Trinity Broadcasting Network (No. 2)

The people who heard Christ teach often asked him questions. For example, when he met with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Sychar, Samaria, Jesus asked her for a drink of water. She apparently was amazed that a Jewish man would ask her for anything. She asked him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria" (John 4:9)? Jesus said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give me drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water." The woman asked the Lord, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence do you have this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle" (John 4:10-12)?

There were many other situations when Christ's listeners questioned him about who he was and what he was teaching. In addition, Jesus often asked his listeners questions. This approach to teaching, that is, asking and answering questions, is called "the Socratic method." It was named after Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher, but virtually every teacher in the world has used the method. I have used the method in the college classroom and in teaching in churches. I also like to ask questions on my radio programs to challenge the thinking of my listeners. I like to receive questions from the people in my radio audience. I always give those questions my careful attention. I have difficulty because of time constraints getting around to all the questions, but I try to do so when I can.

I have a letter from a lady who asked some questions about my opposition to the teaching and practices of Trinity Broadcasting Network. She wrote: "The Crouches have worked many years to build the ministry that is reaching out to the world. There have been many tests and trials along the way. Do you not think they deserve a reward for their service to the Lord?" This brief excerpt raises a number of concerns. There is no question that the Crouches have worked hard to build a ministry, but is it a ministry that brings honor and glory to our heavenly Father? There probably have been hardships along the way, but what does that have to do with whether TBN stands for the truth of the gospel? Probably all ministries have experienced some hardships, but that does not mean that just any ministry should have our support. Only those ministries that teach the New Testament plan of salvation, engage in worship activities that are authorized and conduct themselves in honorable ways can have God's approval. If TBN does any of that, it does it while it is off the air.

Contrary to what my correspondent writes, nobody deserves a reward for his service to the Lord. If we deserved a reward, our blessings, including our salvation, would not be by grace. Besides, TBN promotes ideas that bring shame and reproach on the name of Christ. They promote with great vigor the so-called "health and wealth gospel." Just in case some in my audience, including my correspondent, may think I am way out in left field in my opposition to TBN, let me hasten to show otherwise. The Birmingham News (Sunday, September 24, 2004) published two major articles on TBN. William Lobdell of the" Los Angeles Times wrote one of the articles with the title, "TBN's message to viewers: Send money now, see riches later." According to the article, TBN's owner Paul Crouch told viewers during a telethon: "'If my heart really, honestly desires a new Cadillac....would there be something terribly wrong with me saying, 'It is the desire of my heart to have a nice car...and I'll use it for your glory?'" Paul Crouch said, "I think I could do that and in time, as I walked in obedience, I believe I'd have it'" (p. 12-A). What if he asked for a $200,000 car instead of a $40,000 car, would the Lord give that to him too? If he asked for a $10 million private Jet, how long would he have to wait to get it? If he were a television evangelist, like Joyce Meyer, he might get it soon by bleeding his supporters.

William Lobdell says many mainstream theologians think the prosperity gospel is doctrinal error at best and a con game at worst. Lobdell quotes Dr. William Martin, a professor of sociology at Rice University, as saying, "It is difficult to fathom how anyone familiar with the abundance of biblical teaching about 'the deceitfulness of riches' could have devised the prosperity gospel." Ole E. Anthony says he knows some people who have given virtually all they had hoping for a windfall that never came. Anthony says, "The people at TBN are living the lifestyle of fabulous wealth on the backs of the poorest and most desperate people in our society....People have lost their faith in God because they believe they weren't worthy after not receiving their financial blessing" (p. 12-A). Does my correspondent think the Crouches should have a reward for that?

Bruce Barron's book, The Health and Wealth Gospel: What's Going on Today in a Movement That Has Shaped the Faith of Millions? (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1987), should be in the library of everyone who is concerned about the true gospel. Barron quotes Fred Price, a prosperity preacher, as asking, "If the mafia can ride around in Lincoln Continental tour(ing) cars, why can't the king's kids" (p. 160)? I really think I would be very cautious about using the mafia as an example for those who claim to be Christians. I know how the mafia members get their money. Barron's book, incidentally, is not yellow journalism; all his charges against the health and wealth preachers are documented.

D. R, McConnell, a graduate from Oral Roberts University, has written a book with the title, A Different Gospel: A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1988). McConnell includes a brief excerpt from Gloria Copeland's book, God's Will Is Prosperity. It bothers me to have to say it, but Gloria Copeland's book is one of the silliest I have ever read. Gloria Copeland tells her audiences, "You give $1 and the Lord will give you $100....Give $1000 and you will receive $100,000....Give one house and receive one hundred houses or one house worth one hundred times as much" (p. 172). She even claims that the hundredfold is retroactive (her own book, p. 53). No wonder some scholars think the prosperity gospel is a con game.

Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr. is one of America's most prolific Evangelical authors. I probably have as many as twenty-five of Dr. MacArthur's books. Except when Dr. MacArthur writes about end times and the gospel plan of salvation, I have profited greatly from reading his books. In 1992 Dr. MacArthur published a book with the title, Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House). Dr. MacArthur says that Kenneth Hagin claims "the Lord himself taught me about prosperity." He says he never read it in a book. He had direct communication from heaven. Dr. MacArthur says Kenneth Hagin is lying (p. 268). John Avanzini spent his time on TBN one evening arguing that Jesus was wealthy. He said that Jesus had a "big house and wore designer clothes." Robert Tilton argues that being poor is sin, when God — promises prosperity (p. 285). I wonder if John Avanzini and Robert Tilton ever read what Jesus said. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head" (Mt. 8:20). Do they know what Paul told the Corinthians? "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). Is there not something fundamentally wrong with rewarding such gross error? And tragically I have just touched the hem of the garment on what is occurring on TBN.

My correspondent asks, "In any event, do you not believe the Lord can correct them if we pray for them instead of speaking out against them?" As a matter of fact, I do not believe that. The reason I do not is because of the way Jesus and the apostles approached religious error and moral conduct. Our Lord often criticized the Pharisees—his own people. Did he pray for them? I suspect he did, but we have no way of knowing. But I know this: Jesus did not wait for his Father to correct them. Will you please give special attention to what Jesus said to some Pharisees? "Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like unto white tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Mt. 23:27-28).

On one occasion, Christ "began to upbraid (or denounce) the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they did not repent. Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell. For if the mighty works that were done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day" (Mt. 11:20-23). What was our Lord's purpose in correcting the conduct of the people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum? It should be obvious to even a casual reader. He wanted them to repent and turn to him for forgiveness.

Why should I speak out against TBN's blatant disregard for the biblical plan of salvation and of worship? I can assure you that I have no ill will toward any person associated with TBN. But I have a sacred obligation—as do all gospel preachers—to use my voice and influence to counter all errors—whether they are preached on television, on radio or elsewhere. Silence on the corruption of the biblical pattern of the work and worship of the church would be sinful. I do not want anyone to say to me in the judgment, "You knew what we were doing was unscriptural, but you did not have the courage to say anything about it." Do you remember what Paul told the Corinthians about preaching? "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16)! Preaching the gospel must include exposing and opposing all error. At least it did in the preaching of Christ and of his apostles.

On one occasion, the scribes and Pharisees approached Jesus with a question, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." Our Lord responded: "Why do you transgress the law of God by your traditions? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, he who curses father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by which you would have been profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draws near unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mt. 15:1-9).

I must ask my correspondent and others: What if Jesus had not denounced the behavior of the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum? Would they have had an opportunity to repent and get right with God? Would he have done the scribes and Pharisees a favor had he not told them of their hypocrisy? His words may not have changed the people in those cities where he had done most of his mighty works or the scribes and the Pharisees. But the Son of God wanted them to listen and to respond in faith and obedience to his preaching. We have no idea what their responses were, but we know they were without excuse if they did not obey our Lord.

Do I believe my preaching against the unscriptural teaching and practices of the preachers on TBN will have an impact on the future programs of the network? I am not overly optimistic, but I must discharge my duty in discussing their errors. I hope and pray that some of those preachers and groups will develop greater respect for God's pattern for the work and worship of the church, but my main concern is to warn those who are being misled by what occurs regularly on TBN. Paul told the elders of the Lord's church at Ephesus: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one of you night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified" (Acts 20:29-32).

Let us return briefly to one of the questions my correspondent raised: "Do you believe the Lord can correct them if we pray for them instead of speaking out against them?" Do I believe Paul prayed for those churches and individuals whose sins he denounced? Knowing Paul as I do from reading his many letters, I have absolutely no doubt he prayed for them. But was praying for them enough? Does praying for false teachers or erring brothers exclude our speaking out against their sins? Should not we pray and speak out?

The lady added toward the end of her letter: "After all, our enemy Satan is the accuser of the brethren." Tragically, Satan makes false accusations against God's people. I do not make false accusations against anyone. I document my charges against false teachers from their own writings, from their speeches and practices on television and on radio. It is not unchristian or unreasonable to respond to any man's teaching so long as we do not misrepresent his views and so long as it is done in a spirit of "meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15). Is that not what Paul did in his letter to the Galatians? Please listen to Paul: "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you" (Gal. 3:1)? The word "foolish" (noetos in the Greek) means dull or sluggish. It comes from a root word meaning silly. One modern version renders the Greek "stupid." As you can readily discern, Paul experienced no difficulty rebuking the Galatians for their beliefs and behavior. Did the Holy Spirit record Paul's letters so they could serve as examples for preachers in every generation?

My correspondent closes her letter with this paragraph: "I pray you will not lend him (that is, Satan) your mouth to spend valuable radio time to speak against any one of your brothers, but instead reach out to the lost in the hope of winning them before it is too late." She adds: "The Lord is coming soon." I am grateful for her prayers on my behalf: I regularly ask both individuals and congregations to pray for me—not only for my work on radio—but in the pulpit and in the classroom. I have people to write and tell me they pray for me everyday.

I have struggled—as I hope and pray all preachers struggle—concerning how I should use every minute of valuable radio time. I know there are thousands of people throughout our nation who listen to our programs. My concern is to be faithful to the word and to strengthen those who listen. I work everyday—seven days each week—to -prepare myself to present my sermons in the most effective way I am capable of doing. I know some of my listeners will not approve of what I teach and the way I teach it. If I remember correctly, some of Christ's listeners did not agree with his preaching. They eventually crucified him for his preaching. Some of Paul's listeners brought against him accusations that probably cost him his life. Stephen paid with his life for telling his listeners: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised of heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as you fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who showed before the coming of the Just One; of whom you have now been the betrayers and murderers" (Acts 7:51-52).

If I know my own heart, my desire is to strengthen the church of our Lord and to teach the lost. I know—and so do you—that God will hold me accountable for what I preach and the way I preach it. That truth is on my mind everyday as I write and record the lessons for the International Gospel Hour. My heroes in my work as a preacher are the great prophets of the Old Testament, John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles. What a grave responsibility and wonderful opportunity it is for me to be able to preach the gospel to thousands and thousands of people in our nation! I ask you to pray that I will not neglect to preach the whole counsel of God. I want to be able to say with Paul: "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me in that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also who love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

Winford Claiborne

The International Gospel Hour

P.O. Box 118

Fayetteville, TN 37334