That reads as pretty candid, honest, Biblical, to me.
I have no need to throw rocks at her.
Rock throwing tends to be a pretty hazardous hobby.
Not for David... for Goliath, maybe!
***That reads as pretty candid, honest, Biblical, to me.***
To me it reads like it is not her fault. She is using the Flip Wilson defense: “The Devil made me do it.”
This woman is neither candid, honest, nor biblical. Your glib defense of her belies the biblical teaching that you yourself include on your info page:
...”Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart”.... 1 Peter 1:22.
You are fond of quoting verses about love on your info page, with little attention to obedience. Do you consider those who are "annointed" to be above obedience? To the contrary, the above passage commands us to obey the Truth as given us in Holy Scripture.
As you are surely aware, we are commanded to "avoid the appearance of evil." Furthermore, ministers of the Gospel are instructed to be "above reproach."
For purposes of brevity I will leave aside serious issues regarding how this "minister" boasted in her journal about the "millions" she has in the bank as a result of fleecing her flock, and simply ask one question: Do you consider two ministers of the Gospel, who are not married to one another, who are photographed hand-in-hand coming out of a hotel in Rome to be engaging in acceptable behavior?
Do you consider being seen under such compromising circumstances to be acting "from a pure heart"?
If you in any way excuse such behavior, you would do well to examine your own heart to see if you are genuinely "in the faith."
(Oh yes, I know, "do not judge!" And, for good measure: "Do not touch the Lord's annointed!" and "We are not under the law but under Grace!" To the contrary, it is the responsibility of ministers of the Gospel to live lives that are beyond reproach - not to twist the Scriptures to excuse their behavior.)
Since you are fond of quoting verses about love on your info page (as though that were the sum total of the Gospel), I find it curious that you do not shrink from making numerous highly derogatory and offensive comments towards other Christians and churches. I find this behavior hypocritical to say the least - something else about which Jesus had much to say.
I have spent a lifetime in Evangelical and Pentecostal circles, and have a terminal degree in Theology, studying in "Ivy League" Evangelical schools, and have taught theology on the college-level, and have written numerous books.
All that amounts to "wood, hay, and stubble" compared to obedience to the Gospel. Obedience cannot be reduced to simply being "filled with the Holy Spirit," which to many (apparently including the above "ministers") justifies their actions.
If you imagine that such behavior can be overlooked or justified by the oft-misinterpreted verse "touch not the Lord's annointed," you are sadly mistaken. Each one of us, including Paula White and Benny Hinn, et al., will one day "give an account for the deeds done in the flesh," on that Day when the crowds of adoring followers, and all the excuses for the sinful behavior and for the lavish lifestyles, will all be stripped away. And those of us who enabled them, and turned a blind eye to their actions, will have much to answer for as well.
The humility of the repentant is missing, and it's supposed to be about Jesus, not Paula.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
--Paul of Tarsus, II Cor. 11
"[Bishop] Randy, Pastor Paula, give me a word, marry me, bury me, pay these bills, prophesy. Why aren't you doing this? Why isn't it like it used to be? We don't like the music. We leaving the church because you didn't know our names and you didn't come have lasagna with us," she said, mimicking the demands and criticisms she was met with.When Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them" he wasn't talking about million dollar bank accounts.
-- Paula White