In their greed they will exploit you with false words. Paula White has exploited the church for five million dollars. Joel Osteen for about 50 million. Kenneth Copeland openly boasts as being worth over a billion dollars. I could go on and on but behind even the sources that may not openly preach prosperity, is a huge industrial complex that internationally generates billions of dollars. While the seed sowing garbage may be obvious, even the places that are not that obvious are making money hand over fist. Bethel rakes in 60 million per year for example and their false school teaching the gifts of the spirit makes up 13 million of that. Hillsong resources combine for 180 million per year. Are we getting the picture yet? Their words are false, they exploit you with them, because they are greedy beloved.
As we begin to wrap up, a quick word about love. It is not loving to spare the false teacher at the expense of the sheep. It is not love to see a brother or sister driving off a cliff and not try to stop them. Discernment ministries are often rough around the edges because we are dealing with deep
-seeded heresies. A velvet touch will not do anyone any good. Let me conclude with this:
And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." -- 1Kings 18:27 (ESV)
In my experience, those who complain about style, do so to avoid discussing substance. While there should be no reason for vile attacks upon people, I take no issue with snarkiness or disdain. Above we see Elijah mocking the false prophets of Baal, suggesting their god was not answering them because he was on the toilet. John the Baptist called the Pharisees a brood of vipers. Jesus Himself called them whitewashed tombs! Once again this comes down to protecting the sheep and holding the wolves in utter contempt. Look, I get it. I understand it is hard to hear the truth about someone you believe in. The reality however is that they deserve nothing but our revulsion and the working end of the shepherd's rod.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- February 12, 2020
