The National Enquirer (no, I don’t suggest you start subscribing) has an article about TD Jakes’ Mini-Me.

Yup………..our pint-sized Profit has made the Big Time!!!!!!

Seems granny’s church is the True Gospel Deliverance Ministry (wink-wink, nod-nod, say no more) in Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Like a little exerpt from his deep theological, doctrinal , exegetical , hermeneutical depths of Biblical wisdom??

Heeeeeeeeere ‘ya go……..

“Who am I??” thunders Terry.”I am Doctor Feelgood!!!”

“Yes!!!!! Tell it!! Preach on!!” adult followers shout back.”

Wow……….that’ll save me a month of Bible reading right there.

“He can move people, touch their hearts,” explained Pastor Monroe”. (Otherwise known as Grandma, Granny, or ‘Nanna )
Terry’s fame is growing, and he has traveled to Orlando and Philadelphia, where he commands $200 to $250 fees for his sermons. (Guess who’s gonna have the flyest tricycle on the block??)
During a service in Waycross,Ga., the youngster decided on his unusual clothing style.
“There was a preacher there wearing a gold suit,gold shirt,gold tie,gold socks,” recalled Pastor (Granny) Monroe. “Terry said right away: “That’s how I’m going to dress.”
How did this little angel become a preacher?
“I just followed my Grandmother,” he told the Enquirer.

Well…………that’s certainly easier than following the Word or receiving a call from God, now isn’t it??

Sighhhhhhhh………..

I rolled on the floor laughing so hard at your rebuttal, tears came out of my eyes!! LOL!!!

No less sickening than twisting the Gospel to line your pockets, or to control people.

The article J Train posted referenced the tendency of different people groups to remake Christ in their own image.

If you’re white, you get an Anglo Jesus.
If you’re Asian, you get an Asian Christ.
Eskimo?? Rub noses with Jesus.

I could care less if you choose to remake Santa in your own image. It doesn’t offend me in the least when I see that. Want a black Santa?? Knock yourself out.

Christ was a Middle Eastern man.Likely with dark eyes, hair, and skin.
Not a blond haired, blue eyed white guy. Not an Indian. Not an Eskimo.

This sort of project by Christians tells us that race is still an issue within the Church, and that we do not truly believe that we are all one. And this project will likely make matters worse.

Not to mention the twisting of the Gospel story to make race the reason for Jesus’ crucifixion. That belittles both His mission, and His message. It’s blasphemous.

It is no less repugnant than anything Creflo or Copeland do.

Let’s be clear…….. we’re talking about idolatry. Fashioning a god according to our own desires [ ie,one who makes race an issue in salvation] or image[color,culture], whether in wood and stone, OR on film, IS idolatry. Only the technology is different. What used to be done with an axe or a chisel is now accomplished through film or in a TV studio.

There’s nothing new under the sun.

Exd 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Exd 32:2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.
Exd 32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which [were] in their ears, and brought [them] unto Aaron.
Exd 32:4 And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exd 32:5 And when Aaron saw [it], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow [is] a feast to the LORD.

Pay particular attention to the last word in these verses……….LORD. Strong’s Concordance 03068.

The word is Jehovah.

Can you see the parallel?? The Israelites made a golden calf………..an idol. It was then proclaimed that this idol had brought them out of Egypt. They called the idol Jehovah, Strong’s 03068.

The next day, they had a feast to their new “Jehovah”. Except, it wasn’t like any feast either they or their fathers had ever celebrated to Jehovah before.

No, this time there was drinking, and sex, and lewdness.This “new” Jehovah apparently allowed and encouraged this behavior. How different from the real Jehovah.

Here we have men taking Christ……….refashioning him in their image via film……….and apparently, this “Christ” wishes to promote race as the reason for His crucifixion.

No different than Benny Hinn,or Oral Roberts, or Creflo, or a hundred others….. fashioning a “Christ” after their own image. A Christ who loves and encourages the accumulation of wealth at the expense of the sheep, Who died to make us wealthy, Whose death on the cross was insufficient to save until He suffered in Hell.

Isaiah 44:10 says……..

“Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?”

In other words, everyone who makes an idol does so to profit…………to fulfill or justify their lust.

Just because they call that idol “Jehovah”, or “Jesus”, doesn’t make it so. Want to know whether it’s actually the God of the Bible?? See how they profit from their “god”. If it doesn’t line up with what the God of the Bible commands, they can call their idol “Jesus” all day long………it don’t make it so.

For example…….

.22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.23Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it.24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.”26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

I haven’t as yet used bathroom humor……….but Elijah clearly did. Perhaps he is in line for some correction as well??

Have you even read any of this website?? Humor is used throughout to strip the veneer of “godliness” and anointing off these pimps.

The debt of love I owe, I owe to those being fleeced. To the shearers I owe the truth……….which is the most loving act possible, for without it their blood is on my hands.

Perhaps Christ, and Paul, and Peter, and Jude serve as a better model for addressing those engaged in promoting false christs and deceivers??

Children of hell……..hypocrites…….blind guides……..ravening wolves……..whited sepulchers……..vipers………abominable……..evil beasts……….reprobate.

How about the man who wrote the “love chapter” which is so consistently misapplied??

Tts 1:10 ¶ For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Tts 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Tts 1:12 One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Tts 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

(please note here that as well as dealing harshly with false teachers, Paul admonishes us to “rebuke sharply” if necessary those in the faith who have veered from sound doctrine)

Tts 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Tts 1:15 Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Tts 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

That’s good enough for me.

Once again we have to address the wresting of “love verses” from their context of believer/believer relationships and force them into believer/deceiver relationships.

Please be so kind as to show me from Scripture where we are commanded to love the false prophets of our day in the manner we are to love fellow believers. And it would be helpful if you could demonstrate Christ or Paul or Jude……..somebody……….who dealt with false teachers and false doctrine in the way you prescribe.

I’m open to correction from Scripture…….. rightly divided.

PS……….why no criticism for Melvin, whose biting wit is absolutely devastating?? I find that odd……..it’s either respect of persons or evidence that you haven’t spent much time perusing the site.

Thank you for your concern……..sincerely. But I believe you have inadvertently taken Scriptures that apply to the brethren and missapplied them to our conduct toward deceivers. You’re not the first.

Blessings……..

It’s good to know that all is well with you, your wife, and the baby. I haven’t been responding either, just browsing, every now and then. I will definitely keep you all in my prayers.

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife (OOOOOOPS…….), vigilant, sober,(OOOOOOOPS……) ***OF GOOD BEHAVIOR***, given to hospitality, ***APT to TEACH***;

Let’s not forget our conduct, that is the overall theme of this scripture as well as the entire chapter. God Bless.
Prov 17:27

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife (OOOOOOPS…….), vigilant, sober,(OOOOOOOPS……) of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;(OOOOOOOOPS………)

1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)(OOOOOOOOOPS………)

1Ti 3:6 Not a novice,(OOOOOOOOOPS…) lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

The “OOOOOOOOOPS” have it………

(MN: If I take the logic of how you are using that phrase all the way out, Preacher Boy should start looking for a church to pastor. After all, God’s not a respecter of persons and can use an eight year old to counsel a husband and wife having problems just as well as he can a fifty year old. And surely the eight year old has been through enough that he can talk to a young girl who got pregnant and doesn’t know what to do. After all, God is no respecter of persons.

If I may, I’d like to suggest you go back to James and look at that verse in context. At best, he was talking about treating all saints with equal respect, not as if all saints (if the eight year old is even a saint) are interchangeable parts. )

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, PROPHETS; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the SAINTS, for the work of the MINISTRY, for the edifying of the BODY OF CHRIST:

13 Till WE all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That WE henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Now if you notice I added CAPS to some of the words to say this. The gift of prophecy is not for those outside the body of Christ and it is for the specific purpose listed in those scriptures. Now let me guess how those who follow such teachings are set up. They are told that you cannot grow in Christ if you are always worried about bills and money. God wants you rich and prosperous so you can reach others, because after all, who will listen to a christian if he is struggling to pay his bills and suffering financially? I mean, you follow a God that can’t even give you a nice car to get to work or a house in the ghetto? At this point, the average person will say, “yeah, that’s right” after the prophets have showed you one of a few scriptures that have been twisted or taken out of context to get you to buy into his scheme.

My father told me years ago that ain’t nobody giving away nothing for free so here comes the pitch. In order to get out of this situation of poverty, you have to give because after all, if you sow money, you get money, right? If you want apples, you sow apple seeds, if you want watermellon, you sow watermellon seed, right? So, if you want money. you sow….wait, I never heard of money seed. Let’s see, apples and watermellon is made from a seed but money seed is a…….tree. That IS what money (dollars) is made of isn’t it? Why is it that they say if you want crops you plant seeds but if you want money you have to plant money. With that analogy why can’t I give away crop if I want crops just as if I wanted money, I plant money? See where I am going with this? maybe not for some but I hope you get the picture.

Dear Melvin,

I was just curious about John Jenkins. I actually met him through a mutual friend, about two years ago in Las Vegas. I remember him as being a very small, diminutive man. He doesn’t seem to have any “presence” in the pulpit that would draw people.

So, my question is, what is Jenkins “drawing card?” What is it about “him” that people are attracted to? You can reply on the e-mail address as I realize you might not want to share your thoughts for the entire community.

Thanks!

BT

(MN: I sent my answer to BT. If anyone else wishes to opine on this subject, go right ahead. In fact, if you are JKJ fan, you are most welcome to tell why the draw. )

I wanted to share some things with all of you that I trust will bring a smile upon your faces. I have a member who has sat under my teaching for nearly 12 years now. She is in Dallas, Texas, looking for a job, and will move there should she be successful in gaining employment.

She sent me an e-mail informing me that the young lady that she is currently staying with while in Dallas, is a member of T.D. Jakes church, and that she invited her to attend with her.

Janet (that’s not her real name) went there and came back with amazing observations. She told me that Bishop Jakes is indeed a “smooth speaker”, and that he can easily capitvate one’s attention….especially that of women.

Janet says that when the Bishop told everyone what his sermon title would be, she assumed that he would have them to open their Bibles, especially since he said: “I’m going to bring a Word from the Lord this morning.”

Of course, she has been taught that the only “Word” that is from God is in the Bible, since the Bible is Divine rather than human in origin.

She said that all Jakes did was to pace the platform all morning spouting out words that were “empty of the Spirit’s unction/power.” After the service was over, she and her hostess went to have lunch and ultimately their conversation turned to Janet’s take on the whole experience. I hope you guys are sitting down.

Janet says that she tackfully told the young woman, that she was very disaapointed in Jakes sermon. She says she gave the woman this list:

1. The sermon had no biblical basis
2. The message was borne out of Jakes personality, and not by the moving of Holy Spirit.
3. The message was pretty much geared toward arousing the emotions of women in general.
4. While there were lots of people there, most of them did not have a Bible which means that they are not accustom to following along in the Bible.

Janet says that the young woman seemed sad as she listened to her, and then she asked: “What are you looking for in a sermon because as far as I know, Bishop Jakes is preaching from the Word.”

To which Janet replied, “how would you know since you didn’t bring your Bible with you? And how would any of the people know since they are caught up in the preacher’s personality?”

She concluded the e-mail by saying that everything that I’ve tried to teach at our church concerning the clear Word of God, and how we should be discerning, actually helped her to evaluate the entire experience at the potter’s house.

Janet says that she could tell that her hostess was surprised at her ability to understand the importance of these matters, and that she pretty much was shocked that Janet would crique the “Great T.D. Jakes” and find him lacking in Biblical constent and substance.

Needless to say, my heart was made glad because I have always prayed that my teaching ministry would make a difference in the life of our wonderful congregation, and from the e-mail I recieved, it looks like it might just have! To God be the glory!

Also, I heard Jamal Bryant preach this morning on BET, and he was preaching at the potter’s house, and his sermon was entitled: “God Wants You to Be Rich.”

He was preaching from Joel 2, which had absolutely nothing to do with what Bryant was spouting out of his mouth. My wife and I just shook our heads because from where we were, it appears that this young man doesn’t even “try” to exegete the text in its proper historical, grammatical, and cultural context. In fact, he is not even exegeting; just saying anything that will rattled the people.

And guess what? The people don’t know any better and nor do they care, because unbeknown to them, they have been PIMPED!

Blessings to All,

Black Theologian

I was just writing to let you know how much I appreciated the work that you perform on your website. After hearing about you through G.Craig Lewis, I discovered your website and I enjoyed the way in which you go about dealing with the issues (i.e. heresies, false/dangerous teachers and their teachings) that are taking place in the modern church by exposing what the Word of God says (not just saying that “Jesus” or “God” said but backing it up with what the Word of God says specifically and for that matter not simply basing what you say on a verse but expounding the verses you give in the context they were written in and, as you say so often, listening to the “whole counsel of God”). Many of the people you give light to (i.e. Creflo Dollar, T.D Jakes, etc) were people that I used to listen to heavily and admire. However, over the years as I study God’s chartacter and principles in the Word, I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with the things that they’re doing (i.e. Megafest or rather “Megamess”, “Name it and Claim it”, etc) and for that matter all of the wrong doctrines that they’re teaching have become all blantant…things I never noticed and was not bothered by until I actually started to read concerning what God has said in both the new testament and the old. Again, I appreciate the work so very much.

Concerning the commentaries, I very much enjoy reading the comments and seeing the way in which apolegetics take place and how the issues you deal with are not only commented on but how every opinion is brought up against the Word. I was wanting to get more involved and was wondering how.