by Preacher Bureau of Investigations
Everyone has heard, read or discussed “church mess” whether it’s the allegations of Bishop Eddie Long, mega and mini church pastors “prosperity gospel” or any abuse/misuse of authority by a Pastor and in every conversation there is at least one person who cannot believe how this abuse/misuse could take place in a church – HOUSE OF GOD!
"How can anyone be that naive or gullible?”
To those people I say, you have to understand that most devout church goers trust and believe their pastor to be a true man or woman of God and they slowly get caught up in the “man or woman” instead of God. They start trusting the “words” of this man or woman more so than the unadulterated Word God. It’s a gradual, non-conscious process. Oftentimes they do not realize it is happening.
These “questionable pastors” use the basic doctrine of the Christian faith and then add their extra “personal doctrine/interpretation of scriptures”. They incorporate their own interpretation and use their authority and leadership to play on the emotions of their members and this is the key they use in mind control and undue influence on their members – much like in a CULT. The members become more submissive and have unquestionable acceptance of anything the Pastor says or does. This acceptance includes things that are not even scriptural-based. For example: multiple offerings, pastoral offerings, anniversary offerings, dictating how their members dress, who they can befriend, where they can go, etc.
It’s a very seducing spirit. These pastors are very strategic in making the members feel connected to them by using a false sense of love, care and protection. They manipulate the scriptures and subliminally create an unnatural submission to their authority, leadership and guidance. These pastors take an interest in the members, seemingly interested in their families and their issues and/or problems. Little do they realize these pastors are gathering “INFORMATION” that will later be used as ammunition to manipulate the member. If a member discloses a financial need, the pastor may “testify” as how they were in a similar situation and God they started giving more money and God blessed them. Famous words – “You can’t beat God in giving”!
Luke 6:38 King James Version (KJV) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.
New Living Translation (NLT) Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.]”
Who wouldn’t want to believe that this is true…why wouldn’t you believe it…it’s in the bible? The scriptures are indeed true, but how we are blessed may vary. It’s not as simple as they lead one to believe. This scripture doesn’t necessarily refer to money, but that is how it is explained – “if you need a $1000.00 – give $$$$!
“Follow Me As I Follow Christ”
I Cor. 11:1 - King James Version (KJV)
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
I Cor. 11:1 - Amplified Bible (AMP)
PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).
Initially, these pastors lead lives that exemplify a lifestyle of holiness in which they are following Christ, but slowly as the money starts coming in and they get bitten with the power bug, something snaps within them. They start feeling as a sense of entitlement. They feel as if they are entitled to certain privileges, rights, and control. The more they get the more they want and feel as if they deserve. They start manipulating the scriptures that dealing with giving, tithing and blessing. These pastors tell the congregants how they are great “givers”. But if they take $1000 out of their pockets and place it in the offerings…don’t they get it back because they control how the offering is spent and who’s to say that that $1000 came out of last Sunday’s offering. One favorite scripture that is often used to manipulate congregants to bless them individually is:
Matthew 10:41 King James Version (KJV) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Matthew 10:41 Amplified Bible (AMP) He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
New Living Translation (NLT) If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.
Receive = believe everything the pastor says, the more you bless (give financially) to the prophet (pastor) the more you are going to be blessed by God…in fact the ONLY way you are going to be bless by God is by blessing the pastor.
Members start believing that the reason they didn’t get that job, car, financial blessing is because they do not bless their pastor enough. And any member that does get blessed with a new car, new job, increase in finances, healing in their bodies, etc these pastors will immediately correlate this to how much that member has given.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Pastors and Leaders need to be held accountable for their roles as Pastors…
Jeremiah 3:15 (King James Version)
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:15 (Amplified Bible)
And I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart [in the final time], who will feed you with knowledge and understanding and judgment.
And the members need to take accountable for their own spiritual growth and relationship with God (not the church or Pastor)…they need to be held accountable for this knowledge and understanding that is being fed to them by the pastors.
II Tim 2: 15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
New Living Translation (NLT) An Approved Worker - Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
See it’s that first word that stops many of these members – STUDY! No one wants to study for themselves. It is so easy to rely on the Pastor to give the Word, and believe everything the pastor says without studying the Word. And that is understandable because you want to trust and believe that the Pastor is a true man or woman of God. You want to trust and believe that everything they are saying is correct. But believers are suppose to “correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth” that is being fed by the Pastors.
Unfortunately the members rely solely on what the pastor says and they continuously get manipulated by the “interpretation of the scriptures” .
And when some of these members who do study and find out that what the pastor is saying contradicts what they are studying, they are fearful in speaking about because of this main scripture
1 Chronicles 16:22 Saying, Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm.
That’s why even with all the media about the allegations surrounding Bishop Eddie Long, so many faithful followers refused to engage in any dialogue about it because they have been taught that if you repeat anything or discuss any of the negativity surrounding Bishop Long that you are “touching” him with your words.
By "Just Sayin"
"How can anyone be that naive or gullible?”
To those people I say, you have to understand that most devout church goers trust and believe their pastor to be a true man or woman of God and they slowly get caught up in the “man or woman” instead of God. They start trusting the “words” of this man or woman more so than the unadulterated Word God. It’s a gradual, non-conscious process. Oftentimes they do not realize it is happening.
These “questionable pastors” use the basic doctrine of the Christian faith and then add their extra “personal doctrine/interpretation of scriptures”. They incorporate their own interpretation and use their authority and leadership to play on the emotions of their members and this is the key they use in mind control and undue influence on their members – much like in a CULT. The members become more submissive and have unquestionable acceptance of anything the Pastor says or does. This acceptance includes things that are not even scriptural-based. For example: multiple offerings, pastoral offerings, anniversary offerings, dictating how their members dress, who they can befriend, where they can go, etc.
It’s a very seducing spirit. These pastors are very strategic in making the members feel connected to them by using a false sense of love, care and protection. They manipulate the scriptures and subliminally create an unnatural submission to their authority, leadership and guidance. These pastors take an interest in the members, seemingly interested in their families and their issues and/or problems. Little do they realize these pastors are gathering “INFORMATION” that will later be used as ammunition to manipulate the member. If a member discloses a financial need, the pastor may “testify” as how they were in a similar situation and God they started giving more money and God blessed them. Famous words – “You can’t beat God in giving”!
Luke 6:38 King James Version (KJV) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.
New Living Translation (NLT) Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.]”
Who wouldn’t want to believe that this is true…why wouldn’t you believe it…it’s in the bible? The scriptures are indeed true, but how we are blessed may vary. It’s not as simple as they lead one to believe. This scripture doesn’t necessarily refer to money, but that is how it is explained – “if you need a $1000.00 – give $$$$!
I Cor. 11:1 - King James Version (KJV)
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
I Cor. 11:1 - Amplified Bible (AMP)
PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).
Initially, these pastors lead lives that exemplify a lifestyle of holiness in which they are following Christ, but slowly as the money starts coming in and they get bitten with the power bug, something snaps within them. They start feeling as a sense of entitlement. They feel as if they are entitled to certain privileges, rights, and control. The more they get the more they want and feel as if they deserve. They start manipulating the scriptures that dealing with giving, tithing and blessing. These pastors tell the congregants how they are great “givers”. But if they take $1000 out of their pockets and place it in the offerings…don’t they get it back because they control how the offering is spent and who’s to say that that $1000 came out of last Sunday’s offering. One favorite scripture that is often used to manipulate congregants to bless them individually is:
Matthew 10:41 King James Version (KJV) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Matthew 10:41 Amplified Bible (AMP) He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
New Living Translation (NLT) If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.
Receive = believe everything the pastor says, the more you bless (give financially) to the prophet (pastor) the more you are going to be blessed by God…in fact the ONLY way you are going to be bless by God is by blessing the pastor.
Members start believing that the reason they didn’t get that job, car, financial blessing is because they do not bless their pastor enough. And any member that does get blessed with a new car, new job, increase in finances, healing in their bodies, etc these pastors will immediately correlate this to how much that member has given.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Pastors and Leaders need to be held accountable for their roles as Pastors…
Jeremiah 3:15 (King James Version)
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:15 (Amplified Bible)
And I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart [in the final time], who will feed you with knowledge and understanding and judgment.
And the members need to take accountable for their own spiritual growth and relationship with God (not the church or Pastor)…they need to be held accountable for this knowledge and understanding that is being fed to them by the pastors.
II Tim 2: 15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
New Living Translation (NLT) An Approved Worker - Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
See it’s that first word that stops many of these members – STUDY! No one wants to study for themselves. It is so easy to rely on the Pastor to give the Word, and believe everything the pastor says without studying the Word. And that is understandable because you want to trust and believe that the Pastor is a true man or woman of God. You want to trust and believe that everything they are saying is correct. But believers are suppose to “correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth” that is being fed by the Pastors.
Unfortunately the members rely solely on what the pastor says and they continuously get manipulated by the “interpretation of the scriptures” .
And when some of these members who do study and find out that what the pastor is saying contradicts what they are studying, they are fearful in speaking about because of this main scripture
1 Chronicles 16:22 Saying, Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm.
That’s why even with all the media about the allegations surrounding Bishop Eddie Long, so many faithful followers refused to engage in any dialogue about it because they have been taught that if you repeat anything or discuss any of the negativity surrounding Bishop Long that you are “touching” him with your words.
By "Just Sayin"
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