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Snakes in the Pulpit!!

I love press releases. Well, I should say... I love to read press releases, especially Christian ones, because sometimes they just seem so jaded and/or out of context, that they make me smile. Here's one from "Streaming Faith". Who is "Streaming Faith"? I'm glad you asked. They are the "largest Christian based website IN THE WORLD". Plus, they broadcast in EIGHT states (that's nearly 1/5 of the whole United States!). OK... that said, here's a press release from one of their big stars: Reuben Armstrong (of the Reuben Armstong show, of course)...

The Reuben Armstrong Show airs on Streaming Faith which is the largest Christian based website in the world and broadcasts in eight states and on TV around the World. Armstrong will release a new book titled “Snakes in the Pulpit.” The book is scheduled for release on August 29th, 2007. Armstrong will be sending a certified letter to these four pastors asking them to resign from their positions as Pastors because they are “deceiving true believers.”

In “Snakes in the Pulpit” Armstrong states, “...these four pastors are using the word of God to manipulate the true believers for fame and fortune.” This book will expose the deception that these four “pulpit pimps”, as Armstrong defines them in his book, are using the word of God to get rich and support their royal family. According to Armstrong, these mega-pastors have deceived thousands and thousands of people and yet are raking millions and millions of dollars from their extremely large congregations.

There are several mega-churches that are featured on national TV and radio that have spawned a new type of celebrity: “Mega-pastors.” These men have risen in stature and gained the public’s trust as irreproachable men of God as their churches have attracted hundreds of thousands of members and millions of viewers and listeners.

“Judgement day is coming: their status nor money won’t get them to heaven,” Armstrong said.

http://www.snakesinthepulpit.com

http://www.reubenarmstrongshow.com

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This post has been viewed 9071 times and was added on August 22, 2007 by Todd Rhoades.
Filed under: Engaging Culture  Current Events and the Church  
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  There are 32 Comments:
  • Posted by

    i am glad someone is finally standing up to these crooks,reuben armstrong is the only one that i heard of taking a stand , good job mr, armstrong

  • Posted by nathan

    O My Golly…
    <br >

    How ironic that a man with a self-titled television show has issues with men who are using their influence for their own fame.

    I think perhaps this Armstrong guy should write an autobiography titled, ‘Snake in Front of Camera: Now, Buy My Book!’

  • Posted by Leonard

    snakes in the pulpit, isn’t that the lesser known movie starring Jessie Jackson?

  • Posted by

    No, Leonard, that was PLANES in the pulpit… wink Or was it monkeys?

  • Posted by kent

    Leonard - Nice, very nice.

    I have as of this moment not received any letters from this Armstrong gentleman, so I am fairly certain I am okay. Well on this issue at least.

  • Posted by Camey

    Streaming Faith? Reuben Armstrong? okay…

    Why does this make me think of Bernie?

  • Posted by

    Gotta love it!  The video on the page has Reuben saying, “Axe yourself if these are men of God.” AXE yourself? 

    It’s not that he’s wrong about Creflo Dollar, etc.  But really- “Hey pot, this is kettle calling.  Ummmm...You’re black, too!”

  • Posted by

    He had better be right. If he is claiming a mandate from God then someday he will answer to God. But I wonder what makes him think he has the right to speak into these gentlemen’s lives. What standing does he have? If we looked into his life intently would it stand the scrutiny? And how much is he profiting from this book assuming it sells enough copies to break even?

  • Posted by Brian

    He’s right about some of the teaching.  But only God knows the motivation of the heart.

  • Posted by Brad

    The least they could do is pronounce Joel’s name “Oh-Steen and not Ah-steen”

  • Posted by Derek Vreeland

    I appreciate all of the sarcastic jokes. It keeps me from trying to think of any. grin

    But come on...."the book everyone will be talking about"… as if there is anything new that can be said about Osteen, Jakes, Long and Dollar.

    I thought Paul says something about not judging another man’s servant, but heck if you quote enough from the OT maybe you can get away with a little judgment.

    Derek

    P.S. I do like the photoshop work on the book cover...the head of a snaking coming out of the suit that is nice. That is what you want to see when you walk into a LifeWay bookstore.

  • Posted by Camey

    Okay.... I have a confession to make.. back in the years of serious health issues and being homebound - I watched......... (oh never mind.. I’ll keep it in the dugout) wink

    I haven’t the faintest clue though, just by his name, who Long is. And here some people think I know everyone......... (stomps foot)

  • Posted by

    Is it Friday already?  This sure sounds like Friday satire.

  • Posted by

    yikes- Isn’t Jermiah really Jeremiah and Mathew really Matthew? Maybe he ought to check the Bible frst…

  • Posted by

    listern lets be very careful putting our foot on God’s people they are called buy his name to do his work here on earth pslam 105 verse 15 tells us what God says do not touch his people and do them no harm it means what it says learn to read the bible and ask the lord for wisdom your foot is made to walk not to kick people down matthew 7 says jude not let God make decisions about his people not you

  • Posted by

    does philippians chapter 1 come into play at all here?? (phil 1:18)

  • Posted by

    listern kevin i am not going to get mad about any of this but a lot of times when we want to justify that we are the only ones that are right we begin to take God’s word out of context so read Matthew 7: 1,2 this will sum it all up, another thing in phillippians Paul was trying to do every thing to win the christians heart and get them to understand the love of God and also unity when they fall in love with God ask God for widsom not just knowledge. God bless you jennifer

  • Posted by

    sorry to ruffle feathers, jen… i was honestly just asking a question, not making a statement

  • Posted by

    Words Of Warning For The False Prophets

    You pushed me into this, God, and I let you do it. You were too much for me. And now I’m a public joke. They all poke fun at me. Every time I open my mouth I’m shouting, “Murder!” or “Rape!” And all I get for my God-warnings are insults and contempt. But if I say, “Forget it! No more God-Messages from me!” The words are fire in my belly, a burning in my bones. I’m worn out trying to hold it in. I can’t do it any longer! Then I hear whispering behind my back: “There goes old ‘Danger-Everywhere.’ Shut him up! Report him!” Old friends watch, hoping I’ll fall flat on my face: “One misstep and we’ll have him. We’ll get rid of him for good!” So don’t turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he’s told us this quite plainly—he’ll also rock the heavens: “One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.” The phrase “one last shaking” means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. Don’t let them find me— the conspirators out to get me, Using their tongues as weapons, flinging poison words, poison-tipped arrow-words. They shoot from ambush, shoot without warning, not caring who they hit. They keep fit doing calisthenics of evil purpose, They keep lists of the traps they’ve secretly set. They say to each other, “No one can catch us, no one can detect our perfect crime.” The Detective detects the mystery in the dark of the cellar heart
    Jeremiah 20:7
    Hebrews 12:25Revelation 22:18 Psalm 64:2

  • Posted by

    we are going to just have to pray about things and give it all to GOD himself if there are snakes out there he will know how to deal with them just like he did in the garden of eden but we need to give God his business back to him and let him work it out we should not judge at all again read matthew 7 thank you jen

  • Posted by

    WHAT IN GODS NAME WRONG WITH YOU HOW DARE!! YOU CALL THE MEN AND .WOMEN OF GOD SNAKES IN THE PULPIT HOW DARE YOU CALL THE MAN OF GOD TDJ’S A SNAKE HOW DARE YOU CALL .MY PASTOR AND EVERY OTHER PASTOR SNAKES HOW DARE YOU CALL YOUR SELF POSTING YOUR CRAP ON THIS WEB SITE LIKE THIS . HOW DARE YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MY FATHER IN HEAVEN MEN AND WOMAN OF GOD !!!!SNAKES IN THE PULPIT YOU DONT NO NOTHING ABOUT MY FATHER IN HEAVEN BECASE IF YOU DID YOU WOULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT YOU DID ON HERE YOU DONT KNOW JESUS!! YOU DO PUT YOUR MOUTH ON THE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD BECAUSE THE BIBIE SAY’S DO MY PROPHET’S NO HARM PSALMS 105 VERSE -15 SO IN OTHER WORDS IM TELLING YOU WHATCH OUT WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT MY FATHER IN HEAVEN PROPHET’S BECASE HE DON’T LiKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THEM MY FATHER IN HEAVEN IS THE RESON WHY YOU ARE HERE NOW YOU ME AND NO ONE KNOWS WHEN HE IS COMEING BACK WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT COLOR HE IS AND I BELIVE MY FATHER IS ALL COLORS TO ME HE IS PERFET IN EVERY WAY NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT HIM WHO PUT THE RAIN BOW IN THE SKY AND MAKES IT LOOK PRETTY JESUS IS THE RESON FOR THE SEASON EVERY DAY THER IS OULY ONE GOD AND ONE SON AND IS NAME IS JESUS THE FATHER IS IN SON AND THE SON IS IN THE FATHER WHO MADE YOU GOD TO SIT UP AND JUGE MY FATHER MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD JUGE YET NOT YE SHALL BE JUGED HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IF I CAME ON YOUR SHOW AND SAID THEM SAME THINGS ABOUT YOU HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IF I CAME TO YOUR HOUSES AND PONT MY FINGERS AT YOU HOW DARE!! YOU HOW DARE YOU!! JUGE ANY ONE YOU ANT GOD !!AND YOU AN’T THE SON CALLED JESUS YOU DIDN’T DIE FOR ME AND YOU SHOW DIDN’T SEND YOUER SON TO DIE FOR ME SO WHO ARE YOU TO JUGE ANY ONE IM NOT JUGEING YOU I’M CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT YOU ARE A SNAKE SENT FROM THE PIT’SSS OF HELL!!!!! IF THEY ARE ALL ABOUT MONEY THEN WHAT ABOUT YOU EVERY THING YOU ARE DOING OR SAYING IS AGISN’T THEM IS GOING TO COME BACK ON YOU TEN FOLD!!! I DIDN’T SAY THAT MY FATHER SAID THAT IF ANY ONE IS ABOUT MONEY IT’S YOU !! WHY AN’T NONE OF YOUR BOOKS OR WEB SITES OR TV SHOW ARE FREE YOU MAKEING MONEY OFF OF TALKING ABOUT THEM SO WHAT THAT MAKES YOU A SNAKE IN THE PULPITIT’S NOT THEM YOUR THE SNAKE THAT BAD MOUTH MY FATHER IN HEAVEN PROPHET’SYOU DIDN’T MAKE THEM GOD MADE THEM AND HE MADE YOU TO RATEHR YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!!! HOW DO YOU KNOW ANY THING ABOUT THEM DO YOU STAY WITH THEM DO YOU EAT WITH THEM I TELL YOU WHAT IF YOU DON’T NO NOTHING ABOUT ANY ONE KEEP YOUR MOUTH OFF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD MY MOTHER ALWAY’S TOLD ME IF YOU DON’T HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT ANY ONE KEEP YOUR COMMENT’S TO YOUR SELF!!!!!! MY FATHER IN HEAVEN WANT THEM TO TO HAVE THE RICHESS OF THE WORLD TO HELP HIS PEOPLE AND TO PREACH THE WORD OF GO TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE THEN HE SAW FIT TO DO THAT AND HE DID WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THATS WRONG!!! AND ALSO ANOTHING HOW DO YOU THINK A CHURCH IS TO STAY GOING IF YOU DON’T TIED OR GIVE TO YOUR CHURCH HOW ARE THE LIGHTS AND WATER AND OUTHER NEED’S OF THE CHURCH ARE TO KEEP GOING WITH OUT MONEY IF ANY CHURCH LITENS TO YOU THEY WONT HAVE NO WATER ON LIGHTS AND HELP WHEN HIS CHURCH NEED IT HOW DARE YOU SNAKE I’M NOT JUGEING YOU I’M CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT YOU ARE A SNAKE FROM THE PIT’SSS OF HELL I LOVE YOU MY BROTHER !!!! BUT YOU ARE WRONG!!!! WRONG !!  WRONG!!!! WRONG!!! TO SAY AND DIDNT WHAT YOU DID TO THOESE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD!!! MAY MY FATHER IN HEAVEN ON JUGMENT DAY HAVE MERCEY ON YOUR SOUL!!!!!! TO ANY ONE WHO READE’S THIS I PRAY THAT GOD TOUCH YOUR HEART TO SEE WHO THE REAL SNAKE IS AND IS’T NOT TD’JS AND ALL THE OTHER MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD HE CALLED SNAKES IN THE PULPIT!! IF YOU BELIVE ANYTHING THIS MAN SAY’S REUBEN ARMSTONG I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU AND MY GOD BLESS YOU TO I’M A CHILD OF GOD !!!! AND I’M NOT PERFET BUT NO ONE I MEAN NO ONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUGE ANY ONE BECASE EVERY ONE EVEN ME ARE NOT GOD
    !!!!!

  • Posted by

    All I have to say is that if he Knows God so well, why is he judging everyone else?

    Isn’t that God’s right.  Did God not say “ Judge ye not, for you shall be judged” ?
    If people are doing wrong, then they are the ones who has to answer for their sins. 

    You take what you need from their message.  No one says to believe everthing that you hear.  Not only that, but God is in Control all the time!  He can build you up, or bring you down. 

    Why should anyone worry about what others are doing?

    We can only save ourselves. 

    Sweep around your own back door!

  • Posted by

    1, we can’t save ourselves, our sinful nature won’t allow us to do this…

    2. as the church, we are called to expose the false prophets amongs us; God said He would judge the world in His second coming.  (But we are to expose those who are false prophets.)

    3. we have alot of people quoting Scripture but are taking the Scripture out of context. (Isogesis instead of exegesis).

    4. popularity is not preaching, fame, health and wealth is not preaching. Motivational speaking is not preaching. Everybody wants to be uplifted by a speach that tickles the emotions, but few wants to be preached to.

    I don’t care who they are and how big their names may be, but if they are not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ then they are to be exposed.

    John the Baptist called them, “A generation of vipors..."(paraphrasing)… Bro. Armstrong called them snakes in the pulpit. Both fit who they are…

    God said in His word, “the day would come when men would not endure sound doctrine, but would have itchy ears for fables and doctrines of the devil.” (paraphrasing)…

    There’s a difference in motivational speaking and preach the Gospel. Those who are motivational speakers seek their reward down here. Whereas those who are preachers of the Gospel seek their reward in Heaven…

    I rather worship at a small storefront church where the Gospel is being preached then a mega church where motivational messages are presented…

  • Posted by

    ok, Ive never ranted like that simika.  Its very clear, these pastors of mega churches are just like the snake oil salesmen, they are decietful, slick, ignorant of God’s word, and they are destroying the church.  period. I think most people will eventually realize the damage and they will leave these mega churches and start living geniune first century christianity!

  • Posted by

    yes, Christianity has an distored view by the world and even by those whom apart of the church. the problem with today’s Christians and the Christians of the 1st century is: the first century pastors sought to the holistic ministry of the apostles (justification, santification, regeneration, etc...); whereas today’s pastors are seeking to fill up churches with un-regenerated, un-saved folks.

    this mega-church is a mega-problem to biblical Christianity…

    these pastors with jets, 20 bedroom mansions, $500, 000 cars…

    vipors

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