From Uganda's "The New Vision" website. This is what happens when the Word-Faith movement gets a foothold in Africa:
Pastor in trouble over ‘sowed’ car
The Police have arrested Pastor Ronnie Badda and his wife Betty for allegedly conning a follower of her car and property worth millions of shillings. Badda and his wife were arrested from their church, Jesus Liberty Praising Centre International, in Biina-Luzira, a city suburb, on Sunday.
A witness said there was drama when the Police arrested the couple at around mid-day, leaving the believers confused.
The couple had eluded the Police, which first stormed the church last Thursday.
The Police interrogated the couple for five hours over claims that they used deceit to take Milly Akello’s car, two mobile phones, a fridge, a watch and other household items.
Badda and his wife were later released on Police bond. They reported at the station on Monday for further questioning.
The Kira Road Police Station crime chief, Grace Akullo, said Akello filed the case three weeks ago.
Akello, a resident of Luzira, claims that the couple lured her to ‘sow’ her car and property as a way to help salvage a relationship with her boyfriend in 2005.
“They told me that our relationship would recoup and end into a marriage, which never happened. “All of a sudden, they changed and started telling me that God had revealed to them that he was not the right man for me. They told me that they would get me another man and I refused,” narrated Akello.
Aug. 20-27, 2007 issue - In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation." But beyond the irony lies China's true motive: to cut off the influence of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader, and to quell the region's Buddhist religious establishment more than 50 years after China invaded the small Himalayan country. By barring any Buddhist monk living outside China from seeking reincarnation, the law effectively gives Chinese authorities the power to choose the next Dalai Lama, whose soul, by tradition, is reborn as a new human to continue the work of relieving suffering.
Last month I posted an audio of John Piper blasting the prosperity gospel. His website has an article by him entitled "Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly" in which he offers seven things to avoid regarding such teachings. Click link above for entire article. Excerpt:
When I read about prosperity-preaching churches, my response is: “If I were not on the inside of Christianity, I wouldn’t want in.” In other words, if this is the message of Jesus, no thank you.
Luring people to Christ to get rich is both deceitful and deadly. It’s deceitful because when Jesus himself called us, he said things like: “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). And it’s deadly because the desire to be rich plunges “people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). So here is my plea to preachers of the gospel.
Yesterday John Hagee was defending the health and wealth gospel on his Cornerstone show. He states:
Because of the triumph of the cross, sickness and disease is forever finished. The Bible says by His stripes we are healed. I want to tell you, we are still being healed. He is still the great Physician. Are you sitting in this room today or watching around the nations of the earth and you need a major miracle in your life? I’ve got good news. Because of the cross, our God is a miracle-working God. The Father has said What you ask of Me in the name of My Son, I will do it. Therefore, ask in faith believing, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
....Because of the victory of the cross, poverty is finished. Christ took my poverty and He gave me the riches of Abraham. I’m an heir and a join heir with Jesus Christ. Now I know there are major denominations that teach that poverty is spiritual. Please understand that poverty in the Word of God is a curse. It is the end result of sin. It is not a result of your righteousness. It is often the result of your stupidity and laziness. But it is never the result of your righteousness. God says: I will make you the head and not the tail. The Bible says I will give you the power to get wealth. I will cause your cup to run over. I will cause your territory to be enlarged. I will give you wells you didn’t dig and I’ll give you vineyards you didn’t plant and I’ll give you houses that you did not build. I will make you the lender and not the borrower. I will make you the envy of the nations, because I am going to crush poverty and give you the abundance of Abraham.
Fine, Pastor Hagee, so you say the Christian should be rich and healthy - but don't you see a little contradiction later on in your sermon?
The fourth judgment is the judgment of the nations. It’s described in Matthew 25:22. And God’s basis of judgment is going to be how the nations treated the nation of Israel. The Roman Church is going to answer for the Crusades. Rome is going to have to answer for the massacre of 70 AD and 130 AD. The crusades that robbed and murdered and raped the Jewish people, God’s going to demand an answer. Revelation 17:6 says: And I saw in the hand of the harlot a cup full with the blood, the blood of the saints - that would be the Jewish people – and the blood of the martyrs of Christ. If you don’t know what happened in the seven crusades, read up. If you’ve never heard of Fox’s Book of Martyrs, get it and read it. You want to know what happened to people who really believed in Jesus Christ during the Dark Ages, it will turn your stomach. But God is saying in Revelation 17:6, there’s a payday some day. Spain is going to have to answer for the Spanish Inquisition. Germany is going to have to answer for the Holocaust. Russia is going to have to answer for every pogrom. France is going to have to answer for the Vichy government that helped the Nazis slaughter the Jews. Palestine is going to have to answer for every suicide bomber who murdered innocent Jewish women and children.
Are you saying that some Christians have been treated poorly in the past? Are you saying that some have been beaten and even killed? Why were they not healthy and wealthy? Wasn't - as Joel Osteen would say - God's favor on them?
Incidentally, you not only got the Scripture reference wrong, but Matt. 25:31-46 isn't talking about how people treated the Jews but how they treated Christ's followers. And how, Pastor Hagee, is Jesus going to judge a nation? Is an entire nation and everyone in it going to be cast into hell? Are all generations of that nation going to be cast into hell or just certain generations? The passage is clear that individuals will be judged for their own sins, not nations as such.
People have often told me that they listen to Joyce Meyer and don't hear Word-Faith teachings. For those doubters, here is Meyer teaching about being little gods.
Joel Osteen's words of inspiration this morning are:
God longs to pour out His favor upon you.He wants to remove your burdens so you can enjoy life.He wants you to be free and living each day full of peace. He wants to assist you and give you special advantages every single day. Today’s verse talks about God’s grace, mercy, and loving-kindness—which are all part of His favor! When you receive that favor by faith, you’ll have tremendous advantage! God’s favor will cause you to be promoted even though you weren’t the most qualified. God’s favor will open a door for you that may not open for someone else. God’s favor will bring unexpected blessing from unexpected sources. Activate your faith in this area today by declaring God’s favor in your life. Thank Him for his mercy and loving-kindness. As you expect His favor, God will do unusual and extraordinary things in your life and you’ll live the life of victory that God has in store for you!
If only Paul and Peter had known that the Christian life was supposed to be so good! If only someone had told John Huss or William Tyndale, or Hugh Latimer, or the martyrs in the Sudan, or the Korean hostages of 2007!
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Homosexual Lutheran clergy who are in sexual relationships will be able to serve as pastors, the largest U.S. Lutheran body said on Saturday.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution at its annual assembly urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in "faithful committed same-gender relationships."
This is where Reuters made a mistake. This organization is no longer Lutheran. They know full well Martin Luther would have never condoned such teachings. It's time they changed their name.
A new study from LifeWay Research says 70 percent of young adults who attended a Protestant church for at least a year in high school dropped out for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. LifeWay Research conducted the survey of more than 1,000 adults ages 18-30 in April and May, Baptist Press reported Tuesday.
...Ninety-seven percent of church dropouts list a so-called life change or life situation as the reason for leaving. Reasons include, "I simply wanted a break from church" (27 percent); "I moved to college and stopped attending church" (25 percent); "Work responsibilities prevented me from attending" (23 percent); "I moved too far away from the church to continue attending" (22 percent).
Brad Waggoner, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay, said "Relationships are often the glue that keep people in church or serves as the attraction to begin attending again following a period of absenteeism. Many people are deeply influenced by friends and loved ones."
Waggoner advised, "Church leaders should passionately and consistently challenge church members to maximize their influence with youth and young adults. Frequent and intentional contact can either prevent or counteract the tendency of some to drop out of church."
I'm not of the opinion that we need to keep reinventing the wheel. I have no problem with church programs, but if it takes friends and loved ones and new programs to keep the youth in church then what kind of Christians are these youth to begin with? Why isn't the Gospel good enough anymore? Why isn't Jesus Christ good enough anymore? If flimsy excuses like work and relocation are enough to keep them away, then maybe these youth need to re-examine themselves to see if they are still in the faith.
I'm constantly amazed at Kim Clement's "accuracy"! Got this e-mail from him today:
The US Earthquake Prophecy July 28, 2007 — Harrisburg, PA
"In this Nation, yes, there shall be three earthquakes says the Lord. Not earthquakes of judgment but a sign in the earth. The wind has brought the rain. Signs from above. Fires have come on top of the land. Signs on top of the land. Fire consuming religion, consuming witchcraft, consuming control and the synagogues of Satan shall be invaded by the forces of righteousness, says the Lord of hosts. No more reasoning. No more debating. Go and show. Don't go and tell, go and show. For now you have embarked upon a period of manifestation, says the Lord. Now there must be a sign underneath the earth. And surely your earth shall shake saying to you three times and showing you three arenas. The heavens where the wind came and the rain came to America. On the earth the fires that came in the middle of this nation and shall continue in the west. And then underneath the earth - the shaking. And God says, you know why? Because the demonic powers that have held tight are now being released and being taken care of and being completely annihilated, says the Spirit of the Lord. They will never be above you, they will always be beneath you says the Spirit of the God..."
Related News Links: FOX NEWS: 4.5-Magnitude Quake Rattles Los Angeles- August 9, 2007
Well, I'm stunned! Stunned that any fan of Clement would think this was fulfilled prophecy! Having lived in California for 10 years I know that earthquakes and tremors hit Southern California every day of the year.
Got this in the mail from someone using the name John Matthews:
GOD want you to get rich!...God's word shows that He wants his children to gain MONEY and GREAT WEALTH. Just mail my CHRISTIAN CIRCULAR! I made $2,000 in six days after I mailed it!
...God's children deserve the BEST. After all, there's a Mercedes or BMW in almost every church parking lot. Why shouldn't you drive to church in style, too?
...There are lots of other programs out there, but I haven't seen any that Christian can feel proud to use. Many are dishonest and immoral.
...My program is called "The Christian Circular." The best thing about it is that you simply need to mail the special "Christian Circular." Then sit back and wait for the blessings that you have been praying for!
The bottom of the letter has "Pridemore Publishing Company, 101 W. 23rd St., #2250, New York, NY 10011.
Just for an extra blessing brother John Matthews included his very own hand print that I could put my hand over and pray "I believe that the Word of God promises me financial blessings and prosperity. I claim these miracles for myself right now. Amen." All I have to do is return it to him and he'll pray over it again.
Strange thing about that hand print, though - I didn't see any swirls in the fingerprints at all. I guess brother John must really be special, not leaving fingerprints!
Well, I'll send this in and let you know when I've made my first $2,000! By the way, if you'd like to skip the preliminaries and just donate directly, you can do so at www.getrichwithgod.com
Once again the Elijah List prophets are claiming prophetic accuracy. From "prophet" Chuck Pierce
Pray for Awakening in Minnesota following Bridge Collapse Dear Prayer Warriors:
As we continue to pray for our highways, we must include bridges. The tragedy in Minnesota is a warning for all of us. My first assignment after Dutch Sheets and I finished the 50 State Tour, was to go north to the head of the Mississippi to Minnesota and declare that the "awakening wind" of God would come to our nation. Then I was to fly south and declare that the "purifying wind" would come to the mouth of the Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina, which means "purification," then came to jar our nation. Now the collapse of this bridge is a call to "awaken." May we awaken to the signs of our times. Below are two calls to prayer from our prayer coordinators in Minnesota.
Hmm! I wonder why God couldn't have used His "prophets" to warn people of Katrina and the Minneapolis bridge collapse?
"To the Scribes, the Pharisees and the hypocrites, the heresy hunters that want to find a little mote of illegal doctrine in some Christian's eye and poke that little mote out of their eye when they've got the whole forest in their own lives and in their own eyes, I say to hell with you!" Paul Crouch.
