master pastors, that tithe the sheeple to death and God forbid they ever need their pastor. There is no discipling in these churches, no nothing people are left to fend for themselves, but oh if you try to leave the plantation you will get beat with many stripes and called everything but a child of God. All that many that leave were trying to do was get freedom, and something to eat, you got folks in these plantations suffering from spiritual Anorexia while the pimps are spiritually obese (not with the word). Huuuuuuh what to do? Much prayer, much prayer!!
~Anointed