FIRST READ:Rigging a Rigged Election!!
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/11/rigging-rigged-election-situating.html
U.S. Embassy issues warning for American citizens in Uganda
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/26/us.uganda.travel.warning/
(CNN) -- The U.S. Embassy in Uganda is warning its citizens in the east African nation that regional terror groups "remain actively interested in attacking" American interests.
"We are particularly concerned about the month of February," the embassy, based in the capital, Kampala, said in a statement.
Uganda is holding presidential elections next month.
The embassy advises U.S. citizens to avoid large, public gatherings, "especially those with large numbers of westerners and/or no visible security presence."
It urges citizens to report any suspicious activity by calling 999 and keeping a charged cell phone at all times.
The alert updates previous warnings related to the July 11, 2010 bombings in Kampala, according to the embassy. More than 70 people died after a pair of bombings struck a restaurant and a rugby ground as patrons gathered to watch the World Cup final.
Somalia-based al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The Islamic militants battling Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government have threatened attacks on Uganda and Burundi, which contribute troops to an African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Court acquits city pastors in Kayanja sodomy case
Court acquits city pastors in Kayanja sodomy case - Daily Monitor
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1096004/-/ciow44z/-/index.html
A city magistrates court yesterday dismissed charges of conspiracy against two pastors who were accused of tarnishing the image of Pastor Robert Kayanja.
Mwanga II Grade One magistrate Esther Nakadama said the State failed to present witnesses to testify against pastors Robert Kayiira and Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Ministries.
“Not a single witness and not even investigating officer Ms Grace Akullo was able to prove and provide court with evidence that the two pastors agreed to tarnish the name of Pastor Kanyaja,” she said.
Criminal trespass
Ms Nakadama, however, ordered Pastor Kayiira to defend himself against the charge of criminal trespass.
She set February 8 for the hearing of the case against Pastor Kayiira.
Pastors Kayiira and Kyazze were charged with alleged criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, a charge they deny.
Prosecution alleges that on April 17 last year, Pastor Kayiira entered at Rubaga Miracle Centre, with intent to intimidate, insults or annoy Pastor Kayanja.
Pastor Kayanja came under the spotlight early last year when his fellow Pentecostal pastors accused him of sodomising some members of his church.
About a month ago, city advocate Henry Ddungu and pastor Moses Solomon Male were also arrested and detained over alleged conspiracy to injure the reputation of Pastor Kayanja.
Pastors Martin Sempa, Kyazze, and Kayiira, were accused of hiring Robson Matovu to blackmail Pastor Kayanja.
Court heard that Pastor Male reportedly gave Mr Matovu a signed and stamped affidavit implicating Pastor Kayanja while Samson Mukisa was reportedly promised necessities on condition that he would speak publicly on how Pastor Kayanja had sodomised him.
A police report then indicated that complaints of sodomy against Pastor Kayanja did not reveal any evidence to the offences. “In retracting their statements, the complainants said they had been mobilised to make false accusations against Pastor Kayanja in order to tarnish his name,” the report said.
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Pastor Kyazze, cleared, Kayiira has case - New Vision
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/744949
By Noah Jagwe
PASTORS Michael Kyazze and Bob Kayiira of Omega Healing Centre have been acquitted of charges of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor against Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle centre.
Kyazze is a senior pastor at Omega Healing Centre, while Kayiira is his assistant.
However, the Mwanga II Magistrate, Esther Nakadama Mubiru, on Tuesday ruled that Kayiira has a case to answer regarding the second charge of trespass at Rubaga Miracle Centre. He will give his defence on February 8.
“A conspiracy had to be between the two accused persons planning to injure the reputation of the complainant and not just a revelation by Kayiira that he had been sent by Kyazze. Kayiira was obeying orders of his senior pastor.”
“This didn’t amount to intention to tarnish the image or reputation of the complainant. In light of the above, I find that prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Kayiira for the count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor. The same applies to Kyazze,” Nakadama ruled.
Prosecution had said Kyazze and Kayiira conspired to commit a misdemeanor.
Kayiira was also alleged to have committed criminal trespass when he entered Rubaga Miracle Centre on April 17, 2009 with intent to intimidate, insult or annoy Kayanja.
The magistrate observed that prosecution witness had given evidence that Kayiira was found in the compound of Rubaga Miracle Centre between 1:00am and 2:00am.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1096004/-/ciow44z/-/index.html
A city magistrates court yesterday dismissed charges of conspiracy against two pastors who were accused of tarnishing the image of Pastor Robert Kayanja.
Mwanga II Grade One magistrate Esther Nakadama said the State failed to present witnesses to testify against pastors Robert Kayiira and Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Ministries.
“Not a single witness and not even investigating officer Ms Grace Akullo was able to prove and provide court with evidence that the two pastors agreed to tarnish the name of Pastor Kanyaja,” she said.
Criminal trespass
Ms Nakadama, however, ordered Pastor Kayiira to defend himself against the charge of criminal trespass.
She set February 8 for the hearing of the case against Pastor Kayiira.
Pastors Kayiira and Kyazze were charged with alleged criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, a charge they deny.
Prosecution alleges that on April 17 last year, Pastor Kayiira entered at Rubaga Miracle Centre, with intent to intimidate, insults or annoy Pastor Kayanja.
Pastor Kayanja came under the spotlight early last year when his fellow Pentecostal pastors accused him of sodomising some members of his church.
About a month ago, city advocate Henry Ddungu and pastor Moses Solomon Male were also arrested and detained over alleged conspiracy to injure the reputation of Pastor Kayanja.
Pastors Martin Sempa, Kyazze, and Kayiira, were accused of hiring Robson Matovu to blackmail Pastor Kayanja.
Court heard that Pastor Male reportedly gave Mr Matovu a signed and stamped affidavit implicating Pastor Kayanja while Samson Mukisa was reportedly promised necessities on condition that he would speak publicly on how Pastor Kayanja had sodomised him.
A police report then indicated that complaints of sodomy against Pastor Kayanja did not reveal any evidence to the offences. “In retracting their statements, the complainants said they had been mobilised to make false accusations against Pastor Kayanja in order to tarnish his name,” the report said.
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Pastor Kyazze, cleared, Kayiira has case - New Vision
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/744949
By Noah Jagwe
PASTORS Michael Kyazze and Bob Kayiira of Omega Healing Centre have been acquitted of charges of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor against Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle centre.
Kyazze is a senior pastor at Omega Healing Centre, while Kayiira is his assistant.
However, the Mwanga II Magistrate, Esther Nakadama Mubiru, on Tuesday ruled that Kayiira has a case to answer regarding the second charge of trespass at Rubaga Miracle Centre. He will give his defence on February 8.
“A conspiracy had to be between the two accused persons planning to injure the reputation of the complainant and not just a revelation by Kayiira that he had been sent by Kyazze. Kayiira was obeying orders of his senior pastor.”
“This didn’t amount to intention to tarnish the image or reputation of the complainant. In light of the above, I find that prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Kayiira for the count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor. The same applies to Kyazze,” Nakadama ruled.
Prosecution had said Kyazze and Kayiira conspired to commit a misdemeanor.
Kayiira was also alleged to have committed criminal trespass when he entered Rubaga Miracle Centre on April 17, 2009 with intent to intimidate, insult or annoy Kayanja.
The magistrate observed that prosecution witness had given evidence that Kayiira was found in the compound of Rubaga Miracle Centre between 1:00am and 2:00am.
Monday, 17 January 2011
Pastor John Mulinde forgives wife
First Read: Embattled wife disowns city pastor
http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/731995
Pastor Kiganda has scandalized the Church
http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/daily/news.asp?about=Pastor+Kiganda+has+scandalized+the+Church&ID=1908
Some time back pastor John Mulinde caught his wife in adultery. Pastor Mulinde has now forgiven his wife and they are now back together. Bravo, Pastor John Mulinde I hope Pastor David Kiganda will learn from you.
Katonda takkiriza kukyawa- Mulinde
http://www.bukeddekussande.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=3&newsCategoryId=186&newsId=743901
Bya Moses Jjagwe
OMUTUME Mulinde owa World Trumpet Mission akubirizza abakkiriza okusonyiwagana n’okulwana entalo ezo zokka eziyamba mu Bwakatonda.
Bino biddiridde okutabuka ne mukyalawe bwe yamukwatira mu bwenzi gye buvuddeko kyokka oluvannyuma n’amusonyiwa era kati bali bonna. Mulinde agamba nti Katonda takkiriza kukyawa.
Bino byabadde mu mu lukung’aana olwa 16 olutegekeddwa ku Hotel Africana. Yagambye bwati:
Alleluya, (abantu baddamu Amiina ey’amaanyi) Mukama yeebazibwe, olukung’aana luno tulukoze kugolokosa abantu abagenda okuba eggye lya Katonda.
Ekitabo kya Yoweri 2:11 kiraga nti Mukama agolokosa eggye ery’amaanyi atuyita okukola omulimu guno, ogw’okugolokosa abantu be ku lw’omulimu gw’okumuweereza.
Katonda yeetaaga eggye kubanga Obwakabaka bwe buli bubi. Tulinga embeera Nekemia gye yabuuzaako abantu abaali bava mu Yerusalemu, era bwe yabiwulira n’akaaba amaziga nga kw’otadde okuyuza engoye ze ng’akungubaga.
Ku bintu byonna ebingi ebizze bibaawo eri omubiri gwa Kristo okozeewo ki nga ggwe eggye lya Katonda? Bingi bye nzize ndaba nga birumba omubiri gwa Kristo ensangi zino, olumu n’atuuka n’okuvaayo okulwana olw’embeera ezo, naye Mukama n’antegeeza nti olutalo si lulwo lundekere, buno bukodyo bwa mulabe kwagala kukusuuza ky’olina.
Kikwetaagisa bwetaagisa kumanya nkwe ze olwo n’olyoka omulwanyisa oba okumwesonyiwa. Buli lw’omanya enkwe za sitaani tojja kunyiigira muntu yenna, ojja kumanya ani amukozesa by’akola, era ng’olina kumusonyiwa obutamukyawa kubanga Katonda takkiriza kukyawa.
Olina okumanya nti ekigendererwa kya sitaani kukubbako bibala bye wandibaze, kubanga Katonda atulagira okubala ebibala n’ebibala byaffe bibeerewo. Mujjukira omuti Yesu gwe yajja okunogako ebibala nga tekuli wadde ekimu, buli lw’otobala bibala oba nga omuti ogwo.
Sitaani amanyi ekigambo kya Katonda ekikwatagana n’okubala ebibala ky’ova olaba ye yajja kubba, kutta, na kuzikiriza, ng’ekigendererwa kye kwe kukuwugula oleme kukola Katonda by’ayagala.
Kye nkusaba togendera ku bintu by’olaba kungulu bijja kukukooyeza bwereere, entalo ezaffe tuzirwanira mu mwoyo, wano we nva ne mbuuza nti okubala ebibala kye ki?
Okubala ebibala kwe kukola Katonda by’ayagala okole oba okutuukiriza mu Yokaana 7.
Kino bw’okitegeera oba olina okubuusa ebintu ebimu amaaso n’obiraba ng’ebitaliiwo. Yesu yagamba nti omuntu bw’akukuba oluyi ku ttama erimu omukyusiza n’eddala, oli bw’akuggyako ekkooti yo n’ekkanzu ogimuwerangako. Yesu okwogera bino yali alaga abantu obutawoolera ggwanga eri abakoze obubi, naye bamwagalizenga birungi.
Yobu, mukazi we bye yamugamba nga mulwadde nti yeegaane Katonda afe, naye ye Yobu n’amuddamu nti oyagala tusuubire birungi byokka okuva eri Katonda, nedda si byokka naye n’ebizibu kye nva mbakuutira nti oba birungi oba bibi sigala ng’obala ebibala eby’Obwakatonda ebimuweesa ekitiibwa.
Muganda wange si buli ntalo ezijja mu maaso go nti olina okuzirwana, ezimu zijja ng’ekigendererwa kyazo kukuwugula ove ku ky’oliko, oyinza okuba nga ky’okola kituufu naye omubi n’ayagala akuwugule ebirowoozo odde ku kigenda mu maaso essaawa eyo.
Naye eggye lino Katonda ly’agolokosa okutendeka lirina okuba nga limwebuuzaako nga terinnakola kintu kyonna. Lisooka kumanya kiki Katonda ky’ayagala, Mukama bwe yali antegeeza kino yankuutira okutuukiriza ekigendererwa ky’ebibala byange.
Mukama yandabula obutayonoona biseera, era yankuutira obutalwana ntalo ezitayamba Katonda, nneme kuzeenyigiramu ku lunaku olw’okuyimirira mu maaso ge ndabike nga nnina ebibala ebisaanidde.
Abooluganda buli lutalo olujja gy’oli luleke lugende mu maaso naye ggwe sigala ng’ogenda mu maaso, kubanga omulabe awuluguma nga empologoma enoonya owookulya, naye nze emmere yange kwe kukola Katonda by’ayagala.
Ekiseera kituuse abantu okutandika okulyamu bannaabwe enkwe, n’okwagala kugenda kuwola, naye ekinaatuwanguza kye kigambo kya Katonda okubeera mu ggwe olwo olyoke owangule ebikulumba byonna.
Sonyiwa akola obubi osobole okusigala ku mulamwa tusobole okusigala ku bigendererwa ebyatuyisa Katonda
Amaka mangi gasasise ensangi zino lwa butamanya nkwe za sitaani nga kati bali wansi wa buwambe bwa sitaani. Katonda agamba nti sonyiwa buli akoze obubi osobole okugenda mu maaso n’olutalo.
Published on: Saturday, 15th January, 2011
http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/731995
Pastor Kiganda has scandalized the Church
http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/daily/news.asp?about=Pastor+Kiganda+has+scandalized+the+Church&ID=1908
Some time back pastor John Mulinde caught his wife in adultery. Pastor Mulinde has now forgiven his wife and they are now back together. Bravo, Pastor John Mulinde I hope Pastor David Kiganda will learn from you.
Katonda takkiriza kukyawa- Mulinde
http://www.bukeddekussande.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=3&newsCategoryId=186&newsId=743901
Bya Moses Jjagwe
OMUTUME Mulinde owa World Trumpet Mission akubirizza abakkiriza okusonyiwagana n’okulwana entalo ezo zokka eziyamba mu Bwakatonda.
Bino biddiridde okutabuka ne mukyalawe bwe yamukwatira mu bwenzi gye buvuddeko kyokka oluvannyuma n’amusonyiwa era kati bali bonna. Mulinde agamba nti Katonda takkiriza kukyawa.
Bino byabadde mu mu lukung’aana olwa 16 olutegekeddwa ku Hotel Africana. Yagambye bwati:
Alleluya, (abantu baddamu Amiina ey’amaanyi) Mukama yeebazibwe, olukung’aana luno tulukoze kugolokosa abantu abagenda okuba eggye lya Katonda.
Ekitabo kya Yoweri 2:11 kiraga nti Mukama agolokosa eggye ery’amaanyi atuyita okukola omulimu guno, ogw’okugolokosa abantu be ku lw’omulimu gw’okumuweereza.
Katonda yeetaaga eggye kubanga Obwakabaka bwe buli bubi. Tulinga embeera Nekemia gye yabuuzaako abantu abaali bava mu Yerusalemu, era bwe yabiwulira n’akaaba amaziga nga kw’otadde okuyuza engoye ze ng’akungubaga.
Ku bintu byonna ebingi ebizze bibaawo eri omubiri gwa Kristo okozeewo ki nga ggwe eggye lya Katonda? Bingi bye nzize ndaba nga birumba omubiri gwa Kristo ensangi zino, olumu n’atuuka n’okuvaayo okulwana olw’embeera ezo, naye Mukama n’antegeeza nti olutalo si lulwo lundekere, buno bukodyo bwa mulabe kwagala kukusuuza ky’olina.
Kikwetaagisa bwetaagisa kumanya nkwe ze olwo n’olyoka omulwanyisa oba okumwesonyiwa. Buli lw’omanya enkwe za sitaani tojja kunyiigira muntu yenna, ojja kumanya ani amukozesa by’akola, era ng’olina kumusonyiwa obutamukyawa kubanga Katonda takkiriza kukyawa.
Olina okumanya nti ekigendererwa kya sitaani kukubbako bibala bye wandibaze, kubanga Katonda atulagira okubala ebibala n’ebibala byaffe bibeerewo. Mujjukira omuti Yesu gwe yajja okunogako ebibala nga tekuli wadde ekimu, buli lw’otobala bibala oba nga omuti ogwo.
Sitaani amanyi ekigambo kya Katonda ekikwatagana n’okubala ebibala ky’ova olaba ye yajja kubba, kutta, na kuzikiriza, ng’ekigendererwa kye kwe kukuwugula oleme kukola Katonda by’ayagala.
Kye nkusaba togendera ku bintu by’olaba kungulu bijja kukukooyeza bwereere, entalo ezaffe tuzirwanira mu mwoyo, wano we nva ne mbuuza nti okubala ebibala kye ki?
Okubala ebibala kwe kukola Katonda by’ayagala okole oba okutuukiriza mu Yokaana 7.
Kino bw’okitegeera oba olina okubuusa ebintu ebimu amaaso n’obiraba ng’ebitaliiwo. Yesu yagamba nti omuntu bw’akukuba oluyi ku ttama erimu omukyusiza n’eddala, oli bw’akuggyako ekkooti yo n’ekkanzu ogimuwerangako. Yesu okwogera bino yali alaga abantu obutawoolera ggwanga eri abakoze obubi, naye bamwagalizenga birungi.
Yobu, mukazi we bye yamugamba nga mulwadde nti yeegaane Katonda afe, naye ye Yobu n’amuddamu nti oyagala tusuubire birungi byokka okuva eri Katonda, nedda si byokka naye n’ebizibu kye nva mbakuutira nti oba birungi oba bibi sigala ng’obala ebibala eby’Obwakatonda ebimuweesa ekitiibwa.
Muganda wange si buli ntalo ezijja mu maaso go nti olina okuzirwana, ezimu zijja ng’ekigendererwa kyazo kukuwugula ove ku ky’oliko, oyinza okuba nga ky’okola kituufu naye omubi n’ayagala akuwugule ebirowoozo odde ku kigenda mu maaso essaawa eyo.
Naye eggye lino Katonda ly’agolokosa okutendeka lirina okuba nga limwebuuzaako nga terinnakola kintu kyonna. Lisooka kumanya kiki Katonda ky’ayagala, Mukama bwe yali antegeeza kino yankuutira okutuukiriza ekigendererwa ky’ebibala byange.
Mukama yandabula obutayonoona biseera, era yankuutira obutalwana ntalo ezitayamba Katonda, nneme kuzeenyigiramu ku lunaku olw’okuyimirira mu maaso ge ndabike nga nnina ebibala ebisaanidde.
Abooluganda buli lutalo olujja gy’oli luleke lugende mu maaso naye ggwe sigala ng’ogenda mu maaso, kubanga omulabe awuluguma nga empologoma enoonya owookulya, naye nze emmere yange kwe kukola Katonda by’ayagala.
Ekiseera kituuse abantu okutandika okulyamu bannaabwe enkwe, n’okwagala kugenda kuwola, naye ekinaatuwanguza kye kigambo kya Katonda okubeera mu ggwe olwo olyoke owangule ebikulumba byonna.
Sonyiwa akola obubi osobole okusigala ku mulamwa tusobole okusigala ku bigendererwa ebyatuyisa Katonda
Amaka mangi gasasise ensangi zino lwa butamanya nkwe za sitaani nga kati bali wansi wa buwambe bwa sitaani. Katonda agamba nti sonyiwa buli akoze obubi osobole okugenda mu maaso n’olutalo.
Published on: Saturday, 15th January, 2011
Thursday, 13 January 2011
THE GOSPEL OF COVETOUSNESS
THE GOSPEL OF COVETOUSNESS
http://www.lorendavis.com/news_articles_abuse.html
By Loren Davis
There is absolutely no debate that God’s Word has plenty of promises to bless His children in this life, and that God blesses a person who is a giver and a 'liberal soul'. Lk. 6:38, Mal. 3:10, etc.
But, AMONG MANY PREACHERS, THE GOSPEL OF SUCCESS has taken the place of the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ regarding Salvation and godly Living. This gospel targets the poor, the struggling, the desperate and the greedy. It uses scriptures, but perverts them and looks at all scriptures through the colored glasses of money. This gospel is exploiting God’s people financially. To many unscrupulous preachers this Gospel of Money has turned into a con game with God’s people being the prey.
Exodus 20:17 One of the 10 Commandments is "THOU SHALT NOT COVET..." but many 'preachers' are stirring up covetoutness and greed among God's people which is shipwrecking the faith of millions.
Eph 4:19-20 "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ;" KJV
2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV
TODAY, THERE IS LITTLE PREACHING ABOUT JESUS, SALVATION, SIN, THE CROSS, HEAVEN OR HELL. MOST PREACHING TODAY IS ABOUT HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL OR GET RICH BY ‘SOWING YOUR SEED’.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THESE TEACHINGS…
“Jesus was rich”. Some teach that Jesus wore designer clothes. Jesus had a nice house, a big house.
THE BIBLE SAYS: Luke 9:58 “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” KJV
Some are teaching: Jesus was handling big money.
The money that came to Jesus, which was probably substantial, but it went mainly for the support of the ministry, not to make Him rich personally.
The Bible says…2 Cor. 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes HE BECAME POOR, that ye THROUGH HIS POVERTY might be rich.” KJV
In Matt 11:28-29 Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” KJV
One prominent preacher says, “Paul had the kind of money that could stop up justice”.
This is opposite what the Bible says regarding Paul:
2 Cor 11:27-28 “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” KJV
Phil 4:15-17”Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.” KJV
Acts 9:16 Speaking of Paul, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” KJV
Phil 3:8 Paul said, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ ,” KJV
It is said that the Apostle Paul had to even make tents to help sustain himself. Saying Paul had the money to stop up the justice system of Rome is falsely accusing him of being corrupt, which would mean he was a sinner and had not changed after his encounter with Jesus Christ.
SOWING AND REAPING
Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP,” is the primary scripture that is used teaching giving and receiving. There is not question that the Bible teaches in Malachi 3:10 (that) God will bless us for tithing and giving offerings. There are also many other scriptures that teach this, but
These scriptures are primarily talking about that IF YOU LIVE IN SIN YOU WILL REAP CORRUPTION. THESE SCRIPTURES ARE TALKING ABOUT SALVATION!
8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” KJV
There is a principle of sowing and reaping related to giving and receiving. However, most scriptures that are used to teach about sowing are taken out of context. Many have misapplied these scriptures.
MANY GIMMICKS HAVE BEEN USED BY THESE PROSPERITY PREACHERS TO FLEECE THEIR FLOCKS:
BUYING AND SELLING MIRACLES
I heard a TV preacher preaching on the “Law of Sowing and Reaping” tell his viewers that if they wanted to be healed, they need to sow a seed of an offering first. He said, “Everything starts with a seed.” He said that if they want a loved one saved, sow a seed. IF THEY NEED A MIRACLE, SOW A SEED. The Bible does say in Malachi 3 that if we give our tithes and offerings, He will pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it, but this is primarily talking about finances. This truth though, in the name of revelation, has stretched scriptures to infinitum and has turned the truth into a lie.
In Africa some preachers are saying regarding healing that if you have a headache you need to sow little; but if you have cancer or HIV you must sow a big seed to get a big miracle. They are teaching the bigger miracle you need, the more seed you need to sow. This is a con game!
Rom 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” KJV.
THE TRUTH IS THAT HEALING AND SALVATION ARE NOT FOR SALE! THEY ARE GIFTS OF GOD! Protestant preachers are in reality copying THE CATHOLIC CHURCH which tells its people that if they go to Mass and GIVE MONEY to the church, the priests will pray their LOVED ONES OUT OF PURGATORY. This makes the Church and Money our savior and not Jesus Christ.
JESUS IS STILL A MIRACLE WORKER, BUT BUYING SALVATION, HEALING OR MIRACLES is NOT IN THE BIBLE!
Acts 8:20 “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because THOU HAST THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY.” KJV
1 Pet 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
DID JESUS EVER TELL SOMEONE TO SOW A SEED BEFORE HE HEALED OR FORGAVE THEM? NEVER! The only thing that was required was that they had faith in Him.
UNDER THE DISCIPLES’ MINISTRIES, NO MONEY EVER CHANGED HANDS FOR PEOPLE TO GET A MIRACLE.
Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” KJV
God promises to bless if we obey Him and believe Him, but many extra-biblical promises are being given to God’s people. God is not bound to honor men’s promises.
VOWING A VOW
Some teach us to VOW A VOW of pledging a big gift to release God’s blessing in your life.
Is this scriptural? Matt 5:34-36 “But I say unto you, SWEAR NOT AT ALL; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.” KJV
Some preachers have induced God’s people to even give the title deed to their house and sometimes to give everything they own to get God to give them a miracle. Many saints have been ravaged, and the “so called” man of God got filthy rich. It is not wrong for a man of God to be blessed, but to live extravagantly and not put the funds into really reaching the lost is a trap many have fallen into.
THIS GOSPEL OF MONEY AND GREED HAS COME TO AFRICA
ONE OF THESE “PROPHETS” OF PROSPERITY CAME TO UGANDA. He told the audience that God spoke to him that whoever would give the biggest gift they could possibly give, God, in effect, would make them a millionaire. A woman in the audience went and took the savings out of her joint savings account she had with her husband. She gave their life savings built up over many years, $5000, to the prophet. She didn’t become a millionaire like “the prophet” said. In fact she got no return. When her husband discovered what she had done, he divorced her. The woman backslid and lost her faith in God.
This story is being repeated over and over in Africa. The poor people want to come out of poverty and do everything these preachers tell them to do in blind faith. Many American preachers have come to Africa and have lifted huge offerings off the Africans, promising “the sowers” great riches. They quote the scripture, “Believe the prophets, so shall you prosper”. Practically the only thing many African preachers preach about is sowing your seed and prosperity. They have copied these preachers from the West. Few preachers in Africa preach about salvation, heaven, hell or living a godly moral life. Some of these African preachers are driving luxury cars and living in mansions while most of their precious people are still living in slums, falling deeper into poverty and disillusionment. Many in Africa have lost their faith because they have been so ravaged by these preachers who have made outlandish promises that they will get rich by sowing a big seed.
NAIROBI-One of these gimmicks we saw in Nairobi, Kenya, was a famous pastor there said he had MIRACLE SOIL. He told the poor people that God had a miracle for those who didn’t own any land. He said he was going to give them this miracle soil and in a short time they would own their own land. But FIRST, they had to SOW A SEED of a large amount of money to get this harvest of getting their own land from God. The desperate poor lined up by the thousands, scraping together the money any way they could. Of course the people didn’t get their own land, but the preacher took away a huge haul of money from the poor. This is destroying the faith of untold numbers of Africans.
SOME SAY, SOW A SEED TO GET THE ANOINTING.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The anointing is not for sale! The anointing comes by having the Anointed One, Jesus, dwelling in you; being full of His Word; being full of the Holy Ghost, and living a godly life. (Acts 1:8) The anointing comes from paying a price and being consistently obedient to God.
SOW A SEED, GET A PROPHECY
There are unscrupulous preachers who call themselves prophets, that call for MIRACLE OFFERINGS. They tell you a big figure to give and say that everyone that gives this amount, will receive a personal word. They then give great prophecies of prosperity, etc. to these. Then they call for those who have a lesser offering. As the amount goes down, each group gets a less glowing prophecy. If you don’t give, you don’t get a prophecy.
THIS IS THE “BUY A PROPHECY” PROGRAM. These are not true prophets of God, but FALSE PROPHETS, who prophesy for money.
THE HUNDREDFOLD RETURN
One prominent televangelist writes, "...Every man who invests in the Gospel has a right to expect the staggering return of one hundredfold." (Laws of Prosperity, pg.67)
He also says, "Do you want a hundredfold return on your money? Give and let God multiply it back to you. He urges his supporters, "Invest heavily in God; the returns are staggering... "Every man who invests in the Gospel has a right to expect the staggering return of ONE HUNDREDFOLD."
THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH A HUNDREDFOLD RETURN FOR AN OFFERING!
Matt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AN OFFERING! It’s about leaving all for the sake of the Gospel.
WHAT ABOUT THE 30, 60, 100 FOLD RETURN?
Matt 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. THIS SCRIPTURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AN OFFERING. READ!
Matt 13:18-23 “Hear ye therefore THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. When any one HEARETH THE WORD OF the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that RECEIVED SEED INTO THE GOOD GROUND is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Mt. 13:24-26 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”
These scriptures are about preaching the Word to the lost. Some receive it and it benefits them to different degrees; and some reject it. These scriptures are primarily about SALVATION and living a life pleasing to God, and bearing fruit.
SOW UP
A number of years ago my wife and I were in a meeting where a prominent preacher was speaking. He was teaching on “SOWING UP”. He explained that the richer ministries were the most fertile ground to sow into. He said that if you want the biggest return on your giving and inferred that you could become rich like them, you need to SOW UP to ministries more prosperous than you. If you sow to ministries that don’t have much money, that is SOWING DOWN and you will get only a little harvest. Poor ministries are not good ground. When these ministries are talking about getting a HARVEST, they are not talking about getting a harvest of souls, but a harvest of MONEY. Getting money is all that is on their minds.
Prov 22:16 “HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR TO INCREASE HIS RICHES, AND HE THAT GIVETH TO THE RICH, SHALL SURELY COME TO WANT.” KJV
MONEY IS THE GOD OF THESE PREACHERS. That’s the main thing they preach about.
PREACHING A “THIS LIFE” GOSPEL
They say little or nothing about heaven or hell or eternity. These preachers’ mentalities are little different from the atheists in that one’s heaven or hell is “the here and now”.
The Bible: 1 Cor 15:19 “If in THIS LIFE ONLY we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” KJV
Heb 11:10 Regarding Abraham, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Abraham lived in “this life” with his eyes set on heaven. That is no longer how most preach the Gospel.
Some are teaching WE SHOULD ALL BE RICH. Their gospel is a MATERIALISTIC GOSPEL.
Jesus said, Matt 6:19-20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” KJV
James 2:5 “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” KJV
Luke 16:13-14 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”
Matt 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF , and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” KJV
THEY TRY TO PROVE HOW MUCH FAITH AND ANOINTING THEY HAVE BY THE AMOUNT OF RICHES THEY HAVE.
1 Sam 16:7 “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” KJV
THEY ARE COPYING SAUL OF TARSUS, NOT THE APOSTLE PAUL.
Gal 1:14 “Paul said that when he was a Pharisee he…”PROFITED IN THE JEWS' RELIGION above many my equals”.
Many get deeply in debt and live under great financial pressure to maintain a good “faith image”. To look poor or needy among these preachers is “the kiss of death”. They will tell you, “I used my faith to get mine. You use your faith to get yours!” To rise in their ranks, you must look very prosperous. They will tell you that they don’t want to hang around people who are struggling financially or who are having problems, because it hurts their faith. There is no precedent with this attitude in the New Testament with Jesus or His disciples. Jesus sought out the poor and the afflicted. He was full of compassion. Many today show little love or compassion for people who are having problems. You don’t hear them preaching about “The Good Samaritan”. Pride and self righteousness, like the Pharisees, is front and center.
John 13:16 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” KJV
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY REGARDING THESE ISSUES
Prov 16:18-19 “Pride goeth before destruction , and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” KJV
Matt 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
GOD WANTS TO BLESS HIS SERVANTS, BUT THESE WOLVES HAVE TURNED GOD’S HOUSE INTO THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND ARE RAVAGING GOD’S PEOPLE.
THEY ARE RAVING DESPERATE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO GOD FOR HELP, AND DOING IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS’ AND LIVING LIKE ARAB SULTANS. THE ARE TWISTING THE SCRIPTURES AND PROMISING PEOPLE THINGS THE BIBLE DOES NOT PROMISE. THESE ARE THE WORST THIEVES IN THE WORLD.
John 2:16 “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.”
GOD’S HOUSE HAS BECOME A DEN OF THIEVES
Matt 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, MY HOUSE shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it A DEN OF THIEVES.
Jer 7:8-11 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is THIS HOUSE, WHICH IS CALLED BY MY NAME, BECOME A DEN OF ROBBERS in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
In the TEN COMMANDMENTS, Ex. 20:3, God commands, “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL”.
1 Cor 6:10 THIEVES, nor covetous, … shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
THIEVES ARE NOT GOING TO HEAVEN! This applies even to preachers who pervert God’s Word, promising things the Bible does not promise. They are stealing from God’s people. Many times they do it in the name of the Holy Ghost when in reality their ideas came from their own corrupt imaginations. Anyway you look at it, THIS IS LYING! Where is the fear of God? How could a person be a real believer in Christ and do such devious things and plunder God’s people for their own personal gain? Impossible!
Rev 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.” KJV
To preach or prophesy a lie even in the name of promoting God’s work is an abomination.
1 John 2:21 “I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.” KJV
John 10:10 “THE THIEF cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:” KJV
A LOT OF PREACHERS ARE MISUSING SCRIPTURES AND ROBBING GOD’S PEOPLE IN HIS HOUSE. What is the difference of this and being an armed robber? THEY ARE PLAYING ON THE GULLIBILITY AND GREED OF GOD’S PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET RICH QUICK.
Prov 1:11-19 “If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse : My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. SURELY IN VAIN THE NET IS SPREAD IN THE SIGHT OF ANY BIRD. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is GREEDY OF GAIN; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” KJV
Note: God does give financial miracles for His people. That is without question. But most of the saints who get caught up in these so called “Miracle Offering” hustles, do so on an emotional appeal and don’t judge what is being said by rightly dividing the Word of Truth. One of the major ministries uses a specialty psychology book to raise offerings, “The Magic Power of Emotional Appeal”. This is not the Holy Ghost. It is psychological manipulation. Most who respond to these preachers are sowing and giving out of desperation or greed. These “wanna be” prophets have run a profile on God’s people and know exactly how to play them like a fiddle. Remember, Satan himself perversely used the scriptures in his temptation of Jesus.
2 Cor 4:2 “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, NOT WALKING IN CRAFTINESS, NOR HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY;”
Matt 24:24 “For there shall arise FALSE CHRISTS, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT.”
IT IS EVIDENT THAT THEIR GOD IS MONEY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT THE MOST. Watching much of what is called “Christian TV”, most of the preachers are preaching about PROSPERITY AND ‘SOWING YOUR SEED’. Why? It is because this message brings in the biggest offerings. THEY JUSTIFY THIS SAYING THEY ARE “KING’S KIDS” SO THEY SHOULD LIVE LIKE KINGS.
THIS FALSE “GET RICH” TEACHING IGNORES AND DEFIES MANY WARNINGS FROM THE BIBLE.
Matt 19:23-24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for A RICH MAN to enter into the kingdom of God.”
1 Tim 3:1-11 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE ; but patient, not a brawler, NOT COVETOUS;
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN IS GODLINESS : FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But THEY THAT WILL BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, and into MANY FOOLISH and HURTFUL LUSTS, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION.
v. 10 FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: which WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. But thou, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
1 JOHN 2:16-17 “FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, AND THE LUST THEREOF: BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOR EVER.” KJV
GOD’S PEOPLE ARE BEING EATEN ALIVE.
Ezek 34:8 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because MY FLOCK BECAME A PREY, …but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;”
Ezek 34:19 “And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.” KJV
Acts 20:29-31 ‘For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” KJV
John 10:11-13 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” KJV
God’s people are afraid not to obey the self-proclaimed ANOINTED ONES AND PROPHETS. Some threaten curses on those who WON’T OBEY THEM. Many of God’s people are literally terrorized by these tactics and give what is demanded of them so they won’t be cursed by God. God’s people have become very superstitious.
Acts 17:22 “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious .” KJV
2 Cor 10:4-5 “…pulling down of strong holds;) CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” KJV
THE EXPLOITATION OF THE SAINTS AND MISUSING SCRIPTURES HAS SHIPWRECKED THE FAITH OF MILLIONS.
1 Tim 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” KJV
IT IS GOOD TO PREACH THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, BUT THIS GOSPEL OF MONEY OR GREED HAS BEEN USED BY SATAN TO ACCOMPLISH SEVERAL THINGS:
1. It has turned God’s people’s attention on money and away from Christ and the basic teachings of the Bible.
2. It has made the Gospel a farce to the world, turning many away from Christ. It has caused many who attended church to quit going. It has turned our young people away from the church.
3. It has made God’s people primarily THIS WORLD CONSCIOUS instead of preparing for eternity.
4. It diverts money away from the local church
5. It has DIVERTED THE FUNDS from the ministries who are actually winning the lost, to sowing only as a business principle to get a return.
6. This is one of the main strategies of the devil to have God’s people exploited so they will completely stop tithing, giving, and supporting God’s work, thus greatly damaging it.
Prov 22:16 “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
Jer 5:31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” KJV
Rev 2:14-15 “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Balaam, a prophet, sold out Israel for money and caused them to sin).
JUDGING
Most of these preachers don’t want you to judge what they are teaching. (see my article on JUDGING)’ My prayer is that God will open His people’s eyes and deliver them from these wolves. I also pray that God will give His people a spirit of discernment. We need to make sure that what is being taught is accurate and scriptural, and to judge the motive of the preacher. These new MONEY CHANGERS OF THE TEMPLE have exploited and ravaged the saints over and over. They have nearly destroyed Christ’s church worldwide. They have made a mockery of the Gospel.
Truly, God’s people have “been like sheep led to the slaughter”.
Matt 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
1 Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD:” KJV
http://www.lorendavis.com/news_articles_abuse.html
By Loren Davis
There is absolutely no debate that God’s Word has plenty of promises to bless His children in this life, and that God blesses a person who is a giver and a 'liberal soul'. Lk. 6:38, Mal. 3:10, etc.
But, AMONG MANY PREACHERS, THE GOSPEL OF SUCCESS has taken the place of the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ regarding Salvation and godly Living. This gospel targets the poor, the struggling, the desperate and the greedy. It uses scriptures, but perverts them and looks at all scriptures through the colored glasses of money. This gospel is exploiting God’s people financially. To many unscrupulous preachers this Gospel of Money has turned into a con game with God’s people being the prey.
Exodus 20:17 One of the 10 Commandments is "THOU SHALT NOT COVET..." but many 'preachers' are stirring up covetoutness and greed among God's people which is shipwrecking the faith of millions.
Eph 4:19-20 "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ;" KJV
2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV
TODAY, THERE IS LITTLE PREACHING ABOUT JESUS, SALVATION, SIN, THE CROSS, HEAVEN OR HELL. MOST PREACHING TODAY IS ABOUT HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL OR GET RICH BY ‘SOWING YOUR SEED’.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THESE TEACHINGS…
“Jesus was rich”. Some teach that Jesus wore designer clothes. Jesus had a nice house, a big house.
THE BIBLE SAYS: Luke 9:58 “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” KJV
Some are teaching: Jesus was handling big money.
The money that came to Jesus, which was probably substantial, but it went mainly for the support of the ministry, not to make Him rich personally.
The Bible says…2 Cor. 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes HE BECAME POOR, that ye THROUGH HIS POVERTY might be rich.” KJV
In Matt 11:28-29 Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” KJV
One prominent preacher says, “Paul had the kind of money that could stop up justice”.
This is opposite what the Bible says regarding Paul:
2 Cor 11:27-28 “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” KJV
Phil 4:15-17”Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.” KJV
Acts 9:16 Speaking of Paul, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” KJV
Phil 3:8 Paul said, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ ,” KJV
It is said that the Apostle Paul had to even make tents to help sustain himself. Saying Paul had the money to stop up the justice system of Rome is falsely accusing him of being corrupt, which would mean he was a sinner and had not changed after his encounter with Jesus Christ.
SOWING AND REAPING
Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP,” is the primary scripture that is used teaching giving and receiving. There is not question that the Bible teaches in Malachi 3:10 (that) God will bless us for tithing and giving offerings. There are also many other scriptures that teach this, but
These scriptures are primarily talking about that IF YOU LIVE IN SIN YOU WILL REAP CORRUPTION. THESE SCRIPTURES ARE TALKING ABOUT SALVATION!
8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” KJV
There is a principle of sowing and reaping related to giving and receiving. However, most scriptures that are used to teach about sowing are taken out of context. Many have misapplied these scriptures.
MANY GIMMICKS HAVE BEEN USED BY THESE PROSPERITY PREACHERS TO FLEECE THEIR FLOCKS:
BUYING AND SELLING MIRACLES
I heard a TV preacher preaching on the “Law of Sowing and Reaping” tell his viewers that if they wanted to be healed, they need to sow a seed of an offering first. He said, “Everything starts with a seed.” He said that if they want a loved one saved, sow a seed. IF THEY NEED A MIRACLE, SOW A SEED. The Bible does say in Malachi 3 that if we give our tithes and offerings, He will pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it, but this is primarily talking about finances. This truth though, in the name of revelation, has stretched scriptures to infinitum and has turned the truth into a lie.
In Africa some preachers are saying regarding healing that if you have a headache you need to sow little; but if you have cancer or HIV you must sow a big seed to get a big miracle. They are teaching the bigger miracle you need, the more seed you need to sow. This is a con game!
Rom 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” KJV.
THE TRUTH IS THAT HEALING AND SALVATION ARE NOT FOR SALE! THEY ARE GIFTS OF GOD! Protestant preachers are in reality copying THE CATHOLIC CHURCH which tells its people that if they go to Mass and GIVE MONEY to the church, the priests will pray their LOVED ONES OUT OF PURGATORY. This makes the Church and Money our savior and not Jesus Christ.
JESUS IS STILL A MIRACLE WORKER, BUT BUYING SALVATION, HEALING OR MIRACLES is NOT IN THE BIBLE!
Acts 8:20 “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because THOU HAST THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY.” KJV
1 Pet 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
DID JESUS EVER TELL SOMEONE TO SOW A SEED BEFORE HE HEALED OR FORGAVE THEM? NEVER! The only thing that was required was that they had faith in Him.
UNDER THE DISCIPLES’ MINISTRIES, NO MONEY EVER CHANGED HANDS FOR PEOPLE TO GET A MIRACLE.
Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” KJV
God promises to bless if we obey Him and believe Him, but many extra-biblical promises are being given to God’s people. God is not bound to honor men’s promises.
VOWING A VOW
Some teach us to VOW A VOW of pledging a big gift to release God’s blessing in your life.
Is this scriptural? Matt 5:34-36 “But I say unto you, SWEAR NOT AT ALL; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.” KJV
Some preachers have induced God’s people to even give the title deed to their house and sometimes to give everything they own to get God to give them a miracle. Many saints have been ravaged, and the “so called” man of God got filthy rich. It is not wrong for a man of God to be blessed, but to live extravagantly and not put the funds into really reaching the lost is a trap many have fallen into.
THIS GOSPEL OF MONEY AND GREED HAS COME TO AFRICA
ONE OF THESE “PROPHETS” OF PROSPERITY CAME TO UGANDA. He told the audience that God spoke to him that whoever would give the biggest gift they could possibly give, God, in effect, would make them a millionaire. A woman in the audience went and took the savings out of her joint savings account she had with her husband. She gave their life savings built up over many years, $5000, to the prophet. She didn’t become a millionaire like “the prophet” said. In fact she got no return. When her husband discovered what she had done, he divorced her. The woman backslid and lost her faith in God.
This story is being repeated over and over in Africa. The poor people want to come out of poverty and do everything these preachers tell them to do in blind faith. Many American preachers have come to Africa and have lifted huge offerings off the Africans, promising “the sowers” great riches. They quote the scripture, “Believe the prophets, so shall you prosper”. Practically the only thing many African preachers preach about is sowing your seed and prosperity. They have copied these preachers from the West. Few preachers in Africa preach about salvation, heaven, hell or living a godly moral life. Some of these African preachers are driving luxury cars and living in mansions while most of their precious people are still living in slums, falling deeper into poverty and disillusionment. Many in Africa have lost their faith because they have been so ravaged by these preachers who have made outlandish promises that they will get rich by sowing a big seed.
NAIROBI-One of these gimmicks we saw in Nairobi, Kenya, was a famous pastor there said he had MIRACLE SOIL. He told the poor people that God had a miracle for those who didn’t own any land. He said he was going to give them this miracle soil and in a short time they would own their own land. But FIRST, they had to SOW A SEED of a large amount of money to get this harvest of getting their own land from God. The desperate poor lined up by the thousands, scraping together the money any way they could. Of course the people didn’t get their own land, but the preacher took away a huge haul of money from the poor. This is destroying the faith of untold numbers of Africans.
SOME SAY, SOW A SEED TO GET THE ANOINTING.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The anointing is not for sale! The anointing comes by having the Anointed One, Jesus, dwelling in you; being full of His Word; being full of the Holy Ghost, and living a godly life. (Acts 1:8) The anointing comes from paying a price and being consistently obedient to God.
SOW A SEED, GET A PROPHECY
There are unscrupulous preachers who call themselves prophets, that call for MIRACLE OFFERINGS. They tell you a big figure to give and say that everyone that gives this amount, will receive a personal word. They then give great prophecies of prosperity, etc. to these. Then they call for those who have a lesser offering. As the amount goes down, each group gets a less glowing prophecy. If you don’t give, you don’t get a prophecy.
THIS IS THE “BUY A PROPHECY” PROGRAM. These are not true prophets of God, but FALSE PROPHETS, who prophesy for money.
THE HUNDREDFOLD RETURN
One prominent televangelist writes, "...Every man who invests in the Gospel has a right to expect the staggering return of one hundredfold." (Laws of Prosperity, pg.67)
He also says, "Do you want a hundredfold return on your money? Give and let God multiply it back to you. He urges his supporters, "Invest heavily in God; the returns are staggering... "Every man who invests in the Gospel has a right to expect the staggering return of ONE HUNDREDFOLD."
THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH A HUNDREDFOLD RETURN FOR AN OFFERING!
Matt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AN OFFERING! It’s about leaving all for the sake of the Gospel.
WHAT ABOUT THE 30, 60, 100 FOLD RETURN?
Matt 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. THIS SCRIPTURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AN OFFERING. READ!
Matt 13:18-23 “Hear ye therefore THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. When any one HEARETH THE WORD OF the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that RECEIVED SEED INTO THE GOOD GROUND is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Mt. 13:24-26 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”
These scriptures are about preaching the Word to the lost. Some receive it and it benefits them to different degrees; and some reject it. These scriptures are primarily about SALVATION and living a life pleasing to God, and bearing fruit.
SOW UP
A number of years ago my wife and I were in a meeting where a prominent preacher was speaking. He was teaching on “SOWING UP”. He explained that the richer ministries were the most fertile ground to sow into. He said that if you want the biggest return on your giving and inferred that you could become rich like them, you need to SOW UP to ministries more prosperous than you. If you sow to ministries that don’t have much money, that is SOWING DOWN and you will get only a little harvest. Poor ministries are not good ground. When these ministries are talking about getting a HARVEST, they are not talking about getting a harvest of souls, but a harvest of MONEY. Getting money is all that is on their minds.
Prov 22:16 “HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR TO INCREASE HIS RICHES, AND HE THAT GIVETH TO THE RICH, SHALL SURELY COME TO WANT.” KJV
MONEY IS THE GOD OF THESE PREACHERS. That’s the main thing they preach about.
PREACHING A “THIS LIFE” GOSPEL
They say little or nothing about heaven or hell or eternity. These preachers’ mentalities are little different from the atheists in that one’s heaven or hell is “the here and now”.
The Bible: 1 Cor 15:19 “If in THIS LIFE ONLY we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” KJV
Heb 11:10 Regarding Abraham, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Abraham lived in “this life” with his eyes set on heaven. That is no longer how most preach the Gospel.
Some are teaching WE SHOULD ALL BE RICH. Their gospel is a MATERIALISTIC GOSPEL.
Jesus said, Matt 6:19-20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” KJV
James 2:5 “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” KJV
Luke 16:13-14 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”
Matt 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF , and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” KJV
THEY TRY TO PROVE HOW MUCH FAITH AND ANOINTING THEY HAVE BY THE AMOUNT OF RICHES THEY HAVE.
1 Sam 16:7 “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” KJV
THEY ARE COPYING SAUL OF TARSUS, NOT THE APOSTLE PAUL.
Gal 1:14 “Paul said that when he was a Pharisee he…”PROFITED IN THE JEWS' RELIGION above many my equals”.
Many get deeply in debt and live under great financial pressure to maintain a good “faith image”. To look poor or needy among these preachers is “the kiss of death”. They will tell you, “I used my faith to get mine. You use your faith to get yours!” To rise in their ranks, you must look very prosperous. They will tell you that they don’t want to hang around people who are struggling financially or who are having problems, because it hurts their faith. There is no precedent with this attitude in the New Testament with Jesus or His disciples. Jesus sought out the poor and the afflicted. He was full of compassion. Many today show little love or compassion for people who are having problems. You don’t hear them preaching about “The Good Samaritan”. Pride and self righteousness, like the Pharisees, is front and center.
John 13:16 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” KJV
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY REGARDING THESE ISSUES
Prov 16:18-19 “Pride goeth before destruction , and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” KJV
Matt 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
GOD WANTS TO BLESS HIS SERVANTS, BUT THESE WOLVES HAVE TURNED GOD’S HOUSE INTO THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND ARE RAVAGING GOD’S PEOPLE.
THEY ARE RAVING DESPERATE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO GOD FOR HELP, AND DOING IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS’ AND LIVING LIKE ARAB SULTANS. THE ARE TWISTING THE SCRIPTURES AND PROMISING PEOPLE THINGS THE BIBLE DOES NOT PROMISE. THESE ARE THE WORST THIEVES IN THE WORLD.
John 2:16 “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.”
GOD’S HOUSE HAS BECOME A DEN OF THIEVES
Matt 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, MY HOUSE shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it A DEN OF THIEVES.
Jer 7:8-11 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is THIS HOUSE, WHICH IS CALLED BY MY NAME, BECOME A DEN OF ROBBERS in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
In the TEN COMMANDMENTS, Ex. 20:3, God commands, “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL”.
1 Cor 6:10 THIEVES, nor covetous, … shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
THIEVES ARE NOT GOING TO HEAVEN! This applies even to preachers who pervert God’s Word, promising things the Bible does not promise. They are stealing from God’s people. Many times they do it in the name of the Holy Ghost when in reality their ideas came from their own corrupt imaginations. Anyway you look at it, THIS IS LYING! Where is the fear of God? How could a person be a real believer in Christ and do such devious things and plunder God’s people for their own personal gain? Impossible!
Rev 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.” KJV
To preach or prophesy a lie even in the name of promoting God’s work is an abomination.
1 John 2:21 “I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.” KJV
John 10:10 “THE THIEF cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:” KJV
A LOT OF PREACHERS ARE MISUSING SCRIPTURES AND ROBBING GOD’S PEOPLE IN HIS HOUSE. What is the difference of this and being an armed robber? THEY ARE PLAYING ON THE GULLIBILITY AND GREED OF GOD’S PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET RICH QUICK.
Prov 1:11-19 “If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse : My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. SURELY IN VAIN THE NET IS SPREAD IN THE SIGHT OF ANY BIRD. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is GREEDY OF GAIN; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” KJV
Note: God does give financial miracles for His people. That is without question. But most of the saints who get caught up in these so called “Miracle Offering” hustles, do so on an emotional appeal and don’t judge what is being said by rightly dividing the Word of Truth. One of the major ministries uses a specialty psychology book to raise offerings, “The Magic Power of Emotional Appeal”. This is not the Holy Ghost. It is psychological manipulation. Most who respond to these preachers are sowing and giving out of desperation or greed. These “wanna be” prophets have run a profile on God’s people and know exactly how to play them like a fiddle. Remember, Satan himself perversely used the scriptures in his temptation of Jesus.
2 Cor 4:2 “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, NOT WALKING IN CRAFTINESS, NOR HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY;”
Matt 24:24 “For there shall arise FALSE CHRISTS, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT.”
IT IS EVIDENT THAT THEIR GOD IS MONEY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT THE MOST. Watching much of what is called “Christian TV”, most of the preachers are preaching about PROSPERITY AND ‘SOWING YOUR SEED’. Why? It is because this message brings in the biggest offerings. THEY JUSTIFY THIS SAYING THEY ARE “KING’S KIDS” SO THEY SHOULD LIVE LIKE KINGS.
THIS FALSE “GET RICH” TEACHING IGNORES AND DEFIES MANY WARNINGS FROM THE BIBLE.
Matt 19:23-24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for A RICH MAN to enter into the kingdom of God.”
1 Tim 3:1-11 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE ; but patient, not a brawler, NOT COVETOUS;
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN IS GODLINESS : FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But THEY THAT WILL BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, and into MANY FOOLISH and HURTFUL LUSTS, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION.
v. 10 FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: which WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. But thou, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
1 JOHN 2:16-17 “FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, AND THE LUST THEREOF: BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOR EVER.” KJV
GOD’S PEOPLE ARE BEING EATEN ALIVE.
Ezek 34:8 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because MY FLOCK BECAME A PREY, …but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;”
Ezek 34:19 “And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.” KJV
Acts 20:29-31 ‘For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” KJV
John 10:11-13 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” KJV
God’s people are afraid not to obey the self-proclaimed ANOINTED ONES AND PROPHETS. Some threaten curses on those who WON’T OBEY THEM. Many of God’s people are literally terrorized by these tactics and give what is demanded of them so they won’t be cursed by God. God’s people have become very superstitious.
Acts 17:22 “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious .” KJV
2 Cor 10:4-5 “…pulling down of strong holds;) CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” KJV
THE EXPLOITATION OF THE SAINTS AND MISUSING SCRIPTURES HAS SHIPWRECKED THE FAITH OF MILLIONS.
1 Tim 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” KJV
IT IS GOOD TO PREACH THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, BUT THIS GOSPEL OF MONEY OR GREED HAS BEEN USED BY SATAN TO ACCOMPLISH SEVERAL THINGS:
1. It has turned God’s people’s attention on money and away from Christ and the basic teachings of the Bible.
2. It has made the Gospel a farce to the world, turning many away from Christ. It has caused many who attended church to quit going. It has turned our young people away from the church.
3. It has made God’s people primarily THIS WORLD CONSCIOUS instead of preparing for eternity.
4. It diverts money away from the local church
5. It has DIVERTED THE FUNDS from the ministries who are actually winning the lost, to sowing only as a business principle to get a return.
6. This is one of the main strategies of the devil to have God’s people exploited so they will completely stop tithing, giving, and supporting God’s work, thus greatly damaging it.
Prov 22:16 “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
Jer 5:31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” KJV
Rev 2:14-15 “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Balaam, a prophet, sold out Israel for money and caused them to sin).
JUDGING
Most of these preachers don’t want you to judge what they are teaching. (see my article on JUDGING)’ My prayer is that God will open His people’s eyes and deliver them from these wolves. I also pray that God will give His people a spirit of discernment. We need to make sure that what is being taught is accurate and scriptural, and to judge the motive of the preacher. These new MONEY CHANGERS OF THE TEMPLE have exploited and ravaged the saints over and over. They have nearly destroyed Christ’s church worldwide. They have made a mockery of the Gospel.
Truly, God’s people have “been like sheep led to the slaughter”.
Matt 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
1 Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD:” KJV
Monday, 10 January 2011
Is priest celibacy biblical?
Is priest celibacy biblical?
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=478&newsId=743244
CATHOLICS are the only major Christian denomination whose priests do not marry. But when and how did it become so? Moses Mulondo finds out
MINISTERS in the Pentecostal, Anglican and Seventh Day Adventist churches are all married. In the Orthodox Church, some priests are married while others are celibate. But the entire clergy in the Catholic Church is celibate.
This has thrown the Catholic Church, especially in the western world in a crisis which is threatening its survival.
This is a crisis concerning sexual immorality or sex scandals among the Catholic priests who have taken vows of celibacy.
In March 2010, CNN aired a special report titled: “Catholic Church’s sex scandal goes global,” in which they gave reports from various parts of the world confirming that this leprosy is slowly eating up the Catholic Church.
In the recent past, almost wherever the Pope has been visiting in Europe and America, uninvited guests include crowds of people who have been sexually abused by Catholic priests to the extent that the Pope has made it his calling to apologise to these people for whatever happened.
Now if the cases of those who have been abused have become so many, you can imagine the extent of agreed upon sex between Catholic priests and consenting adults.
Of course, reports indicate that this same sin commited by these Catholic priests is rampant on all the other continents including Africa.
It should be recalled that the European Parliament made an unprecedented attack on the Vatican, approving a motion blaming it for the rape suffered by nuns in Africa in the 1990s as Pope John Paul II planned to visit the institution.
In Uganda, we have heard many reports of Catholic priests, who have fathered children, those who have died of HIV/AIDS and many accused of engaging in sexual intercourse.
But where does the Catholic Church get this teaching which has enslaved many would-be married priests who are quietly burning with the demands of nature?
Apostle Alex Mitala, the overseer of National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches, believes the Catholic Church got many things wrong as far as priesthood is concerned among which is the practising of the Old Testament priesthood of Aaron which creates a special priestly class distinct from other Christians.
“In the New Testament, Jesus is the high priest and all of us as long as we are washed in his blood automatically become part of his priesthood. The New Testament priesthood is not, therefore, based on whether one is married or not or whether a person went to a seminary or not, as the Catholic Church teaches,” Mitala argues.
Referring to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians, Mitala, however, clarified that if a priest decides to remain unmarried it is acceptable. It only becomes a problem when that optional practice is enforced as a mandatory requirement to priesthood as the Catholic Church does. That teaching is not anywhere in the Bible. Even great Old Testament prophets like Samuel, Moses and many others had wives and so did the priests of the New Testament like Peter himself whom the Catholics considers to have been the first Pope,” Mitala elaborated.
Mitala said he is a married man with six children and many other Pentecostal pastors are married and that in his observation, they may be better priests than those unmarried Catholic priests.
But Fr. Dr. Alex Ojacor, the National Spiritual Director of Gaba National Seminary, explains that the Catholic Church chose to institute that requirement for purposes of total commitment to priestly work.
Fr. Ojacor cited 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 where Paul said: “I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs — how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife — and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world — how she can please her husband.”
Asked where in the Bible the Catholic Church gets the teaching that it is mandatory for a priest to be unmarried, Ojacor admitted that in the history of the Church, there used to be married priests, but in the 16th century, it was decided by the Catholic Church’s Council of Plates that the recommendation for a priest to be unmarried to be made mandatory. I also find it very practical because it helps you have undivided attention to the service of the church,” Ojacor explained.
Pastor William Nsereko believes since this is a generation of high sexual promiscuity, it is advisable that every priest be married.
“One of the key prophecies of the end time in which we live is that the level of sexual immorality would be high and that is why both Jesus and Paul called it an adulterous generation. It is, therefore, safer that each priest be married,” Nsereko argues.
Nsereko backed his argument with 1 Corinthians 7: 2, which says: “Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her husband.”
Published on: Saturday, 8th January, 2011
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=478&newsId=743244
CATHOLICS are the only major Christian denomination whose priests do not marry. But when and how did it become so? Moses Mulondo finds out
MINISTERS in the Pentecostal, Anglican and Seventh Day Adventist churches are all married. In the Orthodox Church, some priests are married while others are celibate. But the entire clergy in the Catholic Church is celibate.
This has thrown the Catholic Church, especially in the western world in a crisis which is threatening its survival.
This is a crisis concerning sexual immorality or sex scandals among the Catholic priests who have taken vows of celibacy.
In March 2010, CNN aired a special report titled: “Catholic Church’s sex scandal goes global,” in which they gave reports from various parts of the world confirming that this leprosy is slowly eating up the Catholic Church.
In the recent past, almost wherever the Pope has been visiting in Europe and America, uninvited guests include crowds of people who have been sexually abused by Catholic priests to the extent that the Pope has made it his calling to apologise to these people for whatever happened.
Now if the cases of those who have been abused have become so many, you can imagine the extent of agreed upon sex between Catholic priests and consenting adults.
Of course, reports indicate that this same sin commited by these Catholic priests is rampant on all the other continents including Africa.
It should be recalled that the European Parliament made an unprecedented attack on the Vatican, approving a motion blaming it for the rape suffered by nuns in Africa in the 1990s as Pope John Paul II planned to visit the institution.
In Uganda, we have heard many reports of Catholic priests, who have fathered children, those who have died of HIV/AIDS and many accused of engaging in sexual intercourse.
But where does the Catholic Church get this teaching which has enslaved many would-be married priests who are quietly burning with the demands of nature?
Apostle Alex Mitala, the overseer of National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches, believes the Catholic Church got many things wrong as far as priesthood is concerned among which is the practising of the Old Testament priesthood of Aaron which creates a special priestly class distinct from other Christians.
“In the New Testament, Jesus is the high priest and all of us as long as we are washed in his blood automatically become part of his priesthood. The New Testament priesthood is not, therefore, based on whether one is married or not or whether a person went to a seminary or not, as the Catholic Church teaches,” Mitala argues.
Referring to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians, Mitala, however, clarified that if a priest decides to remain unmarried it is acceptable. It only becomes a problem when that optional practice is enforced as a mandatory requirement to priesthood as the Catholic Church does. That teaching is not anywhere in the Bible. Even great Old Testament prophets like Samuel, Moses and many others had wives and so did the priests of the New Testament like Peter himself whom the Catholics considers to have been the first Pope,” Mitala elaborated.
Mitala said he is a married man with six children and many other Pentecostal pastors are married and that in his observation, they may be better priests than those unmarried Catholic priests.
But Fr. Dr. Alex Ojacor, the National Spiritual Director of Gaba National Seminary, explains that the Catholic Church chose to institute that requirement for purposes of total commitment to priestly work.
Fr. Ojacor cited 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 where Paul said: “I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs — how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife — and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world — how she can please her husband.”
Asked where in the Bible the Catholic Church gets the teaching that it is mandatory for a priest to be unmarried, Ojacor admitted that in the history of the Church, there used to be married priests, but in the 16th century, it was decided by the Catholic Church’s Council of Plates that the recommendation for a priest to be unmarried to be made mandatory. I also find it very practical because it helps you have undivided attention to the service of the church,” Ojacor explained.
Pastor William Nsereko believes since this is a generation of high sexual promiscuity, it is advisable that every priest be married.
“One of the key prophecies of the end time in which we live is that the level of sexual immorality would be high and that is why both Jesus and Paul called it an adulterous generation. It is, therefore, safer that each priest be married,” Nsereko argues.
Nsereko backed his argument with 1 Corinthians 7: 2, which says: “Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her husband.”
Published on: Saturday, 8th January, 2011
Kayanja forgives pastors
Kayanja forgives pastors
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/743172
The New Vision, Saturday, 8th, January, 2011
PASTOR Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre has forgiven his colleagues who alleged that he was a homosexual and had abused his followers. But the law will still have to take its course for the public to get to know the truth.
“Sodomy is not something you can allege against someone but I have forgiven my brothers. That is exactly what Jesus Christ would have done,” Kayanja said. “I also want justice at the end. That will come out in court. But for my own spiritual state, I forgive them.”
Pastors Moses Solomon Male of Arising for Christ Church, Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church, Michael David Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre and his colleague Bob Robert Kayira, accused Kayanja of sodomizing members of his flock, but the Police said they did not have substantial evidence.
The Police instead brought charges against them for conspiring to injure Kayanja’s reputation between 2008 and 2009. They appeared before a Magistrate at Buganda Road Court in Kampala on Tuesday.
However, Male said it was not necessary for Kayanja to forgive them, because they had not done anything wrong against him. Speaking on phone to Saturday Vision, Male said what they said against Kayanja was based on facts and not allegations and they were ready to face him in court. “A criminal cannot forgive an innocent man. Kayanja needs to apologise to the nation for the evils he committed.”
Pastor Joseph Sserwada, the leader of the Born-again Faith Federation, had asked Kayanja and his accusers to settle the matter outside court but the parties insist it should be settled in court for the good of the public.
Kayanja told Saturday Vision that the allegations changed his life and the way he relates with other people and the environment at the Church.
“I am currently fixing cameras in every corner of the church and in my office to prevent similar allegations from resurfacing. I also meet my visitors in an open room for the same purpose.”
CID under probe over harassment of pastor
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1084562/-/cjcpk8z/-/index.html
Kampala
The Professional Standards Unit of the Police Force (PSU) was on Monday instructed to investigate the conduct of officers in the Criminal Investigation Department over complaints that they have been harassing five Kampala pastors.
The instructions followed a closed-door meeting between senior police officers and the complainants. Pastors Robert Kayiira, Michael Kyazze, Martin Ssempa and Solomon Male appeared before Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate John Wekesa on Tuesday and were charged with conspiracy to injure the reputation of Pastor Kayanja.
The pastors were released on a Shs200,000 cash bail each. Pastors Kayiira and Kyazze are also on trial for alleged Criminal Trespass on Rubaga Miracle Centre property.
Without giving detail, Assistant Inspector General of Police John Ochola confirmed the new developments. “We are looking into the matter administratively. If we find that the officers acted unprofessionally, we will inform the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. This would mean that their actions had a bearing on the outcome of the investigations,” he said. This newspaper has since established the identities of the officers but cannot publish them because investigations are still in its infancy.
Puzzling events
Efforts to reach Pastor Kayanja have been futile. But records show that he has never appeared in court to testify, a thing that has puzzled many. He is said to have told his congregation a week before Christmas that pastors Male and Ssempa would be arrested before Christmas. In the week that followed, Pastor Male was arrested.
Their outcry led to the President’s intervention after CID director Edward Ochom stated that Pastor Kayanja was not influencing investigations.
In a press conference on January 1, the pastors expressed concern over patterns of harassment and the whereabouts of the initial sodomy victims. “All those who have accused these pastors of molestation and sodomy have themselves been accused of other things and eventually arrested. Those assisting them are also being witch-hunted. We do not even know where these victims are,” Kyazze told journalist.
The pastors return to court on January 24 and 25.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/743172
The New Vision, Saturday, 8th, January, 2011
PASTOR Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre has forgiven his colleagues who alleged that he was a homosexual and had abused his followers. But the law will still have to take its course for the public to get to know the truth.
“Sodomy is not something you can allege against someone but I have forgiven my brothers. That is exactly what Jesus Christ would have done,” Kayanja said. “I also want justice at the end. That will come out in court. But for my own spiritual state, I forgive them.”
Pastors Moses Solomon Male of Arising for Christ Church, Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church, Michael David Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre and his colleague Bob Robert Kayira, accused Kayanja of sodomizing members of his flock, but the Police said they did not have substantial evidence.
The Police instead brought charges against them for conspiring to injure Kayanja’s reputation between 2008 and 2009. They appeared before a Magistrate at Buganda Road Court in Kampala on Tuesday.
However, Male said it was not necessary for Kayanja to forgive them, because they had not done anything wrong against him. Speaking on phone to Saturday Vision, Male said what they said against Kayanja was based on facts and not allegations and they were ready to face him in court. “A criminal cannot forgive an innocent man. Kayanja needs to apologise to the nation for the evils he committed.”
Pastor Joseph Sserwada, the leader of the Born-again Faith Federation, had asked Kayanja and his accusers to settle the matter outside court but the parties insist it should be settled in court for the good of the public.
Kayanja told Saturday Vision that the allegations changed his life and the way he relates with other people and the environment at the Church.
“I am currently fixing cameras in every corner of the church and in my office to prevent similar allegations from resurfacing. I also meet my visitors in an open room for the same purpose.”
CID under probe over harassment of pastor
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1084562/-/cjcpk8z/-/index.html
Kampala
The Professional Standards Unit of the Police Force (PSU) was on Monday instructed to investigate the conduct of officers in the Criminal Investigation Department over complaints that they have been harassing five Kampala pastors.
The instructions followed a closed-door meeting between senior police officers and the complainants. Pastors Robert Kayiira, Michael Kyazze, Martin Ssempa and Solomon Male appeared before Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate John Wekesa on Tuesday and were charged with conspiracy to injure the reputation of Pastor Kayanja.
The pastors were released on a Shs200,000 cash bail each. Pastors Kayiira and Kyazze are also on trial for alleged Criminal Trespass on Rubaga Miracle Centre property.
Without giving detail, Assistant Inspector General of Police John Ochola confirmed the new developments. “We are looking into the matter administratively. If we find that the officers acted unprofessionally, we will inform the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. This would mean that their actions had a bearing on the outcome of the investigations,” he said. This newspaper has since established the identities of the officers but cannot publish them because investigations are still in its infancy.
Puzzling events
Efforts to reach Pastor Kayanja have been futile. But records show that he has never appeared in court to testify, a thing that has puzzled many. He is said to have told his congregation a week before Christmas that pastors Male and Ssempa would be arrested before Christmas. In the week that followed, Pastor Male was arrested.
Their outcry led to the President’s intervention after CID director Edward Ochom stated that Pastor Kayanja was not influencing investigations.
In a press conference on January 1, the pastors expressed concern over patterns of harassment and the whereabouts of the initial sodomy victims. “All those who have accused these pastors of molestation and sodomy have themselves been accused of other things and eventually arrested. Those assisting them are also being witch-hunted. We do not even know where these victims are,” Kyazze told journalist.
The pastors return to court on January 24 and 25.
Pastor Kayanja denies false prophesy
Pastor Kayanja denies false prophesy
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=743182
By John Semakula
PASTOR Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre has said that the prophesy which he made in 2005 that one of the presidential candidates then, would die during the campaign period was true although it didn’t happen.
Kayanja told Sunday Vision in an interview on Thursday at his offices in Rubaga that he declared the prophesy after God had unveiled it to him. “The candidate I had prophesized to die didn’t because many Ugandans prayed which saved him and the country from witnessing such a nasty experience,” he said.
Kayanja had also prophesized that violence would sweep the country after the death of that candidate.
He said that there was violence in the campaigns as he had prophesized.
“The 2006 campaigns were violent and most of the candidates had serious violence related problems. Ssebana Kizito suffered a lot in northern Uganda, Besigye and Museveni also suffered,” he said.
Kayanja said that after making the prophesy, people from all walks of life rang him and pinned him to disclose the details of the candidate who was to die in the campaigns.
The prophesy sparked off criticisms from a cross-section of Ugandans who linked it to their candidates.
Pastor Solomon Male was one of the people who were angered by the prophesy. He told Sunday Vision in an interview that it was a sign that Kayanja was a merchant in religion. Asked why he was not as active as he was in the 2006 general elections, Kayanja said that his Church holds several crusades in which the followers are sensitised on their civil responsibility.
He predicted 2011 as a year of transformation for every Ugandan. He said that everyone will be lifted up from misery to happiness.
Published on: Saturday, 8th January, 2011
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=743182
By John Semakula
PASTOR Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre has said that the prophesy which he made in 2005 that one of the presidential candidates then, would die during the campaign period was true although it didn’t happen.
Kayanja told Sunday Vision in an interview on Thursday at his offices in Rubaga that he declared the prophesy after God had unveiled it to him. “The candidate I had prophesized to die didn’t because many Ugandans prayed which saved him and the country from witnessing such a nasty experience,” he said.
Kayanja had also prophesized that violence would sweep the country after the death of that candidate.
He said that there was violence in the campaigns as he had prophesized.
“The 2006 campaigns were violent and most of the candidates had serious violence related problems. Ssebana Kizito suffered a lot in northern Uganda, Besigye and Museveni also suffered,” he said.
Kayanja said that after making the prophesy, people from all walks of life rang him and pinned him to disclose the details of the candidate who was to die in the campaigns.
The prophesy sparked off criticisms from a cross-section of Ugandans who linked it to their candidates.
Pastor Solomon Male was one of the people who were angered by the prophesy. He told Sunday Vision in an interview that it was a sign that Kayanja was a merchant in religion. Asked why he was not as active as he was in the 2006 general elections, Kayanja said that his Church holds several crusades in which the followers are sensitised on their civil responsibility.
He predicted 2011 as a year of transformation for every Ugandan. He said that everyone will be lifted up from misery to happiness.
Published on: Saturday, 8th January, 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
PASTOR JOSEPH SERWADDA’S 9TH NAMBOOLE PASSOVER FESTIVAL: CHANNELS OF HIDDEN COMMUNICATION, ECUMENISM AND SUBTLE POLITICAL CHRISTIANITY
14Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
15Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
16And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. (Jeremiah 14:14-16)
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.( 1 Thessalonians 5:3)
FIRST READ:
THE GREAT UGANDAN PASSOVER PLOT
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/12/great-ugandan-passover-plot.html
FIRST READ: POLITICAL CHRISTIANITY AND PASTOR JOSEPH SERWADDA'S NAMBOOLE PASSOVER FESTIVAL
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/11/spiritual-politics-begin-to-take-shape.html
Pastor Joseph Serwadda’s 9th Namboole Passover festival: channels of Hidden communication, Ecumenism and subtle Political Christianity
On 31st December, 2010, thousands of Pentecostal Christians flocked Mandela Namboole stadium to welcome the new year. Still, thousands of other Christians flocked Kololo airstrip and Nakivubo stadium and a number of churches to welcome the new year. This time round political Christianity in this Namboole Passover was the order of the day though given a subtle camouflage. Pastor Serwadda’s Namboole Passover festival was aired Live on UBC and NBS televisions. Guess!!! what President Museveni and his wife who had been invited as guests but were represented by their daughter Pastor patience Rwaboogo who was the key speaker.
Pastor Serwadda and his MC Mr.Lumu(a.k.a Omwana wo’mwami) stated categorically that the meeting had nothing do with politics. Political statements in favour of President Museveni’s candidature in the February, 2011 General elections were very laud and clear. Pastor Serwadda said that although some people were against the making of political statements by religious leaders, the religious leaders can not be stopped from making leadership statements.
Pastor Serwadda prayed for all the presidential contenders and unlike the other contenders, Pastor Peter Sematimba was given an opportunity to speak to the congregation. He used this opportunity to ask the congregation to vote him and President Museveni. He said that he was not making political statements but leadership statements.
Pastor Joseph Serwadda and the road to Rome
During the Namboole Passover festival, Pastor Joseph Serwadda castigated the people who are against the making of political statements by religious leaders. He said as leaders in mosques ( he used the term ‘’our mosques’’), and churches they can’t help making leadership statements. It is amazing that since pastor Serwadda joined the Interreligious Council he now looks at the born again faith as a religion. He is now also talking about ‘’our mosques’’- it seems he now looks at Moslems as fellow believers on the narrow road to heaven.
The exaltation of President Museveni at the Namboole festival
During the 9th Passover festival, president Museveni used Pastor Joseph Serwadda to send Pentecostals a message that they are nothing without him. Recently, president Museveni recognized Pastor Serwadda’s Born again faith federation as a recognized faith like the catholic, Anglican and other faiths. Using hidden channels of communication, pastors are sending a message that without Museveni Jesus cannot save any body in Uganda. In fact some pastors and elites are saying that Museveni was ordained by God to rule Uganda.
Pastor Patience Rwaboogo and the year of Jubille
Basing on Leviticus 25 Pastor Patience Rwaboogo Museveni declared that Uganda is soon entering a year of jubilee. She said that her father and mother could not be at Namboole because they were busy campaigning in Western Uganda. After Preaching the Live telecast ended. This live telecast aimed at exalting museveni as a savoir and protector of the Pentecostal church in Uganda. The subtle political message was sent out loud and clear ‘’vote Museveni the only protector and lover of the Pentecostal church in Uganda’’.
See Links below: Hidden channels of communication
Ugandans welcomes 2011 in style: See, Jackson Senyonga’s suit, it is quite similar to President Museveni’s Yello NRMO colour ????
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=742564
SEE KING OPEN NEW YEAR WITH KEY-SYMBOL OF THE FDC PARTY . He is telling the Baganda to vote Museveni’s rival Dr.Kiiza Besigye
http://www.bukeddekussande.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=3&newsCategoryId=167&newsId=742542
15Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
16And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. (Jeremiah 14:14-16)
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.( 1 Thessalonians 5:3)
FIRST READ:
THE GREAT UGANDAN PASSOVER PLOT
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/12/great-ugandan-passover-plot.html
FIRST READ: POLITICAL CHRISTIANITY AND PASTOR JOSEPH SERWADDA'S NAMBOOLE PASSOVER FESTIVAL
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/11/spiritual-politics-begin-to-take-shape.html
Pastor Joseph Serwadda’s 9th Namboole Passover festival: channels of Hidden communication, Ecumenism and subtle Political Christianity
On 31st December, 2010, thousands of Pentecostal Christians flocked Mandela Namboole stadium to welcome the new year. Still, thousands of other Christians flocked Kololo airstrip and Nakivubo stadium and a number of churches to welcome the new year. This time round political Christianity in this Namboole Passover was the order of the day though given a subtle camouflage. Pastor Serwadda’s Namboole Passover festival was aired Live on UBC and NBS televisions. Guess!!! what President Museveni and his wife who had been invited as guests but were represented by their daughter Pastor patience Rwaboogo who was the key speaker.
Pastor Serwadda and his MC Mr.Lumu(a.k.a Omwana wo’mwami) stated categorically that the meeting had nothing do with politics. Political statements in favour of President Museveni’s candidature in the February, 2011 General elections were very laud and clear. Pastor Serwadda said that although some people were against the making of political statements by religious leaders, the religious leaders can not be stopped from making leadership statements.
Pastor Serwadda prayed for all the presidential contenders and unlike the other contenders, Pastor Peter Sematimba was given an opportunity to speak to the congregation. He used this opportunity to ask the congregation to vote him and President Museveni. He said that he was not making political statements but leadership statements.
Pastor Joseph Serwadda and the road to Rome
During the Namboole Passover festival, Pastor Joseph Serwadda castigated the people who are against the making of political statements by religious leaders. He said as leaders in mosques ( he used the term ‘’our mosques’’), and churches they can’t help making leadership statements. It is amazing that since pastor Serwadda joined the Interreligious Council he now looks at the born again faith as a religion. He is now also talking about ‘’our mosques’’- it seems he now looks at Moslems as fellow believers on the narrow road to heaven.
The exaltation of President Museveni at the Namboole festival
During the 9th Passover festival, president Museveni used Pastor Joseph Serwadda to send Pentecostals a message that they are nothing without him. Recently, president Museveni recognized Pastor Serwadda’s Born again faith federation as a recognized faith like the catholic, Anglican and other faiths. Using hidden channels of communication, pastors are sending a message that without Museveni Jesus cannot save any body in Uganda. In fact some pastors and elites are saying that Museveni was ordained by God to rule Uganda.
Pastor Patience Rwaboogo and the year of Jubille
Basing on Leviticus 25 Pastor Patience Rwaboogo Museveni declared that Uganda is soon entering a year of jubilee. She said that her father and mother could not be at Namboole because they were busy campaigning in Western Uganda. After Preaching the Live telecast ended. This live telecast aimed at exalting museveni as a savoir and protector of the Pentecostal church in Uganda. The subtle political message was sent out loud and clear ‘’vote Museveni the only protector and lover of the Pentecostal church in Uganda’’.
See Links below: Hidden channels of communication
Ugandans welcomes 2011 in style: See, Jackson Senyonga’s suit, it is quite similar to President Museveni’s Yello NRMO colour ????
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=742564
SEE KING OPEN NEW YEAR WITH KEY-SYMBOL OF THE FDC PARTY . He is telling the Baganda to vote Museveni’s rival Dr.Kiiza Besigye
http://www.bukeddekussande.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=3&newsCategoryId=167&newsId=742542
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Scandals that rocked the church in the past decade
Scandals that rocked the church in the past decade
http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/Sunday%20Life/-/1055104/1081868/-/format/xhtml/-/nv166n/-/index.html
Posted by Edwin Nuwagabaon Sunday, January 2 2011 at 00:00
The shocking happenings that rocked the church these past 10 years threatened to tear it apart. The prayer for most Christians is that God blesses His house this coming decade and helps them fight the power of darkness that seeks to ruin it, writes Edwin Nuwagaba
Over the years, the church has been bathed in endless scandals - child molestation, rape, sodomy, extortion… name it. Let’s start from home.
In October 2006, something comic happened when a respected and popular pastor, David Kigganda, shocked the nation after he publicly divorced his wife, Hadijja Nassejje, for allegedly cheating on him with a chapatti maker. Around that time, he also revealed plans to take all their children for DNA testing.
In September 2008, Pastor Isaac Kiweweesi of Kasanga Miracle Centre, was also accused of sexually indulging young boys. A member of his church, David Arinaitwe, 28, claimed the pastor had sodomised him for years.
Then, Pastor Jackson Senyonga, 41, of Christian Life Centre, was questioned by the FBI over allegations that he fondled a 13-year-old girl aboard a United Airlines flight on August 16, 2008. He denied the allegations.
Also in 2008, three senior pastors from The Universal Church of The Kingdom of God convinced an HIV positive woman, Frances Adroa, that they would heal her, taking her car as payment for “the miracle to come”. After an endless wait, the lady ran to the authorities. The pastors were: Gilson Costa, Gerald Nkayi and Patrick Maserere.
In the same year, there was a similar case; Grace Kushemereirwe accused Pastor Imelda Namutebi of paying her to testify that her prayers had cured her of Aids way back in 1999. Pastor Namutebi was to pay Kushemereirwe Shs350,000 every month for this lie, but when she reneged, the latter threatened to spill the beans in 2005, so goons turned up at her house and beat her daughter to near-death. And as if that was not enough, Namutebi was also accused of “stealing” the man she is currently married to, Tom Kula, from another woman who had allegedly come to her for counselling.
In March 2009, self-confessed former homosexuals accused the renowned Catholic priest, Fr. Anthony Musaala, of being a homosexual. Paul Kagaba, who said he was a homosexual for eight years, told a press conference in Kampala that Musaala, a gospel music award-winner, regularly held parties for gays at his residence in Gayaza near Kampala. To add salt to injury, Musaala’s boy-band members accused him of sodomising them, creating a furore around the once popular priest. Police and church investigations into the case fizzled out but not before Musaala was given a set of rules to abide by from the Catholic Church, among them having a curfew.
And in the same year, the popular Pastor Robert Kayanja was accused by fellow pastors Martin Sempa, Solomon Male and Bob Kayiira of sodomising two boys. The case went on and on, with Kayanja saying he was being accused falsely. The victims were Samson Mukisa and David Mukalazi. Amidst investigations, the police said the two victims had retracted their statements, but the victims denied this. Even if he was on the front page of every newspaper, Pastor Kayanja still preached at his church with resilience as he comforted his congregation, saying he was only being witch hunted.
On the international scene
Now, away from Uganda, the Catholic Church found herself in a tight spot when she was exposed in the Murphy Report for failure to handle child abuse and subsequent cover-ups by the church hierarchy. The report was published in Ireland and stated that church authorities in Dublin covered up child sexual abuse until the mid 1990s. The problem was these clerics had known that the priests had raped children for decades but chosen to protect them. They did not tell the police, ignored the cries of the children and parents and moved the guilty paedophile priests to “safer” parishes, burying their scandals.
The three-volume report found that the “maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the church and the preservation of its assets” were prioritised over justice for the victims. In this incidence, a fifth high-ranking cleric, Limerick Bishop Donal Murray, stood down after he was singled out for mishandling allegations against an abusive cleric.
But the Anglican Church also had its fair share of scandal. Having ordained the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003, the Anglican Church almost split in 2009 over the ordination of a lesbian Episcopal bishop, 55-year-old Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool. The election of the lesbian bishop raised very serious questions about the Episcopal Church and its position in the Anglican Communion. Glasspool has lived with the same female partner since 1988.
And now with conservative Anglican bishops from Africa like Uganda’s Archbishop Luke Orombi and Nigeria’s Archbishop Peter Akinola opposed to the gay bishops, one can only wonder whether Canterbury still has influence on the entire Anglican fraternity - which already has elements threatening to break away. Conservative Africans are bitter that new trends and culture are penetrating and breaking the traditional ideals of the Anglican Communion. The Times reported that the influential American Anglican Council was among the first of the conservative bodies to condemn the latest election, accusing the Episcopal Church of a further departure from biblical teaching.
Amidst the Anglican Church’s troubles, Pope Benedict XV1 said that he was ready to welcome the disgruntled members of the Anglican Communion to the Catholic faith. Was this mockery or was it simply taking advantage of the situation? These were questions from sceptics about whether the two faiths could once again be reunited.
And who can forget the case of Kenyan-born Gilbert Deya, who claimed to have a supernatural ability to make infertile women pregnant? Deya’s case only got stranger when a UK-Kenyan investigation concluded that he and his wife were stealing Kenyan babies and smuggling them into the UK. The Kenyan police alleged that the ministry was a baby-snatching ring and in 2006, called for his extradition by the UK, which is, unfortunately, where he still remains - Deya moved to the UK in the 1990s and started several churches.
10 Sex Scandals that Rocked the Christian Church
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 | 12:30 PM
by Shirea L. Carroll
http://www.essence.com/news/hot_topics_4/sex_scandals_christian_church_eddie_long.php#ixzz1A1aeoqjm
"This is difficult, difficult for everybody. This is the most difficult time in my entire life," said Bishop Eddie Long addressing his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church congregation on Sunday in Georgia. In one week, Long's life has changed dramatically, but he refuses to retreat. The Pastor announced to the 30,000 member mega church in Lithonia, Georgia, after making a numerous amount of headlines last week for the homosexual accusations brought against him -- he will not step down from his leadership role as Pastor.
This comes as a surprise to some, especially the four young men who have all brought lawsuits against the Bishop claiming Long coerced and seduced them into inappropriate sexual relationship that compromised Long's spiritual guidance and authority. Spencer LeGrande, a 22-year-old member of New Birth in Charlotte, NC claims that in 2005 Long told him he would be his "dad" and took him on a trip to Kenya where Long allegedly gave him a sleeping pill and the two engaged is sexual acts that Long described as a "healthy component of [LeGrande's] spiritual life," according to the lawsuit.
In the last 10 years we have had our share of sex scandals that have rocked the Christian church. Black and White -- religion sees no color -- all of these individuals were either accused, admitted to, or found guilty of heinous sexual crimes with individuals in or out of their church establishment, ultimately shaming their families, congregation, and themselves.
1. John Paulk, 2000
John Paulk, former leader of the Love Won Out conference, was also author of the autobiography "Not Afraid to Change," his story about being delivered from homosexuality. However, in September 2000, Paulk was photographed in a Washington, D.C. gay bar flirting with male patrons. Paulk initially denied the claims, but later confessed to being in the bar, adding that he did not enter the bar for sexual pursuits.
2. Douglas Goodman, 2004
Evangelist Douglas Goodman and his wife Erica were pastors of Victory Christian Centre, one of the largest churches in London, England, with a very popular televised ministry. After sexually assaulting four female churchgoers, Douglas Goodman was sentenced and jailed for three and a half years. VCC was closed, but after his release from prison Goodman joined his wife Erica in pastoral ministry at her newly established Victory to Victory church.
3. Ted Haggard, 2006
Ted Haggard was the pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals from 2003-2006. In 2006, it was revealed that Haggard had been regularly visiting a male prostitute who also provided him with drugs. Haggard admitted to his solicitation and resigned as pastor of his church and as president of the NAE. In 2009, Haggard admitted to a second relationship with a male church member on CNN-TV.
4. Paul Barnes, 2006
Paul Barnes, in his 28 years as a pastor, founded the Grace Chapel church in Douglas County, Colorado, with a few dozen people in his home basement. With time, the church's membership grew to 2,100 loyal followers. In 2006, Barnes confessed to homosexual activity and resigned. Many believe he was so forthright because of Ted Haggard's scandal, which happened at the same time in the same state.
5. Lonnie Latham, 2006
The Southern Baptist Convention, or the SBC, is an extremely powerful movement not only amongst Southern Baptists but Baptists nationwide. In 2006, Lonnie Latham, member of the SBC Executive Committee and senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church, was arrested for allegedly inviting a male undercover Oklahoma City police officer to his hotel room for sex. Latham urged people not to believe it, and was later found not guilty in a one day trial for the misdemeanor.
6. Earl Paulk, 2007
Earl Paulk, sometimes considered the father of the religious sex scandal, has scandals (plural) that stretch over a decade. The late Earl Paulk was the founder and head pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, Georgia, from 1960 until the late 90s. During his time as pastor, a number of women from the congregation came forward claiming that they had sexual relations with Paulk, many of which were proven true. However it was the scandal involving Donnie Earl Paulk, the current senior pastor of the church and nephew of Earl Paulk, that was the most shocking of them all in. In 2007, Paulk D.E. Paulk took a court-ordered DNA test which showed that he was Earl's son, not his nephew -- sadly proving Earl and his sister-in-law had had a sexual relationship. Earl Paulk, who passed away in 2009, is said to be the longtime mentor of Bishop Eddie Long.
7. Coy Privette, 2007
Coy Privette is one of the famous Baptist ministers in the state of North Carolina, as the longtime head of the N.C. Christian Action League. In 2007, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Kannapolis Police Department charged Coy Privette with six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution. Privette, who was 74 at the time, was the Cabarrus County Commissioner and a former N.C. State Representative.
8. Joe Barron, 2008
Before there was "Dateline: How To Catch A Predator," there was Joe Barron -- one of the 40 ministers presiding over the 26,000 members at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Barron, a marriage counseling pastor, was caught in the web of an internet crackdown on pedophiles when he was arrested in 2008 for solicitation of a minor. Barron made the drive from the Dallas area to Bryan, Texas, in order to allegedly engage in sexual relations with what he thought to be a 13-year-old girl he met online. The "girl" turned out to be an undercover law enforcement official. At the time of the arrest, police found found condoms, a webcam and headset in Barron's car.
9. Tony Alamo, 2008
In September 2008, FBI agents raided the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries headquarters in a child pornography investigation, after the mayor of Fouke, Arkansas, office had received complaints from former ministry members about allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and polygamy. In late July 2009, Alamo was convicted on ten counts of transporting young girls and boys across state lines for sexual activities and pornography. On November 13, 2009, he was sentenced to the maximum punishment of 175 years in prison.
10. George Alan Rekers, 2010
George Alan Rekers, a far-right Christian leader was encountered and photographed at Miami International Airport returning from an extended overseas trip with a twenty-year-old gay male prostitute, known as a "rent boy." Given Rekers' opinion on homosexuals and homosexual behavior, his decision to employ a homosexual escort as a traveling companion, stirred up a scandal. Rekers initially claimed that the escort was there to help carry luggage, but later gave a new explanation for the trip on Facebook, "I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them." The escort claimed in subsequent interviews, that Rekers had paid him to provide nude massages daily, which included genital touching.
Read more: http://www.essence.com/news/hot_topics_4/sex_scandals_christian_church_eddie_long.php#ixzz1A1anjFzM
http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/Sunday%20Life/-/1055104/1081868/-/format/xhtml/-/nv166n/-/index.html
Posted by Edwin Nuwagabaon Sunday, January 2 2011 at 00:00
The shocking happenings that rocked the church these past 10 years threatened to tear it apart. The prayer for most Christians is that God blesses His house this coming decade and helps them fight the power of darkness that seeks to ruin it, writes Edwin Nuwagaba
Over the years, the church has been bathed in endless scandals - child molestation, rape, sodomy, extortion… name it. Let’s start from home.
In October 2006, something comic happened when a respected and popular pastor, David Kigganda, shocked the nation after he publicly divorced his wife, Hadijja Nassejje, for allegedly cheating on him with a chapatti maker. Around that time, he also revealed plans to take all their children for DNA testing.
In September 2008, Pastor Isaac Kiweweesi of Kasanga Miracle Centre, was also accused of sexually indulging young boys. A member of his church, David Arinaitwe, 28, claimed the pastor had sodomised him for years.
Then, Pastor Jackson Senyonga, 41, of Christian Life Centre, was questioned by the FBI over allegations that he fondled a 13-year-old girl aboard a United Airlines flight on August 16, 2008. He denied the allegations.
Also in 2008, three senior pastors from The Universal Church of The Kingdom of God convinced an HIV positive woman, Frances Adroa, that they would heal her, taking her car as payment for “the miracle to come”. After an endless wait, the lady ran to the authorities. The pastors were: Gilson Costa, Gerald Nkayi and Patrick Maserere.
In the same year, there was a similar case; Grace Kushemereirwe accused Pastor Imelda Namutebi of paying her to testify that her prayers had cured her of Aids way back in 1999. Pastor Namutebi was to pay Kushemereirwe Shs350,000 every month for this lie, but when she reneged, the latter threatened to spill the beans in 2005, so goons turned up at her house and beat her daughter to near-death. And as if that was not enough, Namutebi was also accused of “stealing” the man she is currently married to, Tom Kula, from another woman who had allegedly come to her for counselling.
In March 2009, self-confessed former homosexuals accused the renowned Catholic priest, Fr. Anthony Musaala, of being a homosexual. Paul Kagaba, who said he was a homosexual for eight years, told a press conference in Kampala that Musaala, a gospel music award-winner, regularly held parties for gays at his residence in Gayaza near Kampala. To add salt to injury, Musaala’s boy-band members accused him of sodomising them, creating a furore around the once popular priest. Police and church investigations into the case fizzled out but not before Musaala was given a set of rules to abide by from the Catholic Church, among them having a curfew.
And in the same year, the popular Pastor Robert Kayanja was accused by fellow pastors Martin Sempa, Solomon Male and Bob Kayiira of sodomising two boys. The case went on and on, with Kayanja saying he was being accused falsely. The victims were Samson Mukisa and David Mukalazi. Amidst investigations, the police said the two victims had retracted their statements, but the victims denied this. Even if he was on the front page of every newspaper, Pastor Kayanja still preached at his church with resilience as he comforted his congregation, saying he was only being witch hunted.
On the international scene
Now, away from Uganda, the Catholic Church found herself in a tight spot when she was exposed in the Murphy Report for failure to handle child abuse and subsequent cover-ups by the church hierarchy. The report was published in Ireland and stated that church authorities in Dublin covered up child sexual abuse until the mid 1990s. The problem was these clerics had known that the priests had raped children for decades but chosen to protect them. They did not tell the police, ignored the cries of the children and parents and moved the guilty paedophile priests to “safer” parishes, burying their scandals.
The three-volume report found that the “maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the church and the preservation of its assets” were prioritised over justice for the victims. In this incidence, a fifth high-ranking cleric, Limerick Bishop Donal Murray, stood down after he was singled out for mishandling allegations against an abusive cleric.
But the Anglican Church also had its fair share of scandal. Having ordained the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003, the Anglican Church almost split in 2009 over the ordination of a lesbian Episcopal bishop, 55-year-old Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool. The election of the lesbian bishop raised very serious questions about the Episcopal Church and its position in the Anglican Communion. Glasspool has lived with the same female partner since 1988.
And now with conservative Anglican bishops from Africa like Uganda’s Archbishop Luke Orombi and Nigeria’s Archbishop Peter Akinola opposed to the gay bishops, one can only wonder whether Canterbury still has influence on the entire Anglican fraternity - which already has elements threatening to break away. Conservative Africans are bitter that new trends and culture are penetrating and breaking the traditional ideals of the Anglican Communion. The Times reported that the influential American Anglican Council was among the first of the conservative bodies to condemn the latest election, accusing the Episcopal Church of a further departure from biblical teaching.
Amidst the Anglican Church’s troubles, Pope Benedict XV1 said that he was ready to welcome the disgruntled members of the Anglican Communion to the Catholic faith. Was this mockery or was it simply taking advantage of the situation? These were questions from sceptics about whether the two faiths could once again be reunited.
And who can forget the case of Kenyan-born Gilbert Deya, who claimed to have a supernatural ability to make infertile women pregnant? Deya’s case only got stranger when a UK-Kenyan investigation concluded that he and his wife were stealing Kenyan babies and smuggling them into the UK. The Kenyan police alleged that the ministry was a baby-snatching ring and in 2006, called for his extradition by the UK, which is, unfortunately, where he still remains - Deya moved to the UK in the 1990s and started several churches.
10 Sex Scandals that Rocked the Christian Church
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 | 12:30 PM
by Shirea L. Carroll
http://www.essence.com/news/hot_topics_4/sex_scandals_christian_church_eddie_long.php#ixzz1A1aeoqjm
"This is difficult, difficult for everybody. This is the most difficult time in my entire life," said Bishop Eddie Long addressing his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church congregation on Sunday in Georgia. In one week, Long's life has changed dramatically, but he refuses to retreat. The Pastor announced to the 30,000 member mega church in Lithonia, Georgia, after making a numerous amount of headlines last week for the homosexual accusations brought against him -- he will not step down from his leadership role as Pastor.
This comes as a surprise to some, especially the four young men who have all brought lawsuits against the Bishop claiming Long coerced and seduced them into inappropriate sexual relationship that compromised Long's spiritual guidance and authority. Spencer LeGrande, a 22-year-old member of New Birth in Charlotte, NC claims that in 2005 Long told him he would be his "dad" and took him on a trip to Kenya where Long allegedly gave him a sleeping pill and the two engaged is sexual acts that Long described as a "healthy component of [LeGrande's] spiritual life," according to the lawsuit.
In the last 10 years we have had our share of sex scandals that have rocked the Christian church. Black and White -- religion sees no color -- all of these individuals were either accused, admitted to, or found guilty of heinous sexual crimes with individuals in or out of their church establishment, ultimately shaming their families, congregation, and themselves.
1. John Paulk, 2000
John Paulk, former leader of the Love Won Out conference, was also author of the autobiography "Not Afraid to Change," his story about being delivered from homosexuality. However, in September 2000, Paulk was photographed in a Washington, D.C. gay bar flirting with male patrons. Paulk initially denied the claims, but later confessed to being in the bar, adding that he did not enter the bar for sexual pursuits.
2. Douglas Goodman, 2004
Evangelist Douglas Goodman and his wife Erica were pastors of Victory Christian Centre, one of the largest churches in London, England, with a very popular televised ministry. After sexually assaulting four female churchgoers, Douglas Goodman was sentenced and jailed for three and a half years. VCC was closed, but after his release from prison Goodman joined his wife Erica in pastoral ministry at her newly established Victory to Victory church.
3. Ted Haggard, 2006
Ted Haggard was the pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals from 2003-2006. In 2006, it was revealed that Haggard had been regularly visiting a male prostitute who also provided him with drugs. Haggard admitted to his solicitation and resigned as pastor of his church and as president of the NAE. In 2009, Haggard admitted to a second relationship with a male church member on CNN-TV.
4. Paul Barnes, 2006
Paul Barnes, in his 28 years as a pastor, founded the Grace Chapel church in Douglas County, Colorado, with a few dozen people in his home basement. With time, the church's membership grew to 2,100 loyal followers. In 2006, Barnes confessed to homosexual activity and resigned. Many believe he was so forthright because of Ted Haggard's scandal, which happened at the same time in the same state.
5. Lonnie Latham, 2006
The Southern Baptist Convention, or the SBC, is an extremely powerful movement not only amongst Southern Baptists but Baptists nationwide. In 2006, Lonnie Latham, member of the SBC Executive Committee and senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church, was arrested for allegedly inviting a male undercover Oklahoma City police officer to his hotel room for sex. Latham urged people not to believe it, and was later found not guilty in a one day trial for the misdemeanor.
6. Earl Paulk, 2007
Earl Paulk, sometimes considered the father of the religious sex scandal, has scandals (plural) that stretch over a decade. The late Earl Paulk was the founder and head pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, Georgia, from 1960 until the late 90s. During his time as pastor, a number of women from the congregation came forward claiming that they had sexual relations with Paulk, many of which were proven true. However it was the scandal involving Donnie Earl Paulk, the current senior pastor of the church and nephew of Earl Paulk, that was the most shocking of them all in. In 2007, Paulk D.E. Paulk took a court-ordered DNA test which showed that he was Earl's son, not his nephew -- sadly proving Earl and his sister-in-law had had a sexual relationship. Earl Paulk, who passed away in 2009, is said to be the longtime mentor of Bishop Eddie Long.
7. Coy Privette, 2007
Coy Privette is one of the famous Baptist ministers in the state of North Carolina, as the longtime head of the N.C. Christian Action League. In 2007, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Kannapolis Police Department charged Coy Privette with six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution. Privette, who was 74 at the time, was the Cabarrus County Commissioner and a former N.C. State Representative.
8. Joe Barron, 2008
Before there was "Dateline: How To Catch A Predator," there was Joe Barron -- one of the 40 ministers presiding over the 26,000 members at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Barron, a marriage counseling pastor, was caught in the web of an internet crackdown on pedophiles when he was arrested in 2008 for solicitation of a minor. Barron made the drive from the Dallas area to Bryan, Texas, in order to allegedly engage in sexual relations with what he thought to be a 13-year-old girl he met online. The "girl" turned out to be an undercover law enforcement official. At the time of the arrest, police found found condoms, a webcam and headset in Barron's car.
9. Tony Alamo, 2008
In September 2008, FBI agents raided the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries headquarters in a child pornography investigation, after the mayor of Fouke, Arkansas, office had received complaints from former ministry members about allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and polygamy. In late July 2009, Alamo was convicted on ten counts of transporting young girls and boys across state lines for sexual activities and pornography. On November 13, 2009, he was sentenced to the maximum punishment of 175 years in prison.
10. George Alan Rekers, 2010
George Alan Rekers, a far-right Christian leader was encountered and photographed at Miami International Airport returning from an extended overseas trip with a twenty-year-old gay male prostitute, known as a "rent boy." Given Rekers' opinion on homosexuals and homosexual behavior, his decision to employ a homosexual escort as a traveling companion, stirred up a scandal. Rekers initially claimed that the escort was there to help carry luggage, but later gave a new explanation for the trip on Facebook, "I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them." The escort claimed in subsequent interviews, that Rekers had paid him to provide nude massages daily, which included genital touching.
Read more: http://www.essence.com/news/hot_topics_4/sex_scandals_christian_church_eddie_long.php#ixzz1A1anjFzM
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