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.

What is wrong with the prosperity “gospel”.

If you notice, at the end of the title there is a period–not a question mark. It is not great secret that the prosperity “gospel” is heresy. But, how do we explain just how many levels of heresy are involved in the TBN crowd’s twisting and perverting of God’s word for their own financial gain? Well, I made these videos for just that purpose. To tear the prosperity “gospel” apart, and show, piece by piece, why this is such a perversion and blasphemy. I apologize for the little places where the audio is kinda choppy. I guess I should have “sown” into a video production ministry, eh?

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.

"Smells Like TBN Spirit"

A ripoff of the Nirvana song, inspired by the jackals featured every hour on TBN.

I saw this guy
On my TV
And he was staring
Straight at me
He said he'd heal
My disease
If I would send
Him money please

Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know don't know

Well he's yellin!
And he's screamin!
Could it be that
He's blasphemin?
Send him money
I don't wanna!
But he told me
That I gotta!
If I do and
God is willing
I'll find gold in
All my fillings!
Yeah!

As I wait for
My miracle
And migraines still
Pound in my skull
I must admit
The waiting's tough
Oh is my faith
Not strong enough?

Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know don't know

Dontcha dis the
Path I've chosen!
Even though the
Bank's foreclosin!
And my mortgage
I can't pay now!
"Money Comin!"
Any day now!
Though by sight you'd
Never guess it!
It'll come if
I confess it!
Yeah!

I pawned my watch
And sold my car
And I maxed out
My credit cards
But I know I'll
Get what I need
With one more
Thousand-dollar seed

Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know don't know

Brother Benny
Wants to help me!
If my checkbook
I will empty!
Send it in now!
No delayin!
In the Spirit
He's a-slayin!
Slingin' jackets!
Quotin' verses!
Calling down all
Kinds of curses!

Avanzini!
Pastor TD!
Creflo Taffy!
Stevie Munsey!
Kenny Benny!
Joyce and Jesse!
Drivin' Bentleys!
Charley Grassley!
Penitentiary!

Short video on moneychangers

The day Rodney Howard Browne almost sold out Madison Square Garden

He only came up about 18,000 seats short of that goal. The article is from 1999, but it gives you a good idea what kind of a "prophet" this jamoke is. (From Cross+Word). If you click the link and read the article, make sure you read all the way down. I shows you waht kind of a miscreant RHB really is, and what he considers to be his "true calling"--

“This man has a vision, and God is going to honor it!” So says Rick Shelton, pastor of Life Christian Center in St. Louis, of one Rodney Howard-Browne, self-proclaimed “Holy Spirit bartender” and the man who brought ‘holy laughter’ to America.

I wonder amid thunderous applause and cheering when it was, exactly, that God started honoring the visions of men. Who reversed the roles? And by what authority?

But this audience seemed quite convinced of the truth of this statement. And Howard-Browne himself certainly must have been, to rent out Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan with a seating capacity of 20,000 for a full month’s time, ‘believing God’ for the three million dollars needed to pay for it.

A down-payment of $500,000 was apparently made, with the rest due to come in with the ‘masses of people’ who’d be brought into the Kingdom through his outreach and of course would immediately have the means and willingness to give generously to his offerings.

He’s not looking quite so confident now, however. On the first Friday night of this crusade, perhaps 2,000 people ‘flocked’ to hear the message. Ironically, the number of volunteers for this outreach is about 2100.

The world was not worthy of these

Domain For Truth has the story of a family of missionaries in India. The husband and their two sons were burned alive by militant Hindus. The wife and daughter, rather than leave and go someplace safe, have decided to remain in India. Their life, and their Christian witness has inspired many to follow Christ.

Read this post. Read the whole thing, slowly, taking in every word. Then turn on your TV and try to watch Ken Copeland, or Joel Osteen, or Fred Price, or Mike Murdock, or any of those other goofballs that try and tell you that if you're saved, you won't suffer anything.

More on Senator's investigation of pulpit pumps

Independent Conservative has put up two videos (at YouTube) of news stories about Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) investigating the (mis)use of donor moneys to several of the largest prosperity "gospel" churches, as well as Richard Roberts (Oral's son, and president of ORU).

The first is from WFLA (Tampa), and deals with Randy and Paula White, and their Without Shame Walls International money-making scheme Ministry (about 4 min.):




The second is the full interview between Grassley and WFLA's Jeff Patterson (7:40)




OK, so here's the question: Should the government be allowed to force an organization that calls themselves a "ministry" to open their books? Should the government be allowed to say what is and what isn't necessary to operate one of these "ministries." Yes, if:

• The "ministry" wants to retain a tax-exempt status with the IRS. (In other words, if they want to avoid paying taxes in order to enrich themselves. You know, that whole "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" thing.)
• There is concern among the members that the money they are giving for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Christ (which is the purpose of a true ministry) is instead being used to increase the material comfort of the "pastor" above that which should be considered "reasonable."
• The "pastor" lets it be known that he don't cotton too well to people trying to make him abide by the laws of the land.
• The "pastor" has installed a board of directors filled with relatives and cronies and yes-men to surround himself in a cloak of secrecy.
• The "minister" spends more time talking about why you should give them your money than they do preaching the gospel.
• The "pastor" answers "Yes" to the age-old question: "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex on His Television Show?"
• The "pastor" is encouraging people to store up massive credit-card debt so they can send him their "seed-faith offering."
• The "ministry" continually gets a transparency rating of "F" from MinistryWatch. Like this guy did. And this one. And him.

We have to remember something here: This is not about the government telling the church what they can and can't teach. Well, at least not yet. This is about these organizations abiding by the laws they agreed to follow when they applied for tax-exempt status. If they want to retain that status, then they should comply with the laws. (See 1st Peter 2:11-17.) Otherwise, they take off the mask, admit they are a business and not a church, and start paying their taxes.

Senate to investigate pimps

In a long-overdue move, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee is calling "Bull!" on several pulpit pimps who serve on the board of Oral Roberts University. From FOXNews:

Acting on tips about preachers who ride in Rolls Royces and have purportedly paid $30,000 for a conference table, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he's investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers.

Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this week requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.

In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations.

"The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces," Grassley said.

"I don't want to conclude that there's a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code."

Who is under investigation? Several of the top preachers of the prosperity "gospel."

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas, a $20 million organization and prosperity gospel pioneer. Questions were raised about the transfer of church assets to a for-profit company, Security Patrol Inc., a $1 million loan from Gloria Copeland to the group, and a "personal gift" of more than $2 million given to Kenneth Copeland to mark the ministry's 40th anniversary.

Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga. Grassley's letter asks for records on private planes, board makeup, compensation and donations and "love offerings" to visiting ministers. In a statement, Dollar called his ministry an "open book" and said he would cooperate. He also questioned whether the investigation could "affect the privacy of every community church in America."

Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas, is asked about use of a private jet, a home in Dana Point, Calif. and "layover trips" while traveling on ministry business. Hinn did not respond to requests for comment.

Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga., was questioned about his salary, a $1.4 million real estate transaction and whether he, and not the board, holds sole authority over the organization. Long plans to fully comply with the Senate's request, and his church has "several safeguards" to ensure transactions comply with laws governing churches, according to a statement from Long's spokesman.

Joyce and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo., who were quizzed about receiving donations of money and jewelry and the handling of cash from overseas crusades. They also were asked about expenditures at ministry headquarters, including a $30,000 conference table and a $23,000 "commode with marble top."

Randy and Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, Fla. are asked about home purchases in San Antonio, Texas, Malibu, Calif., and New York, credit card charges for clothing and cosmetic surgery and the reported purchase of a Bentley convertible as a gift for Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent Texas preacher and televangelist. An e-mail to a spokeswoman for Jakes was not immediately returned.

Ya know, it was just a matter of time. God is "slow to anger, slow to wrath" (Psalm 103:8), but the US Government is a whole different story.

I know there will be some who will say that this opens the door for the government to swoop down and force every church to open its books. That is not what is going on here. This is a case where it is obvious that these pimps are robbing people under the guise of (and appropriating the title of) "mimistry". These people DO NOT RUN MINISTRIES! These people are running rackets! They are running get-rich-quick schemes. (Of course, the only ones getting rich are the pimps!)

These people are pimps, they are charlatans, they have no knowledge of anything biblical, and they trick people--usually the most desperate and the most gullible--out of their money, and leave those they fleece high and dry. But someone--finally--is calling them on it.

And if these pimps think the weight of the United States Government is a heavy load, wait until they stand before God and are forced to account for why they blasphemed His name, and took advantage of His Christ. And they have. After all, Jesus said in Matthew chapter 25, that whatever you do to "the least of these," you have done to Him.

If Satan is in charge...

...then Kenneth Copeland has some 'splainin' to do. Via Christian Witness Ministries:

• “God’s reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself, and in the Garden of Eden He did just that. He was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even. Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus. Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh.” (“Following the Faith of Abraham I,” side 1)


• “He [Adam] was not subordinate to God ... [but] was walking as a god with the authority of a god. ... What he said went. What he did, counted. [And when he] bowed his knee to Satan and put Satan up above him, then there wasn’t anything God could do about it, because a god had placed [Satan] there.” (“The Force of Love,” tape #02-0028)


• “God had no avenue of lasting faith or moving in the earth. He had to have covenant with somebody...He had to be invited in, in other words, or He couldn’t come.” (“God’s Covenant with Man II”, 1985, tape #01-4404, side 1)

So, God was shut out of the Garden after the fall. He couldn't do ANYTHING. Well, as the folks over at CWM point out:

• What right did God have to make clothing out of animal skins for Adam and Eve?
• What right did God have to expel Adam and Eve from the Garden?
• What right did God have to place a Cherubim and Flaming Sword, in the garden, to guard the way to the tree of life?
• What right did God have to curse and mark Cain?
• What right did God have to take Enoch - one of Satan’s possessions?
• What right did God have to flood the Earth?
• What right did God have to talk to Abram — one of Satan’s possessions?
• What right did God have to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
• By what right did God kill the first born of Egypt?

I also noticed something else in reading this article. They reprint the "Statement of Faith" at Kenneth Copeland Ministries. I won't reproduce it here, but here's the link. I notice that in the statement of faith, KCM mentions that they believe Jesus was crucified, and they believe that salvation comes by faith in the shed blood of Jesus. But nowhere do they put the two together. This shows you that KCM still does not believe that the blood Jesus shed ON THE CROSS was what purchases our freedom, our redemotion, and our salvation. Obviously, they still believe Jesus had to suffer in Hell for three days. So, I guess when Jesus said, "It is finished," He was what, lying to us? This is one reason I do not hesitate to call Kenneth Copeland a heretic.

This guy's REALLY good!!

John Piper on the "prosperity" gospel:

Crazee Copeland Quotes

Some quotes from the High Prince of the TBN crowd, Kenneth Copeland. Reading these would make me laugh if they weren't so pathetically heretical. Via Berean Faith.
-----

When Jesus cried, 'It is finished!' He was not speaking of the plan of redemption. There were still three days and nights to go through before He went to the throne...Jesus' death on the cross was only the beginning of the complete work of redemption."
-------Kenneth Copeland (Jesus -- Our Lord of Glory, Believer's Voice of Victory Magazine 10, 4; April 1982, p. 3)

• Uh, Kenny, when He cried, "It is finished", He meant "It is finished!" Nowhere does it say that Jesus "suffering in Hell" paid for our sins. It's the cross, Kenny, only the cross!!

"Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross and took His spirit to the dark regions of hell"
-------Kenneth Copeland (Holy Bible: Kenneth Copeland Reference Edition, 1991, p.129)

• Where he gets this from, I have no idea.

"He [Jesus] allowed the devil to drag Him into the depths of hell....He allowed Himself to come under Satan's control...every demon in hell came down on Him to annihilate Him....They tortured Him beyond anything anybody had ever conceived. For three days He suffered everything there is to suffer."
-------Kenneth Copeland (The Price of It All, 3)

• This must have been one of his "divine revelations." OY.

-----

But, wait! There's more. Jesus had to die...spiritually!!

"Jesus had to go through that same spiritual death in order to pay the price. Now it wasn't the physical death on the cross that paid the price for sin, because if it had of been any prophet of God that had died for the last couple of thousand years before that could have paid that price. It wasn't physical death anybody could do that."
-------Kenneth Copeland (What Satan Saw on the Day of Pentecost, audio tape #020022)

• No. Only Jesus' death on the cross was sufficient to atone for our sins. He had to be "a Lamb without spot or blemish." All the prophets of old--and even the patriarchs--had sin in their lives. But Jesus had no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. It was the DEATH of the Lamb of GOD that satisfied the wrath of GOD.

"The Spirit of God spoke to me and He said, "Son, realize this. Now follow me in this and don't let your tradition trip you up." He said, "Think this way -- a twice-born man whipped Satan in his own domain." And I threw my Bible down... like that. I said, "What?" He said, "A born-again man defeated Satan, the firstborn of many brethren defeated him." He said, "You are the very image, the very copy of that one." I said, "Goodness, gracious sakes alive!" And I began to see what had gone on in there, and I said, "Well now you don't mean, you couldn't dare mean, that I could have done the same thing?" He said, "Oh yeah, if you'd had the knowledge of the Word of God that He did, you could have done the same thing, 'cause you're a reborn man too."
-------Kenneth Copeland (Substitution and Identification, tape #00-0202, side 2)

• I got nuthin'. I have don't even know how to answer something as pathetic, heretical, and downright blasphemous as this claim that ol' Kenny Boy could have taken Christ's place on that cross.

------

Oh, and get this: GOD isn't in control of ANYTHING!! In fact, if you so desire, you can be the boss of GOD:

As a believer, you have a right to make commands in the name of Jesus. Each time you stand on the Word, you are commanding God to a certain extent because it is His Word."
-------Kenneth Copeland (Our Covenant with God, 1987, p. 32)

• That's right! Because GOD, when He was dictating His word to the apostles and prophets, got careless and lazy, and left us a loophole by which we could twist His arm, and make Him our personal genie-in-a-bottle.

------

"God's on the outside looking in. He doesn't have any legal entree into the earth. The thing don't belong to Him. You see how sassy the Devil was in the presence of God in the book of Job? God said, "Where have you been?" Wasn't any of God's business. He [Satan] didn't even have to answer if he didn't want to ... God didn't argue with him a bit! You see, this is the position that God's been in ... Might say, "Well, if God's running things He's doing a lousy job of it." He hadn't been running 'em, except when He's just got, you know, a little bit of a chance."
-------Kenneth Copeland (Image of God in You III, 1989, audiotape #01-1403, side 1)

• Psalm 24:1--"The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof."
• Psalm 47:2--"For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth."
• Matthew 28:18--"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

------

And did you know that you can FORCE GOD to give you wealth?

"The basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief, and poverty on Jesus at Calvary," he asserts. "For Him to put any of this on us now would be a miscarriage of justice."?
----------Kenneth Copeland (The Troublemaker, 6)

• 1st Timothy 6:8-10--"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
  
• Couldn't have said it better myself.


• 2nd Timothy 3:10-12--"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."


• But, I guess GOD just done forgot all about poor ol' Paul. Seems like the apostle just didn't have that ah-NOIN-tin'!!

------

I could go on and on with more of the craziness that is "The Gospel According to Brother Kenneth". But, that's enough blasphemy for one day.

So, Melvin, tell us what you really think!

Melvin Jones, the man who operates the website pulpit-pimps.org, posted a well-researched treatise on those who go around saying that if you'll "sow a thousand-dollar seed" to their ministry, which is struggling--struggling!!--to afford that new $20,000,000 Citation X-20, that GOD will bless you with a $100,000 windfall. These people are, without a doubt, pimps. Or, as Melvin tells us...

Okay, here’s the thing. Some of you in the audience say I’m not loving. And I should be loving because God is love. I shouldn’t be judgmental of these people who preach a false doctrine. I should love them and pray for them.

And since I consider myself to be a man who at least tries to obey the Bible, I have decided to emulate God and say the same things He says. Since God is love, and God is perfect, then He only says loving things. So if I say the same things that God says, then I’m loving too. Right?

Okay, let’s run with that for right now.

Here are some of the same things God says about false teachers:
• They are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15-16)
• They are practicers of lawlessness (Matthew 7:22-23)
• They are hypocrites ( Matt 15:7-9)
• They are thieves (John 10:1)
• They are slaves of their own appetites (Romans 16:18)
• They are men of flesh (1 Cor 3:1-4)
• They are peddlers of the word of Christ(2 Cor 2:17)
• They are accursed (Galatians 1:6-8)
• They are tricksters and schemers (Ephesians 4:14)
• They are deluders (Ephesians 4:14)
• They are deceivers (Colossians 2:8)
• They are defrauders (Colossians 2:18-19)
• They are teachers of strange doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3)
• They are blasphemers, and have been handed over to Satan (1 Timothy 1:19-20)
• They are teachers of myth (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
• They are paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
• They are liars (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
• They are conceited and understand nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4)
• They have gone astray (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
• They are evil men, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13)
• They are empty talkers, after sordid gain (Titus 1:10-11)
• They turn away from the truth (Titus 1:13-14)
• They are false prophets, false teachers, greedy exploiters (2 Peter 2:1-4)
• They are stains and blemishes, greedy, loving of wages of unrighteuosness (2 Peter 2:13-15)
• They are slaves of corruption (2 Peter 2:19-20)
• They are ungodly (Jude 4)
• They are rebellious people (Isaiah 30:9)

So I guess if I am going to emulate God, I should call the people who promote a different gospel wolfish, hypocritical practitioners of lawlessness who are enslaved to their own appetites, while being men of flesh and peddlers of the word, who by the way are accursed and deluding and deceiving, while teaching myths and paying attention to deceiving spirits, while at the same time being empty talkers and being greedy exploiters while being blemishes and stains, and being ungodly.

Hmmm. You know, I don’t really feel like typing this phrase every time I refer to the pimping inhabitants of the pulpit. I’ll just keep calling them pimps and pimpettes. It’s a lot more succinct.

Now, now, don't be shy, let it all out.

Actually, he's calling these people what they are. They are heretics (at the very least), and blasphemers (at their worst). They claim that they know some secret chant, some long-hidden promise that GOD made to ONE man ONE time, (can you say, "Jabez"?) and they know how to take that and throw it in GOD's face, and twist His arm until He cries "Uncle!" and gives them whatever toy they're screaming for. There is a word in the Greek, astokeo." It means... WRONG!!!!!

The Prosperity Hymn

Sung to the tune of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", and sung weekly by the chiors behind Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Marylin Hickey, and $$Creflo$$ $$Dollarsign$$. (Original lyrics and melody here.)

O soul are you weary and troubled?
An old car in the driveway you see?
There is hope for you driving a Jaguar,
And cash more abundant for thee!

Turn your eyes upon riches.
Confess they now belong to thee.
Then the things of Heav'n will grow strangely dim
In the light of your big-screen TV.

Find yourself having wealth overflowing
If you sow a thous'nd dollar seed;
Claim this promise that He made to Israel,
Get all the toys you think you need!

Turn your eyes upon riches.
Confess they now belong to thee.
Then the things of Heav'n will grow strangely dim
In the light of your big-screen TV.

If you claim all these verses He promised;
He'll pour cash from His heav'nly vault.
So if you are not healthy and wealthy,
Then your faithlessness must be at fault!

Turn your eyes upon riches.
Confess they now belong to thee.
Then the things of Heav'n will grow strangely dim
In the light of your big-screen TV.

The Narrow Way

This video contrasts the truth of Jesus with the "gospel" preached by many pulpit pimps today (via pulpit-pimps.org)

The next new link is...

for a site I found via Independent Conservative. The name of the site is Pulpit Pimps. The goal of the site's owner is to expose the lying, hypocritical, mushiness found in many pulpits these days. Especially grievous are the likes of TD Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplicitous Duplantis, "Bishop" Weeks, Juanita Bynum, Creflo Dollar, Hinn, Murdock, Crouch/Crouch, etc. So check it out before you waste another minute watching these heretics. Oops, I forgot. "Touch not mine anointed!!"

Here's the linky: pulpitpimps.org

UPDATE: Oops. In the URL address, I forgot the hyphen between 'pulpit' and 'pimps'. It's actually www.pulpit-pimps.org

Sorry:(

Health, wealth, hypocrisy

Checking out Independent Conservative this morning, and I came across a post he put up about these TV preachers like Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Jesse Duplantis, and Mike Murdoch. I find myself quite often railing against these people. Why? Because not only are they fleecing people who are hurting, but because they twist the Word of GOD to fit their own twisted theology. And most of all, as Independent Conservative says,

The false teachers have become so pathetic, that every late night comic can play their footage for laughs. Of course an unbeliever seeing it is not going to distinguish them (pimps) from us (true believers) who abhor such abuse of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Which is why it is important that we speak against false teaching. So that it is known that such nonsense on supposedly Christian TV is not the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So the unbeliever that might find Christ does so in Spirit and in Truth. Also for the good of those still lost in false teaching.

To see the name of GOD mocked is truly sad. And the reason it is mocked is because of these charlatans that promise "Health, wealth and prosperity" if you follow Jesus. Or they say something like

"How can you glorify God in your body, when it doesn't function right?....What makes you think the Holy Ghost wants to live inside of a body where He can't see out through the windows, and He can't hear out the ears?" (Fred Price, "Is God Glorified Through Sickness?" tape # FP605)

Well, I got news for Fred, Creflo, Jan and Paul, etc. They might ought to read 2nd Timothy 3:12. Following Christ does NOT guarantee us a problem-free life. Unles one thinks that the faith of men like Paul (beheaded), Peter (crucified upside down) or James (Thrown off of a roof) was strong enough. Besides, the founder of the Word-of-Faith movement, Ken Hagin is DEAD. What does that say about HIS faith?

But, alas, they will most likely not heed the words of the apostle Peter:

2nd Peter 2:3-- By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

These men are bringing ridicule upon the name of GOD. But, as Jesus said, they have their reward.

Touching the (not-so) anointed

"That's right, folks!! Benny Hinn will be here next week to heal your (fill in your favorite malady)!! Now, GOD really wants to heal you, but He won't, unless you show up at the coliseum this Friday night! Oh, and make sure you bring your checkbook, because you know what they say about a gullible cheerful giver!!"

Just got done watching John Stossel rip Rod Parsley, Kenneth Copeland, and the whole TBN crowd a new one on "20/20". I can just hear their followers now. "Touch not mine anointed!!! Touch not mine anointed!!!" You know, it really is sad, that these charlatans have so many people bamboozled into thinking they are humble servants of GOD. (Actually, Paul Crouch doesn't make any pretense about being humble.) And ya know, it's so frustrating. On the one hand, I don't want to sound like I'm saying these preachers don't love the Lord (Matthew 7:1). On the other hand, I can't look at these people and not think "Phony!!"

There's another new link, and it's called Ministry Watch. The guy that runs it walked away from a 7-figure income to start this ministry. These people really are fleecing their flocks. They tell these people that if they send them their last penny, that GOD will just open up His heavenly cash vault, and the material wealth will come pouring down like "latter rain." There's a word, in the original Greek, that defines this line of thought. The word is..."BULL!!" These hucksters that go around saying that if you're sick, that it's because you don't have enough faith. And that if you're poor, you're not saved. So, if you die, then what does that mean?