VFTB 166: "The Legacy of Paul Crouch"

http://vftb.net/?p=4985

VFTB 166: The Legacy of Paul Crouch

ONE OF the most influential Christian broadcasters of all time passed away one week ago.  Paul Crouch died November 30, 2013 at the age of 79.

What legacy has he created through the immense success of the Trinity Broadcasting Network?  Jackie Alnor, host of The Scattered Sheep Report on Rapture Ready Radio and author of The Fleecing of Christianity, discusses the theology, influence, and spiritual fruit of Paul and Jan Crouch.

Note:  Hear excerpts from the interview Jackie conducted with Paul Crouch’s granddaughter, Brittany Crouch Koper, by clicking here.   Read the transcript of the interview by clicking here: Part One, and Part Two.

Please join the discussion at the PID Radio Cafe, visit the VFTB Facebook page and check out the great Christian podcasters at the Revelations Radio Network.

Download a smaller, lower-fidelity version of the mp3 of this show by clicking here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(NPR): TBN Founder Dead

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/30/247959496/paul-crouch-co-founder-of-trinity-broadcasting-network-dies

Paul Crouch, Co-Founder Of Trinity Broadcasting Network, Dies  

by Eyder Peralta

November 30, 2013 4:28 PM

Paul Crouch, who along with his wife Jan, founded a TV network that went on to become the largest Christian television network in the world, died on Saturday, the network announced.

Trinity Broadcasting Network said it is believed that he died from on-going heart problems. He was 79.

      

YouTube

 

If Crouch's name doesn't ring bell, his image surely will. You may have caught him hosting the two-hour variety show Praise the Lord, along with his wife, who is known for her big, pink hair and dramatic makeup.

Quoting a book chronicling the network, The Los Angeles Times reports that by the mid-1980s, TBN was "the country's most-watched religious network."

The Orange County Weekly paints a mixed picture of Crouch. In its obit, the weekly calls him both a "titan of American Christianity" and a man who spent the hard earned money of his working-class viewers with little regard.

Crouch also became a pioneer in what's called the "prosperity gospel," which essentially holds that God wants his followers to be rich.

During the past couple of years, Crouch's family has been haunted by sensational scandals about their wealth.

The New York Times ran a long piece about it in which they chronicle the couple's two sets of luxury homes, the secrecy surrounding the millions they received in donations (they received $93 million in 2010) and the family's struggle to keep control of the empire.

As part of the story, the Times interviewed Crouch's grandaughter, Brittany Koper, who was fired for allegedly stealing $1.3 million, but who also opened up about what she said were the company's financial improprieties. The Times reported:

"In two pending lawsuits and in her first public interview, Ms. Koper described company-paid luxuries that she said appeared to violate the Internal Revenue Service's ban on 'excess compensation' by nonprofit organizations as well as possibly state and federal laws on false bookkeeping and self-dealing.
"The lavish perquisites, corroborated by two other former TBN employees, include additional, often-vacant homes in Texas and on the former Conway Twitty estate in Tennessee, corporate jets valued at $8 million and $49 million each and thousand-dollar dinners with fine wines, paid with tax-exempt money.
"In the lawsuits and interviews, Ms. Koper, 26, also charges that TBN has spent millions of dollars in sweetheart deals with a commercial film company owned until recently by a son of the Crouches, Matthew, including poorly monitored investments made after he joined the TBN board in 2007.
"'My job as finance director was to find ways to label extravagant personal spending as ministry expenses,' Ms. Koper said. This is one way, she said, the company avoids probing questions from the I.R.S. She said that the absence of outsiders on TBN's governing board — currently consisting of Paul, Janice and Matthew Crouch — had led to a serious lack of accountability for spending."

On his website, Crouch is described as an "amazing servant of God."

His official biography says that, today, Crouch's network reaches every major continent and over 18,000 TV and cable affiliates around the world. The cable company even has a service in Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, as well as a cable channel in Asia, Europe and Russia.

His bio goes on:

"Dr. Crouch and TBN have been the recipients of numerous awards and citations of appreciation by both local and national leaders including the Golden Angel award from the Excellence in Media organization and the Parents Television Council Entertainment Seal of Approval, given to both the TBN and Smile of a Child networks for producing and promoting positive, pro-family programming. Dr. Crouch was also appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the Private Sector Initiative Project."

Heresiarch Joel Osteen: Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3059879/posts

Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John
United for Awakening ^ | 8/27/13 | Peter Michael Martinez
Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 3:22:54 PM by Sopater



According to Joel Osteen – Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, these first century apostles are wrong and outdated and he has come out boldly to infer indirectly that Apostles Paul, Peter, and John whom wrote much of the New Testament were wrong and need to be corrected and rebuked.

When asked directly if people whom are openly practicing homosexuals are accepted into the Kingdom, Joel Osteen responded with “Absolutely, anybody is.” We all need to listen carefully to the words that this “man of God” speaks as he goes on interviews so we too can find the errors in the preaching of the first century apostles.Joel does acknowledge that some things are “sin” but says, “I don’t address these things from the pulpit. They only come up in interviews.” When asked if openly practicing gay/homosexual people will be accepted into heaven, Joel Osteen responded, “I believe they will.” He makes no mention of the need for repentance.

Joel Osteen Brings Us Universalism

The doctrine of universalism is the belief that all people are “saved” no matter who you are or what you’ve done.This is a new version of the “good news” that is MUCH BETTER than the message the Jesus and the Apostles preached 2,000 years ago which was far too narrow according to the way Joel Osteen explains his “message.” “I’m for everybody” says Joel Osteen, “I’m not into excluding people. Jesus can reveal himself to anybody.” The idea is that since no one would be accepted if we are called to be “holy” then all have to be accepted. So goes this logic. This doctrine also believes that all roads lead to heaven so there is no one “way, truth, and life that leads to the father.” According to Joel, “sin means to miss the mark” which, while technically correct, stands in contrast to the teachings of many writers of the Bible that teach that sin is violation of God’s Holy Laws so if by missing the mark Joel means violating God’s ways, then yes, sin is missing the mark. According to the out of date writers of the Bible, the “wages of sin is death” for which blood is required and for which a sacrifice was presented. It sounds a lot more harsh to say SIN is TREASON punishable by death than to say it is “missing the mark” which is a bit incomplete. Sin is also “to incur guilt, incur penalty” which according to the scripture is death.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

When asked about people who live in open sin, Joel smilingly said, “I’m not going to bash those people. I’m not going to be against those people. They’re good people.” So by contrast, Apostle Jude is “bashing people” when he said:

Jude 1:14-16 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Joel’s wife recently said to Piers Morgan. “It’s the people that we’re after. We’re not trying to judge their sin. We want to encourage them and love them. You’re only going to win people by reaching out to them.” Isn’t that so awesome! They are all about the people! They want you and I be accepted without having to discuss anything like repentance or righteousness. These are “judgmental” subjects that we just don’t need. These modern day ministry giants have gone on national television to essentially correct Apostles Peter, John, and Paul to say … they are wrong … if you listen to Joel Osteen.  So many across the nation are so proud of this Pastor and his courage in confronting the church fathers! According to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul erroneously stated to the Corinthians …

1 Corinthians 6:8-10 “Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

In saying this, according to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul is being “exclusionary” and should be rebuked and corrected. He is obviously wrong and should never have said these things to the Corinthian church.

Corinth was known for its sexual openness and promiscuity so for Paul to “condemn” all these “good people” was completely out of order and he needs to be rebuked.
When Paul wrote to the Romans he also was in complete error in stating the following in the first chapter of his letter, according to Joel Osteen.

“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

According to Joel Osteen, Paul was absolutely incorrect and to state that being a homosexual is a sin is being “judgmental” and should not be tolerated. It is just wrong according to Joel Osteen. Many people agree with Joel Osteen today and so, Apostle Paul is apparently misguided and incorrect in his letter. Joel goes on to point out the additional errors in the words Apostle Paul wrote. “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Paul went on to write in the first chapter of Romans, which according to the words of Joel Osteen, he is deeply misguided and mistaken.  Apostle Paul should repent for saying such things according to Joel Osteen. A growing number of people in America agree with Joel that Apostle Paul should be rebuked for ever saying such things because Paul isn’t accepting of people like Joel Osteen is.  Equally misguided and incorrect according to Joel Osteen is Paul’s words to the Galatian church. In his writings, Apostle Paul made stunning comments that were clearly exclusionary statements concerning the Kingdom and those whom are accepted, and in so doing has made grave error according to Joel Osteen. See if you can detect the absolutely false statements that Apostle Paul made to the Galatian church according to the stated doctrine of Joel Osteen.

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.“

You can clearly see what has Joel Osteen so unhappy that he’s gone on national television to correct this! It is this type of rhetoric, according to Joel Osteen, that is completely false and misrepresents the God he serves.Joel Osteen’s God loves everybody and there are no exclusions because then, according to Joel, “none of us would be saved.” So again, Apostle Paul was completely incorrect and should never have written such harsh and insensitive words to the Galatian church according to Joel.I imagine Joel Osteen would say “shame on Apostle Paul for ever writing such hateful words!” Now, not only is Joel out to correct the misguided Apostle Paul, but Apostle Peter was also brought into serious question for clearly being exclusionary when he wrote these words.

1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

According to the doctrine Joel Osteen has now shared with us all as “his message,” being clearly more evolved and enlightened than the archaic Apostle Peter, no one can be holy. We are left to conclude that Peter is misguided and is being judgmental. What a terrible yoke and condemnation Apostle Peter is trying to put on the good people he is writing to. Additionally, Apostle Peter goes on to say things that are completely against the Lakewood Church Pastor’s God when he stated the following.

2 Peter 2:6-8 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”

According to Joel Osteen’s public comments, one could conclude that Apostle Peter was in complete error and deceived when he wrote such things. What a terrible condemnation. He clearly did not know the doctrine that Joel Osteen preaches or he would never have said such awful and critical things. Joel Osteen indirectly implies (subtly) that these apostles were false and were critical and judgmental and should NOT be listened to in America today. We all need to listen instead to Joel Osteen and Oprah Winfrey. Now Apostle John made even greater errors if the benchmark is Joel Osteen’s “message” when he stated some of the thing that he wrote which, according to Joel Osteen, is just plain and simply not true. It takes a lot of courage for Joel to stand against these writings but he believes strongly in his “uplifting and encouraging” doctrine that does not endorse such harsh and judgmental statements as written by these ancient Apostles. 



We should all pray for Joel Osteen because he needs our prayers if he’s going to continue to champion the cause of those oppressed and condemned by the writings and statements of Apostles like Paul, Peter and John.

Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

You see, according to Joel Osteen in a recent interview, “God doesn’t see any sin as worse than another” and all are going to heaven. Apparently in Joel Osteen’s bible, he has redacted the unpardonable sin. So if you’re a follower of Joel Osteen’s then this statement by Apostle John must seem just plain wrong. Apostle John doesn’t know what he’s talking about and we need to listen to the wisdom of Joel Osteen. Apostle John clearly was in error and should be rebuked for suggesting that people who tell lies are going to have their part in the lake of fire. What was Apostle John thinking writing such judgmental things??? That’s a terrible thing to say and no one, certainly not Apostle John, should be allowed to say such things. As Joel says, “there’s enough condemnation in the world” and we don’t need anymore. Additionally, in his letter, Apostle John says things like …

1 John 3:8-10 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Now according to Joel Osteen and the thousands that agree with his “message,” this entire passage should be removed from the pages of the bible and no one should be saying such things. In fact, Joel goes on to share that it is this exact kind of preaching that will hinder “church growth.” Apostles Paul, Peter, and John listen up. Joel Osteen rebukes you all.

For the rest, see:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3059879/posts

We would add the following:
 

10 Quotes from Re"crude"scent American Montanists (TBN Hillbilly Pentecostals)

http://blogs.christianpost.com/ridiculous-reads/10-crazy-quotes-from-televangelists-17444/

10 Crazy Quotes From Televangelists

Televangelists have a long history of saying embarrassing things on TV. The Bible teaches that the words we say reflect what is in our heart (Luke 6:45).

So let's take a look at ten of the crazy comments televangelists have made.

1. 'YOU ARE GOD’

(Photo: Screenshot/Youtube)

 

Paul Crouch, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar teach that we are gods. Bible teacher Justin Peters says these religious leaders "demote God and deify man."

"I am a little god. I have His name. I am one with Him. I'm in covenant relationship. I am a little god. Critics be gone!" says Paul Crouch.

Kenneth Copeland: "You are anything that He is."

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

Creflo Dollar: "You are gods (little 'g')"

2. THE HOLY GHOST MACHINE GUN

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

Some televangelists have been accused of making threats towards their critics and potential whistleblowers.

In this video Benny Hinn admits that he would like to kill his critics with a "Holy Ghost machine gun."

"Sometimes I wish God would give me a Holy Ghost machine gun. I'd blow your head off!"

3. ATTENDING THE FUNERAL OF TBN CRITICS

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

Last year Brittany Koper, the granddaughter of Trinity Broadcasting Network founders Paul and Jan Crouch, sued her former attorneys and released damaging information about the TV network's leadership. Following her lawsuit, this video was shown on TBN's program Behind the Scenes. Paul Crouch says that he attended the funerals of two TBN critics.

Paul Crouch says: "God help anyone who would try to get in a way of TBN, which was God’s plan. I have attended the funeral of at least two people who tried."

4. THE HOLY GHOST ENEMA?

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

Jesus warned the pharisees not to blasphemy the Holy Spirit. Some televangelist critics might accuse Benny Hinn and his wife Suzanne of such blasphemy.

In this video Suzanne tells churchgoers, "If you're engine is not reving up, you know what you need?

A holy ghost enema right up your rear end because ... God won't tolerate it."

5. FAITH HEALER KICKS PEOPLE TO HEAL THEM

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

Almost half a million people flocked to Lakeland, Florida, to hear Canadian-born televangelist Todd Bentley preach in 2008. Bentley's popularity imploded after he left his wife for another woman. In this video Bentley says that God told him to kick a woman in the face in order to heal her.

“And there is this old lady worshiping right in front of the platform. And the Holy Spirit spoke to me, the gift of faith come on me. He said: ‘Kick her in her face,’” he says.

6. I AM A BILLIONAIRE

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

Kenneth Copeland preaches the prosperity gospel. Copeland claims there is something wrong if a Christian doesn't become rich.

In this clip Copeland says that he is a billionaire. “I am a billionaire, because the assignment that the Lord gave me, He said: ‘I want you to begin to confess the billion flow.’”

7. MONEY COMETH TO ME NOW

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

Some of the prosperity preachers believe in positive confession which is the idea that we can speak things into existence.

In a video preacher Leroy Thompson screams, “God said: `it is time to tell the money you don’t belong to the wicked, you belong to us.` (..) Money come to me now!”

8. DONATE WITH A CREDIT CARD TO ERASE DEBT

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

If you have ever worked in a retail sales company, you've probably been taught how to "close a sale." Televangelists use similar techniques to receive donations.

In this video Mike Murdock asks his viewers to donate $1,000. Murdock says that God will erase a donor's credit card debt if he or she will donate with a credit card.

"As you use your faith, God is going to wipeout your credit card debts."

9. DIVORCE YOUR WIFE WITH ALZHEIMER'S

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)

 

For years Pat Robertson has offered advice and answered questions from viewers of the 700 Club.
In this video Robertson advises that husband divorce his wife that has alzheimer's.
"I know it sounds cruel, but if he's going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again ..."

10. NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

(Photo: Screenshot/Youtube)

In 1991 Jimmy Swaggart's second prostitute-related scandal occurred. He was pulled over driving erratically and his passenger was prostitute. The next Sunday Swaggart told his church, "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business," according to the Associated Press.

5 Televangelists and Their Jets

5 Televangelists and Their Jets

By Esther Oliveira

September 10, 2013|9:55 am

1. Paul and Jan Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) - A Hawker 800XP and a Bombardier BD-700-1A10

(Photo: YouTube)
 

(Photo: Screen Grab via Daily Mail-Flightaware)
 

One of the TBN leaders' jets is like this one, according to The Daily Mail.

2. Kenneth Copeland – Cessna 550 Citation Bravo and Cessna 750 Citation X

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)
 

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Arpingstone)

Cessna 550b citation bravo.
 

(Photo: Jetphotos.net via Wikimedia Commons)

Vienna Jet Cessna 750 Citation X at Darwin Airport

These are the same jet models that Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Fort Worth reportedly have. The pair have pledged the aircrafts are used for the purpose of serving their ministry.

3. Creflo Dollar (private jets) - a Gulfstream Jet and a Gates Learjet

 

 

(Photo: World Changers Church International via The Christian Post)

Creflo Dollar speaks to thousands of attendees at World Changers Church International, Sunday, June 10, 2012.

 

 

 

(Photo: http://www.bornrich.com/creflo-dollar.html)
 

This is one of his jets, according to BornRich.com. The jets are reportedly valued at $5.3 million (Gulfstream) and nearly $1 million (LearJet).

4. Pat Robertson - C-21 Learjet Model 35

(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube

 

 
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Swiss Air Force Learjet 35A (T-781) at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England.

Pat Robertson used to rent out his Learjet like this one above as he used it infrequently, according to CBN spokeswoman Angell Vasko. His plane crashed in 2006.

5. Mark Barclay, dubbed as the "Preacher of Righteousness" - Citation III 650

(Photo: Screen grab via PimpPreacher.com)

Mark Barclay and a jet.
 

Recently, the televangelist from Midland Michigan asked his followers in a letter for $79,000 to repaint a luxury jet purchased by his organization. He says the jet "actually belongs" to the Lord.

Burned-Over District: TBN, Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn & Others

A wonderful post by Mr. (Rev. Dr.) Kim Riddlebarger on TBN, Paul and Jan Crouch, and others.

The OC -- A New Burned-Over District? Part Two -- TBN

Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 07:40AM

 

TBN Intro from Heath Nelson on Vimeo.

There was a time when much of the Christian "buzz" in the OC centered around the nightly doings of Paul and Jan Crouch and their must-see "Praise The Lord" program.  "Praise the Lord" is still broadcast live each evening (Monday through Friday) and the world-wide and gigantic TBN empire remains a force.  But the local buzz TBN once generated is now long gone. 


In my circle, the "Praise the Lord" program was known as the "Pentecostal follies."  Of course, most Pentecostals I know felt about TBN the way in which I feel about former CRC elder Harold Camping--the guy is a crackpot.  We felt bad laughing at Paul and Jan at first, but then you realized that these people were broadcasting this stuff into my home because they wanted me to watch them.  And frankly, much of what they did was funny--even if it shouldn't have been.  If some of us were taken aback by Paul and Jan, many more just lapped this stuff up.

TBN hit the airwaves in 1973 and before long, people were fascinated with the nightly doings on "Praise the Lord."  No one had seen anything like it.  Jan Crouch was not quite as flamboyant as her east coast rival Tammy Faye Bakker, but every bit her equal as a TV personality.  "Praise the Lord's" panel format with musical interludes was modeled on the old Mike Douglas and Phil Donahue programs, unlike the Jimmy and Tammy show, which was more a variety show format. 
 
You could find all sort of Christian celebrities and entertainers on "Praise the Lord."  Many of these folks were Hollywood "has beens" who, by going on TBN, could still get before a live TV camera and find adoring fans if only they had an interesting "testimony" (or, as we called it, "test of money").  TBN could even boast of having their own rock star (Jeff Fenholt), who was billed as the former front man for Black Sabbath.  Upon closer inspection it turned out that he actually knew a guy who once went to high school with someone whose cousin lived next door to some guy who was once in Black Sabbath.  Or something like that.  He had a set of pipes, but his actual Heavy Metal "front man" resume was pretty thin.



TBN's regulars included Oral Roberts (a nationally known faith-healer) and "Praise the Lord" probably established backwater Word-Faith types like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, and Fred Price as household names. 

Then there was the "young buck"--a Lebanese faith-healer and evangelist with a pronounced Middle-Eastern accent and the wildest comb-over anyone had ever seen--Tofik Benedictus (AKA Benny Hinn).  This was the same Benny Hinn who announced live on TBN that there were nine members of the Holy Trinity because each of the three persons of the Godhead were body, soul, and spirit. 

I had never seen people speak in tongues until I saw it occur live on the TBN stage.  I had never seen people flippantly claim that God had spoken to them (sometimes audibly) and then glibly recount what God supposedly had told them like advice given by Dear Abby.  I saw all kinds of things on TBN I had never seen before, and Lord willing, will never see again.  It got to the point, if there was nothing good on TV, we'd turn on TBN, just to see what they were up to now--and we were rarely disappointed.  It was "Reality TV" before anyone identified the genre as such.


The TBN set was also graced by the presence of those televangelists, pastors, and "ministry" leaders (more like CEOs) whose programming was broadcast by Paul and Jan.  Robert Schuller was a semi-regular, as were Chuck Smith, Jack Hayford, E. V. Hill., Hal Lindsey, Bill Bright, and even D. James Kennedy, of all people.  I can only wonder if the latter felt sufficiently embarrassed by appearing on the same set with Paul and Jan while trying to engage them in conversation.


But people in the OC talked about "Praise the Lord"--virtually non-stop.  How could you be a Christian and not talk about it?  Everything we saw on TBN was either controversial, just plain weird, or worse, heretical.  I saw people "slain in the Spirit."  I saw people "laugh in the Spirit."  I heard Jan Crouch describe how, when she was a small girl, the Lord resurrected her dead pet chicken after anointing it with Crisco Oil (because she had no "anointing oil") while Benny Hinn and the participants in the annual telethon cracked-up in the background.  Even Benny Hinn couldn't believe what he was hearing.  I saw all kinds of things which I cannot forget, and which take up permanent space in my long term memory.  



Eventually TBN moved from their headquarters in a Tustin industrial complex (near the famous "blimp hangers" if you know the OC) to the former Full-Gospel Businessmen's headquarters in Costa Mesa (right off the 405 Fwy and across from the OC's most famous shopping complex, South Coast Plaza).  It is easily the ugliest building in the entire county.  I am told TBN's influence now is primarily in the third world, but after numerous scandals, ill-health, and the unglamorous effects of old age, the OC, it seems, has largely forgotten Paul and Jan.  They rarely appear in "Praise the Lord" anymore, and the live program is often broadcast from many places other than the OC.


A couple of other things of interest. . .  Mike Horton was on TBN with one of their daytime hosts, Jim McClellen.  Mike was all of twenty at the time, still at Biola, and living with the Riddlebargers.  They discussed Mike's new book, Mission Accomplished (which later became Putting Amazing back Into Grace).  This has to be the only time the five "solas" of the Reformation were ever mentioned on TBN.  Incidentally, Paul and Jan actually gave away a gazillion copies of the Heidelberg Catechism as a "love offering" (that even sounds wrong) but stopped immediately when someone told them it taught infant baptism.

For more on this excellent article, see: http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/the-latest-post/2013/7/9/the-oc-a-new-burned-over-district-part-two-tbn.html

Rapsta Shai Linne Does a Smackdown/Slapdown of TBN's Paula White

http://wadeoradio.com/shai-linne-responds-to-paula-white-ministries-open-letter/

Shai Linne Responds To Paula White Ministries’ Open Letter

 

In a letter e-mailed to Wade-O Radio on Tuesday night, Shai Linne answered Bradley Knight’s defense of his mother, Paula White, who the rapper accused of being a false teacher.

Shai had tweeted three days earlier that prayer and guidance would precede his reply. He wrote the response while traveling on Clear Sight Music’s Black Out Circuit Tour which has been on the road since April 5. The unedited letter is below.

(For all blogs and website’s wishing to repost this, please refrain from posting the letter in its entirety. We ask that you publish a portion and link back to this article. For more info please see our permissions policy – Thanks)

_______________________________________________
Hey Brad,

This is Shai Linne. I’m writing to reply to the recent open letter you wrote in response to my song, “Fal$e Teacher$“. In that song, I referred to Paula White, among others, as a false teacher. I’m glad that you responded because it serves as a reminder to us all that this discussion involves real people with real families and real souls. Therefore, this is not something that should be taken lightly. It’s very serious. Before I directly address the substance of your open letter, I first want to commend you for a few things that encouraged me as I read it.


1. I was encouraged to read your confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I loved hearing you affirm the blessed Trinity, the deity of Christ, His atoning sacrifice and salvation by grace through faith in Christ. I can’t even type that last sentence without it affecting me. Beautiful truths, indeed! Those truths are the foundation of my hope and joy. My soul leaps when I hear someone affirm these things as you did. Amen and amen.


2. I was encouraged to read of your obvious love for your mother. What son couldn’t relate to the passion behind what you wrote? If someone said anything that I perceived as negative or untrue about my mom, I would be the first to defend her. As a son who dearly loves his own mom, I could identify with you. Thank you for setting a good example for sons out there in stepping up to defend your mother.


3. I was encouraged to hear of your mother praying for your salvation, as well as teaching you the faith. Again, I can relate. I myself am the result of a praying mother. In fact, I once told my mom that I would never become a Christian. Even as I entered adulthood while continuing in rebellion against God, she never stopped praying for me. I am eternally grateful to her for crying out to God on my behalf when I was dead in my sins! So I was glad to hear you mention what you did about your mother. It’s a good model for other mothers to emulate.

The Real Issue

With that said, Brad, I don’t think your letter actually addresses the real issue. My song was not about you, your financial status, the genuineness of your faith, your mother’s prayers for you or the good things that Paula White Ministries does. The song was about the false doctrine that Paula White and others have publicly taught for many years and continue to teach.


Speaking of public teaching, you mentioned Matthew 18:15-17 to support the idea that I should have contacted you privately first. The irony, of course, is that you made this claim in a letter that is open for the public to read without contacting me privately first. Why did you choose to go about things in this way? Is it because I came out and said something about Paula White publicly and therefore you felt it deserved a public response? If that’s how you thought about it, you would be right. And that’s exactly why I addressed Paula White’s public teachings publicly. Here is a helpful article by noted New Testament scholar D.A. Carson on why Matthew 18 doesn’t apply in situations like this.


I want to address a few of the false teachings themselves. I went straight to the Paula White Ministries website and your Youtube page so I could hear what you have released as representative of Paula White’s teaching. There are many things I could speak on, but I’ll highlight three here.

1. False View of the Atonement

Paula White did a series called 8 Promises of the Atonement, that at the time of my writing this, is currently featured on your ministry website. In it, she states that physical healing and financial abundance in this life are provided for in the atonement of Christ. See the following video at the 25:00 mark where Paula White teaches “salvation includes healing.” She says it again at 28:30. But then she goes even further. If you keep listening, she talks about commanding her body not to be sick because of the blood of Christ. She ends this section by boldly declaring around 29:40:
“You are not going to die of sickness. When you go, it’s going to be because of your appointed time of old age and full of life”



For Paula White to say this to a large crowd of people is both false and irresponsible. She has no idea how those people are going to die. The truth is that Christians do get sick. Many godly believers die at young ages from sickness and it is not due to their lack of faith or because they haven’t embraced what’s theirs through the atonement. It’s because God is sovereign.


As He says in Deut. 32:39, “‘See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”


Psalm 139:14 says “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be”.


God sovereignly determines when we live and when we die. And if He appoints or allows a sickness to take our lives, it is because His infinite wisdom determined that it be so.


At the 2:00 mark of this video on your website, Paula White lists “financial abundance” as one of the promises of the atonement. This is false. It is also a slap in the face to the millions godly saints throughout the world today (and church history) who do not live in “financial abundance” like many of us live here in America. Jesus commends the church in Smyrna when He says:

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” - Rev. 2:9

In His kindness and care, the risen Savior tells the church in Smyrna that He is aware of their poverty. What does He say after that? Does He tell them that they’re poor because they haven’t fully embraced the promise of His atonement? Does He say they’re poor because of a generational curse, as Paula White teaches at 13:20 in this video? No. He reminds them that though they are materially poor in this world, they are actually rich in God’s eyes because of their union with Jesus Christ! Like C.S. Lewis once famously said, “He who has God and everything else has no more than He who has God only.”


In 1 Timothy 6:7-8, which is in the same context of a passage I mentioned in the song, it says “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” This is consistent with the New Testament emphasis on contentment, which is almost always mentioned in contrast to the love of money (Heb. 13:5). I’m encouraged to see that you try to put that into practice in your own life, Brad. But in doing so, you’re actually contradicting the teaching of Paula White, who says that the atonement promises your financial abundance. She obviously embraces this teaching herself. It is well documented that she, along with others mentioned in the song, was investigated by the U.S. Senate for financial impropriety due to their extravagant lifestyles. Much more could be said about this, but let me get to the next false teaching.

2. False “Sow a Seed” Teaching

This is something that is common among the people I named in the song, including Paula White. The premise is that if you give a certain amount of money, God will multiply it and you’ll get more money back in return. As I studied the prosperity teachers, I noticed that they often used this tactic when taking an offering. But when you study the Scriptures, you find that the “sow a seed” passages that are usually referred to are not talking about money at all, but the knowledge of the kingdom of God, which leads to salvation (See Matthew 13:1-23). Even in 2 Cor. 9:6-15, where seed is used in connection with financial gifts, the emphasis is on generously supplying the needs of other churches (vs. 12) and having what you need to serve others effectively (vs. 8). Living out the American Dream is not in view there.


In the following video, Paula White gives an appeal for money at The Potter’s House, the church pastored by T.D. Jakes. Around 2:10 she says, “God is speaking to many”. She then tells them what God is supposedly saying, “Give a $126 dollar offering. For some it may be $1,260, for some it may be $12,600”.



Now if I’m sitting in that audience that day and Paula White says, “God is saying give $126 or $1,260 or $12,600”, what am I supposed to do? If God is saying it and I don’t do it, I’m being disobedient. But here’s the thing. I don’t have to wonder whether or not God is saying that through Paula White because God has already spoken in His Word, the Bible. And in the Bible, God said:


“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7)


What Paula White does in that video absolutely qualifies as compulsion and it actually made me sad for her as I watched it. In this video at 25:08, in the middle of an appeal for money (Start it at 22:28 to get the full context), Paula White promises that “Your seed today is gonna turn everything around for your children, your grandchildren, your family, your spouse, everyone in relation to you. But you have to activate it. Call that toll-free number.” There is no way that that statement could be true for each of the thousands of Christians and non-Christians watching the show that day! What makes it worse is that she’s claiming to speak for God as she does it. And that brings me to the final and perhaps most serious falsehood.

3. Falsely Claiming to Speak For God

As I’m sure you know, Brad, God takes speaking in His name very seriously. To say that God said something that He didn’t say is to lie on God. God takes this sin so seriously that in the Old Testament, the person found guilty of this was to be executed. Check out Deuteronomy 18:20:


“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’”


The verses following that one give the litmus test for how we can determine whether or not someone is speaking for God:
“And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously.” (Deut. 18:21-22)


There is nothing new under the sun. People have been falsely claiming to speak for God for thousands of years. Here’s what God said when it was happening in Jeremiah’s day.


“Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.” - Jeremiah 23:32


As sincere as Paula White may be, she is extremely reckless in the many false things that she says God told her to tell her listeners. The videos I provided are enough. Just go back and listen to how often she says God is saying something that He could not possibly be saying to everyone listening to her at the time. “You are not going to die of sickness” is just one of many examples I could give. Sadly, her teaching is characterized by this falsehood. She and the other people I mentioned in the song do this all the time.Conclusion
This is getting long, so I’ll bring it to a close. I know you love your mother, Brad. I love mine as well. I made Fal$e Teacher$ because there are many other sons out there whose mothers have had their lives greatly damaged by the false teachings of Paula White and the others mentioned in the song. I would love to hear that Paula White has repented and renounced the many false things that she has taught. I am praying to that end. But until she does that, I must soberly maintain that the Biblical category of “False Teacher” does, in fact, apply her. And those who follow her must be warned. And just so you know, I have your email address and will gladly take this conversation offline with you if you’d like.


grace and peace,
shai