Posted on 02/12/2015 6:21:37 AM PST by Gamecock
When David Lee Richardson wrote a book that essentially implied tithing is a rip-off, I guess he didn’t think the consequences all the way through. Especially since the church he held a leadership position in, was none other than the Dallas, Texas mega-church, The Potter’s House, founded by public figure Bishop T.D. Jakes. Now, after being stripped of his title and told that he and his family are no longer welcome at the church, Richardson has filed a lawsuit.
The church has a congregational attendance rate of 17,000 and is home to familiar names like Sheryl Brady, Joby Brady, and Mark Jeffries.
Richardson’s book, “Sunday Morning Stickup: What Your Pastor Doesn’t Want You To Know About Tithes,” – yep, that’s the title, is a self-published work.
Richardson took to Collin County Court on Jan. 27 in order to sue The Potter’s House. He claims that his book, published in March of 2013, made no specific references to The Potter’s House or any of the church officials.
Richardson, who says he held a position of leadership at the church and primarily attended the north campus in Parker, says he was summoned to a meeting with two of the church pastors after posting the cover of his manuscript on his Facebook page.
“Plaintiff was advised that he was being asked to resign as a leader in the church and was officially stripped of his ordination license which he held for more than 20 years,” the court complaint stated.
“Defendant Pastor Brady expressed to plaintiff that she had no respect for him due to him writing the book. She went on to express that she makes no promises that she would read the book and she also expressed that leadership’s decision was based on the cover.
“Plaintiff was advised that defendant, Sheryl Brady, had spoken with T.D. Jakes prior to the meeting and was asked if she could strip plaintiff of his license and T.D. Jakes told her ‘yes.’”
Though Richardson’s membership to The Potter’s House was not revoked, he was not allowed to hold a leadership position, and could only attend under certain conditions.
“Jeffries told plaintiff that if plaintiff continued to attend church at The Potter’s House North, plaintiff would have to sit in the back if plaintiff sat in the middle section of the sanctuary,” the complaint stated. “Jeffries also pointed out a pillar to plaintiff and let plaintiff know that if plaintiff sat on the right side of the sanctuary, plaintiff would have to sit ten rows behind the indicated pillar.”
Richardson claims that on one occasion, on Jan. 27, 2013, he and his children were physically escorted out of the service by four police officers. The incident was a source of embarrassment and grief for him and his children.
“Once outside, plaintiff was told that earlier in the week the decision had been made to revoke his membership and he was no longer welcome at the church and if he returned he would be arrested for criminal trespass,” the document read.
Richardson is seeking punitive damages for negligence, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, assault, battery, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
You are barking up the wrong tree. I don’t defend his doctrine.
Wither go argue with yourself or find a Oneness Pentecostal type.
Roger that.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
The tithe was intended to support the theocratic government of Israel, and fund the Levitical priesthood (who were essentially the government bureaucracy) and the various feasts. It was NEVER given in money, but in sheep, goats, wheat, etc. In fact, here the Israelites were instructed what to do if they couldn’t drive their sheep, goats, etc., all the way to Jerusalem and had to convert their tithe to money:
Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Deu 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
Deu 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
Deu 14:25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
Deu 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Deu 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
So a pastor that insists on a tithe nowadays should also have an altar out back where he can sacrifice the sheep, goats, etc., he’ll receive. :)
Agreed. Offerings for those who minister and those who are unable to supply for themselves. There are certainly tell tale signs if scripture is being followed or not. The opulence of the living arrangements and lifestyle of the pastor is one. Another that sends me walking is if the preacher comes dressed in a robe.
When you threaten your employer’s entire income stream you’ve got to figure there will be consequences. (”Hey, those jets and limos aren’t going to buy themselves!). I think this is God’s way of telling the Pastor to find a real church.
You wrote: "We've all agreed on that in the past. Where have you been ?"
I inquired about the evidence of your claim. I notice you have qualified it as " Oneness Pentecostalism" rather than " Pentecostalism." That seems to imply that the so-called apostles, bishops, and female pastors are legitimate to you. /p>
Which was the point of posting this article in the first place. Not to turn into another tithe vs. don’t tithe thread.
Mind reading is frowned upon.
There is a difference between Pentecostals and Oneness Pentecostals.
Go find some and pick a fight with them.
Yes, which is why I wrote "that seems to imply" because I'm trying to understand your remarks and question rather than read your mind. It seems to me like pulling teeth to get a straight answer.
“And Paul made it clear that pastors and teachers should be paid for their work, though he refused so as to be above reproach.”
Beautiful! ANOTHER reason I think God elevated Paul by His own choice, granting that 13 (possibly 14?) letters of Scripture would be penned through him. I love this from Thessalonians:
“You know what kind of men we proved to be among you FOR YOUR SAKE”(1:5)
I am not going to pick apart every heresy of the O.P. church.
They deny the Trinity.
End of story, unless on of them starts posting here that is.
I never heard of them having a branch in Parker, and I don't see it on their list. http://www.thepottershouse.org/local/visitors/locations.aspx
Doesn't strike me as their demographic.
Sure you can. I wouldn't go to one which did, and I'd question their theology, but church isn't a public accommodation.
In fact, I do think this is a practice of the various neo-nazi churches.
One of my favorite parts of scripture is when Paul is talking “Like a madman”.
**When you start using terms like “manifestation” you are teetering on, or already in, the modalist camp. I may be wrong.**
“...God was manifest IN the flesh...”. 1Tim. 3:16
Also, “God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,..” 2Cor. 5:19.
‘IN’, is a word overlooked by those trying to define God as ‘three separate and distinct, co-equal, persons of God’.
God is invisible. To say that the image is God, separate and distinct from God the Father, is saying that God is NOT invisible. Jesus Christ, John, and Paul all say that God is invisible. I believe them. It is the invisible power within Jesus Christ that is God.
In the scriptures, when people worshipped Jesus Christ in his presense, they were quite proper in doing so, for he is the image of the ‘invisible God’ (Col. 1:15). God is IN that ‘tabernacle’.
I’ve heard the ‘three manifestations’ definition many times, and have told fellow oneness believers to just quote scriptures like 1Tim. 3:16, 2Cor. 5:19, Col. 1:15. John 14:10, 15:26, 17:3, and others, to define God. Define God as HE defines himself.
The effort to define God in just a few words is somewhat of a tall task. Jesus Christ talks a great deal when defining God; his words on the subject probably taking up a least a half dozen chapters of the book of John alone.
**We’ve all agreed on that in the past. Where have you been?**
I’ve been right here, taking you to task on it.
**Go find some and pick a fight with them.**
You are, by attacking oneness pentecostalism.
Here I am.
I don’t know anyone that attends ‘the Potter’s House’. I DO know PCA members in my neighborhood, that are devoted at attendance and tithing, but are openly ‘serving two masters’ (which, of course, is not possible).
But, I don’t make threads about it.
When your PCA neighbors make the paper feel free to publish it here.
Lol, I think in Corinthians 1 or 2.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.