A Survey of the Old Testament Law--The Myth of the "Generational Curse"

“For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the 3rd and 4th generations of those who hate Me...” People like Paula White and Benny Hinn and so many others on TBN make a whole lot of money by twisting this particular statement and showing you how to break “generational curses.” They teach that if your father was an alcoholic, then you'll be an alcoholic, and your kids will be alcoholics and their kids will be alcoholics, and so on and so forth—and there is nothing you can do about it, unless you learn the prayer that will “break that curse”--and send them a few dollars in the process. WRONG!! WRONG!! WRONG!! Just because our parents may have been notorious for some sin, that does not mean that God will say, “Well, that’s it! You were a thief and an idolater, so I will curse your entire bloodline for the next 4 generations!” What God is saying is that as long as the children are walking in their father’s footsteps, God will inflict punishment on those offspring—even if it is 3 or 4 generations. Now, will an alcoholic father probably wind up with children who will also be alcoholics? Probably. BUT, that is not a “curse from God.” That is simply children doing what they see their father doing. Deuteronomy 24:16—“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.” Now, it is quite common to see three or four generations of alcoholism or adultery or any other kind of sin—but that is not some "curse from God", that’s just sinful human beings doing what sinful human beings do. Dogs bark, ducks quack, sinners sin. And God will punish the children for their own sins—not for the sins of their father.


BUT—if those children walk according to the Law of God, He will be merciful to those offspring, even to the 1000th generation. As I said before, His anger is not like human anger. We get upset because somebody looks at us cross-eyed, and we can't control ourselves. But God’s anger is not like that. When someone stirs Him to wrath, He doesn’t usually just ZZAPP them. There are times in Scripture where He does that, but that is because those people were so severely disobedient and regarded God’s holiness and His commands so lightly. But, 14 times the Bible says that God is slow to anger, and ready to show mercy. Psalm 103:8—The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Joel 2:13—“Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”


Nahum 1:2-3—God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. He will not acquit the wicked, but He will give them a chance to repent from their sins. Those who do not repent, God will destroy. Those who do repent, and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, He will spare, and reward them for the things they do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:18-26—“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write…‘I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds…Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say…hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.” And that is exactly what we see here in Exodus. God “visits the iniquity of the fathers” to 3 or 4 generations. That is, God says that those who commit idolatry hate Him. And He will punish as many generations of those children that continue to hate Him—up to 3 or 4 generations. But He shows mercy to how many generations of those who do His commandments? A thousand! The contrast couldn’t be much more striking!


In fact, we see in Ezekiel 18 that God will not punish children for their fathers’ sins. Ezekiel 18:2-4—“What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’?” This was an old proverb, and it’s one that we hear even today in this country—“It’s my parents’ fault that I'm the way I am.” In other words, “Nothing is my fault.” It’s the same old story—we want to blame someone else for our trouble, when most of the time the blame lays at our own feet. “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.” That’s pretty self-explanatory. If a person sins, that person will die. If you run a red light, you get a ticket. KPD will not send you a ticket because your mother or father ran a red light. You ran the light—you get the ticket.


If a righteous man begets a wicked son, then the father’s righteousness will not shield that son. Ezekiel 18:10-13--"If he begets a son who is a robber or a shedder of blood, who does any of these things and does none of those duties, but has eaten on the mountains or defiled his neighbor’s wife; if he has oppressed the poor and needy, robbed by violence, not restored the pledge, lifted his eyes to the idols, or committed abomination; if he has exacted usury or taken increase—shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him." If a wicked father begets a righteous son, then the wickedness of the father will not be counted against that son. Ezekiel 18:14-18--"If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise; who has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbor’s wife; has not oppressed anyone, nor withheld a pledge, nor robbed by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing; who has withdrawn his hand from the poor and not received usury or increase, but has executed My judgments and walked in My statutes—he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live! As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother by violence, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity."


Now, God has set up these contrasts, and we see the conclusions we are to draw from these statements when we get to Ezekiel 18:19-23—“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” A person is not punished for their parents’ sins—they are punished if they continue to walk in the ways of their sinful parents. Likewise, a wicked child is not protected by their parents’ righteousness—if they turn away from that righteousness and live in sin, they are punished for their sins.


In fact, we see this again in Jeremiah 31:29-30—“In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.’ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.” So, this whole nonsense about “generational curses” is a bunch of hogwash, and is simply a way that TBN—The Blasphemy Network—fools a whole lot of people into sending them their money…for nothing.


Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

Weak preachers are God's Judgment

Sometimes I forget things. Like the fact that when a snake in the pulpit rises to fame and prominence, the people who follow that man (or woman) are not "victims." They are merely reaping what they have been seeking. They do not want the truth, they want the Mercedes. And so, God says, "Fine--you won't get either one!" And He sends a Joel Osteen or a Paula White or a Benny Hinn or some other serpent to fill a pulpit and give those people over to the one they are really serving.

Here, Paul Washer, speaking truth, shows us why people like Creflo and Kenny and Jesse and Junie-B are truly God's Judgment upon a lost and wicked people.

Fake Translation of the Week--1st Timothy 6:6-10

(Real translation here)

I gotta share a little something with ya first. This past Sunday morning, my wife was flipping through the channels, when she came across Cashflow Creflo's weekly pimpfest. What I am about to share is exactly what he taught, not taken out of context, this is the fullness of his teaching. He said that in 2nd Timothy 3:16, when it says "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable..." I think you can guess where he was going with that. Focus on the word "profitable."

Yeah, that.

If what these heretical prosperity preachers were true, then this is how 1st Timothy 6:6-10 would have to read (altered text in bold italics):

1st Timothy 6:6-10 (Creflo Dollar Translation)--Now godliness with great financial gain is contentment. For we brought nothing into this world, but we can certainly carry a bunch out in our gold-plated coffins. And having food and clothing, with these we shall never be content. Because if that's all you have, then your faith ain't strong enough, you're under a curse, or you have some unconfessed sin in your life. But those who desire to be rich are the only ones worthy of the kingdom of God, and many foolish and harmful people want y'all to be broke. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of blessin', for which some have strayed from the faith by not confessin' it, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows because they ain't sowin' a seed into the ministry.

Juanita Bynum--the poor little rich girl

Posting will be light this week. My wife and I are out of town visiting her family. So I'll probably just be lifting stuff from other sites and pasting it here. (Oh, wait a minute. I do that already. Nevermind.)

Well, well. It seems as though poor little Juanita can't pay her bills. At least that's what the county taxman where she lives is saying. IndyCon has more:

I’ll start by saying that I.V. Hilliard is a no good pulpit pimp! A viper just like Juanita Bynum. Read a good post Melvin has up about one of I.V. Hilliard’s scams!

With that out of the way. Many already know pimp I.V. gave pimpstress Bynum money to pay her tax bill. Why? Because I.V.’s wife does pimpstress shows on occasion with Juanita Bynum, that’s why. Pimps have to look out for each other, to ensure future deals where they will try and fleece you for all you’re worth!

Anyway, people have been checking the Ware County, Georgia tax commissioners’ web site and noticing that it continues to show Juanita Bynum still owes money. What’s up with that you ask? Well, ever since the old news broke, the Ware County web site has shown Bynum as owing money, but I.V. Hillard’s check cleared the bank. The folks down in Ware County probably are just a little slow at times getting things updated online. But, the site shows she owes now, because she just recently got behind in her taxes on the $4.5 million property again!

So, according to Pimpstress Prophetess Juanita's theology, shouldn't she just go ahead and sow $1000 into the kingdom of Jesse of Creflo of TBN? See, that way, she'll get her 100 fold return, pay her bills, and have a little jingle left over.

Juanita Bynum and her Thrashing Threshing Floor

This video (from dazzarai at YouTube) has been around for a while, but it's still worth posting because it shows just where Profitess Prophetess Bynum's priorities really are, and just how screwed-up her doctrine really is. How she thinks she needs a $200,000 building, complete with gold-plated walls and a mock-up of the Ark of the Covenant (Anybody recall what happened last time somebody tried messing with the Ark? Ironically enough, near a threshing floor!) in order to intercede for her sheeple.

So, tell me, if "Prophetess" Juanita has a mansion, and a bank account that would rival most CEO's, why doesn't she pony up her own dough? It kinda seems like someone who has a bunch of lambs, but covets another's ewe lamb. And isn't it just quaint how she shows herself thrashing around wildly, for all the world to see, "praying" for those people she's fleecing with her latest money-grubbing scheme who are paying for this abomination? (Didn't Jesus say something about "not praying to be seen by men?")

There are a couple other heresies in this video, but I'll let you find them for yourself.

Estranged, with an emphasis on "strange"

Well, "Bishop" Weeks is seeking alimony from his estranged meal ticket, Profitess "Prophetess" Juanita Bynum. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The estranged husband of national evangelist Juanita Bynum on Wednesday denied that his wife was a victim of cruel treatment in a response to her divorce filing.

Lawyers for Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III also said their client is denying that he and Bynum have been separated, with no contact since June. The response was filed Wednesday in Gwinnett County Superior Court. Like Bynum, Weeks is seeking "relief" in the divorce--alimony or other support granted by the court.

What's he so worried about? If his "ah-NOIN-t'n'" is truly from God, then He will cause the wealth to start falling like latter rain on the "Bishop." Of course, when your meal ticket makes twice what you do, and you all of a sudden lose her income...

Cheer up, "Bishop." Just claim your seed, sow it into the ministry of one of your charlatan buddies, and you'll be singing "Money Comin'" once again!

Wow! This guy nailed it!

Not that I agree with someone using the title "Apostle", but when it comes to the Bynum-Weeks and the Randy and Paula White situations, this guy nailed it. His name is Brian Lewis, pastor of All Nations Church in Los Angeles. I don't necessarily agree with all their doctrine, but I do agree with this little tidbit:

"You know what I feel like telling them - and this is me being sarcastic," he said, "Bishop you wanna get out of jail, you don't wanna have to go to jail and to have to experience a trial and you don't want your ministry to fail, why don't you sow a seed? Why don't you sow a seed for the next 12 months? Why don't you sow $100,000 a month for the next 12 months and watch your deliverance?"

"Juanita Bynum, you don't like what you went through? You don't like being stomped in the groin? You don't like being beat by a man, why don't you just sow a seed?" he asked. "You know why God is judging you because you can't sow a seed to get out of your problems."

Paula White didn't escape the pastor's path either.

"Paula White, who are you to divorce your husband," he asked. "Who are you to step out of the authority and the anointing that your husband has over your life? Who knows what you did but divorce is not of God unless there was some type of infidelity, unless there was somebody that was unfaithful and none of you better ever marry again because you'll be in an adulterous marriage."

Weeks gets divorce papers from Bynum

"Bishop" Thomas Weeks III and Profitess "Prophetess" Juanita Bynum have gotten one step closer to divorce, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Lawyers for Thomas W. Weeks III said Monday they have been formally notified that national evangelist Juanita Bynum has filed for divorce.

A lawyer for Juanita Bynum has made contact with the firm.

"He is unhappy about that," said Weeks' attorney, Louis Tesser, of Kessler, Schwarz and Solomiany. "He would like to remain married."

Yeah, it's gonna be pretty lonely for TommyBoy at night, trying to sing "Money Comin'" all alone without his meal ticket lead singer. Meanwhile, what was the "prophetess" doing? Attending a presidential fund-raiser. And who will she be raising funds for? Barack Osama Obama, hosted by...OPRAH! Well, if you're gonna roll in the mud, ya might as well hang with the big hogs!

Bynum, 48, spent the weekend in California where she attended a fund-raiser for presidential candidate Barack Obama. The party was held at Oprah Winfrey's estate.

Ah yes, "The Gospel According to Oprah!" You know, the one where Jesus is NOT the only was to the Father, and that everybody--Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims--goes to Heaven, taking their own way.

Update: Bynum to divorce Weeks

According to FOX5 Atlanta, Profitess "Prophetess" Juanita Bynum has indeed given her attorney the go-ahead to file divorce papers on her husband, "Bishop" Thomas Weeks III. Video from Independent Conservative:



You gotta admit: the violin music in the background, the dabbing of the eyes, all very emotionally touchy-feely. Very...dramatic.

This goes to show that all the nonsense these two "preached" about love, marriage, etc., was a sham. Because they didn't even live it! And if you watch the video, she says that this divorce is about her "destiny." She does mention--briefly--something about God being glorified through this. And I don't doubt that He could be. But that won't happen until (a) these two repent, reconcile, and renounce the heretical things they preach, and (b) Ms. Bynum admits that she is no "prophetess".

Besides, what does it say about "Bishop" Weeks that he has over $100K in outstanding judgments against him? Shouldn't the "man of Gawd" pay his bills when they come? He better hope he don't lose his ah-NOIN-t'n'

"Bishop" Weeks turns himself in

"Bishop" Thomas weeks III has turned himself in to the Fulton County jail in Atlanta on charges he attacked his estrenaged wife, "prophetess" Juanita Bynum (via Newsday):

Officer Ronald Campbell said earlier this week that Weeks choked Bynum, then "pushed her down to the ground and started to kick her and also stomp on her."

Police said Weeks was pummeling Bynum outside the Rennaisance Concourse Hotel when a hotel employee intervened.

Weeks left the scene and police issued warrants for his arrest on charges of aggravated assault and making terroristic threats. Bynum was treated for her injuries at Piedmont Hospital.

Weeks was arraigned Friday at the Fulton County jail on those charges, Polite said.

Weeks, accompanied by an attorney, John Garland, posted $40,000 bail and was released. He is due back in court Sept. 7.

It is truly a shame that so many people who don't know Christ look at these people as being what Christianity is about: getting all you can in this life, and all that nonsense about "GOD wants you to be rich." Now, these who have elevated themselves to such a prominent position in the public eye have given the world another reason to blaspheme His name.

Question: Since these "prosperity" preachers say that by following Christ, you won't have any problems in your health/finances/marriage unless you have some sin to repent from or you are under a curse, which is it for Bynum and Weeks?

Oh, and get this--Who does Weeks hire for an attorney, but a guy who has made his name defending murderers and their accomplices (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution):

Weeks has retained two lawyers: the well-known [Edward] Garland, who in the past has represented NFL star Ray Lewis in his murder trial and millionaire James Sullivan, who ordered the murder of his socialite wife...

Of course, that may have something to do with the people the good "bishop" has listed under his "friends" section of his MySpace page:

Sean P. Puffy Puff Diddy Daddy Combs
Halle Barry Fan Club
Rihanna
Joss Stone
T.I (from Outkast)
Toni Braxton
Beyonce
Black Eyed Peas
Joss Stone
Common
Jay-Z
...and the list goes on

With the influence of people like this around him, it appears that "Bishop" Weeks is trying to walk with one foot in the World, and one foot in the Kingdom. Trying, that is. Because this is impossible. You are either in the World, or you are in the Kingdom. Luke 16:13--"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." And "Bishop" Weeks is finding this out the hard way.

Bynum beaten by husband in hotel parking lot

Juanita Bynum, one of the wealthiest televangelists, was beaten by husband Thomas Weeks in the parking lot of the Rennessaince Hotel in ATL. Independent Conservative has more, and a video from the FOX station in Atlanta.

Although it is tempting to point a finger and say that all their money isn't going to help this situation, their is a deeper, more important factor to be considered here. These people are, to many unbelievers, the "face" of Christianity. When people see them on TBN, telling us how to get more "bling", the world says, "So that's what this whole church thing is about", and mock and ridicule them, and then go one to mock and ridicule the name of Christ. And this incident has only given them more ammunition.

Don't misunderstand me. There are plenty of cases of pastors abusing their wives. And every case is repugnant to the Lord. This is NOT what the Bible commands. Yes, wives should submit to the authority of their husbands.

Ephesians 5:22-24--"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."

HOWEVER, this does NOT give husbands the right to beat their wives. If you read the next few verses, husbands are COMMANDED to love and chaerish their wives, and to treat them with love and respect AT ALL TIMES. In fact, there is a grester burden placed on the husband to love and honor his wife than for the wife to submit to her husband.

Ephesians 5:25-29--"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church."

Far from laughing at this situation and making fun, and saying, "See, I told ya so," this couple needs prayer. Prayer that GOD will open their eyes so they can see that the way they are profiting off of peddling the Word of GOD for monetary gain is wrong, and that the Gospel of Christ is not about making one wealthy in the eyes of men, but about making one righteous in the eyes of GOD.