Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems a writer is interested in doing a piece on ET and the Right Reverend Jamal.

The writer asked me to canvass you for e-mail addresses if you are interested in communicating with this writer.

You don’t have to be a fan of Jamal. You don’t even have to be an enemy of the man. This writer is primarily interested in your experience, good or bad with him and the ET thing.

If you are interested in participating, send me your e-mail address and I will forward it to the writer.

Thanks,
Melvin

Jamal-Harrison Bryant | 47 Comments »

It’s that time of year again. It’s almost New Year’s Eve. And that means it’s time for the nation’s best known Oneness Pentecostal to make his appearance at one of his proteges’ revivals. That’s right, T. Dexter Jakes is going to be speaking at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden New Year’s watch service and performing at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden Revival!

Turn to your neighbor and say “What is John thinking about?!?”

There has to be a reason John Kenneth Jenkins, the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, is inviting T. Dexter Jakes, a Oneness Pentecostal preacher to come to FBCG to preach. Click on the picture to see the announcement on the FBCG website. The announcement is near the bottom of the page. I’ll switch over to an image of the page in a couple of weeks.

Some say John is inviting him because T. Dexter is such a powerfully anointed speaker, more anointed than the pope. Others might point out that T. Dexter is very successful and blessed of God, with tens of thousands of people attending services at the Potter’s House in Dallas every Sunday. Still others might say that T. Dexter is the best there is and First Baptist Church of Glenarden only gets the best.

But again I ask: Why would John Kenneth Jenkins, the pastor of First BAPTIST church of Glenarden invite a man who, if he truly is Oneness, likely isn’t even saved to begin with.

Remember, T. Dexter is the one who reigns over MegaMess, a yearly multi-million dollar event that features people who serve double duty. Yeah. They have people who sing Christian songs while serving the Mormon church as a choir director (Gladys Knight). They have people who pose nude signed up to lecture young adults on living a pure Christian life (Ms. Pigford). This is the guy who invited the editor of Essence Magazine to speak to the supposedly Christian women at MegaMess. And remember, the editor of Essence has no problem promoting a Yoruban priestess at Essence conferences and in her magazine. If she’s a Christian, why is she promoting a Yoruban priestess? If she is not a Christian, why was she speaking at MegaMess? Oh wait. I think I answered my own question.

John Jenkins has publicly announced that he asked T. Dexter Jakes to be his mentor. In other words, he want to emulate T. Dexter. Maybe that’s why he invited T. Dexter. He wants to be “successful” like T. Dexter.

To the Elders at First Baptist Church of Glenarden - Ask John why he has been so tight with a Oneness con man for the last six years.

To the Ministers and “Reverends” at First Baptist Church of Glenarden - Ask John why he has been so busy selling you down the river by associating so closely with T. Dexter, a oneness pentecostal.

To the Deacons at First Baptist Church of Glenarden - Ask John why he has paid so little attention to the essential doctrines of the Church and why he is associating with a man who denies the essentials of the faith and associates with those who deny the essentials of the faith. Wait - I did say deacons, right? Never mind. You guys proved years ago that you don’t have the ‘nads to do anything but sit in the first three rows of chairs during service and jump up and down like a bunch of girls.

To the Thinking Members of First Baptist Church of Glenarden - if you can get to him, ask him why he is being mentored by a Oneness Pentecostal and why he is inviting the man to speak at a supposed revival. You men, get your wives’ permission before you do it.

I doubt that any of you (especailly the ministers, those supposedly skilled in handling the word), will say any thing. I’m sadly certain you will keep your mouths shut, play the game, and stand by while the thousands of people there at First Baptist Church of Glenarden are led further and further astray. And all of this for the privilege of sitting up on the podium while John struts back and forth preaching more and more useless mutterings, telling people to turn to their neighbors and say this or that. And like a bunch of well trained sheep, they will do it. I suspect the deacons, the elders and the other leaders at First Baptist Church of Glenarden are probably the best trained of the bunch, working to keep the sheep in line.

When I think about it, it seems clear that John doesn’t care about doctrine. Otherwise he wouldn’t invite a militant Oneness preacher from Detroit (Charles Ellis) in to speak and he wouldn’t associate with other oneness characters. When I think about it, it seems clear that John is doing whatever it takes to draw the helpless men and women into the organization so he can pay for the $50 million monument going up in Kettering, in Prince Georges County MD.

Click here to see some of the latest scams T. Dexter has going. I’ll bet all of this makes John’s mouth water. Can you imagine how much money T. Dexter has coming in? And all he has to do is make religious noises to keep it coming in. If John could do HALF of what T. Dexter has done, he could expand the Kettering monument into a monstrosity twice the size it is right now with even more empty hearted people being entertained.

John K. Jenkins, Sr. | 45 Comments »

My, my, my. Where to begin to wade through the errata. This posting is a response to Marlon, the liberal Christian (an oxymoron if ever there was one) currently paying us a visit.

For this post, I will provide Marlon’s comments in blockquote, my comments will be plaintext.

Ya’ll sucking me in … but on Deut 6:4

I doubt we’re sucking you in. My guess is that you’re a plant by someone here (presently eating popcorn) who tried to defend the deconstructionist, liberal theology she learned at your knee. When she found that she could not, you were retained to “show us up”.

Hear, O Israel:The LORD our God is one LORD.”

This can be rendered, Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God. The Lord alone.” (the dreaded NRSV) This rendering and understanding would easily connect with the first commandment, (have no God/idols before GOD, the only God) or any of myriad Biblical statements that there is no God but God. I don’t say this to easily resolve issues of unity or plurality, but to suggest that arguing Trinity or Oneness using the KJV is a non-starter, because both sides are already entrenched with how they interpret these verses.

Wrong. If you’ll move down the line of posts a bit, you will see that no translation was utilized to define these terms. The original language was used. Like pupil like teacher. (more…)

Christian Living | 14 Comments »

I’m going to Atlanta to visit my in-laws and have some turkey, ham, candied yams, green beans, maybe even some collards.

I think I’ll be able to get to a machine while I’m there. You may hear from me - you may not. At a minimum, I’ll make sure I post your comments.

Have a good Thanksgiving!!

Pulpit Pimps | 23 Comments »

Would you like to hear pure distilled Christo-babble? As a treat, I’ve provided in one spot the entire “Juanita Makes Rambling and Generic Prophecies About 2006″ for your entertainment. They are displayed in order.

Each segment is about ten minutes long. To save you some time, I recommend you go to segment number 2. By this segment she has figured out that the people in the audience are dumb enough to accept whatever she says, and she does come out with some doozies. (more…)

Bynum | 74 Comments »

(MN: This is a straight up republishing of a past article. I’m putting it out here because of the many new visitors coming to the site. And I want to make sure no one thinks I came up with the name for the site all by myself. )

In case you’re wondering, this site came about in a two step process. I’ve discussed John Coleman and the work he is doing on the West Coast. He has a site I like a lot and was doing a weekly radio show on KBRT in Los Angeles. They later kicked him off the air because he kept naming names. Imagine that, getting upset because he actually tried to warn people about specific pimps. (more…)

Christian Living, Pulpit Pimps | 5 Comments »

I have to admit that I had to buy some new dentures as a result of my jaw dropping to the ground as I listened to this pimp natter on, twisting the Gospels to support his teachings. If I did to my wife what he did to the Bible, I would be in jail for assault with the intent to kill.

Please listen to this man as he paints John the Baptist as that which amounts to a faithless failure.

In this bit of fantasy, Creflo commits most of the errors (I’m being generous here) those of his ilk insist on committing. He reads his own meaning into Scripture, he uses the translations that best suit his teaching (rather than basing his view on the best translations), he emphasizes those things that support his view and completely ignores those items in Scripture that contradict his view.

The result? He again urinates on the Bible, God the Father’s view, Jesus’ view, and the integrity of the men of God of the Bible.
According to Creflo, John the Baptist lost his head because he began questioning God and God, because of the doubt, couldn’t save him from the chopping block. This pimp has already taught that Jesus was not always God. He appears now to be initiating a full scale assault on the Bible, God’s sovereignty, and faith.

And the thousands of people who sit under this man’s tutelage continue to get dragged down the Pimpological rat hole. In fact, the magnitude of the heresies this man promotes, and the ease with which his followers accept the rotten meat, make it more and more difficult for me to make excuses for the followers. The Bible says that those who teach these things do not have God (they ain’t saved). But it seems unlikely that those who swallow this swill are any better off.

Remember, John the Baptist lost his head because he had the nerve to fuss at a man living in open sin.

Dr. Creflo Dollar | 118 Comments »

Just in case some of you out there still want to say Cashflow doesn’t preach a prosperity gospel, take a look at this interview he gave down in Atlanta. It’s most interesting.

Notice who he said his mentors are.

And those of you who insist the pictures I published a couple of weeks ago aren’t from his house, pay close attention at about 1:30 into the tape. You will see the very same pictures I displayed.

Even Al Sharpton recognizes a scam when he sees one.

Remember - These people don’t care jack about you. You are a market to them. You are a way for them to live high on the hog while you scrabble for a living and try to look prosperous. Turn you backs on these people and trust God to do as He has said He will in His word.

Thanks to Calvin, Illiminated1, and S. Webb.

Dr. Creflo Dollar | 73 Comments »

Let’s compare:

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ… (Eph 3:8 From Paul, the man who was used by God to write most of the New Testament Letters)

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me–to keep me from exalting myself! (2 Cor 12:7)

“It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:27 From John the Baptist, the man Jesus described as the greatest of the prophets)

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1-3)

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14)

Now, let’s take a look at the statements and attitudes of some of the mega-churches. (Okay, not some. Let’s look specifically at Fast Eddie.)

“I am looked at as one of the churches fathers. One of God’s CEO’s.” (Bishop Eddie Long, The Empowerment of Kings, 2/10/2002)

“We’re not just a church, we’re an international corporation,” Long said. “We’re not just a bumbling bunch of preachers who can’t talk and all we’re doing is baptizing babies. I deal with the White House. I deal with Tony Blair. I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multimillion-dollar congregation. You’ve got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that’s supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering.” (Eddie Long discussing his compensation package to the Atlanta Constitution Journal, August 28, 2005)

Now take a look at this video (I love YouTube). It’s kind of long, but you can get the picture by viewing just a few minutes of it. I wouldn’t want to subject you to any more than that. You have to go to YouTube to watch it. Apparently the poster doesn’t want to give us the convenience of tying back to the posting.
Finally, see if you can imagine Paul, Peter, or John doing something like this. Click here. That’s right! It’s a Fast Eddie “Watch This” trinkets catalog.

Of course if you have a friend who is feeling a little down and out and needs some encouragement, you can send them a “Watch This e-spirational E-Card. I wanted to see what I would get so I sent myself one. This is what I got. Click here. I think I would rather have gotten a card with a picture of an Afircan-American Jesus, or a White European Jesus. So why am I getting a card with Fast Eddie’s face plastered on it? And why is he dressed in that stupid cardinal’s outfit?

Do you see any kind of disconnect between Fast Eddie’s attitude and the attitudes of real men of God?

This isn’t to say he doesn’t do good things. But so does Tom Cruise, the Scientologist. Besides, that’s not the issue. And we know it’s not.

Pity these men and women. They have their rewards here and now. Yeah, okay - pray for them too. I’d hate to be one of them and have to face Jesus Christ when I die.

Thanks to Calvin for the heads up.

Eddie Long | 106 Comments »

While this posting is written primarily to Columbus, I dare say the information needs to be put out there for all the poor Word of Faith adherents whose lives are being sucked out of them by the WoF pimps and the pimp’s twisted take on Hebrews 11. Let’s see what Hebrews 11 actually says.

But before we start, remember the following:

1. Isolating a scripture makes it nearly impossible to determine the meaning of a verse
2. The Pimps love to isolate verses and pour their own meaning into those verses

One of the touchstones of their twisted exegesis is Hebrews 11:1. However, if you read it in context, it is difficult to make it say what they force into it.

Keep in mind that the division of the Word into chapters and verses wasn’t in the originals. Chapters and verses didn’t come along until the 13th Century. And sometimes it was done poorly. In other words, if you want an accurate exegesis, Hebrews 11:1 CANNOT be read without Hebrews 10, and the REST of Hebrews 11. (Just as an aside, when I’m having a problem understanding a verse or a series of verses, I write it and the verse around it out without the chapter breaks to get the flow and context. And sometimes, it even helps if you read it without the verse breaks.)

So let’s read Hebrews 11:1 in CONTEXT and see what we get.

Starting in Hebrews 10 at verse 31:

[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring SUBSTANCE.

Strong’s Lexicon (Strong’s Greek #5223) defines the word translated as “Substance” in the King James as follows: Possessions, goods, wealth, property.”

Now, please notice where the Word says our possessions, wealth, and property are found: ye have in heaven a better and an enduring SUBSTANCE.

Nothing in this section says that we CAN’T have wealth here on Earth. But in this chapter, the wealth being spoken of (and it bears on Hebrews 11:1) is ONLY talking about wealth in Heaven. Keep this in mind for later. Let’s continue with Hebrews 10:35 through 37:

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

What promise is the author talking about here? The promise of “possessions, wealth, property” in Heaven. He seems to be talking about our Heavenly reward.

Who is “He that shall come”? Who are we to be patient for? Christ, of course.

So why do we have to be patient, looking for the return of Christ in reference to the “Possessions, wealth, property”? The answer lies in Rev 22:12:

And, behold, I Jesus, come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

He’s bringing our wealth WITH HIM when HE comes.

Let’s continue with Heb 10:38 , 11:1.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

Here is where I hope you begin to see that simply reading the text is not studying. The word translated “substance” in chapter 10 is not the same Greek word translated as “substance” in 11:1.

In verse 11:1 the Greek word is HUPOSTASIS and it means a foundation, a setting or placing under, that which has a foundation, is firm.
Looking at Strong’s again for a couple of other word we see that “evidence” is a proof, that by which a thing is tested or proved. The word translated as “see” is to see, discern, of the bodily eye,

Now let’s read Hebrews 11:1 with the PROPER definitions of the words in place.
“Now faith (confidence) is the substance (foundation) of things hoped for (hope), the evidence (proof) of things unseen (invisible to the physical eye).
Faith is the foundation of our hope, which cannot be seen with the physical eye. Period. What hope have we been speaking about the whole chapter? Jesus’ return and our receiving of our rewards in Heaven.

Please tell me where we find the teaching that faith is used to accumulate wealth here? If God had wanted to relate worldly wealth in this verse, He could easily have used the Greek word translated “substance” in 10:34. In fact, the only time in this chapter the word translated “substance” means “wealth” is referring specifically and ONLY to the wealth we have in Heaven. Not on earth.

And if faith is the key to long life, wealth, property, and physical blessings on earth, you must explain the rest of the chapter that follows. Remember, context is the key in the proper exegesis of Scripture.

The next verses of Hebrews show all the wonderful things wrought by faith
Hebrews 11:1 , 3

Now faith(confidence) is the substance (foundation) of things hoped for (our Blessed Hope), the evidence (proof) of things not seen(with the eye). For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Now, pay attention to the wording here. The pimps count on you not doing so. It does NOT say “We understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God THROUGH FAITH” as if God used faith-filled words to accomplish the deed. It says “We UNDERSTAND THROUGH FAITH that the worlds were framed by the Word of God…”

In other words, our understanding of creation comes through faith, not that God created through “faith words.”

Take a look at a couple of other translations:

NKJV

3 “BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

ESV

3 “BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Young’s Literal Translation (a WORD FOR WORD translation)

3 by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;”

Not only does it not say that God used “faith words” to create (as the pimps would have you believe), it NOWHERE states that we can use our words to create in the same manner.

Let’s read on starting at Hebrews 11:4

11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.(He rewards those who seek HIM…..not stuff).
11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.
11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],
11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
11:19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: (Here’s a verse you won’t find the pimps preaching) for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward(Heavenly……..not earthly. Moses’ earthly rewards were left in Egypt).
11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:
11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

These are all wonderful things that faith in God does. But let’s not forget (or ignore) the rest of the things faith does.

11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again:(HOORAY!!!) and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance (OOPS); that they might obtain a better resurrection:
11:36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings (OOPS), yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment (OOPS):
11:37 They were stoned (OOPS), they were sawn asunder(OUCH!), were tempted (OOPS), were slain with the sword (OUCH): they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins (No designer duds here); being destitute (GASP……POOR!), afflicted (OH NO!), tormented (OUCH again!);
11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth (Not even a swimming pool or Jacuzzi).
11:39 And these all, having obtained a GOOD REPORT THROUGH FAITH received not the promise:

Wait. Who is giving these poor, tormented, imprisoned, badly clothed, homeless folks a “good report” of their faith?? That’s right, God is. I doubt if one wandered into Creflo’s “Money Changers Church” they would get the same report of how strong their faith is. But let’s continue.

11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

What is the better thing? That they and we together with them will inherit the Promises of wealth He just guaranteed to us in chaper 10: In Heaven.
I’m not saying there’s anything inherently wrong with a Christian being wealthy. God has always had believers among the wealthy (but far fewer than among the poor). What I am saying is that to build your wealth ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR by deliberately misquoting and misapplying Scripture is wrong. It’s pimping. And Hebrews 11:1, their favorite verse to twist, testifies against them.

Christian Living, Pulpit Pimps | 44 Comments »

Ladies and gentlemen, you enjoyed the Donnie the Preacher Man posting from YouTube so much that I thought I would show you another one.

He gets to the crux of the reason for Pulpit-pimps.org existence. If I can get his message out there, so much the better. However, I’m still not that sold on the crying.

Enjoy!

A tip o’ the hat to Independent Conservative over at IndpendentConservative.

Christian Living, Pulpit Pimps | 32 Comments »

Sorry Deejai. The poll results are in and they voted to not post the comment.

Christian Living | Comments Off

(MN: Ladies and gentlemen, I got an e-mail the other day that I must say simply blew me away. Aside from the fact she thinks I’m doing a wonderful job, Illiminated1 pretty well illustrates what happens to many people in the WoF movement. More than that, it demonatrates the power of God’s word to empower you to escape the clutches of the heresies. I decided to make hers a separate posting because I want you to see that there is hope. Keep getting the word out about the pimps. Stand on the truth - quit ye like men [and women] )

Hi Melvin,

I came across this website on a whim, and I was surprised that there are other people out that who are just as disillusioned with “the church” as I am.

After being raised in a boring Baptist church in smalltown Alabama, I was done with church. I accepted Christ at the age of 22 during a college Bible study. When I attended that Bible study, I couldn’t believe how real God was. I had never felt Him before and knew it to be Him, and in no time, I gave my life to Christ.

I accepted Christ back in 1998 at about the time that the latest “prosperity” movement took off. I bought into it hook, line, and sinker. I was a babe in Christ, and I thought that this is just how it was. Still, the church that I attended did not make a big deal out of money, but it was probably because most of us were college students and didn’t have much money anyway.

Today, I am a 30 year old high school English teacher, and I’m close to receiving a Masters Degree in English, so I’ve always been an avid reader. I remember that the week before I accepted Christ, I had picked up a Bible that I had really just gone home and gotten, and I read the Bible for 7 hours straight. I thank God for that Friday afternoon and night, because it really gave me a foundation of reading and studying the Bible on my own. This newly found “habit” would prove to be invaluable to me in the future, absolutely priceless.

After graduating college, I moved back home to work and joined a fledgling storefront church. At first, everything was wonderful at the church, but then came the time when we took out a six figure loan to remodel and move into an old church in the city. All of a sudden, everything was about money. Tithes and offering lists were posted so anyone could see how much others gave. Little groups were formed and each person in the group had to give $25 a week (or month, I can’t remember). The results of that were also placed on the wall. Then there were the “firstfruit” seed offerings, for which members were supposed to give one day or one week of pay. That was the 4th sunday of every month. Not to mention the “Resurrection Sunday” seeds, during which the real reason for that day was compromised and profaned by making it a day to give a “special” seed. All of a sudden, this “non-denominational” church came under the direction of a “Full Gospel” bishop, who would pop in from time to time to lecture the congregation on tithing and how to properly worship… er… appreciate the pastor.

Admittedly, I was in a high-ranking position in the church. I didn’t realize how special the group I was in at college was until I got home and realized that the people at that church were nothing like us. With my blind love and obedience to Christ, plus my addiction to the Bible, it didn’t take long before the pastor recognized it and promoted me. When the church’s focus became money, I immediately knew that something was wrong. But remember, I had never been exposed to anything else. I WAS though, exposed to be Bible, on a daily basis, and I knew that this emphasis on money, especially in a town where most people work at textile plants, or in minimum wage fast food or retail jobs, was totally ungodly. I became discontent.

During the time that God was pointing these things out to me about my local church, I traveled to Tampa to one of Juanita Bynum’s Women Weapons of Power conferences. The Word went forth powerfully, but the offerings were excessive. There were products for sale, and Bynum directed everybody to buy this book, a cd, I think, and a tee shirt before the last day of the conference. This was no small task, seeing that many women there had given endless amounts of money during all of those offerings. Bynum told people with no money to ASK others to buy the products for them that they couldn’t afford. I remember one woman coming up to me and asking me to buy her the tee shirt; she said that she had already gotten the other products but didn’t have the money for the shirt. I told her no, but my spirit was completely grieved by what I was experiencing.

My church had paid the $300 for me to attend the “conference within a conference” Women on the Frontline meetings. They had overbooked the meetings by several thousand people and only a few got the little bag and gifts that were supposedly included in the registration fee. In spite of that, Bynam ranted and raved for about an hour about excellence in ministry, even though the very meeting in which we were sitting was an example of the opposite. To add insult to injury, after the hour rant was over, she took up an offering. I vividly remember seeing a pile on money on the stage on which she stood. Personally, I was in disbelief.

God was showing me time and again, both in my personal bible study and time with him, and in things that I was experiencing, that this “big business” approach to ministry was outside of his will for the church.

Back at my old church, things were getting totally out of hand. Just before I resigned my position and left the church, they had placed a prayer request box in the foyer. Beside the prayer request box there was another box for you to drop an offering into after submitting your prayer request. I named this particular shenanigan “Pay to Pray.” That was it for me.

I commend you Melvin for what you are doing. I’m sure you suffer a lot of backlash because those who are blindly following these people are basically brainwashed and are not reading the Bible for themselves. They take the preacher’s word for being God’s Word, and that is nothing short of idolatry. You get the attacks that you get b/c the people in these churches are brainwashed and they consider your calling their pastor a “pimp,” as heresy. Now THAT is heresy and idolatry. You are calling people out for turning Christ’s church into a “den of thieves” but rather than defending what Christ said, they defend their pastor or bishop. Like I said, that is heresy and idolatry.

I am in total agreement with much of what is posted here, aside from your brash language. You do call it “smashmouth” and that’s what it is. I have no problem with that. I do assure you that God is leading more and more people here, because he is exposing these so-called “leaders” for what they are. They are knowingly using God’s people to line their pockets. It is profoundly wrong. So Melvin, keep it up. Your message is falling on fewer and fewer “deaf” ears.

Christian Living, Pulpit Pimps | 136 Comments »

I have long been convinced that all parents go to the same school and that is why they all seem to have the same frustrating responses to their children’s requests and complaints. When you were a kid you might have said “Please let me use the car. I won’t break it.” They invariably responded “I know you won’t break it because you’re not going to get the car!”

Because of the uniformity of the pimps’ methods of manipulation, statements, and general approach to their marks (also known as their congregation) I began to suspect that these men and women also attended a school, perhaps the equivalent of Pimp University (or Pimp U). Some might prefer to hold their noses and call it PU.

Well it turns out that there is such a place.

Don Meares, the Pastor and Bishop of Evangel Church, another relatively low-level pimp, but big in Prince Georges county in Maryland, hosted a couple of classes for the University. Click here to take a look at some of the course materials. And notice the titles:

1. How to Make Your Tithe Start, Stay and Grow
2. Getting the Pledge - Makin’ It Happen
3. Love Offerings, How to Increase Your Salary
4. discovering Creative Evangelism, Your Church - The Future

These clowns don’t see it as a matter of God moving on people’s hearts. Their approach is how can I make it happen? How can I get a bigger salary? How can I make people pledge and then make them pay on the pledge? And how can I manipulate people into paying their tithes instead of keeping it for themselves?

But look at what else the Bishop of Evangel is hawking in unison with Mr. Chitwood. Click here to take a look at the general agenda. But more than that, notice the approach they seem to be taking to the whole thing.

How to Double or Triple Tithes - a Proven Method. I thought the whole thing was about men and women being obedient to Christ, not responding to a technique.

How to triple your love offering. I thought the idea of moving from a salary to a “love offering” was an exercise in faith. But these clowns seem to see it as a move that is calculated to increase their salaries.

How to make your church financially wealthy. The premise here is you can preach a better sermon if you’re not stressed over the finances.

How to establish a Friends day to increase your membership drive by 60%. Again, no thought of God having anything to do with it. It’s all about what I can do to make it happen. Never mind the church growing as God brings an increase. We need to twist God’s arm just a little.

How the spiritual condition of your church may depend on the financial position. Don’t they have it a little backwards. Since when did one’s spiritual condition depend on their financial condition? Is this a reference back to the idea that money can give us peace?

But it gets better. Look at what some of the graduates of Pimp U have to say about the program. Click here to see for yourself.

But wait, it gets better. They’re also offering a millionaire program. Take a look here to see the advertising.

And better than that, take a look at some of the people who attended the seminar. Click here to see them.

Right at the top of the list is Clarence (Let’s worship in a parking lot for now) McClendon. One of the more notable attendees is John Avanzini, one of the Grand Poopahs of the Word of Faith heresies.

Remember, you are known by the company you keep. If you hang with heretics, you will become a heretic. If you sit under a known lie long enough, you will not be able to tell the truth if it jumps up and bites you on the butt.

Whatever else you get out of occasionally visiting the site, I want you to remember this: These men and women don’t care jack about you. They see you as a business opportunity, a way of enriching themselves at your expense. They even go to school (Pimp U) to learn how to more efficiently take your money and trick you into thanking them for taking it.

They depend on two things - your inability or unwillingness to read the Bible for yourself, and your ungodly, or at the very least misplaced, desire for financial prosperity.

Does God mind if I am rich? I don’t believe so. But he doesn’t want those riches chased at the expense of the truth of the Gospel. And unfortunately, the single characteristic of these pimps is exactly that, a preaching of wealth at the expense of the truth of the Gospel.

Beware of those who would market you.

By the way, if you want to do Post Graduate studies in Pimpology, there’s a school for that too. Take a look at it by clicking here.

Don Meares | 57 Comments »

The Right Reverend Doctor Jamal-Harrison Bryant is proving yet again that he is more interested in making a name for himself than in lifting up the name of Jesus Christ. His latest escapade involved Grainger Browning at Ebenezer AME in Prince Georges county Maryland.

(MN: Sorry folks. I forgot to include the graphic. Click here. Look under November. )
Maybe you remember Grainger Browning. He’s the pastor (and I do use the term loosely) who signed up to support Calypso Louie for the Millions More March last year. If you have forgotten about it (one of the reasons I’m here, by the way) take a look at this set of postings. They are an eye-witness account (mine) of Louie’s visit to Graingerland. Click here and here. You might even try here for some photos. Forgive the formatting. I was still struggling with WordPress.

Maybe, if they get time, some of Jamal’s pimped followers can explain to me, and the rest of us, why he is appearing and preaching, and of course shouting and sweating, at the church of a man who has joined with Calypso Louie (aka Louis Farrakhan)? What ever you say, please don’t tell me he’s going there to try to counsel Browning. You may want to believe something like that, but I have far too tight a grasp on the reality of THIS universe to even go in that direction.

Don’t bother to tell me how much of an anointed man of God he is. The only anointing he has is the snake oil T. Dexter Jakes used on him to anoint him as one of his disciples.

Face it: your pimp has no standards other than the buck and the crowd’s adulation. As I said before, I don’t think this particular pimp would know the truth if it jumped up and licked him in the face. And the longer you stay with him and those like him, the more difficult it will be for you to be able to tell the truth. In fact, if you’re trying to defend him, you may already be legally truth-blind.

I got out of First Baptist Church of Glenarden before it was too late. I’ve watched the used-to-be men who have stayed behind lose whatever hold they may have had on the truth. Deacon Lee, for instance, is still there. And though he hasn’t talked to me in a couple of years, I’m willing to wager he still hasn’t developed the gonads to walk away.

Jamal-Harrison Bryant | 190 Comments »