TBN, Bishop TD Jakes... ?

[J.A.I]

I have noticed a lot of people have 'issues' with TBN. Why is that ?

And I have heard some people (not necessarily on CF) speak on how they have issues with Bishop TD Jakes.. Why is that ?

I don't want OTHERS words nor website links. I want your own thoughts and heart and testimony.

 

[cherokeehippie]

Hi Jai, I haven't watched TD Jakes a whole lot so I don't have any opinion on him, but the reason I don't get into TBN is because of the 'trappings', the flashy clothes, the hype, etc. It's just not my taste. That's why I don't watch tbn much, except for when they have movies on sometimes. or a certain guest that might be on Praise the Lord. Also, they don't have much variety in their christian programming. It's all geared for a certain element of christianity--wealth and prosperity message. And not much variety in the christian music, either.

 

[He put me back together]

Sure--there's a lot of junk on TBN. There's a lot of junk in the churches. That doesn't mean there isn't any good on TBN. One good teacher won't make the entire TBN channel worth watching, just as one good church doesn't make all of them worth going to.

I think the largest problem people have with TD Jakes is the fact that he's Oneness. For some reason, Oneness and Trinitarians get at each other's throats. Trinitarians think the Oneness are rejecting the Godhead, and Oneness very often believe that Trinitarians worship 3 gods. While some of this is true for a few, for the most part both of them are wrong about one another. At any rate, it's not about TD Jakes, it's about the shell that surrounds him. They don't like the shell, therefore they don't like TD Jakes.

Me, I think the man has a better head on his shoulders than just about any preacher I've listened to--and I'm not Oneness. I didn't know he was Oneness until longggggg after I formed my opinion. The guy aspires to some theological views that I don't agree with, of course, but so does EVERY SINGLE BISHOP, PREACHER, TEACHER, OR PERSON THAT I'VE EVER MET. I've never heard anyone form a sound, logical criticism of the man, because frankly those who have wanted to demonize him are operating from their own denominational prejudices, and not from what the man has said--quite frankly, if they tried to refute him to his face, he would either walk away because he has better things to do, or he would totally disembowel their argument with superior rhetoric.

Blessings

 

[kidsminister]

I didn't know T.D. Jakes was oneness. I don't really care. My husband was really blessed through watching a video series of his - I don't know which one (he watched it at a men's retreat, so I obviously wasn't invited ). All I know is that it really impacted him and was the beginning of his getting the healing he needed from childhood abuse and neglect, thus freeing him to follow God's call and making our marriage much happier!

I'm not a big fan of TBN - There are a few people that I don't mind who are on it from time to time - I just get really bored watching TV preachers (chalk it up to the extreme case of ADHD that every children's ministry director is blessed with!!), so I generally don't watch it. Paul and Jan Crouch are annoying, but fun to mock - the pink hair, for starters. And her going to a 3rd world country and handing out Barbie dolls is just too much!!!

 

[Jim B]

I have noticed a lot of people have 'issues' with TBN. Why is that ?

And I have heard some people (not necessarily on CF) speak on how they have issues with Bishop TD Jakes.. Why is that ?

I don't want OTHERS words nor website links. I want your own thoughts and heart and testimony.

Okay, I have tried to avoid threads like this (I only make enemies), but I cannot ignore this question.

It is no secret that I am no fan of TBN and I stopped watching it on a regular basis years ago (curiosity still draws me back from time to time). I tried to look past their sheer guadiness (pink hair, tawdry clothes, and boob jobs on a senior citizens is hard to ignore) but I think it was their telethons that finally turned me off. If you have ever endured one and not been offended, you are just the kind of sheep they are anxious to fleece. They line up their clients and give them 15 minutes to convince viewers that TBN is the best investment your money can buy. Each spiel seemed to want to top all the others in their creativity until they became so creative with the scripture that it was alarming. The worst of the bunch was the Bishop Doctor (how many titles does one man need) Clarence McClendon. I wish I could remember how he so ingenious twisted the scripture to find another way into my wallet but all I can remember was how shocked I was and thought that, surely, they would go to a commercial to get him off the air. . . but then I remembered, he was the commercial!! And I could see Paul and Jan in the background on their golden thrones (literally – have you seen them?) waving their arms and shouting, “Amen.”

All day long. Send us money. Men of God whose ministry I respected reduced to hawking for money to continue a ministry that doesn't need money ... it needs an overhaul.

I kept thinking of the words of the Apostles,

“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” (2 Peter 2.3).

“[Paul’s] letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3.16).

“If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6.3-5). To this the NKJV and KJV adds the clear instruction, “From such withdraw yourself.”​

So I obeyed the scriptures. I withdrew myself.

Today I will sometimes play a solitaire game. I will watch TBN until the subject of money comes up (on any of their programs) and then I will turn them off. I have not watched a complete show on TBN in months. Try it yourself.

More generally respected ministers (yes, like Jakes … and Kennedy, Schuller, Bish, McSpadden, and others) who are willing to get in bed with such people who flagrantly deceive and abuse (fleece) God’s sheep just to be on TV are, IMO, not worthy of the respect they receive.

Whatever happened to integrity?

\o/

 

[J.A.I]

The worst of the bunch was the Bishop Doctor (how many titles does one man need) Clarence McClendon.

Well there was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

 

[Svt4Him]

Trinitarians think the Oneness are rejecting the Godhead

No but I think they are wrong in it. Having been in Dallas for a year, I've heard TD Jakes a few times. You won't sleep in his church. But I do believe this theory is in error, and would like to see the Scripture and teaching that would 'disembowel my argument with superior rhetoric.

 

[vanshan]

The oneness thing is a serious thing. It's not just theology - - that's a major deviation from the way Christians have always understood God. If you take the Trinity out of Christianity you no longer serve the same true God.

 

[Svt4Him]

Ok, I take it back. It's probably not the thread. So to answer the op, I don't get TBN, so I don't watch it.

 

[mle]

I don't get TBN, so I don't watch it.

I'm with you on this one Svt4Him. We have a small tv at home without cable or satellite reception, if we use the tv, it's with the dvd player.

 

[Jim B]

If you take the Trinity out of Christianity you no longer serve the same true God.

Sorry, v, I do not agree with this statement. It would be more correct to use the phrase “you no longer serve the same understanding we have of God.” To say that they do not believe in God because they do not believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity has no scriptural base.

I have said it before and say again, God is infinite, beyond our ability to comprehend. Therefore, He is more than Trinity. That is simply the way He has chosen to reveal Himself to us so that our poor finite pea brains can comprehend the Infinite-Immutable-Invisible-Eternal-Omniscient-Omnipresent-Omnipotent-All Perfect-All Glorious-All Holy God (scriptures below).

Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 4:11; 5:22; 1 Kings 8:12; Job 11:7-9; 15:8; 37:1-24; Psalms 18:11; 97:2; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 40:12-31; 55:8,9; 1 Corinthians 2:16​

You cannot put Almighty into a box as small as the one we label “Trinity.”

So, I may be Trinitarian but only because that is how I believe He has revealed Himself to us. If others do not see it that way, they are no more right or wrong than I am. God is too great to be defined by any doctrine.

None of will know God totally until eternity and then I am not so sure we will be able to completely fathom Him even then. We do the best we can with what we've got.

\o/

 

[vanshan]

Jim, I agree God's incomprehensible. . . the idea of the Trinity is beyond our ability to understand, but clearly in scripture and throughout Christian history the Trinity has been taught. Think of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist - - all three persons of the Trinity were revealed in that one moment in history.

 

[vanshan]

Just as everyohe who believes in a single "god" is not Christian (i.e. Muslims, Mormons, Jews, etc.), anyone who does not believe in God as he has chosen to reveal himself to us is not Christian. This isn't to be insensitive or anything, it's just to protect our belief from others who would taint our faith with false teachings.

 

[He put me back together]

No but I think they are wrong in it. Having been in Dallas for a year, I've heard TD Jakes a few times. You won't sleep in his church. But I do believe this theory is in error, and would like to see the Scripture and teaching that would 'disembowel my argument with superior rhetoric.

Just two things--First of all, I've never heard him teach about the Trinity; I think he has better things to do. Actually, I continually ask those who call him a "demon" for actual quotes where he has denied the trinity, and they were unable to produce them--as if that were grounds for such an accusation. Secondly, Svt, I don't think you're the kind of person who would refer to someone as demon possessed just because they were Oneness--I think if you reread what I said, you would see that I wasn't speaking about you. If I thought that oneness theology "disembowelled" everything else, don't you think that I'd BE oneness? My comments were referring to those raving, jealous rioters who regurgitate what they're told to regurgitate, referring to people as full of the devil just because they say one thing that crosses them. TD Jakes has superior rhetoric to EVERY single person that I've ever heard call him a heretic or a demonic--not that this is saying much. I don't agree with him about the Nephilim, either, but come on. The man hits the nail on the head in nearly every teaching he produces. He's an excellent teacher, bringing the things of God down to everyone's level. I've seen no one who says otherwise who could hold their ground, let alone produce an argument for why he needs depossession. At any rate, my opinion is: TBN is, like most religious organizations, arrogant and overstuffed with gold leaf. But T D Jakes is ok.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Okay, I have tried to avoid threads like this (I only make enemies)....
\o/

Our dear brother in the Lord....
how could anyone consider you an enemy???

 

[Jim B]

Our dear brother in the Lord....
how could anyone consider you an enemy???

Hey, I admit, I have come on way too strong in some of my posts when I let my emotions get in the way of charity. I have learned a lot about the wisdom of using sweet attitude and a soft answer from people in this forum like you, Didy (and others). Thanx for putting up with me.

\o/

 

[joevberry3]

T.D. Jakes is a very good minister. I love reading his books, although we disagree on certain doctrines, i do know from meeting and speaking with him on several occassions that he is a man of God.
TBN isnt perfect. We shouldnt ridicule Jan's pink hair--thats her business if she decides to dye her hair--what does that have to do with her being a true teacher or false teacher?
There are some teachers on TBN that goes overboard. But, we see that on any Christian Network.
Do any of yall know that Paul Crouch was offered millions of dollars for his stations but declined to sell? Why did he do this? He could have received a bigger payday by selling, than he has made in the 25 years of owning TBN. He could have sold out like Pat Robertson did with CBN a few years back. This tells me he certainly isnt in it for the money. By the way, check it out. He and jan receives a set salary per year, and its NOT a huge salary.
God Bless,
Joe

 

[AlabamaMan]

I enjoy T.D. Jakes! I enjoy watching TBN, although I may not agree with some things on there. I have even been blessed by their praise-a-thon, Karen Wheaton and her group of kids are awesome and I work in the town they are located in. I think if we disagree with something we do not have to put it down. Just say we disagree, we do not have to go into all the ugly details of why you do not agree. I remember hearing many times if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Maybe that is to hard for us to do?

 

[kidsminister]

T.D. Jakes is a very good minister. I love reading his books, although we disagree on certain doctrines, i do know from meeting and speaking with him on several occassions that he is a man of God.
TBN isnt perfect. We shouldnt ridicule Jan's pink hair--thats her business if she decides to dye her hair--what does that have to do with her being a true teacher or false teacher?
There are some teachers on TBN that goes overboard. But, we see that on any Christian Network.
Do any of yall know that Paul Crouch was offered millions of dollars for his stations but declined to sell? Why did he do this? He could have received a bigger payday by selling, than he has made in the 25 years of owning TBN. He could have sold out like Pat Robertson did with CBN a few years back. This tells me he certainly isnt in it for the money. By the way, check it out. He and jan receives a set salary per year, and its NOT a huge salary.
God Bless,
Joe

I, too, have heard good things about the Crouches and their integrity and that they do have good hearts for God. Jan does need some help in the hair and makeup department, IMHO, but on the other hand, Lord haste the day when people pay more attention to a woman's ministry and anointing and less to their hair, makeup and wardrobe! I am a product of my Christian culture .

 

[J.A.I]

Thank you guys for your honest opinions

To those discussing Oneness and Trinity, please don't debate about that here. I wanted to know peoples thoughts on TBN and TD Jakes... So many people seem to speak negatively on them, but when you ask them for proof, they refer you to what OTHERS have said or written instead of giving you their own testimony

I am here in Dallas as well, never have been to his church - The Potter's House, but that was because I allowed what OTHERS said to dissuade me. We Christians are more quick to tear each other down than the world.. goodness.

Who cares if she has pink hair or plastic surgery ? The Word is right when it says man looks at the outward.. b/c that is what you guys are doing. Pay attention to what is inside rather than what is out...