I don’t post this to call out this “child preacher”, but it further illustrates the point that I continue to make: the Body of Christ is in DIRE NEED of sound expository preaching:
Christians love to be entertained. We like the “purr” of the Hammond organ, the preachers gravelly voice when he shouts “Y’all don’t hear me!”, and the circus-like atmosphere of people jumping over pews, spinning on their heads, and speaking in “tongues”.
There have always been “baby evangelists” in the Pentecostal church, but to me, this kid (also known as “Baby TD Jakes”) is a product of the hyper-emotional business model of Church Inc. – the modern day Body of Christ.
When you explore the tenets of expository preaching, you’ll see how far off base this phenomenon is. As I wrote previously, according to Wikipedia:
Expository preaching differs from topical preaching in that the former concentrates on a specific text and discusses topics covered therein, whereas the latter concentrates on a specific topic and references texts covering the topic.
Noted expository preacher John McArthur emphasizes the need for sound biblical teaching even more explicitly:
Well first, because it is a biblical mandate. It doesn’t fluctuate with culture, with expectations, with times or seasons. Expository preaching is the best way to preach the Bible. If every word of God is pure, if every word of God is true, then every word needs to be dealt with. And expository preaching is only way you actually come to grips with every word in the Scriptures.
Secondly, expository preaching familiarizes people with the Scripture itself instead of simply giving them a speech, as true and as reflective of biblical teaching as that speech may be. With expository preaching, people become familiar with the Scripture. They can go back to the passages that have been addressed, and they can be reminded by the text itself of what it means. So you give people the Word of God in a way that has long-term impact, because it makes them familiar with Scripture.
Thirdly, it makes the authority unequivocal, and that authority is the Scripture. That’s very clear no matter how powerful or gifted the preacher might be. In consistent, expository preaching, the people always know what the authority is. It’s not about homiletics. It’s not about personal viewpoints and insights. It’s about relentlessly affirming the true authority of Scripture, which is the most critical thing that anybody can ever learn. It isn’t about, “Wasn’t that a great sermon?” It isn’t about, “Wasn’t that a great outline? Wasn’t that clever?” It’s always about, “What did the Word of God say?” And that makes it truly authoritative, because the Word is from God. No other preaching paradigm does this.
What does a child know about the Doctrines of Grace? What does a child know about salvation through the Blood of Christ alone and not in works? What does a child know about regeneration, the Doctrine of the Trinity, or the parallels between the Books of Daniel and Revelation?
I believe that they don’t know any of those things. But, they’ve watched enough TBN, The Word Network, and their own pastors to know how to wear the funny suit, sing/talk, and “pull it” at the end.
Folks, this isn’t a teaching opportunity to proclaim liberty through Jesus Christ and discipleship of men – it’s a joke. And the joke is on the Body of Christ – the folks who take this stuff seriously.
And please save your defense of “Jesus said that we must become like children in order to receive His message, these kids are called by God” – because you show your ignorance lack of biblical knowledge when you misquote Matthew 18:3.
When you look at Matthew 18:2-4 in context (I know, it’s boring to expand scripture instead of chopping it up into convenient chunks), you’ll see what Jesus really said:
2And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
3and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and (A)become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
4“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
So, Jesus didn’t say that “only children will enter the Kingdom” or “only baby preachers will enter the Kingdom” – He said we must be like children…or posses faith in Him that hasn’t made us cynical. We must posses child-like, trusting faith in Him.
So, this is pretty, um, “interesting” to watch – but does this display make the unrepentant sinner stop cold in their tracks to seek the Reedeming Blood of Jesus?
I don’t think so.
Oh, and somebody please change this kid’s nickname – I don’t think the world could take another “TD Jakes”…
I'm Speaking Truth... 
I ve seen this vid before. Man, I couldnt have said it better. The joke is on the church for calling this boy a preacher when he is doing nothing more than mimicking the popular hoopsters of the day. A string of church cliches strung together and packaged in feel good pentecostal wrapping.
Contrast that to Jesus in the Temple at age 12 debating with those skilled in the law and you can see that the joke is on the church.
I saw this kid on National TV as part of a documentary. I can’t say that this is even remotely edifying to my young soul. On the other hand, I like the preaching of folks like my pastor Dr. Peter Masters {www.mettab.org). No frills, no annoying Hammonds, no flashy suit – just straight up exposition which even a kid could follow…
I agree with gcmwatch – the joke is ultimately on Christendom…
Good point gcmwatch – when 12 year old Jesus was in the temple, he was discussing the law with the leaders of the day…he wasn’t hooping and parroting
an entertainera “preacher”.Doug, this display isn’t edifying to anyone’s soul – yet many subject themselves to this lunacy at the hands of an adult twice a week! This kid has been prepped and rehearsed to act like the charlatans that we all see on a regular basis, and (unfortunately), he’s got it down to a “T”.
When I was 6, I used to come home from church on Sunday, line up my teddy bears, and “preach” to them. I’d hoop and holler, hold my ear and yell “Can I get a witness…say ‘yeah'” just like my childhood pastor did, and my mother would shake her head, laugh, and tell me to clean up.
I wish someone would do the same for this kid.
From an adult, I can tolerate – that kid is the age of my brother…only a Pentecostal/Charismatic type could agree with this. After all, it’s the Spirit LOL
Brother Speaking Truth,
This type of “show” is why the black Church is seen as a joke in the eyes of America and the world. I am like you, I wonder if this child can even read and “comprehend” the holy scriptures. I hear too many people say, especially in black, charismatic, pentecostal circles say, “Bishop..pastor…such and such sure can preach…” My question to them is, “What did the LORD say?”
I remember about 2 or 3 years ago watching on The Today Show a piece about this young preacher kid, no older than 10-12 from Florida. His mother or grandmother was the pastor…and this kid was “whooping” and “Say Yes!” like the kid in the video. NBC had the kid and his twin brother on the drums and he did a concert of his preaching on the Today Show set…I watched a white lady in the audience with a bewildered look on her face of what was going on…I never forget that in my spirit I felt embarrassed and ashamed by this spectacle…The sad part, I am pretty sure that this kid’s family and church were convinced that the “Lord was using him” and that they were on national television!
I am 37, my hometown church in southern Virginia recognized the children for achieving ACADEMICALLY! What happened to praising our kids for being on the honor roll! The black church historically was the place where our people learned how to read and write…it was black ministers that founded many of our HBCUs!
My question, Where did we-the black church fall and how did we get to where we are now as mentioned by GCMWatch, A Joke????
Keep on Speaking Truth Brother!
Welcome EW -it’s about time you made it by 🙂
Many churches recognize academic achievement – even the plantation I fled publicly recognized academic success several times a year. The problem is that many charismatics are always looking for a “fresh move of God”. They always claim that we can’t get stuck in “grandmomma’s” church-model because God is “doing a new thing”.
Well, we now know that as code language for “we’ve got to do things that will continue to attract people to the show, so that we can continue to entertain them”. I’m sure if yo ulook up “child preachers” on youtube, you’ll see all manner of laying on of hands, casting out demons, etc – at the hands of kids!
And yup, most HBCU’s were born out of the black church – and supported by the black church financially too. It was the norm to be sitting in an AME service when the collection plate came around to give more money to Morris Brown and other AME universities – now, the plate comes around because pastor pimp needs new rims or a gate for his pool.
This crap will stop when we stop paying to see it. If all Christians (black, white, and other) would DEMAND SOUND EXPOSITORY TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD – and stop attending these
clubschurches that resemble the circus, then the leaders would get the hint.Further, these “pastors” have to get over their disdain for formal biblical education – and stop spawning clones by “laying on hands”. Even the pastors with formal seminary education need to stop being so deep and confusing their followers because they’re not impressing anyone but themselves.
Sound biblical teaching is the (sometimes painstaking) process of studying scripture as it is written to determine what God is saying through His Word. It might not make you run every Sunday & Wednesday, but it will instruct you in righteous living…for His glory.
I thank GOD for your witness Brother,
You know–the TEST is on right now for ALL Christians. Will listening to the Showmanship Church give me meat and strength when I am facing a test or will being DISCIPLED and learning the HARD truth of how live to HOLY, die to self, taking up one’s cross daily keep me!
I have had to learn the Hard way and I see many brothers WENT but they were not SENT! Preaching and teaching the things of GOD are not for a NOVICE…1 Timothy 3:6 & 10
…Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil…And let these also first be proved…
2 Timothy 4:5…make full proof of thy ministry.
I know for myself, I had to REPENT and RETURN to the first works and my first love–CHRIST! I tell any believer Talk is CHEAP if you cannot stand on what you believe!
The enemy and the world is mocking and laughing at people who endorse USING/EXPLOITING a child in this manner…It is no different than trying to get your child on TV to be rich or a movie star!
LORD have mercy on us!
Amen EW!
We are seeing the beginning of the “falling away” that Paul warned Timothy about (1 Timothy 4:1).
I know that most of the mega-church pastors have never heard of Todd Bentley, Ekhart Tolle, Esther HIcks, Patricia King, Bob Jones, and other witches and demons who are seducing saints into following a doctrine of demons. They’re too busy playing games with God’s people.
Like you, I want to be ready when the TRUE tests come so that I can show myself approved before the Lord. You’ll have to contend for the faith then, not recite some catchy phrase that you learned from a pimp (or a miniature pimp-in-training).
The church better start picking up that book that’s collecting dust on their coffee tables and learning it’s truths or they’re going to be sorely surprised.
EW, youre right, when the antichrist does show up, he wont have much of a problem. The pimps and false prophets are heavily prepping the church not to be able to recognize the REAL JESUS. The real Jesus is only revealed in the REAL WORD, which of course they rarely seem to be interested in. Props, wild theatrics, “revelations” and an assortment of kooky, weird voodoo-like practices have invaded the church…and some folks actually like it!
Lets endeavor not to be proud, but saddened and repentant at the state of the church(like Daniel was). Perhaps the Lord will change his mind about the punishment that is sure to come.
Don’t worry about this kind of thing , please read the bible and preach the truth and the word of God will take care of everything.For instance, this boy preacher was ordained by his mama . If for 2000 years we were preaching that it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church and woman are not suppose to teach , we would not have this toddler preaching the gospel of Jesus. Most of you that are mad today about that are probably agreeing with woman preaching. so what is the big deal. if a woman can preach ,why not a toddler. They both wrong.
Dogs get mad chutedent, people get angry – and no one on this site is angry. This article is an illustration of how far we’ve strayed from sound expository preaching – period.
Women being allowed to preach? A topic for another day. And many of us are less and less surprised by the apostasy that we’re seeing today, so this is simply par for the course.
THE HOLINESS OF GOD
…preach the Word with fear and trembling and do not treat it as a humorous thing or of your own opinion
When a man of God enters the pulpit and stands behind the sacred desk to preach God’s Word, he should do so with humility, brokenness, urgency, and under the charge of heaven to preach the Word, in season and out of season – and nothing but the Word. His aim is not to tickle ears, or appeal to the congregation, to raise the level of their yearly offerings, to increase attendance, or relate to the culture. His duty is God to proclaim His Word cut straight and to call people to live in obedience to its truths.
If a man does not Preach the Word rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15) and is only offering his opinions on any given passage, then he has not preached the Word. The people do not need to hear a man’s “take” on a given passage, but to actually hear and know the Word itself – to understand the sense of it; what it actually means; and what it says (Neh. 8:8). If a pastor has wrongly divided God’s Word according to only his own proclivities, moorings, and opinions and not according to the consistent truth of Scripture, and has declared his message to be, “thus saith the Lord” – then that man, regardless of the response of the hearers, is under God’s judgment (James 3:1; 2 Peter 3:16).
How awesome the task for any of us who proclaim the gospel and preach God’s Word to rightly divide it as workmen unashamed, approved unto God; not offering our opinions; but declaring it as it is in fact, the very Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13).
When Isaiah saw a right view of the holiness of God in Isaiah 6, he also saw a right view of his own sin and sinfulness. His first response was not to be funny, cute, witty, jovial, culturally relevant, hip, trendy, etc. The Scriptures tell us that he “came undone”; he pronounced eternal damnation on his sin sick soul when he said in agony “woe is me…” He was brought low and trembled with reverence and godly fear before the one true Lord God of all to whom he would (and you and I as well) would give an account. Is it any wonder, when he was given forgiveness for his sins and was restored to ministry, that this same prophet declared these words: “to this one will I look; who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My Word.” (Is. 66:2).
We don’t see much trembling in the pulpit these days do we beloved? We see men of God strutting; wanting to mimic Chris Rock, be culturally relevant, humorous, on the cutting edge, etc. – but void of true heaven sent power in their preaching. They are drawing crowds, these self made prophets, but heaven is as brass to their easy, smooth words (Isaiah 30:10-12).
“Oh Lord, bring revival to the pulpits of our churches once again. Let these men, called by You, charged by heaven to preach the Word in season and out of season. And may they preach not themselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord! Amen.”
Preach the Word
Neh. 8:8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.
2Tim. 4:1 ¶ I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2Tim. 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
Is. 6:1 ¶ In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.
Is. 6:2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Is. 6:3 And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
Is. 6:4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.
Is. 6:5 Then I said,
“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Is. 66:2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
2Cor. 5:11 ¶ Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
2Cor. 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
2Cor. 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2Cor. 4:7 ¶ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
Posted by SJ Camp at 10:17:00 AM
Labels: biblical preaching, fear of the Lord, holiness
17 iron sharpens iron:
pray4m3 said…
WOW, thank you for blogging on this. It has been a burden of my heart for quite a long time to Preach the Word, in season and out. A very Godly man whom was a role model for me growing had a saying that I use to this day. “Be ready to preach, pray or die instantly.” This has been a true saying and God has branded it on my heart. Now as I follow his leading to seminary I pray that He anchors my faith in the Gospel ounce and for all delivered to the saints. To God be the Glory forever.
Jerry Venable
11:10
Arthur Sido said…
Amen to that Camp,
The sign of a godly preacher is not how entertaining he is, or how sincere he sounds, or how relevant, or how clever his jokes or stories or how many home visits he does. It is marked by his fidelity to the Word of God.
There are plenty of entertainers out there who are far more clever and amusing than any preacher. If I want to be entertained, I will go to a movie or a comedy club. But when I am in the house of the Lord, I want to hear “Thus sayeth the Lord”. The world is full of talented entertainers, but faithful preachers of the Word are in woefully short supply.
11:46
The Spokesman said…
We don’t see much trembling in the pulpit these days do we beloved? We see men of God strutting; wanting to mimic Chris Rock, be culturally relevant, humorous, on the cutting edge, etc. – but void of true heaven sent power in their preaching. They are drawing crowds, these self made prophets, but heaven is as brass to their easy, smooth words (Isaiah 30:10-12).
The problem lies in a man-centered view of missions and salvation (the happiness of man) rather than a God-centered view of missions and salvation (the holiness of God and His intention to make man holy for His glory). After Isaiah saw God’s holiness he was forever changed and from then on spoke of the Holy One of Israel. Also it was then that Isaiah heard God ask not “who will go for them (lost mankind)” but “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8).
A man-centered approach to ministry will always result in a toned-down God (He’s really not so Holy and so far above us), a lifted-up man (he’s really not so bad and so far below God), and a watered-down message void of true heaven sent power.
The kid in this video is the exact same kid that EnochWalked is talking about in his comment. I found an article about this young man here:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/08/Floridian/Pastor_Terry.shtml
and he was profiled on 20/20 as well
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3717627&page=1
Yup, that’s the same kid djenk23.
Check out a few “nuggets” from the St. Petersburg newspaper article on “Baby TD Jakes”:
So this kid can’t tie his own shoes, dresses like a pimp because he saw one “dressed in all gold”, and has been “laying hands” on people since he was pooping in a diaper?
And that is why the Body of Christ is running head-first into unabashed apostasy – because we can’t even grasp the firm foundation of the Gospel message AND we’re more interested in being entertained by a kid who can imitate a “preacher”.
Now, if this kid can give a CLEAR explanation of the Doctrine of Justification, then I’ll shut my mouth.
I agreed with you
Why not anoint the family parrot? He can talk. Okay what’s next? I’m laughing my head off! It’s a sad indictment, men will put up anything. And you know what I would be impress, if he would have came with something theologically deep and profound. And Speaking Truth, AMEN!
Oh forgot, Teddy Pendergrass and Al Sharpton were boy preachers too!
joyfulfreedom1,
TP was a baby preacher – really?
Wow…maybe we should anoint the family parrot 😆
Yeah, Teddy was a boy preacha! Or us they used to say wonderboy preacha!
Youtube is filled with baby and boy preachers! Tragic, tragic! And again since there’s no boundaries why not the family parrot!
PS
You have to see the Kanon Tipton Preaching World’s Youngest Preacher on youtube!
Wait he lost all his money? Milk? Lunch? Allowance? He’s got that hoop down to a science at 8, though.