The Prosperity Gospel (Part 3)
Good day to each of you reading this column on the prosperity gospel and the wrap-up on this gospel.
Let’s take a look at those men and women that I mentioned in Part 1 from the internet.
Kenneth Copeland
According to Church Leaders: Mr. Copeland is able to predict his death–“We serve and we walk in the shadow of the Almighty,” he said. “I have made and entered covenant with God, and on Dec. 6, 2056, I’ll see y’all later. I’m out of here. A hundred and 20 years old.”
Let’s turn to USA Today:
In the past year, televangelists – including Kenneth Copeland, who recently went viral for an inflammatory “Inside Edition” interview, and Franklin Graham, son of legendary evangelical preacher Billy Graham – have been embroiled in controversy, one way or another.
Copeland, a Texas evangelist, came under fire for a viral “Inside Edition” video in which he defended his three private jets. But he’s not the only one to make headlines.
From buying a $200,000 Lamborghini SUV as an anniversary gift to reportedly turning away hurricane evacuees, these 10 televangelists have caught flak for their actions and sermons.
Kenneth Copeland
Copeland justified his jet-setting by saying that he could not evangelize without the aircraft. “If I flew commercial, I’d have to stop 65% of what I’m doing,” he told journalist Lisa Guerrero.
Guerrero then pressed Copeland on a statement he made in 2015 in which he compared flying in commercial class to getting “in a long tube with a bunch of demons” to fellow televangelist Jesse Duplantis.
“No, I do not, and don’t you ever say that I did,” he responded, pointing a finger at the journalist.
He owns an airport close to his Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth.
Gloria Copeland
Kenneth Copeland’s wife, Gloria, is a preacher herself. She co-founded Kenneth Copeland Ministries with her husband and served as one of President Donald Trump’s evangelical ministers.
In a video published on the ministry’s Facebook page, she proclaimed that children do not need a flu shot because Jesus had already “bore our sickness.”
“We don’t have a flu season,” she said. “And don’t receive it when somebody’s threatening you with ‘Everybody’s getting the flu.’ We’ve already had our shot. He bore our sicknesses and carried our diseases.”
Upon drawing widespread criticism, Copeland Ministries shared a list of scriptures on its website with the claim that it would help followers “stand strong against” the flu.
Here is more information on Kenneth Copeland including the Inside Edition clip on the owning of a jet plane:
In 2014, he made headlines for purchasing a $50 million Gulfstream V jet, which he claimed was instructed by God.
Inside Edition Interview
In a notable interview with Inside Edition, Copeland was confronted about his lifestyle and relationships, particularly his interactions with fellow televangelist Lisa Guerrero. He denied any impropriety and defended his wealth as a blessing from God. This interview added fuel to the ongoing debates about his ministry and personal life.
Relationship with the Media
Kenneth Copeland’s relationship with the media has been fraught with tension. His abrupt departure from a joint interview with Guerrero in 2019 highlighted his reluctance to address controversial topics, particularly those relating to his personal wealth and relationships.
Folks, I have been following Justin Peters,
Please take a few moments and review what he has to say about the evangelist and person who has interpreted and written his own version of the Bible.
You drew your own conclusions; I just give you observations from these men and women that I wrote about in part 1 and you be the judge.
Bishop T.D. Jakes
As I review Bishop T D Jakes, I see that scandal has followed this man, with the association with Sean Combs, and the endorsement of monist Pentecostalism or Oneness Pentecostalism is a non-Trinitarian Christian movement that emphasizes the absolute oneness of God, holding that Jesus Christ is the sole deity manifesting as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rather than three distinct persons. Often called “Jesus Only” or Apostolic Pentecostalism, it emphasizes baptism in Jesus’ name, speaking in tongues, and strict holiness standards.
Three Essential Truths:
- There is only one God (Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4-6).
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons (John 14:16-17; 15:26).
- Each Person is fully God (John 6:27, 1:1, Acts 5:3-4).
Modalism, according to Merriam-Webster is:the theological doctrine that the members of the Trinity are not three distinct persons but rather three modes or forms of activity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) under which God manifests himself and has been endorsed by T D Jakes.
There are accusations of both having sex with men and women, but they have involved both suits and countersuits in these accusations.
Benny Hinn
I am posting the Youtube Link and the full documentary on Benny Hinn.
Yes, this is a long video of Benny Hinn as I found this on the internet from Julie Roys:
Despite Requests by Benny Hinn, YouTube Refuses to Remove Documentary Exposing Hinn’s Alleged Deception
Theology video producer Mike Winger has prevailed against in trying to take down this video. Again, you be the judge of Benny Hinn’s practices. It is very interesting that as of August 7, 2024 that according to The Sun:
The wife of a controversial televangelist has filed for divorce for a second time after nearly a decade of marriage.
Toufik Benedictus “Benny” Hinn and his wife, Suzanne, lived in separate homes more than 60 miles apart when the filing was made at the Hillsborough County Court in Tampa, Florida, late last month.
Court records show that Benny Hinn, a property preacher and televangelist, was living at an address in Palm Coast, while Suzanne listed a home in Longwood, valued at more than $1 million.
It’s unclear how long the couple had been living apart, however, this isn’t the first time Suzanne served her husband with divorce papers.
Suzanne first filed for divorce in February 2010 at the Orange County Superior Court in California, citing irreconcilable differences after 30 years of marriage.
The couple first tied the knot on August 4, 1979, and share four children.
And, according to The Ledger:
Benny Hinn Sued for ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ with Paula White
TORLANDO | Televangelist Benny Hinn is being sued by a Lake Mary publishing company for having an “inappropriate relationship” with fellow celebrity preacher Paula White, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
According to a report in Wednesday’s Sentinel, Strang Communications Co. is suing Hinn over a morality clause violation in a contract.
The suit was filed Tuesday in state circuit court, the Sentinel said.
White is pastor of Without Walls International Church in Tampa and a satellite church, Without Walls Central Church in Lakeland.
In August, Hinn and White were photographed by National Enquirer emerging from a hotel in Rome, holding hands. Hinn’s wife, Suzanne, had filed for divorce a few months earlier. Hinn and White denied publicly that they were anything more than friends.
The lawsuit also states that Hinn violated his contract by failing to show up at appearances to market the book, including appearances on “The 700 Club” TV show, the Sentinel reported.
White is also known for a lavish lifestyle. She and her second husband, Randy White, were founders and co-pastors of Without Walls International Church, a megachurch that at one time was the fastest growing congregation in the country. They purchased the 9.000-seat sanctuary of the Carpenter’s Home Church in 2005 and established Without Walls Central Church.
The Whites divorced in 2007, and Paula White left to pursue a career as a life coach. In 2009, Randy White left Without Walls International and Paula White returned as pastor.
According to Bijog:
Aside from his extramarital affairs, Benny Hinn has had other scandals in his life. His staff reported allegations of inappropriate relationships with young boys, including the issue of Prophet Jordan’s son and the questionable relationship he had with Benny Hinn. It was reported that Benny had gifted a $20,000 watch to the young man, which outraged the boy’s father, who asked him to return it. It has also been revealed that when Benny Hinn visited Uganda, he allegedly sodomized a senior pastor in Kampala. Benny Hinn’s wife, Suzanne, gave testimony to this, stating that she traveled with Hinn when the family visited Uganda for the first time, but the second trip was alone.
Benny Hinn’s son, Joshua Hinn, was accused, along with two others, of brutally beating a physically challenged man at a crusade in Brazil. As the man could not hear or speak, he could not listen to what Hinn Jr. said. The poor man was taken outside the hall and tortured, and was then rushed to the hospital. Joshua and the others were arrested, and Benny Hinn had to pay a large sum of money to the tortured man’s father to persuade him against pressing further charges.
Do I know all of this to be true, no, but this man has experienced a lot of problems including divorce, possible sodomy, extramarital affair, lawsuits, and his questionable Biblical teachings.
Jesse Duplantis
According to AI Overview: Jesse Duplantis is currently embroiled in controversy related to allegations of misconduct. Recently, he, along with other prominent televangelists, announced their departure from Daystar TV amid serious allegations of sex abuse cover-ups and financial misconduct. Duplantis has faced criticism for his teachings, particularly regarding prosperity theology, which some have labeled as heretical.
Recent Developments
- Duplantis stated that his exit from Daystar was not directly related to the scandal but claimed it was due to a divine directive and the end of his contract.
- His controversial views, including calling poverty a curse, have drawn significant backlash.
According to USA Today:
Louisiana minister Jesse Duplantis, who himself was implicated in Copeland’s jet scandal, has been in hot water for his own jet-setting lifestyle. He claims God told him he needs a private jet – specifically, a Falcon 7X, capable of carrying 12 to 16 passengers at speeds up to 700 mph.
“Now, some people believe that preachers shouldn’t have jets,” Duplantis said in a video posted in 2018.
“I really believe that preachers ought to … have every available outlet to get this Gospel preached to the world.”
In the same video, he showed off a photo of the three planes owned by his ministry that bore the caption “It’s not about possessions, it’s about priorities.”
Mr. Duplantis was quoted in saying that God said he needed an airplane and that if Jesus was on the earth today, that he would not be riding a donkey, he’d be in an airplane preaching the gospel all over the world. Newsflash! Jesus does not need a jet—He is omniscient, omni-present, and omnipotent!
Mr. Duplantis told CNN in an interview that the Lord wanted him to get a jet, the jet cost 54 million dollars!
Here is a question: Why do these televangelists need expensive jets? Check out the following from Yahoo:
Joel Osteen
Here are a few excerpts from the Independant:
The Bible says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven, but one celebrity pastor does not seem terribly concerned with the warning.
Joel Osteen, one of the wealthiest and most popular preachers in the US, has come under fire after evidence of his luxurious lifestyle was made public on social media.
Mr Osteen, who leads the Lakewood Church in Houston – one of the enormous congregations that are dubbed “megachurches” – was criticized after it was revealed the pastor owns a Ferrari sportscar that costs more than $300,000 dollars.
“Ferrari is trending. That means either someone won a race or Joel Osteen took some of the money Jesus told him to give to the poor and went on another shopping spree,” one user said.
Mr. Osteen – whose net worth is estimated at more than $50m – is the figurehead of what has become known as the “prosperity gospel,” which teaches that material wealth is indicative of God’s blessing on a person’s life. Prosperity theology is especially lucrative for pastors, as it pushes the idea that those who give money to God will be blessed with money themselves. In churches that teach that philosophy, giving money to God, of course, means giving money to the church leaders.
In addition to the Ferrari, Mr. Osteen also owns a $10.5m mansion. He claims he takes no salary from his church, but manages to live his lavish lifestyle on the proceeds from his book sales.
Mr. Osteen came under fire during the coronavirus pandemic for taking $4.4m in PPP federal funding for his church. That loan was one of the largest for any Houston area business or nonprofit.
The church defended the loan, claiming it has a staff of 368 full and part time employees who were in need of the assistance.
Mr. Osteen’s church also faced criticism during Hurricane Harvey after Mr. Osteen appeared to balk at the idea of using the church to house refugees from the storm. After blowback, the church opened its doors to be used as a shelter. Mr, Osteen maintains that the church was always open to take in refugees.
“We’ve always been open … How this notion got started, that we’re not a shelter and we’re not taking people is a false narrative,” he said.
The church later assisted in reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Harvey.Louisiana minister Jesse Duplantis, who himself was implicated in Copeland’s jet scandal, has been in hot water for his own jet-setting lifestyle. He claims God told him he needs a private jet – specifically, a Falcon 7X, capable of carrying 12 to 16 passengers at speeds up to 700 mph.
“Now, some people believe that preachers shouldn’t have jets,” Duplantis said in a video posted in 2018.
“I really believe that preachers ought to … have every available outlet to get this Gospel preached to the world.”
In the same video, he showed off a photo of the three planes owned by his ministry that bore the caption “It’s not about possessions, it’s about priorities.”
Per We Got This Covered:
How much money does Mr. Osteen church give to charitable causes? As per the FT and more excellent reporting from the Houston Chronicle, less than one out of every hundred dollars raised by Osteen’s church goes to charitable causes. This is pretty grim reading, considering that some have posited Lakewood has received nearly $90 million in income in previous years.
We understand that churches, like all organizations, have administrative costs. However, the fact that its leaders (like Osteen) live so lavishly is a bit of a slap in the face, especially given how much importance Jesus attributed to helping those less fortunate.
I wish to share the following video on Where Joel Osteen REALLY Spends Your Donations (It’s Not on Charity)
Here is the Youtube Link:
Again, you be the judge of Mr. Osteen, his teachings in the prosperity gospel and the scandals that have followed him.
I do not Joel nor his heart, only God does, and I am not judging him only giving you thoughts and columns for you to ponder.
Creflo Dollar
According to AI: Creflo Dollar has been involved in multiple controversies over the years.
Allegations of Abuse: In 2012, Creflo Dollar was arrested following a 911 call made by his daughter, who alleged that he had physically assaulted her. This incident led to charges of simple battery and family violence, although the case was later resolved without a conviction.
Financial Controversies: Dollar has faced criticism for his lavish lifestyle, which includes multiple high-end properties and a request for congregants to help fund a $65 million private jet. He has since acknowledged misleading his followers about tithing and financial contributions.
Public Perception: These scandals have contributed to a mixed public perception of Dollar, with some viewing him as a controversial figure in the prosperity gospel movement.
According to The Root:
Creflo Dollar primarily came under fire for asking his congregants to donate $300 each so he could get a $65 million jet. On a darker note, Dollar was arrested for allegedly assaulting his 15 year-old daughter
Here is what I found as very interesting from the Black Enterprise:
In a new video, the controversial 30,000-member World Changers Church International preacher sounds like he is turning over a new leaf and urged his congregants to throw away every book, tape, and video he’s sold to them on the topic of tithing, in a Sunday sermon titled, “The Great Misunderstanding.”
Dollar made the daunting confession about his misguided understanding of tithing, while citing Romans 6:14 in the Holy Bible to corroborate his claim that Christians “now live under grace and not the laws of the Old Testament.”
The prosperity pastor now says he’s been all wrong about his tithing beliefs, which by definition tithing means to give a portion (10%) of your income as an offering to your local church.
Dollar explains his newfound stance, saying tithing is Old Testament teaching and is no longer pertinent for New Testament believers.
In the video at point 12:26, he explains that some from the Old Testament school of belief took the 10% and applied it as the recommended minimum for Christians in their giving. But Dollar says the manufactured 10% figure is all wrong. He quotes Romans 6: 14: “For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under the grace.”
“You are under grace not under laws,” he said.
Dollar is changing direction, doing a 180 in his trajectory of thought, years after he took fire for asking his parishioners to donate $300 each so he could buy a $65 million Gulfstream G650 jet for doing ministry abroad.
Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV) 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses. that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Folks, the above verses show that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the prophets but to fulfill them. Creflo Dollar is 100% incorrect and is misinterpreting Romans 6:14!
We are under the grace of God and of Christ as the means of attaining salvation, but we are instructed to tithe for we are to render under Caesar that which is Caesar’s and render unto God that which is God’s.
Draw your thoughts on whether he assaulted his teenage daughter or as the Slate reports:
Over at Crunkfeministcollective, Brittney Cooper, a gender and race-studies professor at the University of Alabama, has a moving commentary on the scandal over pastor Creflo Dollar, whose 15-year-old daughter recently accused him of physically abusing her. What troubles Cooper is not just the incident itself—Dollar denies the abuse, and we don’t yet know exactly what happened—but that so many in Dollar’s church (and in Cooper’s own) utterly refuse to entertain the possibility that Dollar’s daughter might be telling the truth, that this successful and admired preacher might be not as virtuous as he says he is.
A bit of background, in case you haven’t been following the saga of Dollar, the Atlanta megachurch leader primarily known for his preaching of prosperity gospel, which teaches that God wants his faithful to be rich. According to both Dollar and his daughter, the two got into an argument last week when he told her that she couldn’t go to a party. Precisely why and how the argument escalated is what’s in dispute. In a police report taken after the 15-year-old called 911, the girl stated that after she walked away from Dollar and told him she didn’t want to talk to him anymore, he put his hands around her throat and briefly choked her, then threw her to the ground, punched her, and hit her with a shoe.
The substance of this story—slapping, brief choking, throwing to the ground and hitting—was backed up by testimony from Dollar’s 19-year-old daughter, who said she witnessed it. Dollar, meanwhile, says he merely restrained his daughter, and that when she began to hit him, he wrestled her to the floor and spanked her. Dollar was arrested and charged with simple battery and cruelty to children, then released on $5,000 bond. In a sermon a few days after the arrest, he told his congregation that he didn’t choke or punch his daughter, that he should never have been arrested, that the real culprit was “the devil,” who was trying to discredit him, and that “all is well in the Dollar household.” He likened his trials to those of the Apostle Paul.
Joyce Meyer
Please take a bit of time and look at the following Youtube Link: Joyce Meyer’s False Prophecy Exposed
Next, Joyce Meyer says that God has a tattoo in a recent sermon.
Here is what the Old Testament says, Leviticus 19:28 28 “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
No, God does not have a tattoo for he is the Lord and the above scripture is very emphatic. As the Wycliffe Bible commentary says that cuttings and tattoos were for the heathen.
What is it with prosperity preachers? Scandals follow them around and they have a tendency to take the Bible and twist it to meet the standards of man and not of God’s.
Rick Warren
Here is something for you to ponder—should women be pastors of churches?
From the Worship Ideas:
The controversy comes less than a year after Saddleback Church, which Warren founded in 1980, was removed from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The removal stemmed from the church’s decision to appoint Stacie Wood, wife of new lead pastor Andy Wood, to a teaching pastor position – a move that contradicted the SBC’s stance on women in pastoral roles.
The issue of a female pastor is spoken in the New Testament—Here’s a question—where, in the Bible, mentions or makes reference to any female pastors? I do not find anywhere, biblically, that female ministers are found in the Bible.
I do see that females in the Bible are noted in leadership positions but that is where it ends.
I have been reading commentary from various individuals and I found the following to be the best when explaining the question of female pastors from Reddit user “LoneStar7997”:
I am familiar with the passages in reference to your concern. We have to keep in mind a couple of things when we read these texts.
- Who was the Apostle Paul writing and speaking to?
- What was the reason/s that he said what he said when he said it?
NOTE: In the 1st century women in general were not as educated as men back in them days. Meaning they weren’t as literate as they are now. Paul’s focus on having women keep silent in the churches was not to simply censor women, but instead to keep women from turning a solemn assembly into an open townhall meeting. Which is EXACTLY WHY Paul instructed them to ask their husbands at home if they had any questions about anything that happened during church (IAW 1st Corinthians 14:33-40) OR if they believed that they had received a word of prophecy from the LORD.
Scripture makes it clear what the hierarchy of creation was intended to be with few if any exceptions. GOD, Christ, angels, man, woman, children, animals. That is what is referenced in the letter to the Apostle Timotheus (Timothy). Traditionally this was the way of thinking amongst the Jewish people in the 1st century AD and is still that way amongst many of the cultures in that region today.
TLDR; Audience Relevance and consideration of the times that 1st Century Christians lived in puts into proper context the scriptures in question. It’s only in the spiritual realm where the sex of a person is no longer a point of contention and consideration. HOWEVER, while living in the natural realm we must adhere to the guidance given to us by GOD through His Apostles of how to live a Christian life while in the natural realm. REMEMBER: The Head of The Church is Jesus Christ, He makes the rules for His Church (aka disciples).
Here is what the KJV says in 1 Timothy 2:12-14— 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
We, as people, can spin it either way, but this is what the Bible says and yes, this comes from Paul and we are being told that a woman is not to teach and this is in the church.
The Wycliffe Bible commentary says the following explanation from 1 Timothy 2:12-14—Women are not to assume either leadership or the teaching office in the church. To illustrate the principle of masculine leadership, Paul cites the order of creation, as establishing the man’s natural headship (I Cor 11: 8,9). Adam was not deceived. This is to be taken relatively; Adam was deceived, but not so completely as the woman. The same Greek word is used of the woman, but in an intensified form. Adam followed deliberately instead of assuming leadership to repel the tempter’s suggestions.
John Hagee
Let’s tour to Mr. Hagee and the USA Today article.
The controversial founder of Texas’ Cornerstone Church has been in the news repeatedly for statements connecting natural phenomena to God’s plan.
He said in 2014 that a tetrad – or four consecutive and complete lunar eclipses over the span of two years – of blood moons signaled the End Times.
“God is literally screaming at the world ‘I’m coming soon,'” he said.
In 2008, he suggested Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for New Orleans planning a gay pride rally for the LGBT community.
After a wave of criticism, he later apologized: “Ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina.”
Per Bijog: His concerning divorce, John once remarked in one of his sermons that it is against Christian belief to get a divorce or an abortion. Contrary to the Pastor’s take on divorce matters, John himself got divorced from his first wife, Martha Downing. John’s divorce contributed to his many controversies and the incident was quite scandalous. His divorce acted as a destined path, as he disassociated himself from the Trinity Church and formed the Cornerstone Church.
Any and all divorces are ugly where it effects everyone in the family and tears apart the ties that bind.
In fact, it you look at other prominent prosperity gospel such as Paula White-Cain, Benny Hinn, and Juanita Bynum (Check out her story on the Praised.
Televangelist Juanita Bynum appeared on Atlanta radio host Frank Ski’s show for their daily “Inspirational Vitamin” segment and gave the audience a double dose of the truth. The very Christian preacher and playwright admitted to having lesbian relationships in her past. “I’ve been there and I’ve done it all,” she said. “I’ve [done] the drugs. I’ve been with men. I’ve been with women.” Shocked, Ski interrupted her mid-sentence asking, “Are you serious?” Every bit of it,” she replied. “It’s my life. That abuse that I suffered was because I attracted after my own kind. That abuse was already sitting in me.” While some are already calling her big reveal a publicity stunt because she has a new play coming out, others see it as yet another chink in the armor of a popular preacher. Bynum made headlines in 2008 after her ex-husband Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III assaulted her in a parking lot. They split soon after, marking Bynum’s second divorce.
Wow! I’m not making this stuff up—Satan is having his hay day on earth and we are seeing in Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV) 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Here are some scriptures and thoughts concerning adultery/remarry and being a pastor in the church from 2020 Scriptural Vision:
In 1975 Hagee had to resign as pastor of a charismatic false church because of his sexual immorality, demonstrating a clearly unconverted condition:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: . . . nor adulterers, . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10)
After his wife divorced him, Hagee married a young woman from his former church. As one living in adultery—having remarried another woman (cf. 1 Cor 7:10-11, 39; Rom 7:1-3; Mk 10:1-12)—he unscripturally became pastor of the Cornerstone megachurch in San Antonio, TX. His unrepentant adultery and ongoing adultery plainly prove that he has never been born again (Gal. 5:19-21), not being “led of the Spirit” to “marry” someone in adultery, and thus yet “under the law” (Gal. 5:18-24) and under its penalty for transgressing it (Gal 5:19-21). If he was truly born again, he would “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:24) which occurs at salvation (Gal. 2:20; Rom 6:1-7).
Folks, this is not judging for his actions speak and what he did was wrong. The Ten Commandments and Jesus outline adultery in the following:
Matthew 5:32 (NIV) 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 19:9 (NIV) 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Mark 10:19 (NIV) 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother
Mark 10:11-12 (NIV) 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
Luke 16:18 (NIV) 18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
I don’t think I need to make the issue much clearer that what Jesus said. Yes, we are all sinners and have come short of the glory of God, but the outlines what to stay away from in order to receive the blessings and what happens when we disobey.
As I conclude, I ask that you take time to read about the prosperity gospel, the preachers who are involved in this teaching, and if you wish to be a part of their ministry.
Have these pastors overstepped their boundaries and crossed over into the material prosperity by using the gospel? Do you give knowing they are becoming richer and prosperous? Do you wish to support their extravagant lifestyles? When giving, do you know where your money is going? Have these ministers helped those in need which include the poor, the helpless, the hungry and the homeless?
As you are aware, I am big on the talents and I believe in both tithing and giving to food banks and gospel missions, so my belief is to put your money where your mouth is and not to be loud or tell everyone for God knows what you are doing.
