Interestingly the idea of “supply” or “prosperity consciousness” did not originate with today’s tele-evangelists but was a major innovation of New Thought writers. Charles Fillmore, founder of the Unity School of Christianity, brashly adapted the Twenty-Third Psalm to express this principle:

The Lord is my banker; my credit is good.
He maketh me to lie down in the consciousness of omnipresent abundance….
Thy silver and thy gold, they secure me.
Thou preparest a way before me in the presence of the collector;
Thou fillest my wallet with plenty … (Martin A. Larson, New Thought Religion, p. 352).

The Word Of Faith movement, which seems to go hand in hand with the Prosperity Doctrine, has much going for it in the realm of marketability. After all everyone desires financial freedom, prosperity, health and success. What better way could there possibly be to get all these wonderful things that we want than by evoking the power of the Living God to obtain them. How easy it is to fall into the age-old trap of seeking to satisfy our own lusts using ‘Biblical’ precepts and finding ways to prove that God in fact supports our desires.

“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” (Phil. 3:19)

This is in no way to subscribe to the theory that God wants his people to be poor and needy. Jesus Himself demonstrates the great understanding God has for our needs, pointing out that we need not worry about worldly requirements because God in His graciousness will provide.

“Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you”. (Mat. 6:31-33)

However Jesus focuses on the three things that are essential to human existence … food, drink and clothing. Nowhere does He mention riches or wealth. It would seem the Lord is telling us is not to worry about the things we require to sustain life, for God in His infinite wisdom knows exactly what we need and will provide in adequate quantity. Our focus rather should be on God and His righteousness and the essentials will be added on..

2 Timothy 2:16 specifically instructs those who are chosen to “…avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their [the worldly] talk will spread like gangrene….”

These Scriptures suggest that the minds of those nattering clouds without water are not in command of their senses. Additionally, IF a token of sense is left (from satan) it has dangerously infected the words they spew forth MINDLESSLY.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 describes these men AND women alike. However, 2 Timothy 3: 8-9 paints their portraits: “And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be.” # # #

BT’s observation was that you were doing the very thing you think we are doing and condemning us for.

Again, the primary thrust of the posting has been that this is an illustration of why the leaders/servants should be corrected and perhaps be forced to resign when they mess up. God’s forgiveness doesn’t say their are no consequences. Ms. Hornbuckle certainly should forgive her husband. But that isn’t going to change the fact that she now has to live with a Herpes infection for the rest of her life. The women he was convicted for having assaulted sexually may forgive him. But that doesn’t take away the damage done to them and their relationships with their future husbands/husbands. And if he infected them as well as his wife, that is something else they have to live with.

The primary point is this: His wife knew what was going on. His ministers knew what was going on. They should have gone to him and told him to sit himself down. Again, the post isn’t about Hornbuckle. It’s about the need for discipline within the church.

And while you can continue to make noises about how terrible and judgmental the contributors to the site are, I would suggest you get your head out of the sand and look at the real issue - discipline, or lack thereof, in the church. Are you willing to stand against a man or woman violating the clear teachings of scripture or are you going to hid behind the moronic cry “touch no my anointed” while the saints are devoured, literally raped, and the church is made to look like a pack of fools?

And by the way - assuming you are a woman is not judging you - unless you think it is a sin to be a woman.

What did you mean by your statement “Oh, like you care?” Isn’t that a “judging” attitude? Since you don’t know me, it is very premature for you to suggest that I couldn’t possibly care about Mrs. Hornbuckle & family. Rest assure that I have already prayed for them and will continue to so!

(MN: Two things - The wife should have taken him to the elders, other pastors, the rest of the leadership of the church and said “Here is what is going on. He should not be the pastor of this church. He has disqualified himself to serve in the capacity of pastor.” Would it have been embarassing? Certainly. Would it have been very difficult to do? Most definitely! But would have been the right thing to do? For sure.

The second - He himself admits that he is a dope smoking philanderer. Let me say that again - by his own mouth he is identified as a dope smoking philanderer. It is not a matter of being falsely accused. By his own testimony he is disqualified from serving in the capacity of pastor. It’s a weak argument to say “Oh, no! I, the pastor of a church, didn’t rape her. She wanted to fornicate with me. Again - the leadership in the church, or even in the community, should have had the ‘nads to confront him and sit him down so he wouldn’t ruin others. )

(MN: I think you need to go back and read the postings and comments. Most of the statements rail against the people who allowed the “man of God” to run wild. I don’t really recall too much in the way of villifying Mr. Hornbuckle. Again, go back and read the posts. I am publicizing the effects of inaction, or allowing the pimp to use his position to keep himself immune from punishment or discipline. I truly feel sorrow for his children. I haven’t quite chosen between sorrow and contempt for his wife, who knew what was going on and did nothing about it. And actually, I will never be judged by my peers. I will be judged by Jesus Christ. )