T.D. Jakes - In His Own Words
In many respects, the life of Thomas Dexter
Jakes has been the classic American rags to riches story. Born into poverty in
Merchandising the Gospel
Since moving his ministry to Dallas Texas eight years ago, Jakes has left the
poverty of West Virginia far behind. He lives in a 9,689 square foot mansion,
drives a Bentley and a Lexus, wears exquisitely tailored suits, and pastors the
30,000 member
Jakes excuses his lavish lifestyle by saying “Anybody who has sold 8 million
books shouldn't have to justify why they live in a nice house.”. In a recent
Dallas Morning News interview the Bishop claimed that T .D. Jakes Ministries, a
nonprofit organization that produces his conferences and television ministry, is
largely supported through sales of products.
"So the stereotypical idea that the evangelist is out
there trying to get money from poor widows and welfare people to support his
lavish lifestyle – that model does not fit my life," Bishop Jakes said.
Job 9:20
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it
shall also prove me perverse.
While Jakes justification of his wealth may sound good on the surface,
there’s only one problem. Who do you think is buying all those products that
enable him to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous? I’ll tell you who’s
buying all those books, its poor widows and welfare people, that’s who. It’s the
members of his congregation, and undiscerning members of the body of Christ
throughout the world that purchase his products and allow Jakes to live like a
king.
2Peter 2:3
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:…
T. D. Jakes is not a business entrepreneur in the classic sense. He
has not invented a product or produced a service that the public wants and is
willing to pay for. What he has done is to make merchandise of the gospel. He
makes merchandise of God’s people. He sells for money what he supposedly has
gotten from God for free. If he were still digging ditches in
The Praise of Men
Jakes regularly receives praises for his work from the highest levels of
society. He has been invited to the White House by both Presidents Clinton and
G.W. Bush who has called him a “social entrepreneur”. The mayor of
Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to
the false prophets.
Can you imagine the apostle Paul or any of the early church
disciples being lauded by society like this? Did Jesus tell us that material
wealth and the praise of kings is the mark of God’s blessing upon our lives? No
he didn’t. In fact Jesus said just the opposite.
Math 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Heretical Associations
T.D. Jakes make no effort to separate himself from false prophets and false
teachers. He regularly appears with false prophets like Benny Hinn and Juanita
Bynum. His “Mega-Fest 2004 conference earlier this year in Atlanta included
heretics like, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, and Eddie Long. Also this year He was
a speaker at Morris Cerullo’s summer of miracles conference along with Kenneth
Copeland, John Hagee, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Oral Roberts, and Steve
Munsey. In addition Jakes was a featured speaker at Bill Hybels Willow Creek
Leadership Summit earlier this year.
One can only conclude from this that Jakes has no problem with false prophets
and false teachers. He apparently endorses many of the false doctrines taught by
these people such as the heretical seed faith giving scam, the divinity of man
lie, and the name it and claim it gospel.
But perhaps the most glaring example of a heretical association came in November
2000. Just two days before the presidential election, on a Sunday morning, T.D.
Jakes turned his pulpit over to an earth worshipping, abortion supporting pagan
named Al Gore. The service, broadcast to millions of homes on B.E.T. allowed
Gore to seek support for his candidacy and provided at least the appearance of
an endorsement by Jakes.
2Cor 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Man Centered Salvation
T.D. Jakes is a heretic not because he associates with heretics but because he
teaches a doctrine of self love. He mixes the false gospel of self esteem with
the bible, making the word of God of none effect.
In his book Loose That Man and Let Him Go! Jakes claims that men who beat
their wives are acting as “terrified little boys”.
He says that men who cheat on their wives do so because they fear confronting
unresolved issues with their spouses. He makes the statement that lustful and
immoral thoughts are “little boy thoughts”.
But Jesus said it is not “little boy thoughts” but sin that defiles the heart of
man.
Math 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
In his book The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord Jakes makes
his self esteem gospel clear when he writes;
”The woman has three relationships that must be
balanced in order to achieve some semblance of fulfillment. The first is her
relationship with herself, for a strong relationship with oneself is a necessary
precursor to every other relationship in life.”
This is pure man centered psychology and
is in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches. Jesus did not say that we
must love ourselves first. He said we must love God first and deny ourselves.
Math 16:24-25
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for
my sake shall find it
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,….
One of the chapters in this book is entitled “Falling
in Love with Yourself”. In it he writes, “Nothing
is more essential to spiritual and emotional well-being than that which we are
considering now.” and “It is a healthy mind that can celebrate itself.”
Paul said in Romans 1 that it is not a healthy mind that celebrates self but a
reprobate mind. This is the doctrine of T.D. Jakes
It is not surprising that T.D. Jakes has a 30,000 member church and is lauded by
the world. He teaches a false gospel that the world has no problem with. He
teaches love of self and the deification of man. This is a gospel that tickles
the ears of this proud and boastful generation. It makes men feel good about
themselves and ignores mans inherent sinful condition. By ignoring sin, this
gospel denies God’s power over sin.
Paul wrote specifically about men like T.D. Jakes in his letter to Timothy. Here
is what he said.
2Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall
be LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.
Paul continues to identify Jakes in verse 6
2Tim 3:6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and LEAD CAPTIVE SILLY WOMEN
LADEN WITH SINS, led away with divers lusts,
Woman thou art loosed? No, woman, thou art led captive by deceptive
teachers like T.D. Jakes. I urge you today by the spirit of God to turn from
this deceiver. Obey God. Deny yourself. Ask God to grant you repentance and
serve Him with your whole heart instead of yourself.
Steve Lumbley 2004 www.apostasywatch.com
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