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…
I'm Speaking Truth... 
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
amen
Pimping Tom, don’t need to work, don’t no job–but does a job on the febble minded and relieves them of their money. Jakes is no more than a common political prostitute for the new age religion and milk toast christianity. Now, I understand why T. D. Jakes wants to endorse homosexuality–he is one and so is son.Perhaps that is why he can identify with other men’s desire to “just want the smell of a man…” I guess that’s what made him proposition Richard Youngblood for sex–those he-motions. Another thing, if you look at magazine cover or photos of Jakes, you will see his hands are allows positioned to display occult symbolism. Like the book of Daniel,”…They will chose to serve the god of forces.” I guess it makes sense that Jakes told Obama, “…Let the force be with you,” which is a very powerful occult reference.
Hey Damon,
When Satan was cast out of Heaven, were there any prayers offered for him and his angels? I believe there was a warning posted for he people of the earth, “WOE!!” Therefore, do not cast your pearls before swine because they may turn and rend you. A reprobate is beyond pray–the false prophets have sold themselves into whoredom and sorcery.
something you said stuck out at me, you said,
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:
you say from within the church,you dont go to church so how can you judge the church.
going to church? doesnt the bible tell you not to forsake the gathering together?
we as christians need to recheck our lives, the sad part so called christians church hop because they didnt like they asked for tithe, money must be there god then maybe, we as humans look for conveniance, why grill when you have a drive thru, why wash your car by hand when you can sit in your car and have it done, that mentality gets men and woman of god in trouble.
David in 2 Samuel 24:24
And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
david was a man after gods own heart. God doesnt need your money but he test your heart and your motives.
WHAT PRICE ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR YOUR KIDS YOUR WIFE AND GOD? WHAT IS IT GONNA COST? DAVID KNEW HOW TO HONOR GOD WITH EVERYTHING HE HAD AND WASNT ABOUT TO GIVE SECOND RATE THINGS TO GOD.
YOU ARE BITTER BECAUSE YOU GREW UP IN A SMALL CHURCH AND SEE THESE MEN BEING USED BY GOD AND WE WANT TO JUDGE THEM. JESUS SAID YOU WILL BE KNOWN BY YOUR FRUITS. WHERE ARE YOUR FRUITS? YOU ARE A GOOD MAN AND A SOLID TREE BUT WHERE ARE YOUR FRUITS. IF YOU LOOK INTO THOSE CHURCHES YOU WILL FIND A HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO LEAVE AND DISAGREE WHAT IS TAUGHT AND SPREAD IT AROUND BUT DOES THAT MATCH THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES BEING CHANGED BY THE POWER OF GOD IN THERE CHURCHES. 10000 MEMBERS AND 50 TO 100 COMPLAIN PLEASE THAT IS IN EVERY CHURCH, WHAT I SEE IS FRUIT MARRRIAGES RESTORED, HEALINGS,DELIVERANCES, FRUIT. WHEN WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU PRAYED FOR GOT HEALED BY GOD,DELIVERD AND SET FREE, SINCE JESUS SAID Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:7-9 (in Context) Matthew 10 (Whole Chapter)
IF YOUR NOT DOING THAT YOUR RELIGOUS AND LAST TIME I CHECKED GOD CREATED RELATIONSHIPS NOT RELIGION.
WHAT YOU READ AND GET OUT OF THE BIBLE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THEN ME OR THEM BUT THAT IS GOD’S AMAZING WAYS, YOUR REVELATION ON PAUL SAYING 1 Corinthians 4:15
For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:14-16 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 4 (Whole Chapter)
TO TIMOTHY 1 Timothy 1:2
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 1 (Whole Chapter)
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1 Timothy 1:17-19 (in Context) 1 Timothy 1 (Whole Chapter)
2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
THE END OF THIS IS THIS, WE WANT A PERFECT CHURCH BUT WHEN WE WALK IN IT, IT IS NOT PERFECT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT.BUT IT IS FOR ARE CHARACTER BUILDING GOD ALLOWS US TO GO THRU THINGS AND SEE DEFECT IN CHURCHS. START YOUR OWN CHURCH AND DONT DO IT LIKE THEM AND BE THE EXAMPLE GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE, LET GOD DEAL WITH THEM.
WE WILL DISAGREE AND AGREE ON MANY THINGS BUT I WARN IN THIS THE BIBLE SAYS NOT TO TALK ABOUT HIS ANNOINTED OR GOD WILL CURSE YOU.
SO BE WISE IN WHO YOU JUDGE BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH HOW THEY DO THINGS, BECAUSE YOU WERE TAUGHT SOMETHING ELSE. THERE IS TO MUCH FRUIT TO SAY ANYTHING OVER MATERIAL THINGS AND IF WE ARE FOCUSED ON MATERIAL THINGS WE ARE SELFISH AND GOD WILL DEAL WITH US ACCORDINGLY.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND MAY YOU RECIEVE GODS WISDOM AND TRUTH TO HELP OTHERS AND NOT TEAR DOWN BECAUSE WE CAN ALL DO THAT AND WE DONT NEED THAT.
First, Adam, when you type in all capital letters, it implies that you are yelling – which I hope is not the case.
You made a series of assumptions in your comment, and I will address them rationally:
When/where did I say that I don’t go to church? I’ve stated that I am not a formal member of a church, but I never said that I don’t go to church at all. Further, I understand the importance of biblical study and worship, so I lead my family in study and we worship where the Lord leads regularly – I simply choose to avoid the pimps and liars mentioned in this article (and others).
I agree that people shouldn’t leave churches over minor reasons, but extorting tithes and money, intimidation, heretical doctrine, false prophesying and other ungodly activity is a pretty good reason to flee a church. In fact, I advocate that every believer should search the scriptures themselves to see if their pastors (or anyone, for that matter) are preaching God’s truth or man’s distorted lie. Since true biblical study takes work and effort, many stay put as opposed to doing the work, then it seems to me that the convenience of sitting in an entertaining (yet scripturally unsound) church far outweighs the discomfort of searching for a church that is NOT perfect, but modeling Christ and preaching holiness and salvation instead of “bless me now!”.
You have just repeated the often dictated mantra of (almost) every pulpit pimp stalking the earth today. You quote 2 Samuel 24 out of context and use it to assert that I have to pay God in order to protect my wife and children from His judgment? Would I hold back God’s Hand of judgement by paying Pimp Eddie Long $250 a year – or giving Pimp I.V. Hilliard $50 plus monthly administrative costs? What judgment am I asking God to hold back by offering something to Him? Are you implying that the Blood of Jesus (which superceded and rendered moot the animal sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament) is insufficient in this New Covenenat?
Who said I “grew up in a small church”, and if I did, so what? I’m not bitter, Adam, I am alert – and I can smell BS a mile away. I’m also angry over the amount of ignorance that precedes and follows the pimps listed above (and others). These “men of God” are using GOd, not being used by Him (well, I suppose they are being used in His will to help seperate the sheep from the goats). Hopefully my fruit is abundantly clear – to compel the sheep to read the Word for themselves and to follow earnest pastors who don’t want their money for selfish gain. We can publicly see the fruit of the pimps mentioned above (and others).
You’re right Adam the few rabble rousers who complain that the Word of God is not being taught and that the pimps are stealing money are worse off than those who don’t say anything. God heals, delivers, restores whomever He desires – whether He does it in the privacy of a living room, a small gathering during bible study in a basement or in someone’s prayer closet. Are you implying that God only moves because these pimps have created such a fever pitch in their
“worship services”club meetings?Let me extend a metaphor…would you blow the whistle on a child molestor in your neighborhood if the molestor was a doctor and esteemed member of society? “Sure, he likes to touch children and perform lewd acts, but so many people benefit from his care.
Well, these pimps intellectually molest the sheep every time they open the church doors to “preach” out of context and for selfish gain – does that excuse their wickedness?
When was the last time you prayed for someone and they were raised from the dead, Adam? Isn’t that what Jesus did in John 11 and Matthew 11:5?
God is Sovereign, and He does what He wants when He wants and to/for whom He wants to do it. One of the problem with the word of faith heresy that your heroes in the article above embrace is that they think we are little gods, so we can replicate God and Jesus here on the earth. Even Paul knew the proper posture when his prayers weren’t answered (1 Corinthians 12:7-10). So I’ll ask you…when was the last time that you prayed for wolves like Eddie Long, TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, IV Hilliard and others to fall on their faces and repent before the Lord? When did you last pray that the sheep who were scattered because of these false teachers would find comfort in the pure Word of God and faithful and honest teachers?
Also, your qoute of Corinthians and Timothy are (again) the same scriptures that these vile vipers use to assuage “sons and daughters” to “submit” to their authority. The crux of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy (and followers) is 1 Corinthians 11:1, and Peter is explicit in his warning to those who lead in the Body of Christ (1 Peter 5:1-5) – do you contend that these wolves are NOT acting compulsively while seeking selfish gain and lording over the sheep?
I disagree – I DO NOT WANT A PERFECT CHURCH, I want a church that earnestly seeks the heart of God and produces disciples that do the same. God does allow us to go through things for a reason (interestingly you recognize God’s soveriegnty in your statement here whereas you presume that we can command God’s sovereignty if we “give Him something” in your earlier statement…anyway…). It would be selfish for those of us who have gained knowledge to keep it to ourselves while others continue to fall victim to vipers and pulpit wolves. I do not desire to “start my own church”, Adam, I am fulfilling my biblical mandate by being the prophet (declaring the Word of God to my family), priest (leading my family in worship, study, and praise) and king (the protector) of my household – and NOT relying on ANY pastor to do my primary job for me. We don’t need more churches, we need effective churches.
You have again repeated an out of context admonition to “touch not God’s anointed” when a clear exegesis details the fundamental meaning behind that phrase. Once again – you contradict yourself by saying we are “focused on material things” when you begin your comment by detailing how giving God material things shows my comittment to Him.
The bottom-line is this: I will continue to expose these vile vipers until the Lord deems my work is complete, and I will use their own wicked words AND the Word of God to expose them for the liars and huckster that they are.
Speaking truth how are today, good i hope
these will be my last writings so god bless and the caps i used were not to yell or scream even though i know how it looks,i have peace and the presence of god,i am not here to be a critic but a fellow brother in god, so here i go and please dont take offense unless it is worthy of an offense.i am just a man with a low education and you might not like my spelling so please forgive me but it is from the heart and i am speakin truth
we can find things in the bible we don see in the same view because that is your revelation. Look at religion
god speaks of religion only couple times in the bible compared to the thousand on THE IMPORTANCE OF Relationship.But instead of building relationships we build churches and it becomes another religous activity and we complain about the church down the street because they speak in tounges and we dont and we dont have the revelation they have so we call it hericy.”RELIGION”= hundreds of denominations= disfuntional body. we are the body of christ right?
that being said: Are we not the church all one?no matter the differences and views.
Matthew 12:25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
do we think god will invade our lives the way he wants with that block. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
GOD is LOVE where is the love? we are the body christ but because of are thought and action we devide it even more and god isnt gonna out pour himself into a broken church,so we need to love each other and be like christ and rebuild the church in gods eyes and pray for those who stumble not judge, yes it is hard but if we ask god will help. who is the pimp?IT is the phone company,cable company, the actor getting paid 20 millon for a movie made, IRS,GOVERMENT,obama was the biggest and now look at his ratings, but we must support and pray for him because god commands it and since have the christians
voted him in.=besides the point
you may think td jakes and the others that there all about money because of there websites and size “mega” churches but doesnt god call people with different callings Romans 9:21
Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
who are we to tell god he did it wrong,he didnt he is working something out of us maybe apostles,prophets,evangalist,teachers,pastors. all are needed but different call.pastors dont do what apostles do, apostles need more money and resources to affect what god has called them to affect. pastors normally have 150 to 1000 people, they are called to the local body, apostles are builders and builders need money they go everywhere and how do you go everywhere money.
using websites view to bring money to church==my meaning== have you ever ordered sports illastrated to your house or hunting magazine or your wife order better living.people are willing to order a subscription of “junk in a sense”compared to gods things but yet we are willing to pay 100 dollars a year and you are complaining about church websites doing the same thing, but there effecting the world with the kingdom of god,building shelters,new house,food,homeless shelters.They are worthy of there salary, who are we to judge there salaries, I guarantee you dont do it to your boss and tell him he didnt deserve his last bonus check, because you didnt see behind the scenes the pressure he is under and the decisions he must make.
To you this might be rubbish to someone it might hit them in between the heart, god is love, joy, peace —complaining about leaders doesnt affect them, it affects you and weak minded people who are willing to listen because nobody has shown them
when money is sensitive issue watch out god is dealing with THEM
YOU HAVE A GIFT TO WRITE USE IT FOR GOD’S GLORY, WRITE THE BOOK GOD TOLD YOU TOO WRITE!YOU HAVE THOUGHT YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO DO IT BUT GOD WOULD NOT PUT IN IN YOUR SPIRIT IF HE THOUGHT YOU COULDNT.
PRAY,FAST AND WRITE
GOD BLESS YOU SIR
You know there is a passage in the bible that says that in the end certain people will claim that they had performed such good works. However, God will inform them that he never knew them. Therefore, a lot of crooks and pimps defiling God’s sanctuary may draw a crowd of true believers. However, they themselves will not enter into the gates of heaven.
Adam,
I don’t want to get into a back and forth – and this will be my last comment to you regarding this matter as well.
We can agree that church has become a business and religion has trumped relationship. I stand behind this blog and it’s contents because I am using the Word of God to judge the words and actions of false teachers. Period.
And I am doing so in love – my love for God’s Word and His people. If this blog causes the sheep to flee false doctrine, then to God be the glory. If this blog pisses off the false teachers, then to God be the glory. If this blog offends the comfortable and makes people grab their bibles to read further, then to God be the glory.
Oh, and God did not tell me to write a book – I am doing exactly what He has called me to do.
SpeakingTruth I could not have said it better! Keep speaking the truth about pimps in the pulpit.
Dear Speaking Truth
Keep writing! Actually shouldn’t we take this farther “Call no man on earth “teacher” (pastor would do just as well). Pastor is a function in the New Testament, not an office.
Tithing itself is old covenant and brings Hagar in the door once again “Every man as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a hilarious giver”. There is not a single word here about the amount, though of course much encouragement to be generous.
Under the new covenant all we have is God’s – we are simply stewarding it at His leading and seeking to live by godly thinking
Stand fast in the liberty.
Grace and peace to you
Lets not forget the female pimps. Thank you for this Word of Warning, I was under such deception for a few years not by a male pastor but a female. They get you when you are vulnerable and are desperate to belong, build you up and when you start feeling good, they will bring you back down under their thumb creating something you need deliverance from and it is all about submission. Some women would not even buy a bra without asking the pastor first. When you look back on it you can’t believe you were so gullible, I did not have access to the internet back then, and when this pastor had me in a position of complete and utter despair, I cried out to Him, my Lord and Saviour Jesus and He delivered me and I will never forget the yoke of bondage that was broken off me, I never went back, I lost all my friends in that church but I didn’t care as long I had freedom with Jesus He was all I needed. I studied the Word for myself and had no-one to rely on but Him, so I look back at my time in that Church and I thank God for opening my eyes. I thank God for people such as yourself for warning the sheep, the Prophets of old were not so popular but we are not called to be man pleasers but obedient to the Word Of God, so may the Lord Bless you and your family.
Psalm 111:10
Amen for this site…it’s truly liberating…and who the SON therefore sets free, is free INDEED!!!!! I left my church and the financial bondage that I was in. My family and I were in the dark–literally—a few times and was having major car problems, but we were faithful tithers, down to the penny. We gave first fruit offerings and heave offerings were also a part of our giving Yet we sometimes couldn’t put food in the refrigerator. This went on for years….the guilt and “blasts” that many of these pastors put their membership through is nothing less than abuse.
Glory to God that He does indeed set us free, GG1. I praise God that you are another voice who can attest of the TRUE liberty that is found in Christ.
I’m praying for your continual strength in the Lord.
I just happened to come across this website while doing some independent research on this very topic. I’m thankful for the insight that I’ve found here. I’m not at all offended at the material posted by Speaking Truth But, I am however, troubled by some of the responses that I’ve read. My heart truely grieves over the spiritual blindness that has crept in over the American Church.Let me begin by saying that God has delivered me and is delivering me from “Hero Worship”.He’s allowed me to come into a wilderness season so that I can fall back in love with Him and place Him back in His rightful place in my life which is first.
I’ve been thinking about this subject all week so finding this website is a blessing. Let me say first that I believe that when believers in Jesus Christ are regenerated by God’s Spirit (born Again), God will place them in a church so that they can grow, be nurtured and fellowship with other true Christians. The problem many believers are beginning to encounter is with an abuse of spiritual covering. Over a period of time Pastors or “Spiritual Leaders” begin to take the place of Jesus Christ in the lives of individual Christians. Even the most personal and private decisions must be placed before their “covering” so they can be “sure” it’s the will of God. Over a period of time believers are conditioned by their pulpits to think and believe that they cannot hear God for themselves. Jesus Christ said that His sheep hear His voice and they would not follow the voice of the stranger. The Lord also said that the Holy Spirit would lead us and guide us into all truth.
Regardless of the many scripture passages that clearly teach dependence upon Jesus Christ and His Word, there are those in American pulpits that want a system of dependence in their churches where the believing Christians depend soley upon them to the forfeiting of their personal walk with Jesus Christ.
Once a “Leader” has successfully taken the place of Jesus in the lives of church members,the control affects every area of their lives. Church attendance is no longer viewed as a time of freely going to worship God and receive His word so I can grow. But rather, the controlling influence will inspire the believer to go so they don’t fall out the “good graces” of the pastor. Or since Pastor is not there (speaking out of town)today/tonight I’m not going. And should a church member actually become part of the church’s staff things really get ugly. Church attendance should never be done out of controlling obligation. There should be a desire and pant from the heart that says I’m going to ABBA’s house to Worship His Son Jesus, hear His Word and fellowship with His people. A controlling church will constantly hold over you “forsaking not the assembling of yourselves together” but the heart that keeps God first will want to do this without being told every week. They (Leaders) don’t even realize that the reason they have to keep pounding this is becasue Jesus is no longer first in the lives of the people because they (Leaders) have taken His place. I could go on and on about the “covering” issue but I’ll leave it with this. Jesus Christ ALONE is the covering of every SAVED man and the anointing on your life comes from Him alone.
Regardless of scriptures like I Timothy 4:1, II Timothy 3:1-17, Matthew 24, II Thessalonians 2:1-17,II Peter 2:1-3, Romans 16:17-18 and a host of others, American Christians just don’t want the truth. If something has a “Christian” title on it or if it’s on TBN,DAYSTAR,The Church Channel or The Word Network then it’s automatically of God. There is so little teaching in most churches on the subject of Apostasy and Testing spirits.
There appears to be a movement within the “Church” so silence the prophetic voice of God. False teachers have crept in unawares and are redefining salvation and many of our essential doctrines. I don’t know if there has ever been a time when so many professing Christians literally have shown so much hatred for holiness and separation from the world. The scripture is ringing in my ear…”They feast among us”. Love has been so redefined that anyone who has a hard word in their belly is now “unloving”. Salvation has been so redefined that anyone with a verbal profession and mental acknowledging of Jesus is regenerated regardless of the lack of indication that a true conversion has taken place (fruit if the Spirit). Terms like legalism (although it cannot be found in the Bible)and Judgementalism are used to attack anyone who dares stand and proclaim the truth in America.
Once Bible believing and teaching churches and ministries have completely changed and are no longer recognizeable. The “Church Growth” FORMULAS that they have bought into have stiffled the life of God in their churches. Believers are left crippled and confused wondering….What happened to my church? The Leaders have to soon forgotten….Lest the Lord builds the house, they that labor labor in vain. Churches are filled with unbelievers! Have we forgotten that Jesus said…YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN? You cannot $OW your way into salvation or ride the coat tail of a relative….You must know Jesus Christ for yourself. The Church Growth Movement reminds me of body builders who want the biggest without being patient and doing it naturally. Steroids give the promise of getting BIG NOW without the user considering the side affects which could be fatal. Some church leaders have bougt into the idea of spiritual steroids. Their churches are packed, worldly and carnal and they don’t even know that Jesus has departed and death has set it. They shouldn’t look across their congregations and get mad at the people. Instead they need to lokk into a mirror and realize that they have reproduced after their own kind (selves).
Back to the original topic. ALL Christians have an anointing from God. I John 2:20 and II Corinthians 1:21. You do not need to pay a man for “his” anointing. Remember the man in Acts that tried to pay the Apostle so that anyone he laid hands on would receive the Holy Ghost too?
Let me end by saying I believe in Godly ordained covering and spiritual authority. But I want no part in the control methods that many pulpiteers are using to keep “their” people under “their authority”. Fear and intimidation (If you leave “MY” church you are out of God’s will and calamity will find you)should never be used to manipulate and control people.
I stated earlier that I am in a wilderness season where God is freeing me and taking American Church poison out of me. One of the best things I have ever done is TURN OFF THE TV (TBN, DAYSTAR, CHURCH CHANNEL, WORD NETWORK) open my Bible read it and pray.
I don’t know why the American Church never wants to deal with the subject of false teachers, false doctrine and apostasy but we are ignoring it to our own destruction. May the Lord have mecry and help us cleanse us and open our eyes.
Michael,
First, I’m happy that the Lord led you here during your journey. Like you, I’m just a brother who was “sold out” to the wrong thing for the wrong reason, and only returned to my right mind by God’s grace. I can’t add one word to your comment – simply and eloquently put.
Gods grace to you, brother, during your journey. You’re in my prayers…the wilderness isn’t as bad as “they” (our former captors) told us it would be, but it’ll certainly prepare you for your next assignment on “the inside”.