The TD Jakes/Elephant Room controversy

[annsni]

Have you guys heard of this? It seems James McDonald invited TD Jakes to the Elephant Room, a forum of Biblical pastors discussing different issues face-to-face. I know that we will be hosting a simulcast of this at our church and I'm saddened to hear of the fact that Jakes will be involved because of his apparent views on the Trinity that are heretical. I guess it will be good for the people there to get him face to face and ask straightfoward questions but I also think it is wrong to partner with someone in heresy like this as if he has an equal standing to historic Biblical teaching pastors. Here is a good article on one stance of it:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs...invitation-of-t-d-jakes-to-the-elephant-room/

What do you guys think?

 

[preachinjesus]

What a well written, timely article. This was the right person to author the right article on this issue.

The Elephant in the Room conversations are a waste of time. Basically (and its not just me saying this...lots of my peers are saying this) they are a bunch of mega-church pastors and celebrity pastors who sit around a table and give their opinions on issues. Are the questions worth discussing? Sure but there are better people than the ones they invite. Unfortunately a lot of the conversations are pure hubris. That's the bigger issue for me. Of the one I listened to (they cost a ton of money btw) I just saw this small group of touted authors and preachers bantering back and forth over issues and rarely did they present a perspective or idea that was well grounded and worth considering.

From the article:

This isn’t on the scale of Piper inviting Warren. *This is more akin to Augustine inviting Muhammad. *This invitation gives a platform to a heretic. *It’s imprudent and counter-productive–witness already the Trinity-related confusions and obfuscations happening since announcing Jakes’ involvement.

Wow! That's a HUGE point. And its a correct one too.

The heresy of Jakes notwithstanding (he's waffled more than a politician at a fundraiser on this issue) his promotion of the ridiculous prosperity gospel is obscene. As Pastor Anyabwile points out the destruction of the Africian-American church has been at the hands of men like him. He has zero basis for speaking into the lives of other ministers.

I'm not too surprised that McDonald invited him, they are trying to reach a larger audience and the revenues from his visit will do wonders for their product. But I expected better.

It would be a great service to the Church of Jesus Christ to end the "Elephant in the Room" conversations.

 

[InTheLight]

The Elephant Room is giving T.D. Jakes a platform to espouse his heretical beliefs. This is error, IMO.

A re-reading of 2 John should suffice.

 

[jaigner]

A few years ago when I found out LifeWay was ignorantly and arrogantly refusing to carry the TNIV, I wrote an email to them that somehow found its way up the ladder to one of the top merchandise people. I complained that it was ridiculous that books by Jakes, who is a known modalist, which is one of the oldest heresies, were carried but not one of the finest new Bible translations.

He was very gracious, but his answer was insufficient. Basically that Jakes swears he's not a modalist and gave the right answer to interviews.

Is he? I'm not familiar enough with him to know, although my suspicion is that he is.

Either way, he needs to be out there in the spotlight, explaining his position, so that we can confirm or refute the popular opinion of him.

 

[freeatlast]

Have you guys heard of this? It seems James McDonald invited TD Jakes to the Elephant Room, a forum of Biblical pastors discussing different issues face-to-face. I know that we will be hosting a simulcast of this at our church and I'm saddened to hear of the fact that Jakes will be involved because of his apparent views on the Trinity that are heretical. I guess it will be good for the people there to get him face to face and ask straightfoward questions but I also think it is wrong to partner with someone in heresy like this as if he has an equal standing to historic Biblical teaching pastors. Here is a good article on one stance of it:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs...invitation-of-t-d-jakes-to-the-elephant-room/

What do you guys think?

I think what does anyone expect from MacDonald or Driscoll . As to your church it sounds like the pastor is also headed the wrong direction. Why would any pastor invite into the mist of his flock, who he is suppose to be protecting, the error of someone like Mr. Jake? I suggest you confront him and if he will not listen leave.

 

[Amy.G]

I think what does anyone expect from MacDonald or Driscoll . As to your church it sounds like the pastor is also headed the wrong direction. Why would any pastor invite into the mist of his flock, who he is suppose to be protecting, the error of someone like Mr. Jake? I suggest you confront him and if he will not listen leave.

Wait a minute. In another thread, weren't you praising the Texas church for inviting 1500 Muslims to have fellowship with them?

 

[freeatlast]

Wait a minute. In another thread, weren't you praising the Texas church for inviting 1500 Muslims to have fellowship with them?

No if you read my post I said the invite was good but they handled it incorrectly. I am in favor in inviting anyone to here the truth, not proclaim their false doctrine even if it is 1500 muslims.

 

[annsni]

I think what does anyone expect from MacDonald or Driscoll . As to your church it sounds like the pastor is also headed the wrong direction. Why would any pastor invite into the mist of his flock, who he is suppose to be protecting, the error of someone like Mr. Jake? I suggest you confront him and if he will not listen leave.

I suspect when we signed up for it, we didn't know about TD Jakes coming.

 

[freeatlast]

I suspect when we signed up for it, we didn't know about TD Jakes coming.

Well then unsigh for it.

 

[preacher4truth]

No if you read my post I said the invite was good but they handled it incorrectly. I am in favor in inviting anyone to here the truth, not proclaim their false doctrine even if it is 1500 muslims.

Your position is correct. In what you said here it is not a contradiction as is being deficiently alleged against you. We are talking of the lost (Muslims) not heretical "believers" (Jakes).

Therein is the difference.

:thumbsup:

 

[Amy.G]

Your position is correct. In what you said here it is not a contradiction as is being deficiently alleged against you. We are talking of the lost (Muslims) not heretical "believers" (Jakes).

Therein is the difference.

:thumbsup:

Wolves are wolves. False teachers are wolves. A heretical "believer" is a false believer and a false teacher, hence a wolf.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

[preacher4truth]

Wolves are wolves. False teachers are wolves. A heretical "believer" is a false believer and a false teacher, hence a wolf.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Wolves are wolves? Really?

The false teachers are those within the church, or those who have infiltrated the church with false teachings, not those lost in another religion.

But let's pretend you're correct, and let's bring all the missionaries home who are out there in Middle Eastern countries and the like, inviting Muslims to hear the Gospel. Then you can give them a lecture from your passage about their error.

Yep. A heretical "believer" is a wolf. Which describes Jakes, not Muslims. Not a heretical "unbeliever." Which describes those "without"' in all religions.

That's the context of this passage. Note the "sheeps" clothing part? Wonder what that part means?

It's not a reference against Muslims, or those of a different religion, but of those who claim to be within "Christianity" who are false teachers dressed as "sheep."

Freeatlast is correct, and you've further vindicated him.

 

[righteousdude2]

Since You Inadvetantly Let Him In!

Let him inadvertently hang himself with his heretical leanings. It should be great watching the jolly big bishop twist and dangle in the "cross" winds of truth and heresy.

Try to put on a smile and stay far enough back to avoid being taken out by the fireworks that will no doubt take place. : tonofbricks:

 

[annsni]

Let him inadvertently hang himself with his heretical leanings. It should be great watching the jolly big bishop twist and dangle in the "cross" winds of truth and heresy.

Try to put on a smile and stay far enough back to avoid being taken out by the fireworks that will no doubt take place. : tonofbricks:

I think this group of men will not be afraid to call it like they see it.

 

[freeatlast]

I think this group of men will not be afraid to call it like they see it.

It would be better to just obey the Lord and not have the fellowship and protect the church instead of justifying the wrong.

 

[annsni]

It would be better to just obey the Lord and not have the fellowship and protect the church instead of justifying the wrong.

I agree with you and I would have never invited Jakes but then maybe this can be useful since so many like him and follow him. He's certainly not going to get away with beating around the bush now!

 

[freeatlast]

I agree with you and I would have never invited Jakes but then maybe this can be useful since so many like him and follow him. He's certainly not going to get away with beating around the bush now!

Like I said if your pastor will not listen and pull out of this leave as he shows he does not have the ability to lead the church in the Lord.

 

[annsni]

Like I said if your pastor will not listen and pull out of this leave as he shows he does not have the ability to lead the church in the Lord.

I'm not planning to leave my church over this. I'm not even sure that my pastor knows that Jakes will be there. If he still decides to host this with Jakes in attendance, I'm absolutely sure he will use this as a teaching time and it will not end with the end of the broadcast.

 

[Iconoclast]

Have you guys heard of this? It seems James McDonald invited TD Jakes to the Elephant Room, a forum of Biblical pastors discussing different issues face-to-face. I know that we will be hosting a simulcast of this at our church and I'm saddened to hear of the fact that Jakes will be involved because of his apparent views on the Trinity that are heretical. I guess it will be good for the people there to get him face to face and ask straightfoward questions but I also think it is wrong to partner with someone in heresy like this as if he has an equal standing to historic Biblical teaching pastors. Here is a good article on one stance of it:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs...invitation-of-t-d-jakes-to-the-elephant-room/

What do you guys think?

Sorry to hear this...hope it is not a trend

 

[SolaSaint]

Lets don't get too free with words like "leave a church if the Pastors fails to see things your way". We see too much of this these days and I would say stay and be a light to your church and stand up for the truth. Now if your church goes in a hereitcal direction then that is a horse of a different color.