I had kind of hoped Eddie Long would fail to give me anything to talk about. But I guess we are all destined to experience disappointments in life.
I got a an e-mail from a young lady in Atlanta. She said she had attended New Birth a couple of times with her friend and found it to be awful. She also asked if I was going to provide any additional information on Slickmeister Long.
On a hunch, I went to his site and looked at some of the sermons in his archive - the sermons he charges us 2 to four dollars to download. And there, in full color I ran across Noel “The Oneness Weasel” Jones himself. Apparently, I missed the fact that Eddie invited Jones to preach and teach at the Singles Coference earlier this year. Take a look at the picture and click on it for a full shot of the web page.
Let me tell you again that these people don’t give a whiffle about you, about the truth, and certainly not about God. They care only about the draw. What’s going to get people to attend? Who can scratch my back? How can I get the most money out of these people? They will, and are, throwing you to the dogs. You don’t seem to realize it and they certainly don’t care.
I’m starting to feel a little like Cassandra.
Melvin,
I have visited your website often; and am a little perplexed. You make it sound as if local churches (assuming Maryland area is local for you). Not to mention world-wide “mega churches” with which I attend via the airwaves (be it t.v. or radio) are steering not only experienced Christians but “Baby Christians” (I am one) away from the true doctrine of Jesus Christ. I attend Spirit of Faith, and have not seen any opinions or comments about Drs Mike and DD. Is it safe to assume that as a “Babe in Christ” I have made a wise decision as to my place of worship? I know that this would just be an opinion but as a “Christian” new to this walk, and truly wanting to remain steadfast and unmovable in the faith that I have in GOD, I am seeking guidance and help from other members of the body of Christ. I want to be where the true WORD is being brought forth, Not somewhere where I am being misled by someone elses mis-guided attempts @ “winning souls for Christ” because of what they believe. I am not saying that this is going on @ SOF, but with all that I have read here, you have to admit that as a new Christian you would be leary of where you worship too. I know there is no such thing as the perfect church yet. If it were a such thing, then we all have missed the “return of Jesus”. I don’t want to be misled. Can you help?
You have asked an outstanding question: Is it safe to assume that as a “Babe in Christ” I have made a wise decision as to my place of worship? In fact, you are to be commended for having the guts to even ask the question!
Here is an answer.
There is only one way to avoid being mislead by the pimps. And that way is to study the Bible for yourself. Their congregations are usually composed of people who don’t know what their Bibles say and are willing to let the pastor tell them what it says and what it means. The pastor usually spends more time weaving his opinion around a verse or two during preachng.
A mega-church is not bad in and of itself. My usual objection to the giant churches is the general tendency to avoid the real live study of the Bible. They tend to focus on material prosperity rather than encouraging the congregation to expect tribulation. They tend to be centered around the pastor and what he says rather than the Bible and what it says. The churches tend to focus on trivialities (God is good all the time, your break through is coming, you’re the head and not the tail, etc.) rather than the true issues of Christianity (being conformed to the image of Christ, living a holy life, being perfected through tribulation and persecution, et.).
I, and the folks I tend to associate with, are what could be called a conservative (not a political position) Christians. We don’t see Christianity as a way to get supernatural health, wealth, or happiness. In fact, one of the postings provides a little guidance on what the potential pimp will do to take advantage of you. Here is the link: http://www.pulpit-pimps.org/archives/2005/03/16/open-9. You should be able to click on the link to go to the site. If it doesn’t work, copy and paste it into the address box above.
I would suggest you start studying the Bible and study the commentaries of some of the orthodox and conservative teachers present and past. In fact, I have a list of books you could start with. The post is here: http://www.pulpit-pimps.org/archives/2005/02/13/open-23
There are a many very good books that explain how to study (not just read and make something up that sounds good). But be careful. If you start reading on your own and you begin to order your life according to what the Bible says rather than what the pastor says (especially if the two don’t match), you will find yourself alone.
Drop me an e-mail and I can provide more information. I have a bibliography of books that are outstanding for the new Christian and the maturing Christian.
Finally, once your pastor finishes a sermon, do you feel good about yourself or are you aware of your deficiencies and encouraged to go to God and walk in faith in His power to conform you?
Thank you. Questions like yours make the time I spend doing this more than well-spent.
Melvin
GOD bless all of you..
Hey Melvin.
I like your site; however, I would like to know did you EVER received the gift of the HOLY GHOST with the signs
of speaking with new tongues?
My husband and I read your testimony or information about yourself and your past, but we didn’t understand totally if you actually spoke in new or other tongues.
Been to any good funerals lately?
http://www.faithalone.org/news/y2003/wilkin2.html
Did Jesus speak in tongues? What about Paul?
glynis bethel,
are you oneness or apostolic? I ask that, because I notice that the emphasis on tongues are mainly taught by both of those denominations. Yet i could be wrong.
So prophetess glynis, are you saying you have to have the gift of speaking in tongues to know if you’re filled?
Melvin,
Thanks for your response. I, know doubt in my private time with GOD study what is “preached” to make sure that “I” am following the Word of GOD and not the word of pastor so-and -so. I also thank you for the listing of books that you suggested. I don’t know why, but I feel the need to explain that I consider myself a “Babe in Christ” only because I consider it to be a slow process, not something that just happens over night. I have seen first hand how some have come into the church, give their lives to Christ one week and a year later they are sitting in the pulpit as “ministers of the gospel” all because they went to these classes, and gone through all of the rigamaroll of becoming a minister according to someone elses vision for them. I believe in my gifts making room for me. I believe in studying to show myself approved unto GOD not man. I believe that it is GOD who anoints and appoints. So that is why I consider myself a “Babe in Christ” because I believe that in due time GOD will elevate me to where HE has called me to be, and don’t need a “Spiritual Gifts” class to tell me what I am called to do and could be contrary to what GOD has called me to do. So I listen closely to that small still voice and allow GOD to lead me in the direction HE is leading me allowing for the bumps and bruises and deliverances along the way.
My only suggestion is that you not even think of your use by God in terms of “elevation” or any other such terms. Your tasks as a Christian are to pray for understanding, study, and act in faith. God doesn’t elevate the Christian any more than He elevated Christ while he was here on earth. (1 Pet 2:21-24) Any elevation we receive will be at Christ’s return.
Remember, we all are anointed with the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20, 27; 2 Cor 1:21, 22). Avoid talking about this or that person’s anointing. The phrase, used in that context, really doesn’t have much in the way of meaning. But don’t take my word for it, take this opportunity to study the idea and see what the Bible (the whole Bible, compared against itself) says about the topic. If you don’t own a concordance, a Bible dictionary and a lexicon, buy them now. They are invaluable and will help you avoid falling under the spell of the pimps. But be careful. Once you learn what the Bible says, you are obligated to stand for that truth. Standing for the truth gets lonely.
You are correct in saying that growth is a slow, deliberate process, requiring massive amounts of watering with the Word. Make sure that watering is with a good understanding of what the Bible says.
Are you the angry Black man that calls prayer lines and complains about ministries, and vents on the phone from a pay phone, about ministers who have money because they have money and you don’t. Cursing the people on the phone and hang up when they actually try to pray for you. Murmuring and complaining about, you wife leaving you and taking your children away, asking prayer partners to ******* ******** ******* and to pray that you win the lottery. Uhm! then I guess you too would be a Pimp.
Note: I cleaned this comment up somewhat. But it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I guess maybe he thought the comment would be posted before I took a look at it. I’m glad I have the settings I have.
Melvin
Melvin, the above statements you made above remind me of what I’ve noticed at First Baptist Church of Glenarden:
You said, “The pastor usually spends more time weaving his opinion around a verse or two during preaching…….The giant churches…..tend to be centered around the pastor and what he says rather than the Bible and what it says. The churches tend to focus on trivialities (God is good all the time, your break through is coming, ….. etc.) rather than the true issues of Christianity (being conformed to the image of Christ, living a holy life, being perfected…”
The thought of being “perfect” or seeking perfection is taboo. FBCG altar calls are based upon elements of the preached sermon. Instead, they should be based upon the gospel AND state the need for repentance.
Thanks for your insight.
Melvin, you made another good point above when you said:
“But be careful. If you start reading on your own and you begin to order your life according to what the Bible says rather than what the pastor says (especially if the two don’t match), you will find yourself alone.”
Anytime you take a stand for TRUTH, you’re at risk of being attacked. You may come under attack by the people in leadership positions. They may not approach you, but you can discern they’ve been running their mouth about you. They may even orchestrate sneeky and underhanded schemes against you.
Unfortunately, church folks have become more loyal to pastors than the truth of God’s word. They’re more loyal to MEN than GOD! Their loyalty to pastors keeps them from taking a stand for the sake of righteousness.
Their emotional attachments can cause them to be unable to recognize ERRORS, also. That’s one of the reasons why false doctrines, such as OSAS go undetected. Christians make the mistake of believing everything they hear preached or taught. They can’t discern when flesh is speaking vs. the Holy Ghost.
Melvin’s Note: Bewildered, please don’t think you are slipping anything past me. I have enough confidence in the people who read this site not to worry much about the little shots you keep taking.
On point……On point!
A and B above have impressed me with their openness and honesty.
“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Matthew 10:26
Isaiah 55:11 - So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void but, it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent.
Acts 4:12 - Neither is their salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
Revelation 19:13 - … and his name is called The Word of God
John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:28 - And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall “NEVER PERISH” neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 - My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:30 - I and my Father are one.
Hallelujah to you Jesus,
You are worthy to be praised. All power is given unto you in heaven and in earth. You have the power to save me through your name, and you have to power to keep me through your name. Thank you Lord God that once you saved me, that through your Word I have complete confidence in knowing that I am always saved. And the Church said Amen!
In the Love of Jesus Christ,
Deb
To my sister in the Lord, Deb: You are “right on, Sistah Girl; to God be the Glory! Beryle in Atlanta
I am new to responding to this site, however I have enjoyed reading the blogs that inhabit it. One such blog caught my eye this morning as I was reading, and it was the one left by Prayerful (above). I know of SOF and the ministers (and have met) that reside in the pulpit there. What’s important is to know is where they come from and what they believe, or their doctrine. I do know (for a fact) they split from a church (National Church of God-Ft Washington) along with the Brazleton’s (TCBM) (more on them later) and other pastor’s of noteriety in the Maryland area. I attended SOF’s 10 year anniversary celebration over a year ago. And needless to say it was something I will never forget. From my perspective (and I could be wrong) the whole event seemed to be about obtaining things, from them handing out TV’s, money and even cars (a Mercedes 500 SL) all be it used. But what’s more intersting is who was plastered on their program (TD, Creflo, IV Hilliard, Price and so on), these are the people they are associated with. That’s all I needed to see. Afterward I did my own research on the WOF (name it claim it) movement and the distortions most of these so called pulit preachers claim to be the truth.
And lastly on the Brazelton’s (TCBM) what’s important here again, is to know who they sit under (Creflo ) or as they like to say are submitted to. A start up church (they will remain anonymous ) I attended, the pastors there are submitted to the Brazeltons who are submitted to Dollar who is submitted to Copeland and so on-needless to say I left that church. Out of all the blathering I wrote, what’s important to know is who you are sitting under and who they are associated with it and what their doctrine is.
Deb,
In you October 15th comment, you misinterpreted scriptures by giving them a meaning that wasn’t intended by GOD. This is a typical error of FALSE teachers. NONE of the scriptures in the bible say you’re “always saved” or you “can’t lose salvation”. How can we know this?
Melvin’s Note: “God’s Anointed” is either a little dense or he is so unsure of his beliefs that he has to continually shout about them at the top of his lungs. Either way, he, and what ever other aliases he is using, is showing no wisdom what so ever. We aren’t talking about OSAS in any of the postings he has commented on. Yet he insists on continuing to natter (over five hundred words worth) with badly exposited, and mind-numbingly repetitive arguments, which I chose not to expose you to. If any of you want to here his loquacious and tortured arguments, visit a couple of the sites he and those of his ilk have posted. From this point on, unless the posting is talking about salvation and one’s security, I will not be posting any more of this bozo’s comments as they relate to salvation. Persistence is a good thing, most of the time. But my man here has move past that and on into obsession.
We are saved by the grace of God. So if we fall from His grace, our salvation is gone unless we repent. Only the spirit of the devil would persistently teach doctrine that’s contrary to God’s word. You’ve jeopardized your own soul by teaching heresy (not to mention those listened to you). So you need to repent.
October 15th comment:
You are wrong Sir/Madame. There are numerous verses of scripture out of the mouth of Almighty God that blesses His children with the complete assurance of our salvation “OSAS”:
1. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11)
2. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)
4. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
5. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
6. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
7. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39)
8. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)
9. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29)
10. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
11. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)
12. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
13. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)
14. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)
The darnel or “Tares”: Matthew 13:24-30/13:36-43
Study 2 Peter 2:1-22, verse 22 w/Proverbs 26:11
These people are “never” saved to begin with. They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.
Jesus “never” refers to the born again believer as a DOG, nor a SOW. But here in this verse He say’s but it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the “Dog” is “returned” to his own vomit “again”; and the “Sow” that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The Sheep:
Jesus calls the believer His “sheep”:
John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:28 - And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall “NEVER PERISH” neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 - My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand.
In the love of Christ Jesus,
Deb
DEAR DEB,
HAVE YOU CONFRONTED THESE PIMPS OF THE GOSPEL? THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO YOU, SO THEY WON’T BE LOST.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THIS.
YOUR SISTER-N-THE SPIRIT,
IMANI AYOBUNMI
EMAIL: imaniesi@hotmail.com
Ms. Ayobunmi,
I have never personally spoken with Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Earl Paulk, Juanita Bynum, T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, Jan and Paul Crouch , nor any other of the Word-Faith/Prosperity Gospel gurus.
I work for a major cooperation, and the majority of the people that I work with either attend World Changers Int’l Church - Creflo Dollar, or New Birth Missionary Baptist Church - Eddie Long. And yes, I have confronted with scripture, those that are in my immediate department that I know personally about their false doctrine/false teachers. But they are “brainwashed,” walking, talking replica’s of their pastor. It’s as though their minds are blind, that they cannot think for themselves. It’s “pastor said, pastor said, pastor said” all day long. They idolize their pastor and their allegiance is to him instead of Almighty God.
And so, I see first hand through their very own members the effect of false doctrine, and the mind control that false teachers have on their people.
In the love of Jesus Christ,
Deb
Does anyone in the Maryland area know about Reid Temple AME church. I have just become a member there and enjoy the service alot. The Rev there is Lee P. Washington he seems to be a very humbled man. and he preaches the Word of God. Can anyone give feedback
What a time to be saved! It appears that no one has it together. Whatever shall we do? I guess we should do what the Lord has always instructed us to do and that is to pray. One man’s opinion, be it wrong or right, has no bearing on what God has to say about a person. I don’t know any of the men and women of God who have been so poorly portrayed (MN: Why do you say they are poorly portrayed. A better question is: are they accurately protrayed?). on this site personally, but I will say that the moment one feels it it ok to post an opinion of someone without merit (MN: Why do you say it is without merit? John really has preached that Jesus had to suffer in hell to pay for our sins) and then call it God’s work frightens me (MN: What should frighten you is a willingness to tolerate someone who claims to be a shepherd preaching heresies. Not some nobody like me calling him on it) . I pray that all of you who actually partake in this would simply consider the fact that we are all brothers and sisters. Can we not get together and make peace (MN: Peace based on what? A lie? The Bible says we are to be unified in the truth, not simply unity for unity’s sake. Even Jesus said He came to bring division, not unity) without giving hell another victory by tearing down the Kingdom through slander? (MN: Slander: Saying untrue about a person. It seems the only slander here is you calling me a “non-truth teller”) In a perfect world, every man of God would be just that, but we live in a society where NO ONE is perfect. Let us examine our own faults first.
Melvin’s Note: I LOVE it when fairly new people come to the site because they say the same limp-wristed things - “We should keep quiet, say nothing, and just pray” or “we shouldn’t judge” or some other do-nothing suggestion. First question: What does the Bible say we are supposed to do about those who would pimp the flock? Does it really say we are to just sit here and pray? NO, it doesn’t say that! It says we are to point out the pimps. It says we are to warn others about them. It says we are to correct them if they will be corrected. Sure pray for them. But God also tells us to take action.
HALLELUJAH TO JESUS FOR THIS WEB SITE! All Truth Seekers will enjoy an e-teaching on another God send, http://www.shepherdserve.org (October 2005): “Judge Not!” This teaching is the literal icing on the cake. Have your Bibles open as you read these 8 (printed) pages. Grace to you from our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Beryle
(MN: Interesting site, by the way. I disagree with some of it, but some of you may be interested in the writings on God’s sovereignty, irresistable grace, and the such. )