In my very humble opinion, it seems to me all these pastors start out with good intent and get brought down by the enemy. I hear Jim Jones was even decent before he started that cult of his in Jonestown, that he preached the Word of God quite well - it's why he was popular! But in the end, the Bible was used in the outhouse in Jonestown, the pages as toilet paper.
Literally. I am NOT joking you. That's so very very wrong that it's hard to believe. But I think power and money corrupt very quickly. I'd say probably all these people, like Swaggart and Jim Baker, they all begin with good intentions and maybe the money and fame soon changes them. Sometimes it even changes them for the better; it's not like some of these famous preachers weren't known to be rather questionable BEFORE they got into the limelight. I've even heard the same about Rick Warren too, and we've seen the huge debate that the book he wrote is also too focused on Earthly aspects. It's like, maybe they take their EYES OFF JESUS, at some point? That's when they blow it, I think. Many are so faithful to God and their mission, that I've seen in TV Evangelism, though, it's too bad that the godless are always throwing people like Hinn in my face, in a debate; he ruins it for many, as Baker and Swaggart did, as well. Hopefully people like Joel Osteen, Doug Batchelor, Joyce Meyers... can save what's left of the Television Christian audience. I saw Joel Osteen on Larry King - and he's my favorite, and has been for a long time - I guess he's got the fastest-growing church in America, down there in Lakewood Texas? Amen!!
BTW - well said, Gigi!!
I'd like to add that when we hear soundbytes like on that website, or view certain things, we
INSTANTLY KNOW WE AREN'T SEEING SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FRUIT. And, we know we're seeing something from THE ENEMY, not from GOD. You just know this, in your bones, the same way you know a spider or snake is dangerous, or that something doesn't smell or taste right to you.
It's an INSTINCT. It's there for a reason, God made sure you'd always know *in your heart* and your mind what's going on... get this. Did you know, there's actually a "trigger" in your eyeballs to make you see little things like spiders and snakes, if they move, in your peripheral vision? You might notice it, sometime, if you find yourself jumping back, spooking at a little ball of fuzz on the carpet, or in the shower at something foreign. It's because YOUR BODY MOVES before you can REALLY THINK. God built you that way! Isn't that amazing? You MOVE out of the way of the snake, even if you aren't quite sure yet!
If God does that for you just for little bugs and stuff, can you image what kind of wonderful instrumentation you have to sniff out evil??
USE IT!! *hugs*
Love in Christ to all of you for this good thread
CaliFlower :rose:
