Comments on: A Word about Judgment Based on Recent Posts

By: concerned

concerned — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you so much for this recent post. I have struggle with this issue greatly. I have watched Paula's show for well over a year now. Although recently have backed away due the same topic repeated over and over. I guess my question is - WHY IS NO ONE SAYING ANYTHING OR GIVING SOME EXPLANATION? I have checked Paula's and Without Wall's website and there are no comments at all.

I recall Pastor Ted Haggard's situation and do remember some leaders from his church and other organizations stepping up to the plate and investigating the wrong doing. I have sat here all weekend wondering "Who is going to say this is unacceptable behavior?" Will the major networks still keep her show? Will his or her spirtual father's say anything? Did anyone see any of this coming? Did any of the other leaders know about their questionable behavior before airing them on TV? Should the Christian networks be somewhat responsible for airing people that they may know are having problems in their ministry. I know it is my responsibility to find out who I watch but it takes some time for the public to get information. Is this a cover up? Seems like I had to read this sad information from a secular newspaper to know what kind of people we may be dealing with.

I feel so silly for listening to her. I watched a fund raising telethon on Daystar a couple of months back and pledged to give Daystar 54.00 a month in faith encouraged by Paula's preaching on Isiah 54 . Anyhow, I trusted Daystar and Paula. Now I feel like an idiot. I guess what I am asking are any our Christian leaders going to condone this behavior? Will anyone check into what is really going on in this situation? I honestly have enjoyed much of Paula's teaching, but now reading so much about their finacial dealings and the innapropriate behavior I just don't see how they can continue ministering to people.

I do believe in forgiveness but has anyone said they are sorry?

By: Win

Win — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great Observations Phil.

Your comment "...but serious discernment on issues of doctrine, performance, quality, professionalism, stewardship, and skill are absolutely necessary." is a clarion call to believers everywhere. Get your head out of the paper bag.

This is a call to all believers to examine their attitude toward "judging".

I trust that many in the "discernment" ministries AND their CRITICS take your comment "...if we can humble ourselves, pray that God gives us discernment, and always keep the goal of correction and restoration in mind, then we should feel free to seek the truth in all things." to heart.

We need discernment with GRACE and HUMILITY that leads to correction and restoration.

Your entry should be quoted and referred to by thinking bloggers everywhere.

Win

By: Jason Oliver Evans

Jason Oliver Evans — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. Cooke, this was an important and timely essay. I think the structures of many churches in the American Evangelical and P/C movements are flawed. Where is the accountability in independent non-denominational churches? Who can hold pastors accountable for their actions and teaching if they are aberrant? I love Paula and Randy White. I think they are good well meaning people. However I stopped watching Paula's television ministry due to her superfluous focus on prosperity (extracted from the context of Scriptural balance with social responsibility and humility). I pray that these to Christian leaders will remove themselves from their position and spend some time with the Lord to refocus on Him and His Kingdom no matter how long it takes. God Bless you.

By: servant07

servant07 — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone keeps asking who is responsible for correcting or disciplining leaders.... When was the last time someone corrected you?!?! I think that Paula and Randy as we all are...are accountable to God...There will come a day for all of us to see if whether our works will stand the fire to go on to be rewarded. As for the sinner he will stand before the great white throne.

The bible tells us that if we see a brother that is overtaken in sin, then we who are spiritual should restore. Do we not all have the ministry of reconciliation?!?!? At the same time...Yes Leaders are held accountable to the people they lead.

And to the concerned individual...do you not know that God can use a preacher to save you...and that preacher be a cast away him/herself. We must all work out our OWN salvation in fear and trembling...Let the Word of GOD be truth and every man a liar. To all study...to show thyself approved...a workman needeth not be ashamed; but able to rightly divide the Word of truth.

Let us Pray that the mission statement of Paula White's Ministry has it's work in her personal life right now. PROVERBS 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again!!!! Halelujah JESUS!!!

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Amen.

By: Warren

Warren — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is a great article. I hope that people will understand that while Pastor Paula and Randy are accountable to God, they are also accountable to the body of Christ. Your clear explanation of what the Bible says about our responsibility to judge rightly is right on target.

Keep up the good work!

God Bless!

By: Alan Smithee

Alan Smithee — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In 1988 Jimmy Swaggart was found out to have some secret sins (as we all know) that came to light in the national media. He was asked by his denomination – the Assemblies of God – to step down for awhile and go through a 2 year restoration process. He declined, instead taking his A/G church in Baton Rouge independent with his remaining in the pulpit and on tv to this day. His ordained ministerial license was pulled, and because he refused oversight ("who can counsel Jimmy Swaggart?"), he was on his own, by HIS choice. His worldwide ministry – which at that time was fiery & dynamic – was never the same. Perhaps it was greed (the need to feed the money machine) or arrogance (remaining in the spotlight of fame) that steered his compass. Hard to say. Many church leaders I know have said had Swaggart stepped away for two years, gone off the air, truly humbled himself before not only God, but the oversight of dedicated ministry leaders, and gotten his life, ministry and marriage together, that God would have restored him, giving him a fresh ministry, creating a new purpose and vision. God often does his best molding after he's thrown us in the fire (or we've thrown ourselves in). This could happen for Randy & Paula White. In the midst of a public divorce, they could be restored, mistakes and all. But do they want that? Are they willing to place board members and leaders above them who will make them truly accountable, permitted to measure their lives and sit them down for awhile? Or will Randy & Paula continue flying coast to coast in their perceived busy-ness of ministry and tv appearances? The fast lane of life goes really fast, especially on the autobahn of tv ministry and speaking engagements. Sometimes it's best to pull off the road at a rest stop and catch your breath. Randy & Paula, this might be that time to pull over. Not just for a minute. But for awhile.

By: cchunn

cchunn — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I HATE TO SAY IT BUT I FELT SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG WITH PAULA FOR MONTHS I HAVE NEVER HAD A GOOD FEELING ABOUT RANDY. WHEN I WOULD SEE PAULA ON T.V LATELY I COULD NOT WATCH HER. I FELT THAT SHE WAS FAKE

By: CWCHUNN

CWCHUNN — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I HAVE PREACHED THE PROSPERITY MESSAGE FROM PULPITS ALL OVER THE SOUTH WERE I AM FROM. IN 2006 MY WIFE CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MESSAGE IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. I FOUND MY SELF SO CAUGHT UP IN THE GETTING UNTIL I HAD TO STOP AND FOCUS MY LIFE AGAIN

By: Calix

Calix — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Like charity, I believe judgment begins at home.

It's all well and good to judge ministries from afar - loads of fun, in fact - I do it all the time, on-line and off. But it's not terribly fruitful; I don't think that what I post here (for example) has found its way to or influenced the behavior of any of the "ministers" in question, so it's all pretty much just an exercise in circle-jerkdom. Ultimately, the Christian faith is lived in the local community - the local fellowship - the immediate family. How do we support our churches? How do we love our spouses?

I try to use these issues as a jumping off point to discuss the underlying issues that might matter to my fellow readers/posters, which is ultimately the value of blogs - the personal communication, not the widespread media saturation. How many people will read these words? Dozens? Hundreds? How will these words influence all of you? Can I encourage you? Challenge you?

And most importantly, can someone explain to me how the post that inspired this post (the Randy and Paula White one) could have set a philcooke record without a single contribution from moi?! That just ain't right!