What Is the Tabernacle of David?

We have the most Bible translations available to us, we have an abundance of biblical resources, and we have the most Bible-accessible mediums than ever before, and yet biblical illiteracy is at its highest since Gutenberg. Many professing Christians never crack open their Bibles and bother to read its contents. This is a shame because Jesus said, "My words are spirit and life."

"In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name," Declares the LORD who does this. "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved. "Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. "I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," Says the LORD your God. Amos 9:11-15

After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, "Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, 'AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,' SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO. Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. Acts 15:13-20

In neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament did God ever promise to rebuild the tabernacle of Moses or the temple of Solomon (or Herod's temple). Nowhere in the Bible did God promise or predict a rebuilding of the temple after the one destroyed in A.D. 70. Once again, Dispensationalists need to learn how to read their Bibles more clearly and accurately. God promised to restore the tabernacle of David. What was the tabernacle of David?

In the tabernacle of Moses, the ark of the covenant was considered the place of God; the mercy seat, where the blood was sprinkled, was considered where God sat. The Israelites associated the ark of the covenant with God Himself. In 1 Samuel 4, when the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines, the Israelites had the bright idea, "Let's go get God! We'll bring God into battle with us and then we will win for sure." Even the Philistines thought that God had come into the camp. Upon defeating the Israelites, the Philistines thought, "Ha! Now we have God!" All sorts of bad things began to happen to the Philistines.

In 2 Samuel 6, David has a cart built and goes to retrieve the ark of the covenant. The problem is that they got the idea of the cart from the Philistines. That was not how God prescribed the manner in which they were to worship Him. After Uzzah died from touching the ark while trying to steady it, David was afraid to move it. The ark was to be carried by legitimate Levite priests with poles. When David finally brought the ark to Zion, he dedicated it once (just like Jesus was sacrificed once) and all the people were worshiping before it, and good things were happening.

Over where the tabernacle of Moses still was, the priests continued offering sacrifices and performing their worship duties even though God was no longer present. Even though the ark was no longer present, they did not notice a difference. This is what many "churches" are like today. God is not present with the people, and yet week after week they continue to offer their empty, godless worship.

The tabernacle of David is the New Testament era found right in the middle of the Old Testament. Read David's Psalms, where he speaks of sitting beneath the shadow of God's wings. He was talking about the wings of the Cherubim on the ark of the covenant! The tabernacle of David was a type, a foreshadow, a picture, of the Church. Amos and Acts are the only passages that speak of a rebuilding, and Acts quotes Amos in fulfillment of the Church. What does the New Testament say about Christians? We are being built into a spiritual temple. God does not dwell in temples built by human hands. The true temple is a spiritual temple, of which the others were foreshadows, and it finds its fulfillment primarily in Christ and secondarily in the Church. The only temple being built right now is us, the Church. Even if the Jews managed to rebuild their temple, it would do them no good. God is not there! Read the book of Hebrews!

Jeremiah even records for us that God told the Israelites that He would one day forsake their temple. They did not care about God, for them it was all about their temple. They worshiped the temple rather than God. Jesus even uttered the same words, that the temple would be forsaken. In A.D. 70, what happened? The temple was utterly destroyed. Dispensationalists need to learn how to read and pay attention to what the Bible actually has to say, because none of their theology is backed up by the holy Scriptures. Their restoration theology is a doctrine of demons. Anyone who follows their theology is in danger of worshiping a false god, because the God of the Bible prophesied no such things!

Do You Know How To Lose?

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." —Deitrich Bonhoeffer

That is the ultimate issue. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." What does it look like to follow Jesus? What does it look like to deny yourself and lose your life for the sake of Christ? You need to count the cost of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, because it could cost you everything. If you are not willing to lose it all, then you cannot be His disciple. Everywhere Jesus went, He was despised and rejected. Scripture says that He was a man of sorrows.

A constant and consistent problem in the first century was that God's people confused the work of the Spirit with the work of the flesh. Divine life reacts completely differently than human life. The behaviour of the Spirit is dramatically, profoundly, different from the behaviour of the flesh. The root is a lack of spiritual discernment, which comes from a lack and unwillingness to deny ourselves and lay our life down.

When Jesus was before the priests, amidst the many false accusations, amidst the lies, He remained silent. When Jesus was before Pilate, amidst the many false accusations, amidst the lies, He remained silent. When Jesus was before Herod, amidst the many false accusations, amidst the lies, He remained silent. As a human being, our natural reaction is to defend ourselves. It is difficult to remain silent while people level false accusations and lies against you. It is even more difficult to remain silent while your own hypocrisy is exposed. Selfishness and pride is quite often the immediate response in order to try to justify ourselves.

Many ministers in ministry today do not know how to lose; they do not know how to lay their lives down; they do not know how to die. They have never been broken; they have never been crushed. They are dangerous. They will defend themselves at the drop of a hat. They do not know what it means to be silent. They do not know how divinity reacts to pressure. They will attack those who sleight them at the drop of a hat. They are unbroken, they do not know how to lose, they do not know how to die, and they are out there serving the kingdom of God with one hand and destroying God's people with the other hand. None of these ministers were ever in community long enough for the Lord to temper, adjust, break, or transform them. Some of them, when things got hot, they left, they ran away. This is not how we have learned Christ Jesus. These ministers are full of ego and full of pride, and when they are under pressure the flesh gets exposed.

Such ministers are Phil Johnson, Todd Friel, Justin Peters, Chris Rosebrough, Pulpit & Pen, James White, Barry Horner, Michael Heiser, James "Jacob" Prasch, Joshua Chavez, etc., including every false teacher I am aware of. (I could provide audio, video, and written examples to prove my case, but it is not my goal to malign these individuals. I merely want to provide some examples as to what I am addressing. You can find these examples easy enough via a Google search.) For many of the above names, their stumbling block is their education, upon which their ego and pride rests comfortably. You challenge them on anything and see how quickly their educated ego rears its ugly head. They put all their trust in their education. The above paragraph describes these men to a T. Do they turn the other cheek? No! They return evil for evil. They are not acting in the Spirit, they are acting in the flesh. They are not walking in the Spirit, they are walking in the flesh. Yes, even I have been guilty of rushing in to defend myself when I have been wronged rather than to remain silent and endure the wrong doing. The above names do it on a regular basis. It is part and parcel of their behaviour. Some of them are profoundly crass, not bearing Christian behaviour in the least.

Selfishness, pride, and hypocrisy are some of the greatest sins, and they are opposed to denying yourself and laying your life down. Jesus confronted hypocrisy quite frequently. When we call ourselves Christians, are we living it out, or is it merely words dripping from our lips with no life behind it? When people wrong us, how are we reacting? Scripture commands us to suffer wrongs. We will not be able to do so all the time, but we should be able to do most of the time. If every time someone attacks us we retaliate, there is something wrong. Scripture says we ought to suffer wrong, following after Christ our example (1 Pet. 2:13-25). Paul says it is a defeat for us, and asks, "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?" (1 Cor. 6:7).

I know how difficult it is to remain silent in the midst of false accusations and lies. I know how desperately we desire to defend ourselves and our name. I tend not to care what others think or say about me, but sometimes I fall into this trap. I find that when we give in to the temptation of reacting and defending ourselves, it is because we are out of step with the Spirit and not walking, or living, in a manner that we ought to be, a manner consistent with the teachings of the New Testament. Only when we are lead by the Spirit, when we are walking by the Spirit, are we able to resist the temptation to react and remain silent. If people want to bad mouth you, let them. If you are in the right, if the truth is on your side, God will avenge you.

By the way, this also goes for when others take your credit or your credit is given to someone else. I do not remember exactly what was said to me many years ago concerning this, but it has been a hard lesson to follow. When I was younger, if I had presented an idea and it was credited to someone else, I was quick to speak up and take my credit back. Over the years, and even quite recently, there have been numerous times where credit due me was misplaced and I just bit my lip. Sometimes, others correct the miscredit for you. A couple times people have spoken up on my behalf and restored credit to me. Recently, I swung an idea past my boss and he rejected it. The other employee then repeated my same idea with one tiny addition (which did not change my original idea in the least, but added another step beyond my original idea), and the boss went for it. I was so tempted to say, "That's exactly what I just proposed," but bit my lip instead. What made it worse was the other employee going on and on for the rest of the day about "having great ideas." Each time, I desperately wanted to speak up and say, "But that idea wasn't even yours. That's what I suggested in the first place." It is difficult watching others take credit for your work. This is what self-denial looks like; this is what having no right to yourself looks like. More often than not, we want to stand up for our rights when someone wrongs us. But, again, that is not how we learned Christ. We have no right to ourselves. We have no rights. If someone wants to wrong us, let them. We are supposed to take up our cross and follow Jesus. It is not an easy task, and I have by no means achieved that goal yet. But I live each day and each situation as it comes, trying to remind myself of how Jesus spent His life. His words and His actions were always in tune.

The Biblical Place of Tithing

Tithing was an Old Testament practice, which became a requirement under the Law. We are going to examine what the Bible has to say on the issue of tithing and keep the passages in their correct context. In so doing, you are going to find that the Bible condemns many of your "pastor's" around the world who follow a tradition implemented in the 4th century under the reign of Emperor Constantine.

In Genesis 14 (cf. Hebrews 7:1-10), after winning the battle of kings, Abraham encounters Melchizedek, who was both king and priest. Abraham then gives to Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils from the battle—voluntarily. In Abraham's 175 years on this Earth, he tithed only once, and it was from the spoils of war—not from his earnings. His act of tithing would be similar to you winning the lottery or receiving a work bonus, and then tithing from it.

In Genesis 28:10-22, Jacob makes a vow to God to give a tenth of all God gives to him if God will keep him safe and bring him back to his father's house. There is no record as to whether Jacob, the Usurper, kept this vow.

In Leviticus 27:30-33 and Numbers 18:8-32, the legal requirement of tithing is made known—and clear. The Levites received no land inheritance from God, but were to be taken care of by the other tribes. The nation of Israel was required to pay tithes in order to run the country. These were basically taxes. They were mandatory and commanded. There was the tithe for their festivals (of which there were 7), there was the tithe for the poor (widows, fatherless, etc.), and there was the Levitical tithe. These tithes equate to 30-33%. But notice what these tithes were. It was not money! These tithes were edible items—oil, wine, grain, animals from their herds and flocks, etc. These tithes were food! These passages have to do with the tribe of Levi, the Levitical priesthood—not a 21st century "pastor"!

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 is the only location where you find money in relation to tithing. But what does the text say? If your tithe was too much to carry across a long distance, you were allowed to exchange it for money, and once you got to where you were going you were to exchange it back. It was for the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.

In Malachi 3:8-15, which is frequently eisegeted by dishonest preachers in order to line their own pockets, God is condemning the Jews who were failing to pay their legally required tithe. In other words, they were refusing to pay their taxes. They were refusing to take care of the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows. They were robbing God. Again, this had to do with food and not with money! Pay attention to verse 10. Preachers who use this verse to guilt congregants into giving their money to provide for their lifestyle are false teachers. Because they are dishonest with their treatment of this passage, and quite likely willfully so, they are disqualified from ministry. They are liars.

In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus curses the Scribes and Pharisees. They would tithe a tenth of even their spices, and yet they neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, truth, faithfulness, etc. Jesus was not commanding a tithe here. He was acknowledging their tithing, as part of the Law, but highlighting their neglect of more important aspects of the Law. Even though the Law required sacrifices, God had told them that He desires loyalty, knowledge of God, and obedience to the voice of God rather than sacrifices.

In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15), this giving (not "tithing") was a relief collection for the suffering church in Jerusalem (see Acts 11:27-30). Not once in the New Testament will you find an example, requirement, or command to give money to support a "pastor." Not once will you find an example where the church paid someone to deliver a message to them. This practice originated with the Greek Sophists around 500 B.C. and was incorporated into religious temples and institutions under the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century after he had built temples for Christians to worship in. Every other religion had their temples and priestly castes, and now so too would Christians. The church has never been the same ever since.

Do you see what paying attention to the context of Scripture results in? It results in you being set free from the demands and shackles that have been placed upon you by godless, unbiblical, anti-Christian religious institutes calling themselves "churches." For the first 200-300 years of the early Christians, they went from house to house worshiping God (Acts 2:2, 46; 16:40; 20:20; Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Phile. 1:2 [and if you would like to eisegete it, you can include Matt. 18:20 here]). They had no temples. There was not a single person monologuing to the whole. The body is not made up of one mouth and many ears. "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. ... But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints" (1 Cor. 14:26; 30-33). 

Giving in the New Testament is to support missionaries/church planters (which is what the apostles were), the needy, the poor, the fatherless, the widows, the sick, and the imprisoned. It is to be distributed among the church first, among your town second, and among the world third. Once you have looked after the needy in the church, you can look after the needy in your own town or local area (but make sure the Gospel is presented with it, otherwise you are merely clothing and feeding them while sending them off comfortably to Hell). Once those have been looked after, you can then look after those across the globe.

If you want to see what doing the work of Jesus and the kingdom looks like, look no further than this: "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" (Matt. 25:34-40). This is what New Testament giving ought to look like.

Your money should not be going to pay one person's (or a group of people's) salary, the bills for a building, or the maintenance and upkeep of that building. Have you ever noticed how little of the money gathered by religious institutions on Sunday mornings actually goes to where the Bible prescribes it ought to go? How much actually goes to missions or to the needy or to widows or to orphans? Less than 10%? And, again, it is not about money. What do the following groups of people predominantly need the most: widows, orphans, sick, imprisoned? Nourishment! When you encounter homeless people in your own town or area, what do they need the most? Nourishment! Perhaps even clothing and shelter. A wise individual will not give these people money because you have no idea where that will end up being used. Quite possibly on alcohol and drugs. If they truly are in need, they will have no problem with you buying their food, clothing, or whatever. If money is actually required, such as paying a bill, you can pay it for them without giving them the money. Again, how do you know the money is going where they say it is going? Christians are to be wise and discerning, not gullible and naive.

You can read my previous two articles on tithing below:
Tithing (2012)
Tithing: Is It Christian? (2020)

The "Pastor's" Shameful Gain

What is your "pastor's" favourite go-to verses proof-texted in order to guilt you into giving your hard-earned money to support his lifestyle? Or perhaps it is your "elders" who are guilty of proof-texting these verses. I will share some of the more common ones, and then we will examine their context.

"Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'" Luke 10:7-9

"I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:33-35

"For it is written in the Law of Moses, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.' God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:9-14

"Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so." 2 Corinthians 11:7-9

"The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him." Galatians 6:6

"You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:15-19

"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either." 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

"The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,' and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'" 1 Timothy 5:17-18

These are the passages favoured by the majority of Bible teachers who fleece the flock for their own gain. This is not including the various extremely over-the-top eisegeted passages used by the false teachers of the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel, which is no gospel at all. They will rip verses from the Old Testament out of their immediate context and force them to have something to do with giving them money.

In looking at Luke 10:7-9, what is the first thing that stands out to you? "...eating and drinking what they give you" and "eat what is set before you." So this passage is concerned with food and drink as wages for proclaiming the Gospel. In a similar passage, it reads: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support" (Matthew 10:8-10). The labourer of the Gospel is worthy of his support, but it has nothing to do with money.

Does Acts 20:33-35 have anything to do with paying a minister of the Gospel? No, it does not. Not in the least. The lesson is found in the final sentence: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This has nothing to do with money. Paul worked with his own hands, building tents, to provide for his needs and the needs of those with him. Paul said, "I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus," which were, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." What did Jesus say in Matthew 10:8? "Freely you received, freely give."

What does 1 Corinthians 9 have to do with? Go ahead, read the entire chapter. Do you find the mention of money found anywhere in this chapter? What things stand out while you are reading? "Do we not have a right to eat and drink?" and "For it is written in the Law of Mosess, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.'" Where is the concept of monetary gain derived from the words "is it too much if we reap material things from you"? Where is there mention of monetary payment in the words "those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel"? When Jesus sent out the 12 and the 70, he said, "Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, . . . for the worker is worthy of his support," "...eating and drinking what they give you" and "eat what is set before you." This passage speaks of eating and drinking, too.

In 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, the word translated as "wages" is opsonion (ὀψώνιον), which means "whatever is bought to be eaten with bread, as fish, flesh, and the like. And as corn, meat, fruits, salt, were given to soldiers instead of pay" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). "It primarily signifies whatever is bought to be eaten with bread, provisions, supplies for a soldier's pay" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament). In other words, a soldier's rations. It is a derivative of opsarion (ὀψάριον), which means "whatever is eaten with bread, especially food boiled or roasted; hence specifically, fish" (Thayer's); "which meant whatever in general is eaten with bread, but later came to be applied particularly to fish (TCWSDNT). Compare this passage with every other one we have looked at, and will look at, and tell me what is in view here. Money or food?

Where in Galatians 6:6 is there any mention of monetary payment for a minister of the Gospel? You have to read such a concept into the text, which is the performance of eisegesis! It is amazing how so many preachers who claim to preach the Bible verse-by-verse, line-by-line, precept-by-precept, fail to explain these passages correctly according to their context. It is more amazing how they can willfully take all these passages and force them to support their wages. If these ministers were honest with the Word of God, they would have to get a real job and work for a living like everybody else! Yet ignorant individuals within the church still think it is okay to steal money from the needy, the widows, the fatherless, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned, in order to line the preacher's pocket.

The Philippian church sent gifts several times to aid Paul in the administration of the Gospel. Where does it ever state that these gifts were monetary? When you examine "tithing" in the Old Testament, not once does it have anything to do with money. It always has to do with food. In the New Testament, it appears the preaching of the Gospel and the wages in return has to do with the same!

In 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10, what things stand out to you? "...nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it" and "if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either." Again, in connection with wages for the Gospel, food is mentioned. And what do we find in between these two verses: "...not because we do not have the right to this..." What do they have the right to? What did he just say? "...nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it." What does he say in the end? "...if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either."

What about 1 Timothy 5:17-18? Is there any mention there about monetary payment for preaching the Gospel? No, no there is not! What does it mean to be "considered worthy of double honor"? Well, it surely does not having anything to do with monetary gain. Peter addresses this pretty clearly: Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:1-4). It seems pretty clear to me what Peter is saying: "Shepherd the flock of God . . . not for shameful gain." What does Peter warn about later? "...in their greed they will exploit you..." (2 Peter 2:2-3). What does Paul tell Timothy? That men "suppose that godliness is a means of gain" (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

It is pretty interesting that most of the passages used above tend to have something to do with food and drink as wages for one's labour. It is also pretty interesting how the only time money is related to ministers is in regard to false teachers. But then again, every preacher who attempts to teach that "tithing" is a biblical requirement is a false teacher. Either they are ignorant and have not done their Bible study very accurately, which means they have failed to fulfilled 2 Timothy 2:15, or they are willfully deceiving the flock by telling them what they know not to be so. In either case, they are unfit to teach.

Not only is the position of "pastor" unbiblical, but so too is the concept of paying him to deliver you a message. This practice originated with the Greek Sophists, and was instituted by Emperor Constantine shortly after he built temples for Christians to worship in (a practice we have retained ever since, despite the early church having no such buildings for the first 200 years of its existence). And your church claims to "do everything by the Book"? They need to spend some time examining what the Book actually teaches, because much of their practices cannot be found in, let alone substantiated by, the Book.

By the way, Paul's talk about wages had nothing to do with "pastoring" a church. It had to do with the function of apostles who traveled and planted churches. How often did Paul remain with a church before moving on? How much time passed before he saw these churches again, if he ever saw them again? Spend some time researching this. It will benefit you immensely. Let the truth set you free from the shackles that have been placed upon you.

Todd White: Liar, Conman, and False Teacher

Todd White is on video having said, "You've been taught things like 'God's in control.' The Bible doesn't teach that." Not only is Todd White a liar, but he is also a conman and a false teacher. Apparently there is a pandemic of people in this world who have one leg shorter than the other. If you slow videos of Todd "healing" people's "short legs," you can see him manipulate the leg as if one is growing. Todd is a Snake Oil Salesman. And he has the audacity to attack people who call him out as the false teacher he is and tell them that they should be praying for him? I am sure these people have and do pray for you, Todd; that the Lord would save you, that you would confess your sins of deceiving the flock and fleecing them like your mentor Kenneth Copeland, and that you would repent with godly repentance.

In response to a video that features many of Todd's false teachings, called American Gospel: Christ Alone, Todd accuses these people of acting like God's police. Well, Todd, all Christians are supposed to act as God's police. They are commanded to test the spirits and be on guard against false teachers. If Todd bothered to read his Bible, he would know that the Bible repeatedly warns against such things and even names names. To see just some of what God's Word, the Bible, has to say in regard to false teachers, you can read this article: Regarding False Teachers.

Todd has many false teachings as part of his theology, including the teachings that Jesus went to Hell, was tortured by the demons, and had to be born again. This theology is a doctrine of demons. You will find no such teachings in the sacred Scriptures breathed out by God Almighty, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Todd also teaches that Satan does not need God's permission to do anything, that he already has the authority. According to this demonic theology of Todd's, God and Satan are equally all powerful and they are eternally in combat against each other. A cosmic good versus evil scenario. This is also unbiblical. God created Lucifer. Lucifer has no power except that which God grants him. Hell was made for the devil and his minions, and expanded for sinful man. The devil and his demons are torturing no one in Hell. It will be a place of their torment, too. Todd might know this if he bothered to read his Bible rather than make stuff up and follow after other liars, conmen, and false teachers.

Todd White attempts to play the victim, like most SJW Democratic Liberals today. He knows he is a liar, a conman, and a false teacher. He also knows that he is not a child of God and that the Holy Spirit does not reside in him, and that Jesus does not know him. Unless Todd repents and trusts in Christ for his salvation, he is destined to spend eternity in Hell.

In answer to Todd White's false statement quoted above, here are various passages in Scripture that speak of God's sovereignty (supreme and ultimate independent and unrestricted power and authority, without interference from outside sources):

God Is Sovereign Over . . .

Seemingly random things:

The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD.

(Proverbs 16:33)

The heart of the most powerful person in the land:

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;

he turns it wherever he will.

(Proverbs 21:1)

Our daily lives and plans:

A man’s steps are from the LORD;

how then can man understand his way?

(Proverbs 20:24)

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

(Proverbs 19:21)

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. . . .  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

(James 4:13-15)

Salvation:

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

(Romans 9:15-16)

As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

(Acts 13:48)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

(Romans 8:29-30)

Life and death:

See now that I, even I, am he,

and there is no god beside me;

I kill and I make alive;

I wound and I heal;

and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

(Deuteronomy 32:39)

The LORD kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

(1 Samuel 12:6)

Disabilities:

Then the LORD said to [Moses], “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?”

(Exodus 4:11)

The death of God’s Son:

Jesus, [who was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

(Acts 2:23)

For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

(Acts 4:27-28)

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

he has put him to grief. . . .

(Isaiah 53:10)

Evil things:

Is a trumpet blown in a city,

and the people are not afraid?

Does disaster come to a city,

unless the LORD has done it?

(Amos 3:6)

I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being and create calamity,

I am the LORD, who does all these things.

(Isaiah 45:7)

“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. . . . “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

(Job 1:21-22; 2:10)

[God] sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. . . . As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

(Psalm 105:17; Genesis 50:21)

All things:

[God] works all things according to the counsel of his will.

(Ephesians 1:11)

Our God is in the heavens;

he does all that he pleases.

(Psalm 115:3)

I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

(Job 42:2)

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

and he does according to his will among the host of heaven

and among the inhabitants of the earth;

and none can stay his hand

or say to him, “What have you done?”

(Daniel 4:35)

 God Is Sovereign Over . . .

1. the universe (Ps. 103:19; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11)
2. nature (Ps. 135:6-7; Matt. 5:45; 6:25-30)
3. angels and Satan (Ps. 103:30-31; Job 1:12)
4. nations (Ps. 47:7-9; Dan. 2:20-21; 4:34-35)
5. human beings (1 Sam. 2:6-7; Gal. 1:15-6)
6. animals (Ps. 104:21-30; 1 Kings 17:4-6)
7. “accidents” (Pr. 16:33; John 1:7; Matt. 10:29)
8. free acts of men (Ex. 3:21; 12:25-36; Ez. 7:27)
9. sinful acts of men and Satan (2 Sam. 24:1; 1 Chr. 21:1; Gen. 45:5; 50:20)

Listed below are just a few of the passages of Scripture from the Gospel of John that declare that our Father is in complete control, even when we think that He is not.

•  "...Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)
• "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven." (John 3:27)
• "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. (Greek, thelo [θελω]: wills)" (John 5:21)
• "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me..." (John 6:37)
• "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing..." (John 6:39)
• "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." (John 6:44)
• "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
• "...And I give eternal life to them (my sheep), and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27-28)
• "For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART; LEST THEY SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND I HEAL THEM." (John 12:39-40)
• "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above..." (John 19:11)

Below are a few key sovereignty scriptures taken from various other parts of the Bible.

• "...For the LORD your God hardened his (Pharaoh's) spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today." (Deut. 2:30)
• "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts." (1 Sam. 2:6-7)
• "...Power and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee." (2 Chron. 20:6)
• "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee. For the kingdom is the LORD'S, and He rules over the nations." (Ps. 22:27-28)
• "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all." (Ps. 103:19)
• "Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps." (Ps. 135:6)
• "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." (Prov. 16:9)
• "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." (Prov. 16:11)
• "...There is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" (Is. 43:3)
  
• "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?..." (Matt. 20:15)
• "The things impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
• "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
• "For this is a word of promise: 'AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.' And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, 'THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.' Just as it is written, 'JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.'" (Rom. 9:9-13) 
• "For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.' So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." (Rom. 9:15-18)
• "On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?" (Rom. 9:20-21)
• "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Rom. 11:29)
• "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." (1 Cor.  15:10)
• "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world..." (Eph. 1:4)
• "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace..." (Eph. 1:5-6)
• "He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to . . . the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth." (Eph. 1:9-10)
• "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6)
• "...Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:12-13)
• "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son." (Col. 1:13)
• "And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of (Greek, prototokos [πρωτοτοκος]: prior to and sovereign over) all creation." (Col. 1:15)
• "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." (1 Thess. 5:24)
• "Who desires (Greek, thelo [θελω]: will have) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:4)

All God's purposes for our lives here on earth (and beyond) will stand, whether we believe it or not. God is self-governed, and He governs the entire created universe. Instead of claiming that the Bible does not teach something it clearly does, and making himself look like a complete and utter illiterate fool, Todd White would do well to actually open a Bible and read it!

Regarding False Teachers

How to Identify False Teachers.

"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn." Isaiah 8:20

"So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." Malachi 3:18

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit." Matthew 7:15-17

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:22-26

Are We to Judge and Expose False Teachers?

"As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith." 1 Timothy 1:3-4

"Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret." Ephesians 5:11-12

"This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme." 1 Timothy 1:18-20

The Sin of Greed. (This is why we have so many false teachers. For many, it is a Get-Rich-Quick scheme. For others, they do not speak the truth because it will cause people to leave; less people means less money.)

"If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain." 1 Timothy 6:3-5

"Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 2 Peter 2:2-3

Increase of False Teachings within Christianity!

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Be On Guard for False Doctrine.

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" Galatians 1:6-8

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." 2 John 1:10-11

"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting." Romans 16:17-18

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." Colossians 2:8

Warning Against Adding to, Taking Away from, and Twisting the Prophecy (Applicable to Scripture).

"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19

Test the spirits: Guard Yourself with the Bible.

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1

"But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Rebuke Them.

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Timothy 4:1-2

"Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned." Titus 3:10-11

Reminders.

"As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:14-16

"For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 1:4

While They Might Look Like a Christian and Do Good Deeds, Remember That Even Satan Disguises Himself.

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:2-5

"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44

There are many passages addressing false teachers and false teachings in the Bible. 1 Timothy 6:3-10, 2 Peter 2, and Jude 3-16 are some large passages. They will not only come from without, but also from within. We need to constantly be on guard, dwelling in the Word, and praying for discernment. If we do not know our Bibles well, then we will be able to be easily deceived. There are many who appear to be righteous, but they are venomous ministers of darkness masquerading as ministers of light. Truth offends. If it does not offend, then it is not truth that is being spoken.

False teachers throw away clear teachings in the Bible and twist the Bible to justify sin. They spread the false prosperity gospel because of their greed. They will say things like, "Hell is not real," "Jesus is not God," and "I can't judge, you can be Christian and live in rebellion." They are proud and conceited people. They appear on magazine covers because the world loves them. Most are nothing more than motivational speakers who only talk about a false Hippie kind of "love" and your best life now. These false teachers never preach on sin because they do not want to offend anyone.

If a false teacher tells you not to judge them because the Bible says not to judge, that is a clear indication that your assessment of them is correct, because the Bible informs us to judge with righteous judgement. If you are not allowed to judge, then how could you possibly judge against false teachers, which the Word of God expressly tells us to do? It warns us against such things for a reason. Christians can identify false teachers by aligning what they say and teach with what Scripture says and teaches, and by how they act. If something appears to be not quite right, search the Scriptures and judge with righteousness so that the truth is not blasphemed. We must defend the truth!

Sadly, too many people within Christendom are willfully allowing false teachers to spread their lies throughout Christianity, and very few people are standing up against them. The present-day Church is married to the world, concerned with the world, and placating to the world. This is not what Jesus envisioned for His Bride. As Scripture puts forth, when Jesus returns will He find faith on the Earth? Or a bunch of false converts, hypocrites, and apostates?

Here's a small list of just some of the false teachers out there:

Ché Ahn Jennie Allen Neil Anderson Paul & Andi Andrew Tomi Arayomi Herbert Armstrong John & Carol Arnott John Avanzini Mel & Desiree Ayres Jimmy Baker Rolland & Heidi Baker Marlyne Barrett Mark Batterson Rob Bell Todd Bentley Kenton Beshore Mike Bickle Tudor Bismark Nadia Bolz-Weber Shawn Bolz Greg Boyd Rodney Howard Brown Juanita Bynum Christine Caine Stacie Campbell Harold Camping Tony Campolo Ergun Caner Charles Capps Timothy Bruce "Bruxy" Cavey Morris Cerullo Steve Chalke Mahesh Chavda David Yongii Cho Shane Claiborne Randy Clark Kim Clement Tracey Cook Graham Cooke Kenneth & Gloria Copeland Paul Crouch John Crowder Jim Cymbala Jennifer Kennedy Dean Creflo Dollar Francois Du Toit Jesse Duplantis Debbie Eaton Lou Engle Rachel Held Evans Russel & Sam Evans Margaret Feinberg Charles Finney Don Finto Richard Foster Jentezen Franklin Steven Furtick Daniel Fusko Charlotte Gambil Eric Geiger Jack Graham Trisha Graves Jessi Green Craig Groeschel Nicky Gumbel David Guzik Mimi Haddad John Hagee Ted Haggard Kenneth Hagin Nick Hall Lisa Harper

Michael & Carol Hart Jen Hatmaker Jack Hayford Eric Heard Nate Heitzig Skip Heitzig Jack Hibbs Marilyn Hickey Benny Hinn Ed Hindson Zane C. Hodges David Hogan Bryan & Bobbie Houston Cindy Jacobs T. D. Jakes Brad Jersak Bill Johnson Brian & Jenn Johnson Tony Jones Rick Joyner Bianca Juarez Olthoff Haron Kaisa John P. Kelly E. W. Kenyon Erin Kerr Patricia King David Koresh Michael Koulianos Greg & Val Kurjata Madeleine L'Engle Nora Lam Greg Laurie Jennifer LeClaire Witness Lee Carl Lentz Aaron Levy Banning Liebscher Heather Lindsey David Lister Eddie Long Anne Graham Lotz Levi Lusko Rebekah Lyons David Mainse Zach Manis Texx Marrs Molly Marshall John C. Maxwell Brian McLaren Adam Mesa Diego & Cindy Mesa Eric Metaxas Joyce Meyer Brent Miller, Sr. Donald Miller John Milton* Kelly Minter Jen Miskov Miles Monroe Beth Moore Hayley Morgan Robert Morris Malcolm Muggeridge Mike Murdock Arnold Murray Raechel Myers Shauna Niequist Henri Nouwen Bianca Olthoff John Ortberg Joel & Victoria Osteen Doug Pagitt

Rod Parsley Earl Paulk Norman Vincent Peale Fred Phelps (and family) Cal Pierce Chuck Pierce Peter Popoff James A. "Jacob" Prasch Frederick Price Joseph Prince Bob Proctor Shane Pruitt Chris Quilala Chris Quintana Rodney Reeves Raul Reis Ryan Reis Sarah Jakes Robers Oral Roberts Richard Roberts Pat Robertson James Robison Samuel "Sammy" Rodriguez Richard Rohr Sid Roth Jennifer Rothschild Ricky Rush Charles Taze Russell Gabriel Salguero Robert Schuller Susie Shellenberger Priscilla Shirer Ed Silvoso Brian Simmons Walid Shoebat Joseph Smith Judah Smith David J. Stewart Diana Stone Perry Stone Tim Suttle Jimmy Swaggart Wes Tameifuna Leroy Thompson Phillis Tickle Robert Tilton Jack van Impe Kris Vollotton Ann Voskamp Derek Vreeland Alexis James Waggoner C. Peter Wagner Sheila Walsh Raphael Warnock Thomas Wesley Weeks, III Stovall & Kerri Weems Ellen G. White Randy & Paula White Todd White Bruce Wilkinson Dallas Willard Amanda Bible Williams John Wimber Oprah Winfrey Andrew Wommack Philip Yancey Brigham Young Ed Young Sarah Young William P. Young Michael Youssef Brian Zahnd

The above names are low hanging fruit, the most obvious kind of false teachers. Many of the following names are false teachers in their own right, especially those of the Dispensational and Calvinistic persuasions; they are the most dangerous kind of false teachers, wolves dressed in sheep's clothing:

Jay E. Adams Thomas Adams* Randy Alcorn Eric J. Alexander Joseph Alleine* Isaac Ambrose* William Ames* Thabiti Anyabwile (Ron Burns) Gleason L. Archer, Jr. Aaron Armstrong John Arrowsmith* Stephen Arterburn Kay Arthur John Ball* Richard Baker* Albert Barnes Donald Grey Barnhouse William Bates* Voddie Baucham Herman Bavinck Richard Baxter* Paul Baynes* G. K. Beale Joel Beeke Alistair Begg Louis Berkhof John & Lisa Bevere Hugh Binning* Henry Blackaby Darrel Bock Loraine Boettner James Montgomery Boice Robert Bolton* Samuel Bolton* Dietrich Bonhoeffer Robert R. Booth Thomas Boston* James P. Boyce William Bridge* Jerry Bridges Timmy Brister Benjamin Brook* Thomas Brooks* Michael Brown Robert Browne* F. F. Bruce Henry Bullinger* John Bunyan* Anthony Burgess* Denny Burk Jeremiah Burroughs* Edmund Calamy* John Calvin* Kirk Cameron Robert S. Candlish D. A. Carson Thomas Cartwright* Joseph Caryl* Thomas Case* Lewis Sperry Chafer Tim Challies Oswald Chambers Francis Chan Matt Chandler Walter J. Chantry Bryan Chapell Gary Chapman H. B. Charles Stephen Charnock* Isaac Chauncy* Tim Chester G. K Chesterton R. Scott Clark David Clarkson* Henry Cloud Elisha Coles* John Colquhoun* Charles Colson Ray Comfort Tim Conway John Cotton* Mal Couch Tobias Crisp* Oliver Cromwell* Brian Croft John R. Cross R. L. Dabney John Nelson Darby John Davenant* F. Delitzsch Mark Dever Kevin DeYoung James Dobson Philip Doddridge* George Downame* John Downame* Martin Downes Mark Driscoll J. Ligon Duncan John Eaton* Jonathan Edwards* John C. Egerdahl John Eldredge Jim & Elisabeth Elliot David J. Engelsma Millard J. Erickson Ebenezer Erskine* Jerry Falwell Jeff & Shaunti Feldhahn Sinclair Ferguson J. V. Fesko John Fischer Edward Fisher* Samuel Fisk John Flavel* Brian Flynn John Frame Thomas Gataker* Norman Geisler Kenneth L. Gentry Jim & Elizabeth George John H. Gerstner Gene A. Getz Louie Giglio Greg Gilbert John Gill Gary Gilley

Robert "Bob" Glenn Thomas Goodwin* A. J. Gordon Thomas Gouge* Billy Graham Franklin Graham J. D. Greear Richard Greenham* William Greenhill* Wayne Grudem Os Guiness Robert H. Gundry William Gurnall* William Guthrie* Joseph Hall* O. Hallesby H. H. Halley Ken Ham Hank Hanegraaff John Hannah Colin Hanson Joshua Harris Michael S. Heiser Howard Hendricks William Hendriksen Matthew Henry* A. A. Hodge Charles Hodge Anthony A. Hoekema Herman Hoeksema Ezekiel Hopkins* Michael Horton Kent Hovind John Howe* Dave Hunt Bill Hybels Daniel R. Hyde Thomas Ice Gary Inrig H. A. Ironside Grant Jeffrey Jerry Jenkins William Jenkyn* David Jeremiah Dennis E. Johnson Jesse Johnson Phil Johnson Benjamin Keach* C. F. Keil Timothy Keller D. James Kennedy Mark Kieler Karen Kingsbury Gerhard Kittel Meredith Kline Hanserd Knollys* R. B. Kuiper George Eldon Ladd Tim LaHaye William Law* Steve Lawson C. S. Lewis John Lightfoot* Hal Lindsey Jason Lisle Paul E. Little Martyn Lloyd-Jones Christopher Love* Max Lucado Sean Michael Lucas Martin Luther* Erwin Lutzer Robert Murray M'Cheyne J. Gresham Machen John F. MacArthur William MacDonald C. J. Mahaney Thomas Manton* Matt Marino Walter Marshall* Walter Martin Mike Mason Cotton Mather* Keith A. Mathison James McDonald Josh McDowell J. Vernon McGee Matthew Mead* Joseph Mede* David Miller Samuel Miller Chuck Missler Albert J. Mohler Joshua "Chavez" Monroe D. L. Moody Russell D. Moore Christopher W. Morgan G. Cambell Morgan Andrew Murray David Murray Iain Murray John Murray Henry M. Morris Andy Naselli Daniel Neal Watchman Nee Christopher Ness* Stephen Nichols Phillip Nye* Thomas C. Oden Dane Ortlund John Owen* J. I. Packer Les & Leslie Parrott Burk Parsons Michael & Debi Pearl Frank E. Peretti William Pemble* J. Dwight Pentecost William Perkins* Justin Peters Robert A. Peterson John Phillips Richard D. Phillips A. W. Pink Barnabas Piper

John Piper David Platt Matthew Poole* Vavasor Powell* Vern S. Poythress John Preston* Charles Price Thom Rainer Dennis & Barbara Rainey John Rainolds* Dave Ramsey Leonard Ravenhill Paris Reidhead Tony Reinke Robert L. Reymond Edward Reynolds* Ron Rhodes Gary & Betsy Ricucci Herman Ridderbos Kim Riddlebarger Francis Roberts* A. T. Robertson John Robinson* Richard Rogers* Chris Rosebrough Samuel Rutherford* J. C. Ryle Leland Ryken Philip Graham Ryken Charles C. Ryrie John Saltmarsh* John Samson Ken Sande J. Oswald Sanders John P. Sartelle Francis A. Schaeffer Philip Schaff Thomas Schreiner C. I. Scofield Henry Scudder* John Sedgewick* Obadiah Sedgewick* Thomas Shepard* Richard Sibbes* Charles Simeon Gary Smalley Stephen Smallman Lewis B. Smedes Chuck Smith John Smyth* R. C. Sproul C. H. Spurgeon* Miles J. Stanford Andy Stanley Charles Stanley Ray C. Stedman Richard Steele* Ed Stetzer  Don Stewart John R. W. Stott Alexander Strauch Greg Strawbridge Lee Strobel Augustus Strong Leonard Sweet Charles Swindoll George Swinnock* Paul Tautges Justin Taylor Thomas Taylor* Tullian Tchividjian Lysa TerKeurst Henry C. Thiessen Derek Thomas I. D. E. Thomas R. A. Torrey Robert Towne* A. W. Tozer Robert Traill* John Trapp* Paul David Tripp Tedd Tripp A. Craig Troxel Carl Trueman William Twisse* Merrill F. Unger James Ussher* Gene Veith Ralph Venning Robert Venning Marvin R. Vincent Milton Vincent Nathaniel Vincent Thomas Vincent W. E. Vine Geerhardus Vos Nick Vujicic Samuel E. Waldron Bruce K. Waltke John Walvoord Samuel Ward* B. B. Warfield Rick Warren Paul Washer Thomas Watson* Trevin Wax John Wesley Warren W. Wiersbe James R. White George Whitefield Donald S. Whitney William Wilberforce Andrew Willet* Daniel Williams* Harold L. Willmington Douglas Wilson Octavius Winslow Herman Witsius* Nancy L. DeMoss Wolgemuth N. T. Wright Kenneth Wuest Richard Wurmbrand K. P. Yohannan Ray Yungen Ravi Zacharias Spiros Zodhiates

Avoid music and ministry from these churches:

Bethel Church
Celebration Church
Elevation Church
Gateway Church
Hillsong Church
iHOP
Lakewood Church
Passion Church
Planetshakers Church
Saddleback Church

* = Reformers and Puritans

Spurgeon On Romans 7:14-25

Charles Haddon Spurgeon believed Romans 7:14-25 to be the Christian's experience, and said that the one who does not recognize this experience in himself is:

•  "evidently mistaken, and I believe willfully mistaken; for any ample-hearted, candid mind, reading through this chapter, could not fall into such an error."
  
• "I am afraid you are not a living child of God."
• "I will tell you the reason of your false peace. You have not the grace of God in your hearts."

This is a clear example of why we do not idolize preachers, but rest wholly on correct exposition of the Word of God. Charles Spurgeon was incorrect in his interpretation of Romans 7:14-25. He, like many before him throughout the centuries, interpreted Romans 7:14-25 via experientialism. You cannot interpret Scripture based upon your experiences!

Anyone educated in hermeneutics, exposition, exegesis, logic, critical thinking, context, and possessing common sense, reading through Romans chapters 6 through 8 will easily be able to notice that Romans 7:14-25 cannot possibly be referring to a Christian experience. First, you have the context to deal with. Second, you have the Greek grammar to address. Third, you have the original Greek words to consult. Last, you have the verb usage to consider.

If you contrast the typical experiential interpretation of Romans 7:14-25 against chapters 6 and 8, you have a colossal problem. Look at what Paul says to his audience in chapters 6 and 8, and then look at what you are claiming chapter 7:14-25 is teaching. It is contradictory! It makes Paul to be a hypocrite. In chapter 6, Paul tells his audience, "Consider yourselves dead to sin," "Do not present the members of your body as instruments of unrighteousness," "Sin shall not be master over you," and that they have "been freed from sin." In chapter 8, Paul tells his audience, "Jesus has set you free from the law of sin," "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God," and "If you are putting to death the deeds of the body, by the Spirit, you will live." Yet he apparently says in chapter 7 that he never does the good he knows he ought to do, but always does the evil he knows he ought not to do?

After Paul says, "Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more," he then begins a series of rhetorical questions (6:1; 6:15; 7:7; 7:13), provides strong denials against these questions (6:2; 6:15; 7:7; 7:13), and then proceeds to give an answer (6:2-14; 6:16-7:6; 7:7-12; 7:13-25) to the looming questions he knows his audience has with regard to the statements he has made (5:20; 6:14; 7:5-6; 7:9-11). The rhetorical question he asks in verse 13 is not answered in verse 13, and then gears switched to discuss whether or not a Christian still sins. 1 John addresses this question rather clearly!

According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the Greek word translated as "sold" in verse 14 means "to be entirely under the control of the love of sinning." Does that sound like a Christian to you? Verse 15 uses the Greek word prasso followed by the Greek word poieo, and in verse 19 the usage is reversed. Prasso means "to habitually practice" while poieo means "to purpose." In other words, in verse 15 Paul says, "I am not habitually practicing good, but I purpose to do evil," and in verse 19 he says, "I do not purpose to do good, but I habitually practice evil." Does any of that sound like a Christian?

All through Romans 7:14-25, which, in context, begins with a rhetorical question asked in verse 13, and is thus the complete answer to the rhetorical question, the language is not that of a Christian! Read what Paul says in 7:7-8, and then look at what is being said in verses 15 and 19. The Law said not to covet. The good he wanted to do—not covet, he found all he could do was covet. The bad he did not want to do—covet, he found he was not able to prevent. Romans 7:14-25 is a man in relation to the Law. It is not a Christian!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, like many before him, and many after him, was completely and utterly wrong concerning this passage. Likewise, people misinterpret Galatians 5:17, which states that the Spirit and the flesh are opposed to one another "so that you may not do the things that you would do." Without the Spirit, you would be doing these things. Tell me, in a dog fight between the flesh and the Spirit, who do you think will win? The Spirit! Hands down every time. If this is the Christian experience, I would be curious to see Spurgeon's interpretation on 1 John 3.

Those who tend to ignore the context of Romans 7 and the surrounding chapters and interpret it through experience, tend to also use it as an excuse for living in sin: "Well, you know, the good I want to do I don't do, and the bad I don't want to do I do." It becomes a convenient excuse for those living in sin who have a false assurance of salvation. Out of Spurgeon's error, he then levels false accusations against those who would see it differently (and correctly) from him. Charles Spurgeon may have been a gifted preacher, but nevertheless he was not God. Everything he spoke or wrote was not golden, nor was it the Gospel truth. He had some mistaken interpretations and held to some erroneous beliefs. Do not be a personality follower! Do not idolize any man, not even myself. In all things, be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures, studying to make yourself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth. The only person you should be following and imitating is Christ Jesus.

The False Gospel of Restorationism

Jacob Prasch: "Once the harpazo transpires, the Lord will refocus His primary intentions on the salvation of Israel, although not salvation in the sense that we understand it, not by grace; it will revert back to the Old Testament way of dealing with man and the nations."

This sentiment is held by every Dispensationalist, Zionist, and Restorationist. Whether spoken by Jacob Prasch, L. S. Chafer, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Dwight Pentecost, Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, John MacArthur, or any other individual holding to these beliefs, the statement is completely and utterly false! It is unbiblical and betrays an ignorance of these individuals as regards Scripture.

What this statement is saying is that after the "rapture," the new covenant will cease and everything will revert back to the old covenant. What this statement is saying is that after the "rapture," Jews will not have to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Again, such a statement betrays the ignorance of these individuals and their ignorance of Scripture. In the Old Testament, believing Jews were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. In other words, they believed in Him and trusted in Him for their salvation. In the New Testament, this has come to light and it has been seen and testified to.

All these individuals who believe such a ridiculous, asinine, and foolish statement such as this need to read the book of Hebrews. There will not be a return to the things of old. Not even God Himself can return to what once was. Individuals teaching such things are teaching another Gospel—a false Gospel!

These individuals really need to read and pay careful attention to Galatians 3, Ephesians 2:11-3:13, Romans 11:17-26 (in connection with Romans 2:28-29 and 9:6-8), and the book of Hebrews. All of these passages (and more) dismantle and destroy Restoration Theology. Restorationism is a false gospel. All through the Old Testament, God prophesied concerning the Gentile inclusion (inclusion into what?). The passages I provided above (and more) speak toward this fulfillment. Romans 11:17-26 makes it clear that it is expansion theology (expansion of what?)—not "Replacement" Theology.

In the Old Testament, who was typified as the vine? The nation of Israel. When Jesus came, He said, "I am the true vine." What was He saying? He was saying, "I am the true Israel." Hence all the quotations of Old Testament passages applied to Jesus, such as "Out of Egypt I called my Son." Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and fulfilled what Israel could not fulfill in the desert for 40 years: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of the Lord." Jesus fulfilled all that the nation of Israel foreshadowed. The nation of Israel prefigured the spiritual community that would one day display God's eternal nature on the Earth—that is, the Church, the Body of Christ, His Bride. Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism. It was never about national Israel; and it never will be! Just as Jesus is the second Adam, He is also the second Israel. The true Israel becomes the Church of Christ and the Church of Christ emerges as the true Israel. Anyone who does not teach and believe this, does not believe God or His Word!

In Romans 11:17-24, the apostle Paul divides national, physical, ethnic Israel into two groups: believing Israel and unbelieving Israel. According to Romans 2:28-29, unbelieving Israel are not true Jews. According to Romans 9:6-8, unbelieving Israel do not belong to Israel. John the Baptist said, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” What does Galatians 3 have to say about those who are the true children of Abraham? Even Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do,” and, “But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” Paul then takes believing Gentiles and places them in with believing Israel. If believing Israel are true Jews (Rom. 2:28-29) belonging to true Israel (Rom. 9:6-8), what does that make the included Gentiles?

Ergo, true Israel is expanded by the Gentile inclusion, becoming the Church, thereby becoming the true people of God (1 Pet. 2:9-10), the "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16). How these individuals miss this is beyond me. Clearly God has put scales on their eyes "so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not hear." I praise God that He removed those scales from my eyes, and I pray He continues to remove those scales from the eyes of others for His glory.

The Bible is not Israel-centric; it is Christ-centric. The entire Bible, from beginning to end, is about Jesus. On the road to Emmaus, when Jesus went through the Scriptures (the entire Old Testament), He did not show them "Israel"; He showed them Himself. All Scripture is about Jesus. He is the fulfillment of everything! Again, read Hebrews and pay attention to what it says. The same goes for the other passage I provided above. The only way a Jew gets saved is like everybody else. They must come to Jesus and accept that He is the Messiah, God incarnate. Until or unless they do this, they will spend eternity in Hell along with every other unbeliever.

Individuals holding to this bankrupt theology can accuse me of being an "anti-semite" all they want (I get the impression they throw that phrase around the way Muslims throw "Islamophobe" around and homosexuals throw "homophobe" around), but I accuse them of far worse: they are anti-Christ! If I am anti-semitic, then they are anti-Christ. It is these individuals who are the anti-semitics because, if the bankrupt theology they hold to is the least bit true, they are encouraging Jews to return to their land knowing full well that when they do, 1/3 of them will be annihilated. It is these people who are the anti-semites! If they truly believed their false, bankrupt theology of demons that idolizes and worships the nation of Israel, they would warn them not to return to the land. And if it was a thing from God, they would return regardless of your warnings. That is how prophecy works!

By the way, when such individuals relate the "rapture" to the shutting of the door of the ark, not only are they betraying their own ignorance, but they are agreeing with Amillennial theology. When the door of the ark was shut, everything outside the ark perished. If the "rapture" is in kind with the shutting of the door of the ark, then, guess what? Once the "rapture" takes place, everyone that remains perishes. Guess what? That is what 2 Peter 3:10 teaches as well. The "thief" comment either refers to the "rapture," or it refers correctly to the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. If it refers to the "rapture," guess what? Once the "rapture" takes place, the heavens and earth and everything in them will be burned up, which means that everything perishes. No "7-year great tribulation"; no "millennial kingdom." If it refers to the Second Coming, which it does, guess what? Once it takes place, the heavens and earth and everything in them will be burned up, which means that everything perishes. No "millennial kingdom." After the Second Coming comes the Age to Come—eternity.

Dispensationalism, Zionism, and Restorationism are bankrupt theologies. They are doctrines of demons. They are false gospels. Jewish believers should be nothing apart from Gentile believers, and Gentile believers should not be proud because without the Jewish believers they would be nothing. The two together make up the whole. God broke down the dividing wall and made of the two one new man. The Church consists of both believing Jews and believing Gentiles, both Old Testament saints and New Testament saints. Pray that God would remove the scales, open the eyes, and enlighten the minds of these individuals to receive and believe the word of God (the Bible) and the Word of God (Jesus), and to stop calling Him a liar.