I love it when the commercial minded try to sound spiritual minded.
I was looking at the advertising and publicity for New Psalmist’s approaching conference in Baltimore. It’s called the “Kingdom Conference.” It features Profitess Juanita Bynum, Kenneth (Let’s Shout the Holy Spirit Down) Ulmer, some lady pastor and Zachary Timms, the Will Smith look-a-like. Take a look at the ad here.
More and more it seems the main draw is the speaker’s fame, not the orthodoxy of their message or the Bible’s standards. But for tonight, that really isn’t the issue. Maybe I’ll discuss that in a later posting.
Take a look at the site and you will see that New Psalmist is bringing in the world to help them pull off the conference. They have a big time sponsors like Southwest Airlines, Constellation Energy, General Motors, a funeral parlor and someplace called “Body and Soul.” I suspect if they keep going the way they are going, it won’t be too long before you see an ad like this one. After all, we have to appeal to the youth right?
I guess my primary question is: Why do these people, who are supposedly “doing God’s work,” have to get secular funding for their projects and schemes? I understand that the convention center is not cheap. But where does it say they have to hold the “conference” at the convention center? Or where does it say the church organization has to make anything close to a profit from the event?
In the Old Testament, Abraham recognized that it was foolish for him to take anything from the heathen kings he had worked with lest they say that they made Abraham rich (Gen 14:21-23). Surely the good Bishop Thomas, who claims to be a charismatic-type, tongues-speaking, filled with the Holy Spirit fellow, can see the problem with the Church working with the world. And by the world I mean those who have no discernible connection with Jesus Christ. What next - charging for the tracts they hand out when they go evangelizing?
They are also selling booth space within the convention center that is available so people and companies can market the poor slobs who attend the Kingdom Conference. I took a look at the form the vendors are to use to apply for space. Click here to take a look at it.
Now maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see anything that tries to differentiate between the saved and the unsaved. It would seem that I could be a Druid priest selling rune stones and as long as I gave the pimp his $750 for two chairs, a table, and a 10 by 10 space in the convention, they don’t really care. I wonder if Miss Cleo would have any trouble getting a booth as long as she made religious sounding noises.
I’m having some trouble seeing the difference between what Mr. Thomas is doing (bringing in a bunch of vendors to charge too much for stuff that isn’t worth it at half the price) and the money changers and livestock hustlers who populated the Temple in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time (Matt 21:12). While I realize the convention center is not the temple, the idea of gathering a bunch of professing Christians together and then selling them stuff seems to parallel that portion of Scripture a little too closely for my comfort. Oh, wait! I guess it makes sense for Thomas to market the folks in the hallways since he marketed them just so they could get in and have their lives changed forever, for the second year in a row. Remember, everybody has to pay to get in. Before June 5, New Psalmist members pay $55.00 and non-members pay $65.00. Young adults pay between $35 and $45. After June 5 all adults (young and geezers) pay $65. And, by the way, all fees are non-refundable. Once they get their hooks in your money, it’s not coming back. Man! Even the cruise I took last Christmas would give me some portion of my money back if I cancelled soon enough!
Again, this bloke claims to have great anointing, he claims to have “the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues.” He claims some great spirituality. Yet he’s in bed with the unsaved, taking their money to help support a supposedly Christian event. You have to wonder if there is any limit or barrier to who could advertise of sponsor the event.
And by the way, John Jenkins, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden is going to be speaking/teaching at this goat rope as well. I guess he has to put in his time on the way to Big Dogdom.
I was wondering… If any from your Categories or Archives section has ever contacted you for a dialogue or debate? if so… what was the out come? If not…What do you believe the reason to be?
Not that I know of. They may have “debated” under some internet name but to date none of them have contacted me. I don’t expect them to either.
Remember, the purpose of the site is to warn you of them, not try to convince them to change. I do believe most of them know exactly what they are doing. After talking with john Jenkins for months, I am certain that he, for one, is completely aware. They are not going to change. But I can sound the warning to help some souls escape their pimping and sound the warning to help others avoid being pimped to start with.
And again, the issue is not “perfect doctrine.” The issue is the teaching of heresies and pimping the sheep.
It’s really sad that the focus (for the most part not all Pastor’s) is bigger, better and best, $ Money for this, donation for that, offering for this and that. $$$
I pray that God will raise up some Pastors’ that is really after his heart and not after Ben and his boys. That winning the lost becomes #1 and trusting God to provide the means to sustain the ministry.
I pray that the body of Christ becomes more aware of what is happening and take off the blind folders and begin to fast and pray for the change in leadership.
Their’s sooooo much to pray for therefore let us the body of Christ move more now than ever before to PRAY.
All things truly do work together for our good. Let’s use this site to motivate us to petition God for a change.
Be Blessed …
Pray, study on your own, talk to friends who attend these churches or listen to the tapes, dvds, or cd of the “pastors”. DO everything you can to call attention to the men and women who would market the church and those who have been decieved.
While I use humor, this is serious business.
I hate to pat myself on the back, and I apologize beforehand, but here it goes….
A few weeks ago, my uncle invited me to preach at his church. He is a w.o.f. preacher, and he knows where I stand on those issues, but invited me anyway. After some prayer, I decided to do it (remember my e-mail MJ??). They also broadcast the services on a local tbn wanna-be channel here in So. Indiana.
So, I did my “thang”, and preached the message that I always said I would if I was on TV. Kind of an anti-prosperity, anti-signs-and-wonders y’all better start preaching salvation kind of a message. The result—worse then I expected. My uncle over-reacted to everything, and now I have one less venue, and some angry family members….( The church did recieve more calls than normal and they were 90% positive)
My point is this-this is a war we are in! There is a battle not only to win the lost, but a battle for control of the hearts and minds of all christians. I REFUSE to compromise when I preach the gospel, and trust me when I say this, I have paid the price.
I am trying not to sound sniveling and whiny. I am happy. I am just responding to JW’s comment above, and to say there are some of us out here trying to “fight the good fight.” I am considering re-locating down south somewhere where the folks want to hear the Word of God…. Anyone know of any openings????
Rev…keep fighting the good fight. May you be encouraged to know that when friends and family forsake you Jesus will always be there !!!
We need more believers that will not compromise the gospel for $, fame etc …
To the readers on this site, take the information that’s presented and observe what is or is not going on in the building of today (we are church, the believers).
If your church is not being pimped then excellent (pray for the others). However if things are not adding up try the spirit by the spirit.
All of this my pastor, my pastor we are men and make mistakes (the word of God tells you not to put your trust in man) so get it right and some just do’nt care. The best thing for you to do is look to the hills (not run) where your help comes from and that is Jesus and Jesus only.
This is an awesome time to know the Lord because whatever is not righteous shall perish, thus said the Lord. Psa 1:6….
Be Blessed
Rev_AK:
How do you choose your battles?
How do you determine what’s detrimental to the body of Christ?
How can WOF teaching be more detrimental to one’s soul than Eternal Security teaching?
Think and pray before you answer.
Divine Connection, have you ever lost your salvation? In fact, any of you out there who say you can lose your salvation - have you ever lost it? If you have, please tell me as genericly as possible what you did to lose it? THen, please explain to me how you knew you had lost it.
DC,
you have surely not read any of my postings if you think I teach/preach Eternal Security. I am going to say this for the last time:
I think there is a major difference between factions of Christians who argue over the mechanisms of our salvation, but still agree on the essentials, and factions of Christianity who change/distort the Essentials. I am not a Calvinist. I happen to believe that an individual can forfiet their salvation, (which, in my opinion is part of the “unpardonable sin”) but I agree that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can take our salvation away.
I think it a an argument that has been debated for centuries, but it is not something that could cause me to accuse fellow brothers and sisters (by the millions, and some of the brightest minds in Chrisitianity) of heresy. It, to me, is just an argument over semantics.
Attn all readers: I will not respond to any more questions on this subject, at least for now…
Anyway, you asked me how do I choose my battles, and I know where you are trying to go with that. something like…” if you were filled with the Holy Ghost, you would never have any confusion, or trouble.” Been there, done that. It kills me how folk try to get spiritual on me without knowing my background. (ten years with the Assemblies of God, the “inventors” of the charismatic movement) I deal with REAL issues, and try to preach REAL Gospel, and yes, I am learning along the way. That is why I am having a hard time in the palce where I am, trying to find a church, and/or denomination wher I can be me.
Finally, no Calvinist that I know has ever said any of the following things from the pulpuit:
There are many,many more documented quotes from the wof movement, look them up, and then tell me which movement is more dangerous??
Rev_AK:
When you refer to the “unpardonable sin”, is that blasphemy of the Holy Ghost?
If your answer is “yes” and you think that’s the ONLY way a believer can forfeit his/her salvation, I disagree with your self-assessments. You are not Armenian because you have some Calvinistic beliefs.
You are only correct in saying that no outside source can take away a believer’s salvation. However, they can forfeit/lose it because of their own actions.
I need to pray for your eyes to be opened. There’s more to the dispute than what you mentioned. Calvinists have distorted the word of God relating to the essentials of salvation.
None of the WOF statements you listed can lead someone to hell. But the Calvinists and eternal security teachings can most definitely cause a believer to be on the road to hell.
I’m not just saying that because these doctrines are FALSE. These doctrines lead to carnal living and a lack of repentance. It’s conducive to disobedience rather than obedience to God’s word.
If you don’t believe me, ask God to show you the nature of the believers who preach those doctrines and the nature of the believers who attend their churches.
Why all this reformed bashing goin on?
It’s cool though.
Comment for Divine.
The scriptures declare that nothing can take us out of God’s hands. Nothing means nothing, whether outside or yourself(unless you were never in the faith to begin with).
On the day of judgement, many will say to Christ, “Lord, Lord, did we not, you know the rest”, but He will say, “I never knew you, depart from me, and you know the rest”. If they were once in the faith, Christ would have had to of know them, am I correct? But He says, I never knew you, meaning, you were never in the faith.
The Reformed doctrine of the Perseverence of the Saints does not teach antinomianism (MN: antinomianism - Theology. The doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace), nor does it teach legalism. You should study more of what we teach before you bash it. You could very well be bashing the word of God itself.
Amen Rev.
Christ came to bring division.
Good Point on your Blog. I’m not a huge fan of “Bishop” Walter Scott Thomas…He’s in the same league with Paul Morton and all those other buffons…
I think it’s a very good idea to take rev_ak advice and to the research for yourself. When i first came across this site I knida dimissed it as ‘pure haterism’ I found it extremely hard to believe that these ministers who i had been brought up to respect (especially Kenneth Copeland) as great men/women of God could be anything else.
Alas the evidence is very daming and only leaves us to draw one conlusion. This WOLF movement should be avioded at all cost.
some more statements for your enlighment Divine Connection
“You don’t have a god in you, you are one.
“Kenneth Copeland, “The Force Of Love” tape # 02-0028
‘I say this with all respect so that it don’t upset you too bad, but I say it anyway. When I read in the Bible where he [Jesus] says, ‘I Am,’ I just smile and say, ‘Yes, I Am, too!’
Kenneth Copeland, “Believer’s Voice of Victory” broadcast on TBN, recorded 7/9/87
“Jesus had a nice big house”, “Jesus wore designer clothes”,and “Jesus was handling big money”. All statements made by John Avanzini.
Making such statements shows a servere lack of understaning and is not just a matter of difference in doctrine. Its a complete contradiction to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, Gal 1 vs8-9 should not be taken lightly.
(waiting for God to strike me down with some lightining bolts…..nothing happened)
Yes indeed lets keep contending the faith
DC,
Just as I believe one can “backslide” because I have seen it for myself (I know, know, “they were never truly saved in the first palce”…blah blah..) I have too many friends who are Calvinists that I trust and I know that they are going to heaven. And all my bros and sisters out there who don’t agree with my philosophy still can say by the “fruit” I bear I am too. It is sooooo funny that you acuse me of being “Calvinistic”, I guess kind of like cultic. I was so frustrated with Melvin and Sincere because we just kept going in circles. But are they my friends? Yep.
Anyway, let me get to my point. You made no scripture references to defend your position (like I did) (By the way Calvinists, why preach the Word again??, I forgot—joke) You are going to try to make some foolish point about the Holy Ghost, even though I have given you a bit of my background and would ask you how do you know if I am “filled” or not? (if we go by 1 Coritntians 14, I have a neat question about women pastors for you pentecostal types that usually always allow women to be Pastors)
Finally, you have done nothign to defend the quotes from folk like Copeland, Bynum, Hinn, Dolla, Oral Roberts, Paula “I Know you got soul” White, or all the othe great stuff that our new “Melvinite” Tiannah gave you. I am not going to defend Calvinism, because I don’t believe in it. but since you are such a big Word Faith person, how about standing up for your homies I just called out??????
Rev_AK
How can you scripturally justify saying the backslidder was “never really saved in the first place”?
How can you say this person never ever did the following things that’s required for his salvation?
Believe—Mark 1:15; Acts 19:4
Repent—Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Mark 6:12, Luke 3:8, 13:3, 5, 15:10, 24:47; Acts 3:19, 17:30, 20:21, 26:20
Believe and repent—Mark 1:15
Repent and baptized—Acts 2:38, Acts 19:4
According to scripture, anyone who ever believed the gospel, repented, and got baptized was saved.
Tell me I misunderstood you IF I did!!
By the way, my question concerning the Holy Ghost did not question whether or not you were filled. Sorry you misunderstood me.
Regarding the “quotes” of the folks you named, again I profess their quotes can not lead someone to hell as much as the doctrine of your Calvinist’s friends. You and I don’t see eye-to-eye on that issue.
I don’t need to stand up for anyone because I’m not a fan of any one mentioned on this site including the so-called WOF’s.
Again, why does Jesus say, “I never knew you” if these people were saved?
You also, have to be willing to say that they can never be saved again, after their season of backsliding.
The parentheses were to cut off all my “Calvinist friends” becuase they are the ones who say “they were never TRULY saved in the first place.” Like I am saying now for the final, last, final time, I am not a Calvinist. You seem like you just want to pick a fight with someone.
All the scriptures you listed were fine, I don’t dispute any of them. If you are not a fan of Word Faith preachers, then why did you defend them? Your original question was “how do you determine what is detrimental to the body of Christ?” (As if the W.O.F. movenment is not.) Easy. The Word of God.
Melvin’s most used quote on here is Romans 16:17, which says to not have fellowship with those that preach “another gospel.” Calvinists don’t preach any of the “Eseentials” any differently than I do. We disagree about the role man plays in his fate, and wheter or not if someone is saved, they can “backslide.” So what? Are you now willing in front of a “live studio audience” to say the the millions of reformed believers are “Hellbound”?
Melvin, sincere, nor anyone else has ever lobbed such a conclusion toward me. In Galatians 1, Paul goes as far to say even if an ANGEL preaches a different gospel, let him be accursed. No Calvinist I know has preached anything like Bishop Eddie Long, who somehow always seems to make things about sex. With his “I didn’t have intercourse with the President”, to the “fresh sperm” quote, (should I dare to even ask what constitues “stale sperm” to the good Bishop?)
I think that is evidence of a “porn-gospel”, definitely another gospel! Instead of worrying about if someone can backslide or not, why don’t we work together to actually be the “body of Christ”, instead of a bunch of scattered body parts.
I have no intentions of backsliding, so I think it is a moot point. Let’s move on. We have thousands of fellow believers who are not only being led down a dangerous path, which could possibly result in Hell, but there is the double-whammy that they are also giving themselves into debt, foreclosure, and losing their “God kind of Faith” by the thousands, by the day.
If you are a word faith sycophant (sp), then put your money where your mouth is, and send Paula White some money so she can buy the Isley Brother’s Greatest Hits.
I’m wit you Rev. Paula do gotta little soul don’t she.
Here is an article from the Baltimore City Paper:
http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=8630
James E. Roberts and a handful of co-protesters stood in the rain in front the Baltimore Convention Center on Pratt Street on July 22, carrying a sign. It read: PIMPS IN THE PULPIT. Pretty tough words, and leveled, he explained on the phone the next day, not only at the Convention Center’s big draw for that weekend–the “Kingdom Conference,” a religious gathering sponsored by Baltimore’s New Psalmist Baptist Church–but at “churches overall.” He says he’s noted a trend he abhors, in which churches increasingly are led by “mega-ministers who raise money from the flock and spend it on themselves, and don’t even spend much of it on their own flocks.”
Roberts shares a few thoughts about the Rev. Walter S. Thomas Sr., too, the pastor of New Psalmist, which moved in 1996 from Cathedral and Franklin streets in midtown to a newly constructed, 48,000-square-foot facility on 19 West Baltimore acres in Uplands–a tax-exempt property currently assessed at more than $11 million. (Phone messages for Thomas left at the New Psalmist offices were not returned by press time.)
“He lives in a million-dollar house in Governors Run” in Ellicott City, Roberts claims. (Actually, property records show the pastor’s home there is valued at $635,000.) “He’s like a Hollywood Christian, introverted, all about self, not the spiritual, and he’s part of the whole thing where wealthy pastors are driving Mercedes–and actually, now, they’re starting to go for Bentleys. Imagine what you could do in Baltimore with the money it takes to buy a Bentley?”
Roberts admits that his rhetoric and protests have brought legal troubles in the past. The Rev. Kenneth Barney, pastor of New Antioch Baptist Church in Randallstown, pressed criminal charges against Roberts just before Christmas in 2002–a step he took after Roberts repeatedly protested with bullhorns outside New Antioch as Barney’s congregation arrived for worship on Sunday mornings. According to court records, the judge declined to penalize Roberts for the charges of harassment, disorderly conduct, and failure to obey a peace order. Roberts says he was “excommunicated” from New Antioch for his views on the wealth of church leaders.
When not protesting, Roberts has turned his efforts to West Baltimore, where he and others have built up their own house of God, called Mission Possible Ministries Inc, which operates a mens’ shelter at 1930-32 W. North Ave. He invited anyone interested to come see the work they do for the poor–and to visit the ministry’s Web site to see that the nonprofit’s bank balance stands just shy of $17,000.
“New Psalmist makes money every Sunday,” Roberts asserted. “But you can’t see how much money they have or what they pay their leaders. . . . We keep open books on the Internet. And we’re all volunteers, no one gets paid. Come on down and see for yourself.”
MIKE: “This page cannot be found” is the message linked to the Baltimore City Paper you referenced.
However, is this “Rev” Walter S. Thomas the ‘whistling’ preacher? If so, he’s a bosom buddy of Mr. Long of Lithonia, GA. Interesting…
This is my first time on the site. I agree that many pastors are pimps. However, I must defend Walter Scott Thomas as I know him personally and he is as genuine as they come. No common there are some decent pastors that make an abundance of capital but some not all but some are genuine people and do good for the congregation.
He came from the gehetto and still has some gehttto in him. I know him and hes a down to earth guy who will give you his last, hes not God but he is a servant.
Last year I ran into Bishop Walter Thomas and he was driving an Audi. Like the poster above said, I wouldn’t put him amongst everyone else. Also, $650,000 for a house in Howard County really isn’t too extravagant.
And you’re kidding right? Why are pastors who have churches in the middle of Baltimore City being put up in over $500K homes in a county 30 minutes away?
Oscar E. Brown of First Mount Olive Free Will Baptist Church also has a $600K home in Howard County.
That’s not modest at all. Most of their members probably IF THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A HOUSE AT ALL probably have places in the $200K range.
Triple honor? A bit too much.
GardenCEO,
Walter S Thomas clearly is a PIMP. I checked out the website of the Church and like all Pimps its all about self. Lets us start with the intro about the big “conference” just held. Next lets move onto the main page. Why is EVERYTHING for sale? You have to buy his sermons and everything else. This Church is a real scream. Right smack dab in the middle of the page after the self serving conference info are adverts to buy buy buy. Please defend this after looking at the web site.
http://www.newpsalmist.org/
Kyle
Any man in league with Pimp Kingpin Paul S. Morton is a man to be most leery of.
Kyle, I looked at the front page and could not stand looking beyond that opening video, which immediately made me think of the warning from Christ in Matthew 23.
Pimp.
Any friend of Thomas should tell him to cut ties with Morton immediately, cut out that fancy garb foolishness and more, but I’d need pages to say it all.
O.K., Is there anybody who is NOT a bishop these days? I was checking out the New Psalmist website and I see he’s “gone Bishop” too now. When did this push to hold the title of Bishop start?
That’s how Morton’s bunch runs. Want to be a Bishop? Hook up with Morton.