Is Your Pastor Following God Or His Own Ambition? (Ambitious Pastors Series)

By Travon Potts July 6, 2009 9:00 am

I’ve been hearing something lately that has really gotten under my skin. Some pastors have been saying it a lot since my early years as a Christian until now. The word is vision. Some will say, “our pastor has great vision”. Others will say, “We are following our pastor’s vision”. A lot of modern pastors I’ve heard will quickly quote part of Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” (KJV) What I find interesting is that most of the pastors I’ve heard speak or write about this subject of vision leave off the second half of that verse where it says “…. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he”(KJV)

Some pastors use the skill of manipulation to influence people by distorting the first half of Proverbs 29:18. Often they use the scare tactic of “lack of vision” being parallel to death. Where there is no vision, the people perish”. The result of distorting this passage is, parishioners following pastors and not God. I thought about this long and hard. I too drank the proverbial punch for part of my Christian life.

To get me in lock step with this unbiblical way of thinking, I was given buzz phrases over the years. Maybe some of you have heard this stuff. Try this one on for size, “buy-in”, and “you have to buy-in to the vision of this ministry”. How about this one, “There is one vision in this house”. Now there is a new one making the rounds in manipulation centers that call themselves churches, “you must have this ministry’s DNA”.

Influence through mind manipulation is not new. Is there a biblical example of this? Good question. Yes, and we can find it in Genesis 11:1-8. The parallels are astounding. This is the story of the Tower of Babel. At this point in human history, everyone on the earth was in one place and under the leadership of one man by the name of Nimrod. Verse 1 says “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech” (KJV). This means that everyone was not only using the same language but every word they said meant the same thing. At this time there were no colloquial terms or slang. During this point in history, if someone were to say “that is a hot suit”, no one would think that it was either stolen or it was great looking, the understanding would be simply that the suit would burn you. Think about it, how many times you have heard pastors encourage their parishioners to be of one mind and saying the same thing. Some pastors will even use Genesis 11:1 as a reference.

After settling in the land of Shinar the people all made the decision to make a name for themselves. The funny thing is, at this point, no one asked the question, “why are we making a name for ourselves”. If you think about it, no one else was on the earth according to scripture.

“Making a name for themselves”, where did this thinking come from. At that time, the most influential person on the earth was Nimrod (Gen 10:8). When Nimrod decided to build his kingdom it was built (Gen 10:10). If we go back to Gen 11 we see that the people start building this kingdom and the purpose was to make a name for themselves. Have you ever seen the effect that the press has on some pastors and leaders? Some pastors or PASTARS are tickled by seeing not just their name, but their church’s name in magazines or newspapers or mentioned on television. The goal of many churches and pastors is to make a name for themselves. Why? Isn’t it about lifting up God and building His kingdom?

Part 2 is coming. Stay tuned!

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  • Music Man
    7-7-2009 2:36 pm

    Cedric, it sounds like Bro Potts point is this new catch phrase error. I don’t believe or hope that all Pastors or churches are fraudulent. Having been part of a ministry that went form being about the people, the lost and the brokenhearted to image, numbers and money, I can hear what he is saying. I believe what we do for the kingdom should be the best. There should be order and a “chain of command”.

    We have to make sure that the vision is in line to what God is speaking and not the vision the flesh and what they are trying to build.

  • Israelite82
    7-7-2009 1:52 pm

    The problems is the people who goes to church on Sunday which is the frist day of the week are not service of God at all but worshiper Satan for those who goes to church on the 1st day of the week Sunday. But in the bible (Exodus20:8-11) 8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
    9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
    10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
    11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

    What happen keep the Sabbath?
    What happen obeying Gods Laws(The Ten Commandments) and keeping the Sabbath holy as God(Jesus Chirst) Commanded Us to keep?
    Because people dont read the whole bible and pray for understanding. And top of that ,the bible says the true knowledge comes from those who fear God and true understading come from those who keep away from sin.
    Frist all yall have to ask yourself this about the fear of the Lord. What is fear of the LORD? That fear is respect of the our LORD GOD and fear what He is able to do to those who disobeying His Laws ,and alot of people dont realize that God also is a killer as well as a lover. And God will kill those in His 2nd coming after the 3 and the half years tribulation for those who dosnt keep His Laws. Then after the tribulation Jesus will come back like a young lion and will be doing some killing and putting folks in the Lake Of Fire because they did not obey Gods Commandments at all and these false pasters who teach on Sundays be the ones telling you lies and at the same time taken your rent money from you.But God call them out along time ago about these false teacher in the last days. But one listens or really not study they bible front to back.
    This is what God have to say about these fake peachers. in the book (Isaiah56:9-12)
    9All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
    10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
    11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
    12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

    But for any peacher who teach on Sundays and keeping Chirstmas ,Thanksgiving ,Easter, or st valentine , and Halloween theseman made hoildays are nothing but those who worship Satan and these holidays and are pagan. But there paster in these Sunday churches tell you it all ok, but the bible say do not worship these pagan days(Sunday worship)..
    But you all have to think , why these Sunday peacher is not telling me about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Why the peacher is not teaching blk people about their true history in the bible and negro ae thr real Israelites (The Jews or Hebrews )and why we was in slavely. this what the bible says about these Sunday teacher who teach you lie and getting rich out of your bill or rent money by telling you lie and not telling you the truth?
    In the book of
    (Isaiah9:16) 16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

    (Isaiah56:10-12 )
    10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
    11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
    12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

    (Ezekie34:1-12)
    1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
    2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
    3Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
    4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
    5And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
    6My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
    7Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
    8As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
    9Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
    10Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
    11For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
    12As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

    (Amos5:20)
    20Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

    (Ezekiel34:13-16)
    13And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
    14I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
    15I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
    16I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

    (Jeremiah23:1-40)
    1Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
    2Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
    3And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
    4And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
    5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
    6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
    7Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
    8But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
    9Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
    10For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
    11For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
    12Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
    13And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
    14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
    15Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
    16Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
    17They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
    18For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
    19Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
    20The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
    21I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
    22But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
    23Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
    24Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
    25I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
    26How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
    27Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
    28The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
    29Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
    30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
    31Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
    32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
    33And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
    34And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.
    35Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
    36And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.
    37Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
    38But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;
    39Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:
    40And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

    Becareful by blks the media parades as blk leadership.They are nothing more then people looking for money,power, and position. these are the same one who teach on Sundays about money and never talk about Jesus retrun.

    (Ezekiel 13:1-9)
    1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
    2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
    3Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
    4O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
    5Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
    6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
    7Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
    8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
    9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

    (Luke16:15)
    15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

    People ask yourselfs this, why dosent you paster teach or read those book from the OT and NT? That is because you Sunday(pagan day) peacher or peacher know that God was pointe to them all along and these know that God is calling them fake, lairs and murders. And that why you never hear these false Sunday worship pasoter teach you this because they afriad losing they money once you tell them the truth what God say about His Ten Commandments, and telling people about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ,and how Jesus is doing to be doing alot of killing before He start putting folk in the Lake Of Fire . These Pasoter dont want you to know these truth.

    People to see the wolf from a mile away you have to study Gods word the OT and the NT and go to church on the Sabbath which is Saturday true worship day as God(Jesus Chirst) command us. Then Yall will see what I,m talking about what God showd me. Go you people who go to church on Sunday. I,m not trying to put anybody down , but to show you what is really going on and why your pasoter act funny when you start telling that 12-25 is not in the bible and the bible neve say any day about what mouth Jesus was born. Look at you Sunday teacher face and i bet you that you will see a wolf(angry face) trying not to coming out of them and maybe put you out the church.

    This is what Jesus say about people once they understand the true and how the world id going to hate you more the ever.

    (Matthew 10:21-25)
    21And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
    22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
    23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
    24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
    25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

    People to get into the Kingdom Of Heaven is to Obey those Ten Commandments go Worship on Saturday(Sabbeth) the 7th day of the week and God you saved you from His coming wrath at His return.

    P.S even Paul keep the Sabbeth and teach about the Ten commandmens to Isral(blk negros) and Gentiles… Paul say it himself Gods commandments are good ,just and holy. Paul was talking about those ten commandments.

    When Jesus die, the only law the Jesus done away was the Animal Sacrifices Law only. The Animal Sacrifice law was a curuse because everytime you sinned you have to kill a bull or a goat just to have your sins forgiving and keep you remind of your past sins when u kill an animal to replace your death and your blood by the blood of an animal everyday and mouth and year which was understand the Animal Sacrifiec Law. Jesus only done away Animal Sacrifiec Law only . NOT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PEOPLE!!!!! Becuase the ten commandments are holy and who get you into the Kingdom. The Ten Commandments Are Right and Just and Holy.

    In the book of John Jesus say if you love me obey my Commandments(Ten Commadments)..

  • Alicia
    7-7-2009 12:49 pm

    Everyone open your bibles and read; Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 3:15 and 5:21-25;Malachi 2:7; Matthew 16:6-7;Luke 12:1, and Revalation 2:2

  • Destiny
    7-7-2009 12:02 pm

    Hmm All this is very interesting to me. I know that the subject of religion is often a battle field for many people’s emotions. What one person my believe the other may not. But if any one out there wants some truth they should check out Dr. Ray Hagin youtube him. The council of Nicea 325 ad it may help some to understand the ” visions these pastors are having. And please email even if its to tell me that I’m the antichrist.

  • Silkyslimm69
    7-7-2009 11:54 am

    As far as christianity goes,people have to understand,there is no such thing as religion.The bible was designed for people to use as a way to live a righteous lifestyle. The bible enforces the way you are suppose to eat where people never do it instructs men and women how to act accordly but no follows.All people do is go to church on sunday dress up in there best outfits and then swear they are supposely saved according to them, no no no the bible is so much more i told a person that in one section of the bible it talks about not eating pork it is forbidden it is from the clooven hoof the person told me i was talking about something that was from my muslim views where in essence it was actually in the bible. the person was spellbound! i respect the bible but these modern day ministers need to be very careful on what they preach live the life, preach the life , endure the life. peace….

  • hank
    7-7-2009 11:19 am

    I dont care if he does or not, i dont go to church & follow maser’s slave mentality legacy…I got some self respect.

  • Phillip
    7-7-2009 11:03 am

    KevanJ, sir, the New Testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew. That’s why there is a “J” in Jesus.

  • Michael
    7-7-2009 10:34 am

    90% of Pastors are only pastors because they cant be pastored. Most are ego-maniacs still trying to prove to the world that they are somebody.Once the truth is unveiled about how tithing was never meant to be part of christianity(It was introduced through catholicism ), most of the professional preachers will find something else to do.

  • Phillip
    7-7-2009 10:30 am

    I agree, sir. And might I suggest a book called “Christianity In Crisis”, by Hank Hanegraaff. It’s an eye-opening look at current pastors and so-called “bishops” and their motives and tactics. Christians need to be aware of what these people are doing in the name of Christianity. There are movements and cultic teachings that are dragging the sacred name “Christian” in the mud. Knowledge is power, but without the wisdom to apply it, it is in vain.

  • travoy
    7-7-2009 8:40 am

    U don’t make any senes & if u would love 2 talk about it plzzzzzzz do im righthere ok so plzzz do

  • Jackie
    7-7-2009 6:00 am

    Judge not. that ye may not be judged!

  • Summer
    7-7-2009 1:44 am

    Churches are in the BUSINESS of Saving Souls, and if that is not the VISION it has, high step to another place. These are the things WE must do to develop a better relationship, so that our focus does not become clouded and the message God is trying to convey does not become garbled.
    1. READ THE BIBLE!!!! ***
    2. Pray
    3. Fellowship
    4. Witness
    5. Give

    …and the VISION will become clearer. Satan will use whomever, whatever, and however to keep you from living a God-filled, purposed filled-life.

  • Cedric R
    7-7-2009 1:23 am

    I find that your thoughts are very insightful. I wonder are you saying that all churches that claim to follow a vision is fraudulent. I do believe that there are many pastors that abuse this ideology of vision. However, I have to push back against your stance against a unified mission. Any successful entity that incorporates a diverse population must have some form of hierarchical structure or the entity will just proverbially spin its wheels making only minute progress. In summation i think that we must avoid throwing the baby out with the bath water. what i am trying to say is that even though there are many fraudulent pastors we should be careful not to overgeneralize this to anyone who adheres to a unified church mission.

  • Candace
    7-7-2009 12:24 am

    I’m torn between this, I feel as long as his message is Sincere and on God’s behalf it may be ok. Two people can read the same thing and totally interpret it differently..I believe in God and try not to focus on the religion part too much. Cause there are plenty of people who go to church on Sunday and act real evil on Monday.This includes me at times.God is Good all the time.
    God is love…

  • 777
    7-6-2009 11:31 pm

    I can honestly say that I don’t agree with everything my pastor says or does but I realize that he’s human. If a pastor purposely misleads the church for his own ambitions, he will answer to God come judgment.

  • me
    7-6-2009 11:25 pm

    How can anyone follow God when there is no proof of anything that it has ever said? There is no proof at the the bible is God’s word. None at all. So anything any pastor puts off as God’s word or the absolute truth is complete crap unless he can prove it.

  • Rhema Word
    7-6-2009 11:17 pm

    This is a very good article. And as a pastor myself, what you’ve mentioned is the reason that I insist that parishoners study for themselves, rather than to hang on every word of any pastor, myself included. Any pastor should have vision. But the question is, where is that vision comming from? Does the vision line up with God’s word, or is it something else? And with that vision, is there godly provision, or is this just someone who is attempting to fleece the flock by employing the catch phrase of the month? I’ve taught in my own church that in the scriptures, God never once gave anyone a vision, without the provisions to bring that vision to pass.

    Now on the article of being on tv, radio, and other media. I don’t believe that every ministry using the media as a tool is seeking to simply make a name for itself. Our own church has utilized various forms of media, but with the sole intent of spreading the gospel message to as wide an audience as possible. I never insist that anyone exposed to such media join our church, or send any money of any kind to us. They are told how and where to find and contact us if they so choose to. But I do get what you’re talking about, which is why I’ve turned down offers from every “mega” ministry program. And I do believe that it is high time that we got back to the basics of trusting God fully for our source and supply, rather than to trust soley in the words and doctrines of people who call themselves pastors. God set pastors in the church, but for the purpose of promoting His perfect will, and not the will of any man.

  • Kay
    7-6-2009 10:46 pm

    I’m a Pastor’s daughter and I do believe that my father is being led by God. But also there are SOME “preachers” that claim to be following God but are really doing the total opposite. Not ALL Preachers mislead their church members, the ones that do so are not deeply rooted in the Word and they just want to have the ppl left in the dark so that their will be done and not God’s. It’s sad that we live in times like this, that’s why we have to study on our own and not go on what some else says. Also if the pastor is wrong, tell him he’s wrong but in a loving way. Don’t treat him as a dog, and if things don’t work out then if has to come to you leaving then do so…but I do understad what you are saying in this article…

  • Shango-Olokun 2012
    7-6-2009 9:35 pm

    many churches got 501-c status (corporation that is tax-exempt). so there is business going on, dont sleep.

    also many religious leaders are paid to pacify the people….they call it to “quell dissent”…. im not BS’n, ask FEMA !

  • Shango-Olokun 2012
    7-6-2009 9:31 pm

    dont just worship Jesus, try to BE LIKE Jesus-Christ (Justice + Purity). beware of wolves and foxes in shepards clothing. there are some good brothers and sisters in the church, but there’s alot of hustlers and bible totin’ pimps too. Psalms 72 + Psalms 82…..remember that we are created in the likeness of the Creator, when they were ready to stone Jesus, he said doesnt the Law say we are ALL children of the most high??? start thinkin outside the box and stop being suckers for these modern day Pharisees…. Hotep/Salaam/Shalom/Alaafia/Peace!!!

  • Donald
    7-6-2009 9:18 pm

    Without a doubt there are many Pastors/leaders who fit this profile. This is why the Lord calls us to study to show ourselves approved.When we do this we will know the truth form a lie. Develop a real personal and close relationship with the Jesus and when you do this you will never let a pastor with bad intentions take advantage of you.

  • KAYLA CARR
    7-6-2009 9:17 pm

    HELLO EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS I AM 16 YEARS AND IM HERE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING A PASTOR IS AND ELDER NOT A PREACHER SORRY MORE QUESTIONS EMAIL ME@dat44gurl_06@yahoo.com THANX BY

  • ALYA
    7-6-2009 8:23 pm

    Well what I believe that people try to put God in there own Image. But what they don’t realize is that God is right there that land the Air you breath that is all of God. He did not put a book on your back when you where born. They Spirt Gave you A Mind in 3’s So you have to realize that God choose you for a reason and there is a Meaning for every one to be here. Even if you are Born and live only One day there is a reason for you to be here. and that is what people have to undrstand God made you for a reason. No matter what you do good or bad you are forgivin By the Lord. So God is real don’t let a False teaching by a Pastor that can send you to hell if only you believe and follow his path to hell by his teaching. Amen

  • Kevanj
    7-6-2009 7:43 pm

    All the churches under the Roman Catholic church… they not telling the house of Israel who they are and nobody in the churches are preaching in the true name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… they reject the name he gave Moses, and the savior name was taken completely out of the bible… there is no J in the Hebrew so how was his name Jesus?!?!?! wake up Judah!!! He is coming back sooner than you think!

  • tony
    7-6-2009 7:37 pm

    of course they are..its easy to find out if a “pastor” is lying or not…the bible says …ephesians 4:5 tells you..one lord one faith one baptism..there is only one true belief and thats what christ taught..only through christ…where is the true prophets found? the ISRAELIT CHURCH OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST….WWW.THECOMFORTER.INFO…..WATCH LISTEN AND LEARN…GET YOUR “KJV” BIBLE OUT AND HEAR THE WORD..THE TRUE WORD OF THE LORD

  • George
    7-6-2009 7:09 pm

    First of all, religion as we all know it is compromised of data of what people said or did compiled in a book called the bible.

    Black people have a different history from everyone else on the planet when it comes to religion, because we embraced our slavemasters religion which in itself is crazy. We all know that white people who most blacks rely on for information have never been truthful with us in reguards to any other information, but he just happens to be telling the truth now. There is a God, and he is your God, and here is the book that gives you the basis for the religion.

    And we, with nothing else accepted it as truth, from the greatest liar of all time.

    Now religion is the only foundation that we as a people can unite under. Churches are the center of all Black communities.

    And the posting above had a very valid point of doing your own research. Question everything, all the time. Anytime you take something at face value, do you not become a slave to it? Cults are made in such a fashion.

    Why cant we as a people come together under our own auspicies,under something that is uniquely black, or on some basis that we created ourselves.

    Why do some many of us turn out to be clones instead of students of original thinking?
    Are we not original man?

    The bible can not be by virtue of all the zillions of books in the world be the only platform for truth in reguards to religion. What about the billions of people who are not christians, are they all wrong just because we christians feel we are right?

    Truth is everywhere, not just in the bible, you have to seek it out and stop taking anybodies word as truth with out exhaustive research.

    When people do this, it really wouldnt matter what the Pastor is teaching, if you were seriously and intently trying to seek your own level of truth, would it?

    Question everything,all the time!!!!!

  • Lee Brantley
    7-6-2009 7:09 pm

    I don’t comment on the site here at all but I wanted to speak a little here. Most of all churches are lost….they meet on Sunday. It’s plainly stated in the Bible that God work six days and rested the seventh day and hallowed it….(Sabbath = Saturday). So why do most churches hold Sunday as being holy….they are lost. To verify, look at the wording of Jesus’ resurrection. It states that he rested the Sabbath and rose the day after. So if Good Friday is Friday and Easter Sunday is Sunday then the day that he rested is logical Saturday (the Sabbath).

  • shyscorpio
    7-6-2009 7:03 pm

    AMEN !!!
    too many people are blindly following the wolves of religion instead of doing the good works that was asked of them!
    we need more of these kinds of articles to publicly shame these monsters from seeking tax exempt status anymore!
    keep up the good work !!!

  • TINA
    7-6-2009 6:57 pm

    I go to church, and i enjoy the summons given by my pastor, but i also am afried to go to church and get close to the any pastor due to my own past experince with one pastor. I just go for to listen to the WORD OF GOD…

  • Nicholas O
    7-6-2009 6:38 pm

    The only way a Pastor Vision is real is if you can verify it with the Word of God and not the Word from the Pastors lips.

    If the vision is not plain and written as it says in the Word, there are 66 books that keep this alive and if they do not have proper revelation from proper mediation the message will always get confused.

    Bro, this is what I have seen a lot of to. The way the Lord is the only path and it is through Jesus Christ, Who is our intercessor to God. A lot of Pastors have not tought that and they teach that they know the way. There is only one way to God, Our Father, and that is through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is real and Pastors avoid that subject a lot as well. There is so much to talk about on this it is amazing… keep it up.

    God Bless
    Nichols O

  • JesusChristSaviour
    7-6-2009 6:33 pm

    Concerning these new age preachers we have to do what the Lord Jesus said, and that is to be aware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing and try the spirit by the spirit to see if it is of GOD.

  • Music Man
    7-6-2009 1:23 pm

    Good stuff! I call them self-kingdom builders. We need to study for ourselves. Some pastors are like greedy mechanics. If we don’t take time to understand our vehicles, they will have you paying for work that we could have done ourselves or don’t even need. Using scripture out of context and have you feeling like you don’t know what you are talking about or even believe. We have the manual to the vehicle. We must see what it says.

    I too have drunk the kool-aid for years. I was at a church that was a borderline cult. I was the minister of music for years and it wasn’t until I became full-time that I saw the “marketing strategies” and manipulation that went on behind the scene that cause me to start studying for myself. When I told them I was leaving to move to another state, which the Lord had lead me to do, I was told that I was betraying the ministry. At first I felt horrible. I let my leader down. I was youngest minister on staff and I was the next generation of leaders. I have always been told that I was a Son in the ministry. That was until I went against Their vision for MY life. Then I started getting the cold shoulder from the other staff and other ministers. Then came the character attacks. WOW! That’s another topic of discussion!

    It wasn’t until I left that I was able to see how entangled I was in the vision of the pastor and not God. The first red flag that went up for me is when I was more concerned about pleasing the pastor than I was God. I had put them on the same level as God. I don’t blame the pastor for that but myself. That’s what happens when we don’t study for ourselves and keep God in His rightful place.

    I believe in the 5 fold ministries. The problem is that not every pastor is a pastor. Some people wasn’t called, they just went. Not every pastor but in my experience, the percentages are high. Some are called and get distracted along the way trying to keep up with the Jakes or the Long’s or whomever.

    We have gotten so familiar with church that we are missing God. I love new converts. They are hungry for the Word and relationship with God. Not man.
    People of God, we must study for ourselves and not depend on “Pastar and dem” for everything we need.

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