Through the Looking Glass
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 30th, 2006That’s right. I went to Empowerment Temple yesterday morning (early yesterday morning). I’ll tell you about it later today or tomorrow. It was very…interesting.
Melvin
Archive for January, 2006
Tonex Tunes Out
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 28th, 2006
A reader sent in a message Tonex typed in MySpace. I thought you might be interested. No comments required. Just wanted you to know about it. Pray for Tonex and his growth in the truth. (more…)
Jamal-Harrison Bryant - Wandering About AMElessly
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 27th, 2006
I watched the Jamal-Harrison Bryant Show the other night on the Word Network. I noticed too, that his church called “Empowerment Temple AME.” From this I can probably safely guess that he is standing under the African Methodist Episcopalian banner, more or less identifying with the AME standards and teachings.
Of course, I have to wonder how many of the people who attend the church ever even wonder what AME stands for, much less what the words mean.
I bring up the AME thing because it adds to my assertion that the man is a pimp, more interested in building up his stable than in building the indidual Christians within the stable; more interested in making a name for himself and building an empire than he is in glorifying the name of Christ and building the individual saints.
He has, apparently, taken up the “AME” moniker to gain access to that organization, and its resoucrces, and its credibility. A sort of name identification process. But having used AME to make himself legitimate, he is going far afield, hooking up with those who have proven their ability to draw crowds and create mega-churches. Unfortunately, this includes people like T. Dexter Jakes, Noel “The Weasel” Jones, Cashflow Dollar, and others.
Truth has nothing to do with it. Personal profit and magnification are the bottom line.
It’s nice that people turn their lives around there at Empowerment Temple. But turning your life around is not the same as becoming a New Creation. And it’s nice that people come there and get a focus in their lives. But getting focused is not the same as getting a new heart and a new nature.
If the good reverend ran a McDonald’s franchise, would he be able to keep the Golden Arches outside the store if he didn’t serve Big Mac or keep the place according to franchise standards? I suspect Mr. Bryant is AME in name only.
ET Here I Come!
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 27th, 2006
Unless I get jumped by a Lazy Demon Sunday, I will be giving Pastor Bryant a visit. I’ll be attending the 7:30 (God help me) service. That means I will have to leave home somewhere around 6 AM in order to get to the church on time.
I’m the kind of fellow who has NO directional skills. I live by the map. As a result, I usually have to build in at least one half hour of “get lost” time, time for me to make a couple of wrong turns, and still be able to get where I’m going on time.
I’m going to the 7:30 service so I can get back home and go to church. I may be cutting it close, but it should be easier to get back to Bowie, than to get to Penrose Place in Baltimore.
I may also return on Bible Study night. That should be a little more informal and perhaps more informative. After all, he sends the sunday service out for public consumption. Bible study is a little more private.
Be in prayer for me. Specifically, that I:
1. Be as objective as possible
2. Listen as carefully and accurately as possible.
3. Be honest and fair minded in my reporting
4. Not be niggling and nit picking
5. Survive getting up at five o’clock on Sunday morning
Who knows? When I visited Calvert Baptist Church in Calvert county, I was very pleasantly surprised. Hey, lightning can strike twice.
Which Jesus?
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 26th, 2006
The Mormons present a Jesus who is the son of God. But that god’s name is Adam. Would you expect someone exercising faith in this Jesus to receive salvation?
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is a created being, not God. Would you expect someone exercising faith in this Jesus to receive salvation?
Christian Science teaches that there is no sin, only errors in perception. Their Jesus is a man who understood this. Would you expect someone exercising faith in this Jesus to receive salvation?
I trust you answered “no” to each of these. If you answered “yes” to any of them, I can understand why you would have no difficulties with some of the things being taught by supposed Christian teachers and preachers. After all, it’s just doctrine. And doctrine isn’t that important.
If you answered “no” to all of these, then you should also be concerned about some of the things the pimps out there teach.
For example, Cashflow teaches that Jesus is the first born again man. You got that? Take a look at his site and check it out for yourself. It’s near the bottom of the webpage, item D.3.
In that same section, Dollar also says Jesus was begat after suffering in hell for three days and as a result was raised from the dead.
Here, on the other hand, is what the Bible says in Luke 23:43. The day Jesus died physically; he was in Paradise - Abraham’s Bosom. It wasn’t a couple or three days later. It was that day. Now I never went to logic school, but it seems to me that “this day you will be with me in Paradise” is not the same as “he suffered in hell for three days.” And it also seems that both of these little tidbits can’t be true simultaneously. They are, as the logician says, mutually exclusive. You have to choose one or the other, but you can’t have both. And since the Bible SAYS He was in Paradise and not hell, the choice shouldn’t be that difficult.
If your pastor tries to Jenkins you by saying “It depends on the meaning of the word Paradise,” then you will know immediately that you are being pimped. Your pastor is either not interested in what the Bible actually says, or he doesn’t have a clue, following Cashflow because of the cash flow. And either way, you should get out of there as quickly as possible.
Fred Price and others teach that Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t pay for our sins. If that were so, they continue, then their death on the cross could have paid the price. They say that sin is spiritual and so Jesus had to die and suffer spiritually (in hell) to pay for our sins, which are spiritual.
Unfortunately, the Bible says:
· Romans 5:10 , We were reconciled through the death of His Son, not through the spiritual death and spiritual suffering of His Son
· Ephesians 2:16 , We were reconciled through the cross, not through suffering in hell for three days
· Colossians 1:20-22 , We were reconciled through His blood on the cross, not through His suffering in hell for our sins.
Uh-oh. There’s that pesky conundrum of trying to have something both ways. The Bible clearly says Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins. The pimps say His suffering in hell paid for it. Which one should we believe? The fellow who is trying to pimp you or the Bible? Again, they are mutually exclusive , they can’t both be true at the same time.
If the pimps were promoting the idea of having communion on the first Sunday instead of the fourth Sunday, or if they were saying we should use grape juice instead of real wine, I wouldn’t give a rat’s tail about them. But like the Mormons, the JWs and a host of other Christian wannabes, they are redefining Jesus and salvation. They are redefining the Gospel. And they are trying very hard to pass as orthodox Christians.
The Gospel, in a nutshell, says the Son of God died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. The Word of Faith Pimps say the Son of God suffered in hell to pay for our sins.
They aren’t the same. They are different. And the Bible says those who present a different gospel, which really isn’t a gospel at all, are accursed. If your pastor is promoting these teachings (suffering in hell, cross not sufficient, etc) and he can’t give you a good defense and insists you accept it anyway, you’re being pimped and you need to get the heck out of Dodge.
People who receive the false Jesus of the Mormons are deceived, lost; putting their faith in a false Jesus.
People who receive the false Jesus of the JWs are deceived, lost; putting their faith in a created being.
And sadly, people putting their faith in the Jesus of the Word of Faith pimps are deceived, lost; putting their faith in a false Jesus.
And the sad thing is these people will likely die deceived, dead in their sins. And you, by sitting around and saying nothing, are like the watchman who sits and refuses to sound his warning when the enemy comes rushing in.
You think I’m a little too picky? Hey, narrow is the way, people. Narrow is the way.
Smash-Mouth Apologetics
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 24th, 2006
As you may have noticed, this site is different than other sites. My vastly over-priced webmaster suggested I visit other sites for ideas and standards. So I have been visiting many sites dealing with doctrine, orthodoxy, and Bible study. Almost all of the sites are very insightful, soft-spoken, certainly interesting, and overall, very polite. My favorite site is www.johnecoleman.org. But a close second is www.cyrene.org. I even made it a favorite on my browser thingy. They are polite and gentle. And I find no fault whatsoever with this approach. Someone has to do it in order to help the saints continue to grow in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
But therein lies the difference between them and me. They are Andy Taylor, Mayberry’s sheriff - fair, very competent, and nice. If you remember, he never even carried a weapon.
I, on the other hand, am Vic Mackey, the gorilla of a cop from the Fox show “The Shield.” Whereas the other guys at least try to make nice with the pimps, my general approach tends to be more “hands on.” I see making nice as giving the pimps more time to shake down the saints.
The other guys are the equivalent of the parables, miracles, and graciousness Jesus dispensed to those around him. I’m the pieces of rope He used on the men who were making His Father’s house a house of business. (John 2:16)
I generally favor “smash mouth” apologetics when dealing with the pimps. I reserve the kinder, gentler approach for folks like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and other unregenerate folks stuck in a lie or who show a sincere interest in Jesus Christ. And believe it or not, I can be kinder and gentler. I’ve discoursed with JWs for hours on end, helping them to understand, from their own New World Translation of the Bible, the need for Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I can be a harmless little fuzz ball if I really put my mind to it. But I have to think about it real hard.
Again, I certainly don’t believe the kinder, gentler approach is wrong. God, in His sovereignty, uses both approaches and uses them very effectively. That’s why He’s God. A kind word is good. But sometimes you just have to put a whoopin’ on the crooks. And that’s what I’m here for.
Face It - Bryant’s a Pimp
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 22nd, 2006One of the primary premises of this site is the assertion that the pulpit pimps care more for promoting themselves and living off of you than they do for teaching you solid doctrine.
The Bible says that we are not to have anything to do with those who would preach another gospel or another Christ (2 John 9, 10). It makes it very clear that accuracy in doctrine is very, very important.
I mean, think about it. The only difference between Mormons and Christians is a difference in doctrinal matters. Both groups say you should take care of the poor, spend time with your family, and worship God. Certainly all of these are good things we all recognize a person should do. (more…)
The Goofy Trident
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 20th, 2006
Now I’m not saying New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (aka Club Newbirth) is just like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but it is interesting that like the JWs, these guys seem to have gotten rid of almost all of the symbols of Christianity. The JWs have Jesus crucified on a stake instead of a cross. Thus no cross. They discount the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force kind of like electricity. They changed the name of their places of worship from church building to Kingdom Hall.
The more I look at Club Newbirth, the more questions I have. But right now, I will ask whoever may wander by this site if they can tell me what, exactly, this symbol means. It’s all over New Birth. It’s plastered all over the organization’s site. The good pastor wears a huge diamond ring featuring the symbol.
What is it? What is it a symbol of? Does it mean anything or is it just a bit of Bling Bling to keep people from confusing Club Newbirth with a real church?
Hot Singles at Club New Birth
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 18th, 2006I need your help. I just got an e-advertisement from Club New Birth. When I read the ad, I had to go back and make sure it was really from New Birth.
Here’s what I want you to do: Before you click on the thumbnails, from what you can just make out in the little images, guess which one is from Club New Birth and which is from a secular site. (more…)
An Up and Coming Bigdog
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 17th, 2006 The pimps are getting more and more interesting; more and more obvious. Or perhaps they are getting more and more obvious about their true desires. It’s getting so if you want to become a Bigdog, you must shamelessly promote yourself. And Jamal-Harrison Bryant is quickly mastering the art of self-promotion. (more…)
Bishop Weeks Reeks…of Oneness
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 17th, 2006
Ladies and Gentlemen, once again you have been a great deal of help in getting information out about the pimps and pimpettes out to take advantage of the average Christian. A reader sent in this link (www.bishopweeks.com) and asked you to take a look at the site. I, being the curious individual I am, gave the site a visit and poked around a bit. I found the following in an article describing the good bishop. It’s the last part of the listing that is most interesting. (more…)
Fleecing the Flock for Fun and Profit - The Official Handbook
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 16th, 2006
My only regret about this piece is that I didn’t write it. It was forwarded to me by Al, a friend of mine. Yes, yes, I know. Many of you believe he is my only friend. But you’re wrong. I have one other one beside him. (more…)
Pimps Say the Darndest Things!
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 14th, 2006
Some place near the beginning of this site’s operation, I gave an analysis of a “teaching” of Cashflow Dollar (the Alpha Pimp). I call them teachings merely because I can’t think of a better word for them. You can read the earlier posting or just follow my instructions at the end of this posting. But I think you might profit from the earlier posting.
And remember, this Bible Butcher was welcomed at Jamal-Herrison Bryant’s Empowerment Temple. Tell me again how Jamal is helping you to grow as a Christian.
For those of you who don’t know, Jamal looks like this:
And that image is a shot from his “ministry” site, the one with a BMW grill on the homepage.
Here is the MPEG of the analysis. The download may take a while. So you may want to start it and go get a cup of coffee.
Hold onto your hats (and your wallets).
Profit Jordan - Seeing How to Take Your Money
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 13th, 2006
I’m betting (if I were a betting man) that if the fellow dressed in the bishop suit had three eyes as pictured, you probably wouldn’t listen to much of anything he had to say. But the interesting thing I’ve noticed is that with two eyes, no matter what he says, no matter how often he demonstrates his total disdain for you, people listen. And they send him money; lots of money; money that could be used to take care of your families and legitimate, godly activities. (more…)
Let None Put Asunder - Not Even Me
Posted by Melvin Jones on January 11th, 2006
You can download a PDF of this posting by going to the Essays page on the right or by clicking here.
A couple of readers have asked me to give my understanding of what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage. And since other readers have complained that I am not feeding the sheep (I’m still not all that convinced that this is my function on this site) I agreed to do it. (more…)