Christianity has an interesting history. When done right, in keeping with those things Jesus would have us do, it has been a force for good in the world. When done badly, say the witch hunts of New England, the results have been anything but good.
There are those who present and practice Christianity in such a way that others can see the value of Christian living. Go to the nearest town and you will find the preacher/pastor who faithfully studies the Bible, applying it in his life and teaching it accurately and objectively to the people he pastors. I’m sure this crowd includes Kimberly’s husband in Kansas.
Then there are those who, like Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, the Right Reverend Frederick K. C. Price and T. D. Jakes do Christianity badly, and practice Christianity in such a was as to make Christianity look like nothing more than a scam aimed at the simple-minded. It’s almost as if there is a light side and a dark side to Christianity. You know, like the Star Wars stuff with the Jedi Knight who listen to the light side and Darth Vader and his buds who have succumbed to the dark side.
Take a look at the ad at the top of the post for yet another conference hosted by Eddie “Pimpasaurus” Long.
There’s Robert Schuller, a guy who just wants to get along and figures everybody is right, one way or another.
Then there’s Creflo Dollar, the probable heir apparent to Kenneth Copeland.
And right there in the crowd is I.V. Hilliard, the Turnpike Pimp from Houston.
But I was really knocked for a loop when I saw the second name on the list - Dr. Tony Evans. For years, Dr. Evans stood tall in orthodoxy. I’m not sure what happened, or when it happened, but over the last year or so he has been rubbing elbows with the Darths of the Force.
Think about this: Evans is going to be appearing on stage (I refuse to say “in church”) with Cashflow Dollar, Robert Schuller, and Eddie Long. That’s a little like hearing that Cornell West will be participating in a conference being hosted by David Duke, the former Klan Grand Wizard and avowed racist.
Try as I might, I can’t think of a good reason for Evans to join up with these clowns. For goodness sake, he’s a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate. He got a degree that really means something. And now, after ten or so years of relative fame, he apparently throws in with the pimps.
I can see it now. Eddie Long calls on young Pastor Evans and tells him about the power he can have, the things he can possess. And all he has to do is come over to the dark side.
I suspect it looked something like this (click here).
Oh, and here’s the link to Eddie’s site.
And in case you think this is a one time event, here is a link to Dr. Evans’ site advertising another event.
Have you ever thought that maybe he takes it to the pulpit instead of a website. Maybe a bigger man.
Ohhhh, Uncle Melvin - you are a ’smaller man’ because you use the internet (that reaches practically the entire world instead of a pulpit in some church filled with people too afraid so say anything to your face), where people can freely criticize you - ANONYMOUSLY. Did you know that?
I hope you know that he is not reaching the entire world. Shouldn’t you be in school or something!
(MN: Actually, she’s an engineer (BSEE) working at Georgia Tech. She’ll be getting married shortly. So no, she shouldn’t be in school. At work perhaps, but not in school. It’s all on her web site.)
Read a little more closely - and you will see that I was referring to the *internet* reaching the entire world. Nonetheless, it takes a lot more ‘man’ to display your views in an easily readable format and encourage others to display theirs as well *especially* if the person wholeheartedly disagrees with you.
i’m sorry but you pulpit pimps sure do know how to find the worst in people, y r u picking on all these people of God with absolutely everything they do and supposedly call them false prophets while there are some actual false prophets out there and ur not trying to find them, leave them alone
(MN: Okay Kev, let’s get a grip here. I repeat what the pimps proudly say. If what I repeat is the worst, why are you following these people? If what I repeat from their web sites, and from their own mouths is finding the worst in them, why in the world do you follow them knowing they actually say these things that you call the worst?
By the way, who are the false prophets out there and why are you calling them false prophtes? Be careful how you answer. )
Certainly a possibility (if I understand what you are saying). But I am fairly certain Evans is not going to say anything to contradict the heresies of Creflo. I doubt he is going to call into question the near total inclusionism practiced by Schuller. And I just can’t see him upbraiding Eddie Long during the conference.
Going to a conference like this, and preaching good doctrine in the hopes of influencing people is a little like going to a house of prostitution and reading the Bible out loud. Yeah, it might have a small impact. But by going there you have either sullied your own name and reputation, or validated the goings on in the house of ill repute.
Notice I have made no judgment about where, doctrinally, Mr. Evans may be. In fact, I have arranged the whole posting to give the idea that he is being seduced, not yet having crossed over to the dark side.
Finally, in your objection you are not addressing the call from Scripture not to associate with those who preach heresies. Having your name and face plastered all over announcements would certainly seem to be associating by any definition of that word. Even if he isn’t going to the dark side, associating with those who have is a significant step in that direction. Remember the Horse, the Wolf, and the Man. There is always a payback.
(And no, I don’t think there is a light side and a dark side to Christianity.)
Why don’t you write Tony Evans and tell him not to come? While you are at it, send him a link to your site!
I guess I could. But I’m not really sure it serve any useful purpose.
It was quite possible that Charles Stanley abd the fellow coming out to FBCG in a couple of weeks might not have known the full story about John Jenkins. Whether we want to admit it or not, there are two different circles of “churching”: one Black and one White. And often, the folks involved in one set know nothing about the folks involved in the other.
Eddie Long is incredibly well known. The unsaved know of him just as they do the Right Reverend K. C. Price. And I am very confident that Dr. Evans knows the facts of Eddie Long and Creflo Dollar’s doctrines and practice.
If he has decided to attend the conference, and invite Long to speak at one he is holding in order to expose them to sound doctrine, then my writing won’t do anything to change that. If he doesn’t care about the chasm between them, then my writing won’t do anything to change that.
But I remind you again, I have not accused Evans of turning to the dark side. I have simply pointed out that the minions of darkness appear to be courting him.
Start paying attention to the contents of his sermons and see if Dr. Evans starts using any of the following phrases:
+ Watch this
+ Turn to your neighbor and say
+ Walk in your anointing
+ References to kingdom authority
+ Other common WoF phrases
IF he does that, then we will know he has been neutralized. If he doesn’t then perhaps he has some reason for rubbing elbows with them. But for the life of me, I can’t think of any good reason to do so. Remember, John still instructed us to have nothing to do with those who have turned from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Would you have a problem if he attended a conference on manliness hosted by the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormons? Or would it be okay if he invited a Mormon to participate in one of the conferences? Afterall, if they were there, they could hear the Gospel preached loudly and clearly - unless Cashflo, the Right Reverend K.C. Price, Ken Copeland, or Eddie Long were there. Then getting the gospel would be, at best, a toss of the dice.
Actually, Tony Evans started turning a while back. I used to listen to him on WAVA when I was off back in 2004. But he does use “Turn to your neighbor and say.” I don’t know how far gone he is because I haven’t listened in while, but I believe that he still comes on WAVA 105.1 at 10:30am for those of you here in the MD area.
Ahhhh….the ole turn to your neighbor thing. What about the ole “high-five somebody and tell ‘em I got a new anoiting” phrase.
Unless you have listened to Tony Evans on a consistent basis, please do not even throw his name and heresy in the same paragraph. He preaches the gospel, the truth. One way to recognize a preacher who may be a little faulty is when they only approach certain aspects of the life (money, success, relationships) and don’t deal with the spirtuals truths of Jesus Christ. God has given Tony Evans this charge and he has not compromised it one bit.
We can’t always assume just because a church as the “mega” status, that the preacher is faulty. Ministry cost and its very expensive. When donations, tithes and offerings are given to support ministry, thats great. Ministry wouldn’t survive without it.
(MN: And he appears with known pimps. He has also wandered into alternate means of salvation. Pay attention to all that he says, not just the stuff you like. )
Pierre, Tony Evans is one of the reasons I am who I am today in the Lord. He contributed greatly to maturity as a bieliever. So for me and others on here to say what we said, hurts me dearly, but the truth is the truth. I started listening to Tony Evans back in 2003 read a few of his books, but let me tell you. I was on http://www.oneplace.com listening to him everyday at work. Then I would drive home and listen to him on the radio station here in Dallas. The first issue arose when he was on TBN on one of the Praise the Lords. Later he started to show up in conferences with people that are the Chief of Heretics (Creflo) he has started to get more involved with Jakes over the years (Grand Chief Heritic) and now his wife is holding First Lady Conferences (not heretical but this elevates one wife over the other) so we do have a problem. Come back in two years and let us know where you stand. I am pained that a person of such high reputation is starting down a slope. So you may be right, he hasn’t crossed the line, but I tell you his toes are at the tip.
Mr Woods
I can agree with this sentiment. A lot of the pimps ministries have gotten me to where I am today. But I don’t give them any credit. It was the Spirit of God that revealed the Truth to me.
Rod Parsley did a message on the Bible once that got me reading my Word more. Kirk Franklin credits Tony Evans with helping him with his porn addiction. Evans’ wife authored a book that I still read and re-read during this difficult time in my life while my kids are really, really young and needy.
It took a while before the Lord started allowing me to *see* the error in other things the pimps were saying. But when He did, that became all that I could see and I couldn’t watch or sit silently anymore. When it got to the point where I found myself spitting out everything, not just the bones of their messages, I couldn’t listen anymore.
This is a sad day. He wasn’t my fav (i.e. dispensational), but he was at least solid. Looks like I must remove his book from library.
Long: “(heavy breathing….) Join me Tony… (heavy breathing)…it is your destiny…
Evans: “no, I won’t join you… you give Christianity a bad name…”
Long: “(heavy breathing) you will join me when I tell you this…(heavy breathing) Tony…I am your father…”
Evans: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Wow, you thought of that all by yourself. That is the best you can come up with. See, you followers of Melvin can’t say that other comments are insulting to you. You just made a joke out of a serious situation. Now, if somebody came across this site and needed information and help about making a decision to attend this conference, you just missed the mark with helping that lost soul with their decision. You are just like the rest of the world! There is a time and a place to joke, and PL, quite frankly, you are not funny at all!
Wow,
I had the opposite thought, I laughed out loud when I read this…Melvin said it best…if we can’t laugh about it, it would make us cry!
By the way, people aren’t stupid like you and the pimps think they are. (I guess some are stupid enough) It’s good that you are concerned that they might need some help to decide if to attend this conference. What an easy decision!!! If they read their BIBLE, (Rom. 16:17) it says to avoid those that preach another gospel.
Tony Evans is basically a good guy, so if you live in Atlanta, maybe you can go hear him and see if he has crossed over to the “darkside.” “Once you start down the path of the Darkside, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
Listen to see if he uses the “keywords” described above. With all due respect Wow, folks need to make decisions based not on Pulpit Pimps, Taking Authority, or any of Evans books, or his son’s CD’s. They need to base their life off of the Word!!
P.S. I think I heard that Lando Calrissian, (Billy Dee) went to the singles conference to check out all the Hotties!!!
Wow,
Thanks for the rebuke, I will think about my comment and take it to the Lord…
My intent wasnt to make light of the sitution, The comment was ment to be satirical, to make people think about the serriousness of the situation. If you missed that, my bad. I guess I will just leave the satire to Melvin.
Didn’t you read the disclaimer at the bottom of the site?
I checked this disclaimer out with my lawyer and he said it covered everything.
Okay, Melvin, I feel what you are saying. However, you say alot of valid things and I totally respect you for that, but there is a line to draw when it comes to reaching lost souls. I was hoping that you would stick to sound doctrine and scriptural references to get your points across, but all I have seen from your followers and from you on different occassions are jokes, put downs, etc., Also, I think calling someone a pimp is horrible, but hey, its not my site. Fleecing the flock is what you assume they are doing. Have you even been to Eddie Long’s church. I have a friend who lives in Atlanta who attends, and she loves it. I have never heard her talk negative of her pastor. Also, Eddie Long is an alumni of NCCU in Durham, NC where I attended, and I haven’t heard anything bad about him. He sits on the board of directors of NCCU! Just wanted to throw more facts out there about this man!
Actually, as I have said on many other occasions, the site is not about winning souls to Christ. It is about helping those who are stuck in and are trying to get out escape bad churches. And it is about warning people away from those churches before they get trapped.
As I have also explained, the humor has a two-fold purpose. The first is to neutralize the phony dignified demeanor the pimps use to influence people. It’s difficult to see Eddie Long as the “anointed of God” once you’ve seen him in a Darth Vader suit or a pimp outfit surrounded by a news article detailing his pimping of the church.
The second is to make the material interesting - palatable, so to speak. Once you’re hooked, you will continue with the heavy duty apologetics.
The more people who read this somewhat informal apologetics presentation, the more people can see that you don’t need a degree or be very smart to defend the truth, the more difficult it becomes for the pimps to lure new blood into their webs and the fewer wounded sheep walk away from them and, a lot of times, their perception of Christianity.
The one thing you have to hold on to when you read this site is that it is not here to win souls. I evangelize person to person, where it’s really hard.
I understand your concerns and certainly don’t blithely dismiss them. But what the site does is what the site is supposed to do. Nothing more, nothing less. If you enjoy it, keep reading and recommend it to your friends. If you think it’s hell bound, stop and warn your friends away from it. But don’t bother to try to encourage me to evangelize (except as it may happen peripherally).
By the way, I wouldn’t expect the person who attends the church to say anything bad about him. She probably thinks he’s a “powerfully anointed, humble man of God.” But that is the whole issue. No matter what he says (and you have to listen to his sermons and watch what he does) they are going to follow after him. He can contradict scripture and tell the congregation anything he wants and they will bend their understanding of the Bible to match what he says.
Also, I never said the man is stupid. I said he is a pimp, taking advantage to the people in the congregation. It’s an ugly word, but it aptly describes what he and others like him do.
I would take time to figure people out like you and these Anonymus (people)BUT WHY??? If you know what this site is about and it disturbs your “spirit” by what is being said or discussed on this site, WHY! do you ***keep*** coming back. It seems that obviously you are really learning something and too afraid to admit it. Keep on coming back and you will see the ‘TRUE LIGHT’. Melvin, again thanks for this blog.
right on, people dont care if they are being fleeced.
LOOk out for the wolf in sheeps clothing.
Evans has done gone down. too bad when men dont do their homework about cults.
NO man worth his salt would ever join with cults, something is very off on that.
thanks and keep up the truth, few have it and few want it
PL seriously man that was a classic!!!!!! I was for real LOL. I bet Fast Eddie be sayin’ “watch this” in his sleep.
Eddie sleep: “(grunts)…Watch this…(more grunts)…watch this…(snores)…watch this”.
Okay, I guess that wasn’t as funny as I thougt it would be. But PL, that was hilarious.
Sincere, Thanks for the Love.
PL
Who’s Yoda-Sherard Burns? Anthony Carter? Someone help Dr. Evans out!
Sincere, don’t remove his book from your library so fast. You can back away a little but don’t discount him yet. We don’t know if this is God’s agenda by having him speak at this conference. He could use this as a platform to get a clear cut message across. I know his association with this conference doesn’t look good but there could be a big picture that we don’t see. I happen to like Evans a lot and it’s dissapointing to see him mixed in with these (for better terms) hucksters. My prayer is that he doesn’t become a muddy the altar, shatter the stained glass preacher like them.
NCW, thanks, but I was just joking. Seriously though, I haven’t even read it yet. I don’t read too much from dispensational teachers, except maybe MacArthur and well, Melvin.
Chuck, do you know Sherard Burns, and Anthony Carter. If so what was meant by the comment you made concerning which one of them is Yoda
Hopefully Dr. Evans brings the Truth of the Gospel there and calls them clowns out. However, if he doesn’t I will probably avoid his teachings as well, because he can not clearly see those guys as allies to the Gospel. If he does then he needs the Gospel again himself, but if he doesn’t, I hope that the Holy Spirit moves and convicts the pimps and pimpettes. I’d love for this site to dissappear because all the pimps/pimpettes put their pimp cups down and taught the Truth of Scripture. Yet ’til then, this site purpose and must go on. Glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ for perserving Mel to continue in Labor for God’s Truth.
Grace and Peace
seal
Seal, I doubt that Tony Evans will expose the heretics. Evans has been slowly going adrift since the mid to late 90s. He started getting into this taking authority stuff. Note, that Eddie Long has long preached that too. There is a slight connection. What boggles my mind is how can Tony Evans listen and process anything that Eddie Long teaches. Have you ever tried to follow one of Eddie Long’s “messages?” It’s like trying to crack a secret code.
Melvin’s Note: Anonymous, you made a statement about Dr. Evans. Is there anyway you could verify this for me? Once I get a verification, I will post your comment.
Thanks
(Melvin’s Note: I’m a little nervous about doing this, but I will go ahead and post this item. If anyone else can verify the statements (even though I have already let them out and the damage is done if they are not accurate), please drop me a line. One of the difficulties with working with Anonymouses who are hesitant to leave their e-mail addresses is I have to talk to them publicly and still not spill what we are talking about. I hope the statement below is true since I have published it. But I don’t know for sure that it is. Again, if you have any information, don’t hesitate to send it to me at mjones@pulpit-pimps.com. )
Are you speaking of Tony Evans speaking at New Birth Baptist Church back in the late 80’s and early 90’s? You should be able to request the tape by Dr. Evans from New Birth. Eddie Long had only been at the church a few years and the church was growing at a fast rate when Tony Evans came. Evans came and an assistant pastor from Evan’s ministry came also.
I’m quite sure if you asked Dr. Evans, he will always confirm that he has ministered at the church back at that time. You don’t have to post the comments, but they are very ACCURATE. You see, some of the things you say I have difficulty receiving beause I KNOW something else about it. The greatest issues with sites like this is that things are omitted and they don’t add up to folks like me who KNOW what was and is going on. I do applaud you for standing up for what you know or believe to be true. God bless you brother!!!
(MN #2: I don’t omit anything. I put up whatever is on the sites and give people the opportunity to visit the sites as well. In other words, I tell as much as the pimps tell. If that is not enough, and there is more to it, then the perps should make that known.)
I would especially be interested in anyone who could tell me Eddie Long’s doctrinal stand in the 80’s. Usually, these clowns don’t start where they are. It’s usually a slow process to get to the full blown pimp stage. I suspect he, like John Jenkins, started off pretty conservative and migrated to the Dark Side as the environment changed.
I am praying for you taht God will have mercy on you. The bible says touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm. Don’t play with God’s men and leaders of His people. This is not a joke and God’s men shoud not be referred to as pimps. God doesn’t play and you had better watch your mouth and ask God to forgive you. Peace
Melvin………..for the love of God……..please consider posting a link we can send the TNMAADMPNH bunch. I’m BEGGIN’ ‘ya bro!!!
and miss his money you’ve got to be kidding! lol lol
I think Chuck’s comment was meaning that Burns and Carter are those who are still (cannot believe I am saying this) “Jedi”. If that is the case, I think he was simply saying other brothers (of flesh and of Spirit) should come along side him and (gently) rebuke Evans for the road he is about to venture down.
Evans? What? i thought he was mad orthodox! OCBF is one of those few churches with sound doctrine over here in the Bible Belt. Oh well…
Hey Melvin, I found a great site on all these pimps and pimpettes’ beliefs….www.letusreason.org
So keep on doing what you do! You ain’t alone.
Neeci you’re right about Let Us Reason. When you get into the links, you’ll see that a lot of the watchmen websites are connected…Let Us Reason, http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com, erwm.com, apostasywatch.com, apprising.org, etc. etc. (Slice of Laodicea has some good ones)
Don’t forget to check out the links to these sites, which usually lead you to others of like mind as us. Keep studying and searching for the truth!
Another really good one calle http://www.forgottenword.org
you know…..beeing CHRISTlike is not bickering at each other as christ says a kingdom devided cannot stand, so if you have a problem wid what he is saying pray about it…. “confess your faults one to another and pray one for another so that ye may be healed” all this contection is not CHRISTlike at all… the bible says that that the holy sprit is the sprit of truth so belive it…. if your sprit does not agree with something pray about it…. christians today are to devided and christ did not leave and is coming back for a devided church. i dont agree with everthing that Mr Melvin jones is saying but i’m not getting all upset and bothered. i think that Mr Jones is expressing his feelings and opinions… carry on informing christains what you think brother……god bless
Yikes…………do you even OWN a Bible?? Please visit a local library, or steal one from a nearby motel. Then, look up how false teachers were dealt with, and how we are to deal with them. Then come back and try again.