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Kenneth Copeland: Why Grifters Gotta Grift (Chat Publish #5) – Patheos

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Hello and welcome again! In recent times, an outdated ‘buddy’ of ours has popped again up within the information — and no longer for a just right reason why. Kenneth Copeland has been making waves together with his latest money-making scheme. His involvement within the grifty finish of Christianity ain’t new, despite the fact that. As we’ll see, his title pops up all the way through fashionable fundagelicalism. He couldn’t exist with out the issues operating in the course of the underpinnings of his tribe — however he additionally helped create the ones flaws. Nowadays, let’s have a look at Kenneth Copeland and his grifting griftery — and why he’s trapped in his gilded cage.
Born in 1936, Kenneth Copeland has made himself a family title in fundagelicalism. However no longer simply any fundagelicalism. He hangs out within the prosperity gospel finish of the fundagelical pool. There, he preaches that his god completely needs other folks to be wealthy, wholesome, and glad. All his god wishes is a few signal that believers actually imply their worship, and the most efficient signal there’s of sincerity is a big donation to his “ministry.”
Many critics have tsked-tsked at his lavish way of life, which contains using personal jets to get round. However there are a whole lot of different causes to totally despise Kenneth Copeland and imagine him yet-another-fundie-scammer but even so his evident money-grubbing:
And now, only recently, he’s were given his, uh, thumb within the Covid-19 profiteering pie.
Per week or so in the past, this nutjob Kenneth Copeland held a magical-healing consultation. This televised program, “Status In opposition to Coronavirus,” had him oiling up his hand and lengthening it to the digital camera whilst he proclaimed that Jesus would completely heal and offer protection to audience who put their arms to their televisions.
Deficient man, he simply can’t close up about right-wing Covid-19 conspiracy theories.
He attempted telling his fans that the sickness is a few roughly susceptible pressure of influenza, which isn’t true, and that “wholesome other folks don’t seem to be demise from this,” which could also be no longer true. Demonstrating his basic incompetence, he mentioned he sought after everybody to wait his church in spite of the outbreak:
“I would like you in my church. If we need to cross out thermometers. If we discover one with a fever, let’s get him healed correct there,” he mentioned. “What if you happen to do get it? Giant deal!”
I guess he’s a gradual learner and that the measles outbreak in 2013 didn’t clue him in. In fact, there’s no longer one example of a Christian being magically healed of this or every other illness.
As overdue as final week, he used to be available in the market pointing out that fundagelicals’ prayers “have beaten” Covid-19. And naturally, it has best gotten worse since this declaration. Oh, and he blames other folks’s hatred of Donald Trump for putting off the “divine coverage” he thinks his god had over The united states, which “opened the door” to Covid-19.
He acts like any such candy outdated man, like hyuck hyuck let’s simply praaaaaaaaaaaaaaay now y’axe, however in his center, he’s as nasty, evil, vicious, and emotionally-shriveled-up because the worst unhealthy apples in his faith.
Kenneth Copeland’s god is a horrific, evil, punitive, and vicious being — identical to he’s.
However he didn’t simply move slowly out of the faith’s posterior the previous day to absorb the lack of expertise banner.
A few years in the past, he ingratiated himself with a brand new motion in fundagelicalism referred to as “Phrase of Religion.” If that title sounds acquainted, it will have to! A protracted, lengthy listing of the worst-and-ickiest fundagelical leaders have embraced that motion.
Phrase of Religion started many a long time in the past with E.W. Kenyon, who influenced Kenneth Hagin, Sr., who influenced Rodney Howard-Browne, who influenced the Toronto Blessing hucksters David and Carol Arnott. In his house nation of South Africa, Rodney Howard-Browne himself attended “Rhema Bible Coaching Middle,” itself a part of Hagin’s Phrase of Religion motion.
In truth, the timeline we used for our Toronto Blessing collection if truth be told refers to Kenneth Copeland as a “protege” of Kenneth Hagin!
It’s rather an incestuous, tangled internet, isn’t it? Interesting stuff!
“Phrase of Religion” and prosperity gospel are intently similar. In Phrase of Religion, Christians assume in the event that they title what they would like, then it turns into actual. In that means, it operates just like New Concept, which ended in The Secret and different snake-oil methods, and can even derive from that older philosophy.
Listed here are the primary portions of Phrase of Religion:
I’m simply now knowing that the Pentecostals I joined as a youngster should had been into these items beautiful closely. They formally rejected prosperity gospel, however they totally purchased into different main portions of it, particularly the bits about spoken phrases having huge energy.
The large downside with wingnuts is that they just spiral in a single course: wackier. They don’t ever pull again at the throttle. They simply push ahead on it to propel themselves into stranger and stranger territory. No one can rein them again in, as a result of there’s no tether to truth that any of them settle for as legitimate. They simply stay development on their earlier sand-castle of wingnuttery and pushing concepts additional and additional into the perimeter.
When a perimeter thought first seems, it’s frightening and bizarre — nevertheless it has a foundation in precedent, so fundagelicals settle for it. A yr or two later, it’s canon. Then, a brand new wingnut seems to push the perimeter out even additional.
Kenneth Copeland helped create that entire mindset, and it’s made him filthy stinking wealthy in addition to given him a humongous quantity of private energy over others. However this ideology additionally created for him a gilded cage, as a result of there’s no preventing the teach now. He has to get out in entrance of each and every unmarried wingnut thought the tribe comes up with, or the teach will go away him at the back of.
So it’s no longer that Kenneth Copeland would possibly even need to smear oil on his hand and shove it at a digital camera whilst claiming “Jesus” cares significantly if a Christian Carol-Anns their track.
It’s that if he doesn’t do it, then any person else will — and the flocks will give that wingnut their cash as a substitute of him. He should without end push the envelope of wingnuttery.
Being trapped in a gilded cage filled with wingnuts may no longer occur to a extra deserving individual.
And if his antics alienate much more other folks from his faith, such a lot the simpler. Would possibly he fly his freak flag as top as he can — since the entire global wishes to peer precisely what Christianity’s end-run looks as if.
NEXT UP: Crucial oils! See you the next day to come!
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It is a Chat Publish. Believe this an Off-Matter Wonderland! Be happy to speak about the subject introduced right here, or deliver up no matter’s in your thoughts in recent times.
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The Friend Who Sticks Closer than a Brother

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The Friend Who Sticks Closer than a Brother

Embracing True Friendship: The Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother

Friendship is a valuable asset that enriches our lives by providing companionship, support, and a shoulder to cry on. But have you ever had a buddy who goes above and beyond—someone who remains closer than a brother? In a world where relationships can be fickle, a friend who sticks by us through thick and thin is a rare and priceless gift.

More Than Just Blood Ties

Consider the tie between siblings, which is based on blood and shared history. Consider a buddy who is more than just a family member. “One who has untrustworthy friends soon comes to ruin,” says Proverbs 18:24 (NIV), “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

This verse describes a friendship that goes beyond basic conditions. It’s a bond founded on trust, loyalty, and real concern for one another.

Continuous Support

Consider a buddy who is present not only during happy times but also during difficult times. This type of friend is unconcerned about changing circumstances or personal gain. They provide their presence, encouragement, and steadfast support.

Jesus expresses the core of such friendship in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This selfless affection serves as the foundation for a lasting connection.

Journeys Together

Consider a friend you’ve shared many stages of life with—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This shared experience forges a link that extends beyond surface-level exchanges. The value of companionship is brilliantly captured in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NIV): “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

A friend who sticks closer than a brother is someone who goes beside us through life’s ups and downs, lending a solid hand and an ear to listen.

A Mirror of God’s Love

As a symbol of God’s love for us, consider the buddy who sticks closer than a brother. God Himself offers an unbroken, unchanging, and everlasting companionship. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” says the Bible in Romans 8:38–39.

God’s love is the ultimate paradigm of true friendship—a love that is not conditional but remains faithful regardless of what happens.

Conclusion: Value true friendship.

A friend who sticks closer to you than a sibling is a treasure to be treasured. This type of friendship is founded on love, trust, and mutual care rather than convenience or shared interests. May we seek to be that sort of friend to others in our lives, just as God offers us His unfailing love.

In a world where relationships can be fleeting, let us create friendships that will endure. Let us be the sort of friends who are present in both joy and sadness, who offer unconditional support, and who mirror God’s unfailing love. We are reminded of the beauty of true friendship, which clings closer than a brother, as we welcome and cherish these unique and valuable ties.

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The Just God

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The Just God

The Just God: The Divine Balance of Justice and Mercy

The concept of justice is intertwined with the fabric of human society. We seek justice, responsibility, and reparation for wrongs done. But have you ever pondered a God who is not only just but also perfectly just? The Just God is a lighthouse of truth and righteousness, providing a profound awareness of justice and kindness that transcends human comprehension.

Justice in Pursuit

Consider a world where wrongdoers go unpunished and the disadvantaged have no recourse. The pursuit of justice is a natural human goal that reflects a feeling of rightness and order. And if we as humans value justice, how much more should the Creator of the universe, who is completely just?

According to Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV), “He is the rock; his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. He is a loyal God who does no wrong, who is straight and just. This verse reveals God’s character, which is characterized by unwavering justice.

Justice and Mercy in Balance

Consider yourself in front of a judge who holds you accountable for every action and decision you make. Imagine that same judge showing mercy and giving you a second opportunity despite the evidence against you. The just God is kind as well as just.

This delicate balance is captured in Psalm 103:10–11 (NIV): “He does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor does He repay us according to our iniquities. For his love for people who fear him is as high as the skies are above the earth. God’s justice is balanced by his unending love and kindness.

The Redemption of Justice

Consider a debt that you will never be able to repay—a debt of mistakes and wrongs that weigh heavy on your soul. In His perfect justice, the just God provides a solution. God provides a mechanism for justice to be served and redemption to be offered through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” says Romans 3:23–24 (NIV), “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. This is an example of justice being met via the redemptive act of Christ’s sacrifice.

A Call to Justice

Consider a society in which justice is not simply a notion but a way of life. In our interactions with others, the just God calls us to exemplify justice. Micah 6:8 (NIV) states unequivocally, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. What does the Lord expect of you? Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Living justly entails treating people with fairness, compassion, and respect, as the character of the just God requires.

Finishing: Adoring the Just God

The Just God asks us to comprehend the breadth of His justice—a justice that supports truth, requires accountability, and strikes a balance between mercy and justice. God’s justice and mercy merge in the person of Jesus Christ, offering us redemption and restoration.

May we turn to the just God as our ultimate standard as we traverse a world that frequently grapples with issues of fairness. May we seek His wisdom and counsel in order to live justly and treat others with love and justice. We find not only a paradigm of perfect justice but also an invitation to experience the transformative power of His kindness when we embrace the Just God.

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The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Pathway to Achievement

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The Joy of Serving Others: A Pathway to Fulfillment

The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Highway to Contentment

Have you ever ever felt the nice and cozy glow that effects from lending a serving to hand to a stranger, the enjoyment that lasts for days after the act of kindness? That emotion offers a way of the pride of serving to others. The straightforward act of serving to can give us a sense of function and pleasure in contrast to the rest in a society that incessantly pushes us to place our consideration on ourselves.

The Want to Serve

Believe a society the place everybody labored to fortify the lives of people of their instant neighborhood. The need to lend a serving to hand, proportion a load, and supply comfort is on the core of carrier. The instance used to be established through Jesus Himself when he stated, “For even the Son of Guy didn’t come to be served, however to serve, and to provide his lifestyles as a ransom for plenty of.” (NIV, Mark 10:45)

Serving others is extra than just a nice deed; it is a way to emulate the compassion and love that Christ proven for us.

Discovering Pleasure in Selfless Giving

Believe spending time with the aged or going to a neighborhood refuge to hear their stories and cause them to really feel essential. Those tiny acts of kindness won’t appear to be a lot, however they be capable to make any person’s day higher, create relationships, and toughen a sense of group.

A better feeling of pleasure emerges after we set aside our personal issues and be aware of the wishes of others. The Bible admonishes us, “Every of you can use no matter present you’ve gotten won to serve others, as trustworthy stewards of God’s grace in its more than a few paperwork.” (NIV) 1 Peter 4:10 We specific the particular talents God has given us through serving others, and it’s in those deeds of carrier that we discover authentic pleasure.

Have an effect on Unmeasurable

Take into consideration the impact if all of us realized to experience serving to others. If we take a bit spoil from our tense schedules to lend a hand a neighbor, supply a sympathetic ear, or donate cash to a reason we reinforce. Small acts of kindness have the facility to unfold, sparking a sequence response of generosity and optimistic exchange.

In step with the NIV translation of Matthew 25:40, Jesus stated, “Actually I inform you, no matter you probably did for this sort of least of those brothers and sisters of mine, you probably did for me.” No longer simplest can we fortify the lives of other folks we serve, however we additionally perform Jesus’ command to like and deal with the ones round us.

Development Relationships and Connections

Believe the sensation of camaraderie that comes from cooperating with others to reach a shared purpose. Folks come in combination via carrier, growing ties and friendships that differently won’t have took place. It serves as a reminder that we’re all part of a broader group, and that group would possibly take pleasure in the acts we do.

Serving others permits us to peer the arena from many angles and to realize the demanding situations and victories of other folks round us. Our lives are enriched and {our relationships} are deepened through this sensitivity.

Conclusion: Discovering Contentment Via Carrier

Every people has a skill that is able to be opened: the pleasure of serving to others. It serves as a reminder that our lives are meant to be about extra than just our personal pursuits; they’re an opportunity to fortify the lives of others.

Let’s thus embody the pride of serving to others, if it is by means of deeds of kindness, volunteering, or simply being conscious about their wishes. The easy act of serving would possibly supply mild and hope in a global that every so often turns out overwhelming. As we emulate Christ and prolong ourselves in love, we no longer simplest exchange the lives of others but additionally revel in a deep feeling of success and enjoyment that overflows into our personal hearts.

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