One person I’ve never noted directly with a post here is so called Bishop Paul S. Morton, but he is one who true saints should be aware of, even more so than some of the other pimps mentioned. Because many of the pimps mentioned got off the ground and became major pimps with the help of Mr. Morton. You see, Morton was once part of the National Baptist Convention, but decided to start his own new denomination, the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship. He could now babble at will without anyone saying he was out of order and best of all (best when you’re a pimp that is), not have to endure oversight from people who would have him hold to a more sound doctrine. The real bottom line is this, if you know a Black pulpit pimp with a mostly Black congregation, odds are Paul Morton either is directly or indirectly related to that particular pimp. Morton is the unsung Kingpin of pulpit pimps.

Let me list some names of pimps connected with Morton:

• Eddie Long – Fairly small time till hooking up with Morton and being proclaimed a “bishop”. Long helped Morton start the denomination of pimps.
• Clarence E. McClendon – Left the 4 Square denomination because they had him sit for a while after his divorce. Morton picked up McClendon and is now Morton’s 3rd presiding bishop.
• TD Jakes – Got a boost from speaking at one of Morton’s conferences.
• Oscar E. Brown – I just told you about his riding a Bentley while his church rolled in debt, he’s part of Morton’s bunch. Someone eluded to it in a comment and it’s true. Brown is Morton’s 1st Assistant. Once I learned of this, I knew it was past time to note Morton with a post of his own, so those who know the prosperity doctrine is false avoid him.
• Bishop Joseph W. Walker – This guy is the big pimp in Nashville and I’ve attended his assembly once. (I’ve heard all these pimps listed do their show at least once, what they call preaching a sermon, except Oscar E. Brown.) Prosperity pimp doctrine all the way and has big events where he invites his good friends, which include Eddie Long and TD Jakes. (He had Long and Jakes over for his “back to school” bash last year.) Walker is on Morton’s Auxiliary Council.
• I’ll stop there, you get the idea.

Morton will even allow Catholics to join his (supposedly protestant) bunch:

A ministry made up of churches believing in Jesus Christ – Baptist, Catholics, COGIC…
Join us today and begin experiencing God in His Fullness.

So apparently the Catholic who prays to Mary can be part of the team too. Morton’s group is like one big babbling brook. By the way, we had a good discussion about “tongues” over a Pulpit-Pimps.org recently, click here to check that out.

Also, Melvin has a good write-up about Morton, that I highly recommend you read.

But lets see Morton in action and after you view the video, I’ll offer a point by point analysis of this foolishness!

Bishop Paul S. Morton
Saints Beware of This Man!!!

He starts by saying basically, just praise and you?ll get it. Proclaiming he?ll show people how to get that blessing/miracle. Material matters of course. Telling people to “praise God like you’ve already got it”. Material things of course. Never mind praising God for the gift of eternal life, when you can focus on material wealth! Morton proclaims Hebrews 11:1 as a material matter, but let’s take a moment to examine the truth and rightly divide this scripture.

Every Christian needs to read the entire book of Hebrews from start to finish. I mean as an essential to your walk with Christ, it’s one to read with high priority. But when you get to chapter 10, you’ll notice that the scripture is about Christ being the only sacrifice acceptable to God. The later part of chapter 10 notes how we have overcome sin through our faith in Jesus Christ and his establishment of the new covenant. The chapter ends with the following:

Hebrews 10:35-39 (New King James Version) 35) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36) For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37) ? For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38) Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.? 39) But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Now, the next verse in the Bible is the one quoted by Morton, Hebrews 11:1. Are we honest if we view it as faith for a car and material gain? Certainly not. But let’s see what is in scripture just after Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:2 (New King James Version) 2) For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Testimony of what? A car? No, of faith that God would reward those who are faithful to Him in ways beyond material gain! How do I know this, let’s see what is said when we actually try to read the scripture in it’s given context. The elders spoken of are people like Abel (verse 4), he did not give God a sacrifice for material gain. Enoch (verse 5) believed in God and did not see death. Nothing about material gain there. Noah (verse 7), he was warned and by faith took action to save his life, but this was not about material gain. Rather obedience to the command of God. The archetype of how faith in Jesus Christ puts us in the spiritual ark of safety, called the Holy Spirit and we are protected from death, with the gift of eternal life.

Abraham (verse 8 ) went out in faith and didn’t even know where he was going. Although God provided a promised land, Abraham had faith in something greater and that is the point being made in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:10 (New King James Version) 10) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The following verse in Hebrews 11 makes all preceding verses in that chapter clear:

Hebrews 11:13 (New King James Version) 13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Saints notice, this is not about a car. Not about material wealth. It’s about a promise beyond the natural life span its self. It’s about life eternal in a city made by God. This is about the greatest reward man could ever hope for! To lower it to material gain destroys the entire essence of what Hebrews 11 is all about! Again I’ll say, this is a book of the Bible you must read in it’s entirety, from start to finish. You should study it until you fully understand every verse in every chapter.

So you see, Morton wants you to believe his mishandling of this scripture is about hoping for not seen material gains, BUT THE VERSE IS TOTALLY ABOUT HOPING FOR HEAVEN, THE HEAVEN THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN, NOT MATERIAL GAIN.

Morton asked people to “speak” things like:

Yes that house is mine and I believe it in the name of Jesus.

These people are being totally misled regarding scripture, by a man who has assumed the title “bishop”. Totally getting people to abuse the book of Hebrews along with him. Morton says he dares you to try this bogus mess. I DARE YOU TO READ THE ENTIRE BOOK OF HEBREWS FOR YOURSELF. You’ll get a greater reward than a car if you honestly believe the words written there. You’ll realize how terrible Morton tarnishes a book of scripture, that speaks of spiritual things, which he treats as if it’s about houses and cars. Hebrews is about something not of this world, eternal life and for any man to try and reduce the oracles of God for material play is just pathetic. A pathetic viper, working up crowds to keep them listening to his nonsense and working them up to keep them giving him their money.

Men like Morton are the ones who take what is called the “Black Church” from enduring adversity, to acting as if God owes man something. It’s a total catering to the FLESH. If people simply want material gain, why not attend a seminar on financial management? They would actually leave with knowledge of how to build wealth, if money is what they want. Morton tries to turn the church into a money changing vehicle.

At 3:25 in the video (counting up on the counter) Morton says:

speak those things that are not as though they were

He totally bastardized Romans 4:17, which speaks of GOD not man doing such things.

Morton claims, if you’re sick and “act well” you’ll be that way. Well Paul realized when he actually had an issue that was not the Lord’s will to subside. It was a lesson to him, that it’s not about “acting well”, but rather knowing that God’s grace is sufficient.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (New King James Version) 7) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 ) Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9) And He said to me, ?My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.? Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ?s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Morton just can’t collect as much MONEY if he tells people who have not been healed, that God’s grace is sufficient. He’d rather have them jumping in an emotional high, only to go back home to later return to being as sick as when they came. Only hoping to get a future dose from a future hype session led by him. This is a trick of the pimps, that I fully detail in this prior post.

Instead of showing people how to endure, Morton makes it appear that the sick suffer from a lack of faith, which is totally bogus. Of course God wills at times that some people are healed of sicknesses, but this grandstanding from Morton leads some people to forsake medicine they should be taking and care they actually need.

This nonsense has people thinking they can “claim” anything and forsaking that THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW WILL ACTUALLY BRING:

James 4:13-17 (New King James Version) 13) Come now, you who say, ?Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit?; 14) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15) Instead you ought to say, ?If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.? 16) But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

At 5:05 in the video: – Meaningless babble, supposed to be talking in tongues. No interpretation and there was no judging of it of course. With scripture being trashed, who would follow scripture regarding tongue talking? Morton NEVER does!!! Let’s be honest, that babble was no actual language.

When you twist scripture in this manner, to lead people to believe that they will receive material items that they desire, it misleads them into thinking God is not real if they don’t get it. The Lord Jesus does not call people to Himself for material gain, but eternal life and any riches are to be sought for in Heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 (New King James Version) 19) ?Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Now some like to try and pull the following verse from that same chapter in the name of the prosperity doctrine.

Matthew 6:33 (New King James Version) 33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

OK and so jumping around for a car or house is seeking the kingdom of heaven? I don’t think so. And one must still submit to the sovereignty of God and understand that you receive as the Lord wills, as I’ve mentioned above from James 4:13-17. The apostles sought the kingdom of heaven and here’s what they claimed to have in material gain:

1 Corinthians 4:11 (New King James Version) 11) To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

Think you’re promised material wealth, here’s what saints are promised:

2 Timothy 3:12 (New King James Version) 12) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

God will supply for you as he deems for you. It does not mean you’ll get what YOU want, rather submit that His will be done and rejoice that you have the gift of eternal life. Now see what else other saints endured IN FAITH. A part of Hebrews 11 you don’t catch the pimps reading.

Hebrews 11:35-40 (New King James Version) 35) Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36) Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented? 38) of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39) And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40) God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Notice, they who were under the old covenant had faith, but had not yet received the promise, the promise is eternal life that came with Jesus Christ. Others were not given this gift apart from us. But they had faith and endured. This is not about cars and homes. It’s about the spiritual gift of eternal life. Don’t let charlatans play on material trappings divert your eyes from the true prize.

Morton, later qualifies the ?blessings? people should praise for in his spin of scripture. His list consists of: promotions, jobs, spouses and cars. How about hope for Heaven? How about hope for eternal life? How about hope to meet Jesus? Never mind that with Morton. For him it’s whatever material things YOU WANT. Whatever might make YOU feel happy. This is the gospel of SELF, not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:13 (New King James Version) 13) ?No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.?

At 6:34 in the video: Some odd cat calling sounds.

At 7:24: Paul Morton proclaims the infamous ?double portion? blessing. He says they want ?double for their trouble? . I mean he acted like he was saying this mess to God!!! And by the way, you have not seen anybody run the “double portion” game until you’ve seen Steve Munsey run this game.

At 8:20: Just some indescribably odd mess. He continues this for about 30 excruciating seconds!

As usual with the Pulpit Pimps of the Religous Industry, Hebrews 11 was trashed as if a tool for personal gain, rather than speaking about faith in the Lord for the gift of eternal life. People like Morton trash it to mean faith for what you want! An entire crowd worked to a frenzy, with their minds on Heaven as their hope for eternity? Nope, hoping for whatever material things that they desire. This is NOT the will of the Lord. Paul Morton makes it all about YOU, but that’s not what God commands. With God it’s all about HIM.

This is just ridiculous! Check out the President’s radio address, where he tells what anybody with their ear near the ground has known for some time now:

President’s Radio Address … The NIE report also cites some setbacks. One of the most troubling is its assessment that al Qaeda has managed to establish a safe haven in the tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. Last September, President Musharraf of Pakistan reached an agreement that gave tribal leaders more responsibility for policing their own areas. Unfortunately, tribal leaders were unwilling and unable to go after al Qaeda or the Taliban. …

I’ve been saying it for some time, Pakistan is giving aid and comfort to our enemy, regardless of what their President tells us or the few terrorists he hands over to us.

Before 9/11/2001, we knew terrorists were based in Afghanistan and nobody wanted to really do anything about it. Well HERE WE GO AGAIN. HOW MANY AMERICANS WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING MORE IS DONE ABOUT PAKISTAN?!!!

Why in the middle of a “global war on terror” would we be quiet while Musharraf allows tribals to do the task of finding terrorists? The entire world knows that Muslim tribal-types are the best thing Al-Qaeda could ever ask for. How about telling Musharraf we know he fears for his life, but we know he’s only taken to finding some terrorists because of 9/11 and his fears we would invade his country. Before that he was playing the role of an international advocate for Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Either the USA is going to have to get ugly with Pakistan, or you’re going to see something smoking in an American city and reporters asking “did we see this one coming?”…

Below is a video I posted to YouTube back in February, that notes even then the enemy training camps were FULL. And they are in Pakistan.

Al-Qaeda Gaining Strength in Pakistan
This video is from February of this year. Now they have gone
from simply “gaining”, to the point they’re back to fighting strength.

Related post: After the Next Terrorist Attack on US Soil, We?ll Attack Pakistan.

It was not right when Cynthia McKinney disrespected a Capitol Police officer and although less “violent” it’s wrong now that Christopher Shays has done it.

Shays apologizes for scuffle with Capitol Police officer Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) apologized Friday for an altercation with a Capitol Police officer Thursday afternoon in which the lawmaker repeatedly swore at an officer and touched his nametag to read it before storming away. … According to sources familiar with the event, the outburst began after Officer Randy Cooper informed a staff member that he could not bring a tour through a lower west front door that has restricted access. One source said that after Cooper informed the staffer that the family could not enter through the door, the staffer called Shays and tried to have the officer speak with him. When the officer refused, Shays himself came down to the post and proceeded to ?scream obscenities? at Cooper before touching his nametag to read it in the rain and storming away. Shays said he hopes to find the officer on Monday to apologize for his actions. …

Certainly Shays’ actions are not exactly those of McKinney, he didn’t swing at the cop, however he was highly disrespectful and if he were being treated like any other US citizen, given our constitution mandates equal protection, he would have been cuffed and spent the night in jail! I say McKinney should have been locked up and Shays should not get off easy either. But Shays is getting off easy and word is that no charges will be filed. Congress probably won’t do much in the way of disciplinary action of any kind either. He’ll get to walk after abusing a cop and it all might not even be mentioned much by Monday morning. Those cops have been getting too much abuse from the elitists of Congress and it’s time one of them was made the example and locked up for abusing a cop.

update 7/23/2007 10:13AM: It’s Monday morning and nobody has a word to say about this matter. Shays has verbally assaulted an officer and got away clean!

Although I typically avoid “pop media” news, given nut-ball-Bryd’s actions I have to speak about the Michael Vick dog fighting matter. I say lock him up and make an example of him. He knew the law, he broke the law, don’t drop the soap while in the shower buddy.

In cases where it is legal, I’m not going to jump around about what somebody does with ANIMALS, AS IN NOT HUMAN. These days some folks treat the dogs better than a baby. We don’t have puppy abortion mills, but we certainly see America killing babies by the millions. Abe Lincoln liked cock fighting, so what. Not that I seek to have an animal abused, but it ranks way lower on my list of concerns than most other things. In fact, why can’t what an owner does with their property be a “private matter”, why can’t the owner have the freedom of “choice” with their animals, which are property? Because Liberals care about animals more than people is why. Kill an animal and they wish to literally throw you in hell, but kill a baby and they say nothing. I don’t think hurting animals is right, but it’s not something I care about as much as people and no not every person who fights animals abuses people.

When I say Liberals will literally desire you go to hell for hurting an animal, I have proof. Check out the video Ian Schwartz has up of (says he’s a former Klansman) Senator Robert Byrd ranting about Michael Vick. He literally desires that Vick’s soul be placed not only in hell, but whatever portion might be the worst of it. (If hell has various sections. Christians have no reason to study the place, per Romans 16:19.)

Wanting Vick to go to prison is in accordance with the laws of the land. Desiring that Vick burn in hell, not for denying the Lord Jesus, not even for abuse to humans, but animal abuse. Give me a break. Byrd shows how twisted America has become. Desiring hell fire for what is done to a creature. Not that harming animals is good, but it’s time to put things in proper perspective. Byrd’s show boating and grandstanding showed his typical childish ranting on the Senate floor.

He says nothing about his KKK brethren who hung and killed human beings. For all we know Byrd may have had involvement in such activities. It was Byrd who wrote this of efforts to desegregate the US military:

Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.

Yet he desires a man burn in hell for animal abuse. When Byrd speaks of another, he suddenly forgets his own horrible deeds. For himself he desires mercy, while for Vick he desires the most bitter judgment. Is this not hypocrisy?

I certainly hope that both Byrd and Vick honestly repent to the Lord Jesus and embrace him honestly as their Lord and savior. No animal can get a man to Heaven.

Hebrews 10:4 (New King James Version) 4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ given His sacrifice for us.

So I was up in Baltimore last week during the time the building used by the First Mount Olive Free Will Baptist Church was struck by lightening and burned down. I had many thoughts about the whole thing, but was going to keep them private, until the Bentley news broke, which I will detail later in this post. Basically as the building burned away, on the local Baltimore TV news I saw members of that church out doing some interesting things in front of the cameras. Public prayer and/or praise sessions that one could tell were placed into high gear when the cameras were on. It was like the building burning had become a moment for some to pose and look “churchy” for a camera. It made me think of how Jesus instructed us not to try and grandstand before men in Matthew 6. The same day of that fire and the public grandstanding I witnessed, I had just finished the Avoiding Hypocrisy sermons I mentioned in a post I made that same day. It was like just after hearing a message about avoiding it, I was seeing the spotlight grandstanding before men hypocrisy in full motion, with a burning building as the draw. I know people with former connections to that assembly, so I don’t speak about them without actual knowledge of them before their building burned to the ground.

Just after the blaze ended, the media made a big deal about the fact the fire department was able to salvage the stained glass windows. I don’t know how stained glass brings anyone to know Christ, but the media loved it and the folks associated with that church were elated. A flashy item of public display for men was saved.

Baltimore’s Mayor Sheila Dixon quickly went on record, to state that she would work to find the church assembly a new place to worship. Seeing public government working on housing for a church assembly vexed me. You know I’m very much against things such as faith based funding, so seeing government jump into the affairs of a church caught my attention. I don’t find government taking on the role of seeking housing for a religious organization to be a good thing. Setting a horrible precedent, what if a building used by people involved in the cult of Muhammad (Islam) burned, would the Mayor use taxpayer resources to try and find them another building too? It’s simply best if government stay out of the church relocation business. Let those within that church and other churches assist as needed.

Anyway, the fire revealed some interesting things. While the public grandstanding and my knowledge of them had my pimp-o-meter buzzing, it has now been confirmed that money was being terribly managed and the “bishop” was riding a car that probably cost more than some of the church members homes. Why put it towards the needs of the poor saints all around, when the pastor can roll a Bentley?

Free Will church splurged on a Bentley in ‘05 The First Mount Olive Free Will Baptist Church bought a luxurious custom Bentley in 2005, the same year the inner-city church failed to pay a $12,000 water bill that has led to the filing of a foreclosure suit, motor vehicle records show. The congregation that owns the 140-year-old West Baltimore church, destroyed last week by lightning, is fending off multiple foreclosure threats because of the delinquent water bill and an alleged mortgage default on the 9-acre property the church owns in Southwest Baltimore, according to court records. Former First Mount Olive parishioner Mary Hynes, 84, remembers when the black Bentley was ceremoniously given to Bishop Oscar E. Brown two summers ago. Brown backed the car out from the church yard onto Saratoga Street while parishioners “stood out there hollering, praising him because he had this,” Hynes said. “I didn’t think it was right.”

Well how were they going to help the poor while rolling in all their created debt? This is why churches need to carefully consider when they desire to own things. And this church learned the hard way, that you probably don’t want a building with a big steeple that might catch a bolt of lightening. The church should go modest on the buildings if owning any at all, so funds can be devoted to the needs of the poor. You know, those people Jesus told us to help in Matthew 25:31-46. The apostles always ensured poor saints were cared for first and foremost via the church donations, 2 Corinthians 9, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, James 2:14-17. Many a pastor loves to proclaim “God loves a cheerful giver”, only they don’t mention that Paul was writing in that passage of scripture about money being collected to be given to poor saints, not money collected for a building or the pastors Bentley. The apostles did not ride fancy chariots, they were often broke and homeless.

1 Corinthians 4:11 (New King James Version) 11) To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

They forsook themselves for the care of the saints. They realized helping the poor is what Christ desired, not helping build their own wealth. Today, many ignore the example of the apostles and wish to live like King Solomon. With pastors that have followers who can’t properly discern old from new covenant, they keep collecting and building their religious industry empires, while their members literally cheer them on.

Let’s look back at the article:

The splurge on the turbo-charged English motorcar worth as much as $150,000 at the time of sale – more than many of the homes in the church’s immediate neighborhood – raises new questions about the congregation’s fiscal management.
…

You think Jesus wanted them to do that? Of course not. This is what happens when the heresy known as the prosperity doctrine is allowed to flourish. The thing that destroys prior good expressed in what were called “Black churches”.

Well, this church’s “bishop” is awaiting a major payout, that I’m sure he’ll have major influence in administering.

…
Brown has reassured his 3,000-member congregation that First Mount Olive will receive a $4 million insurance payout.
…

Given the track record, what are the odds the money will be spent in the manner Christ desires a church spend funds? Not good.

…
In addition to facing multiple foreclosure suits over the still-unpaid 2005 water bill of $12,342 and other municipal bills, First Mount Olive was notified just days before the fire that the property it acquired in 2002 would be auctioned at the end of this month. The church is accused of defaulting on its $1.5 million mortgage, held by SunTrust Bank, records show.

The auctioneer, Atlantic Asset Management Group, says the foreclosure sale is scheduled to go on July 26.
…

Does all this material stuff sound like the operations of a church or a poorly run corporation? If less cars and property were being acquired and more going to the poor, there would be less bills. This is a mistake far too many churches make.

…
Matthew Smith, a car salesman at EuroMotorcars in Bethesda said a Bentley Arnage, which takes as long as three months to construct by hand, costs at least $225,000 new. He estimated that the car the church bought was worth between $130,000 and $150,000, assuming it was in good condition. Today, it is worth about $120,000, he said.

I wonder how many poor saints without transportation to their doctor can fit in one of those? Silly me, I thought a pastor would encourage saints to assist the poor instead of enjoying a Bentley.

Hynes daughter, Ingrid Heigs, said Brown typically kept the Bentley parked in a fenced-in portion of the church property.

“If you’re in that kind of debt, you would think instead of buying a Bentley you would pay your bills up and stay out of foreclosure,” Heigs said. “But if his congregation felt as though he was worth buying a Bentley for, who’s to say that he wasn’t?”

Now given this church is supposed to be representing Christ, the entire congregation should have been telling their “bishop” that in keeping with the example set by the apostles, they would hold back on extravagant gifts and devote giving to the poor. The “bishop” in trying to follow a rightly divided biblical example should have strived not to be a burden to the church. Not that saints should not help a pastor IF HE NEEDS IT, but the apostle Paul tried to help church leaders recognize a more humble example.

2 Corinthians 12:14 (New King James Version) 14) Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Paul told saints when his expenses were already cared for, to keep their money and instead of giving it to him, save it for their children. Paul often worked of his own hands to care for himself instead of taking money from saints.

Acts 20:33-35 (New King James Version) 33) I have coveted no one?s silver or gold or apparel. 34) Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35) I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ?It is more blessed to give than to receive.??

Notice Paul spoke of helping the weak and the only time he took money he was broke and beaten. Then he accepted a gift to sustain himself and continue his ministry. It was not the norm for him to always expect to be given money. He typically worked of his own hands to survive and also preached too. So he could devote giving to the poor and weak, not himself.

But back to this article.

Brown did not return a call yesterday placed to his Howard County home, a 3,800-square house built in 1997 and appraised for tax purposes at about $600,000.

A late model Lexus SC430 sports car was parked in front of his house yesterday.
…

Not exactly following in the footsteps of Christ and His apostles. Every homeowner knows, whatever the tax records appraise the house at is typically far lower than the potential resale value, when compared with actual recent sales in that area. Interesting that a church head pastor lives so far away from where his assembly meets. Howard County, Maryland is a nice ride away from Baltimore City, a 25-30 minute drive.

The article notes that Oscar E. Brown is not the only Religious Industry member in Baltimore with a Bentley.

…
The Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant of Northwest Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple drives a leased 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, according to state records.

And with that, I will note a very interesting game that these pimps play. You see, while Jamal-Harrison Bryant drives a Bentley and lives a lavish lifestyle, he personally claims a very low salary. My guess is that he has “the church” front for much so he lives like a king while claiming to have a low salary personally. This trick works out for him in matters like a paternity lawsuit. Jamal-Harrison Bryant has been dealing with a rather bitter paternity lawsuit, that many don’t talk about. Most of it is so convoluted that even I won’t say much. But I will say this, you can read this official court document right here that shows Jamal-Harrison Bryant claims to only make $3,840 a month! How does one drive a Bentley and live lavish while making less than $50K a year? Pimping has its privileges!

Church members need to hold their leaders to a more biblical standard and remove those who fail to uphold that standard. Consider the biblical (as in from God) qualifications for a bishop, the criteria noted there.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (New King James Version) 1) This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4) one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5) (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6) not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7) Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

(These rules in scripture are the same for all who are in a designated church leadership role of bishop, elder, pastor or minister. Different church assemblies us various titles, but the rules are the same. All claim Jesus, all are bound to keep the same rules defined in scripture.)

Saints should move towards a more godly standard in church leadership.

Hat tip to Matt Green for the article.

update 7/20/2007 10:36AM: By the way, Oscar E. Brown knew of other debt ($22,000 Xerox bill a court ordered to be paid, plus over $77,000 in city taxes or other bills for the property acquired in 2002), while he drove around the Bentley. He’s basically “claimed” the $4 million, but the insurance company has not made a final valuation yet.