Are You a Counterfeit Minister?
There is an abundance of young men who are climbing up the ministry ladder right
now. They are being licensed and ordained to preach but they lack the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 which was a letter that Paul wrote to a current Pastor and Son in the faith. Paul exhorted the struggling Timothy to stand strong on the word of God no matter what people had to say about it.
now. They are being licensed and ordained to preach but they lack the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 which was a letter that Paul wrote to a current Pastor and Son in the faith. Paul exhorted the struggling Timothy to stand strong on the word of God no matter what people had to say about it. It used to be that you wouldn’t even dare get behind the sacred desk until you were well versed and learned in the word of God. These days we have pastors (and I know them personally) who will put you up in front of people whether you know the word of God or not. If you have the gift of gab, a high level of speaking ability, and manipulation skills you can go far in COGIC.
If you are willing to compromise your belief system and bend your head down and kiss your leaders butt, you will be the pastor of a large church one day. In my ministry experience I was told to sit down, shut up, and learn (even though I knew more about the truths found in the word of God than my leaders). I was told to never preach against sin. And most definitely never step on anyone’s toes.
Today, I’m going to post a series of questions along with scriptural references to back them up.I hope you can determine today whether or not you are a counterfeit minister. If you are, please repent and stop preaching until you are qualified.
1. If your bible study consist of somebody (not a qualified sound doctrine teacher) telling you what the word of God says and means, you are a counterfeit minister.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
2. When you study the word of God do you think that whatever you receive from your studying is right, no matter what qualified teachers of God’s word say? If so, you are a counterfeit minister.
“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
3. When you step before the people of God are you more concerned with sounding smart by using big words, and looking great, or do you actually have a godly fear about the information you give to the people so that you remove flesh and make sure your sermon is with all sound doctrine? If you don’t care, you are a counterfeit minister.
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration ofthe Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
4. If you are a new Christian or a seasoned one who hardly studies the word of God, yet you still accept speaking engagements. You are a counterfeit minister.
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6
5. If you think the preaching of the gospel is another phrase for getting the people excited and into an emotional frenzy, you are a counterfeit minister.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
6. If you preach that the tithe is still applicable to the New Testament Christian you are an unlearned liar, who has not learned how to properly exegete the book of Malachi. You sir, are a counterfeit minister.
Who was God talking to? “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify THE SONS OF LEVI, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3
What are the proper instructions for new covenant giving? “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
7. If you think theanointing is a power source kind of like the force on Star Wars to be passed around and giving to others by the laying of the hands, then you are a counterfeit minister.
“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
8. If you think that “all the promises of God are yea and amen” means that whatever you want from God he has already said amen to it. You are guilty of incorrect bible exposition and you are a counterfeit minister.
“As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” 2 Corinthians 1:18-20
9. If you have failed to take care of your family at home, your wife is leaving you, and your kids are on drugs, stealing, in jail, or loose…..you have been disqualified from the ministry and you are a counterfeit minister.
“He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” 1 Timothy 3:4-5
10. If you cannot teach the word of God in a way that someone can understand and learn from you, but you can yell, holler, shout (dance), fight, and take people’s money real well, you are pathetic. And you are a counterfeit minister.
“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” 1 Timothy 3:2-3
11. If you say things like: “I know what the bible says, but God told me something else….” You are a liar and the truth is not in you. And you are most definitely a counterfeit minister.“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
12. If you think that the bible has many errors because it was written by men you are a counterfeit minister.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
13. If you refuse to refute and expose false teachers and prophets you are guilty of not following the word of God and you are a counterfeit minister.
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” Romans 16:17
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:28-30
14. If out of your mouth frequent obscenities flow as well as words that are not worthy of edification you are a counterfeit minister.
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Colossians 3:8
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may givegrace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
15. If everyone who hears your message (un-believers and Christians) loves it, and no one ever takes any offence against what you say, you are preaching a watered down message, and have not kept the charge to “preach the word” that Paul gave Timothy. You also are not of Christ but of the world and are embraced by them.
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth andwander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19
16. If you don’t suffer for the message you preach you are a counterfeit minister.
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
And lastly if you think I need to shut up and stop being divisive and rude, then you have no clue who Jesus really is and you have no business preaching at all. You are a counterfeit minister.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36
Please examine yourself in light of scripture and repent. Remember what Jesus said about those who lead His little ones astray (he wasn’t talking about little children).
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6
The bible also says that not all of us should be teachers of God’s word. Some
should really take heed to James’ advice.
should really take heed to James’ advice.“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” James 3:1-2
brdavision
Love that t-shirt! I’m confessing now that I’m going to steal that picture.
Great post!
you are free to use it Brother Neil…..for three easy payments of $39.99 and love offering of $50.00 lol…..just kidding
Thanks for reading sir!
Gee is that all youre asking? lol
Ok Pastor Foster i’ll up it to 5 easy payments of $69.99 and a love offering of $100.00 but that as high as I can go! lol
Required reading, learning, memorizing and living out daily for every Minister!
At my church there will be a required 3 years of theological training. Not three years of just watching someone but three years of intense learning and bible study. And at the end of three years you will have to go and be a missionary for 1 year.
You will also be tested on scripture content and correct interpretation and have a trial sermon to preach the Gospel. This will weed out most of the fakes….
Paul said lay hands on no man suddenly, but we laying hands on all men…..
Thanks for reading sister!
Good point, if Jesus spent 3 1/2 years teaching His disciples, I think every new minister should spend at least 3-4 years learning what real ministry is. Being a minister of the Word of God is more than just standing up in the pulpit screaming and hollering, singing and dancing. Too often I see preachers announcing that they’re called to preach, they preach 3 months later, get licensed at 6 months, and pastor a church within a year and have no clue how to take the Bible and show someone how to recieve Christ.
@Jcart91-excellent point my brother! That’s pretty much how it went at my former church. Men would acknowledge their “call” into the ministry. Of which we had to have an “experience” with God. Some sort of theophany. I never had one, and I wasn’t about to lie. I based my call into the ministry soley on the word of God.
Jesus said: “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” I prayed to God that he would count me faithful to serve Him and His people in the ministry. I also have some scriptures in Ezekiel that I believe sparked a desire to preach and suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Anywho, I told my pastor I was ready and he made me sit for about 1 year. No theological training, no Paul and Timothy talks. No school no NOTHING! Not one time were we taught how to preach the gospel. And then one day he just put me up. All Glory to God that He (God) was preparing me for ministry the whole time as I studied my word both day and night. And sought out godly men who could help mold me into a productive minister guys like Pastor Foster of GCMWatch and men like John MacArthur, Dr. J. Vernon Mcgee and a host of others I know both personally and only through the internet.
I believe the one year of missionary work should be an absolute mandate. If the man doesn’t have a true love for God’s word and His people, he will not go out and “minister” to strangers….
First of all I love the sight, been catching up on some of your archived posts. This one is right on the money. The church I attend is in the midst of a transition as we look for a new pastor. Our previous pastor was caught in adultery with an associate minister’s wife. Sadder still were the people who rallied to his defense and then followed him out the door as he started a new ” church” less than a month after resigning.
Here is a man who is disqualified from ministry according to scripture, but there are people defending him. Trotting out the tired “touch not mine anointed” and “judge not, lest ye be judged” cliches.
The standard for ministry is not conventional wisdom, political correctness, or popularity. The standard is defined by God, in his word.
Sorry about the length, but I am righteously angry at what is happening in the pulpit all over the world. The pulpit in most cases has truly become a crime scene. May God have mercy on us!
Sola scriptura!
Brother 501Ken,
Thanks for reading and I hope my articles provide some solid food for your soul! It is always a serious matter when church leadership is caught in an act of infidelity. And it can be devastating to those who are the participants and those who are inadvertantly affected by it. My prayers go out to you and to those at your church that God would bring a true man of God who loves the word of God more than anything else to lead and feed you.
This man is totally disqualified from public ministry and those who follow him do so against what scripture clearly teaches. If he was truly repentant he would stay there at your church to serve as a lay member, maybe even to one day re-gain the trust of those whom he has hurt. However this is rarely the case because pride, (most of the time) is very strong in these kind of guys.
The touch not’s and judge not’s are only an indication of the bad bible teaching and lack of bible study of these people.
Feel free to check out the site and don’t be a comment stranger…..
“Solus Christus”-Christ Alone!
Oh, I forgot……
18. If you are more concerned with poaching members out of churches and not fishing for lost souls in the world….you’re a counterfeit minister
Good one Brother Jcart! Here’s another:
19. If you think that in order to be saved you must be “filled” or receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost you have not been faithful to the bible and you are a counterfeit minister.
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
“If you think that in order to be saved you must be “filled” or receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost you have not been faithful to the bible and you are a counterfeit minister”
I am curious about this statement you made. Having attended Pentecostal churches all my life, I have never personally heard a minister say that. Now, I am only speaking from MY experience, which it seems is somewhat different from yours. Nowhere does the Bible say that you must receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to be saved. I’m just a simple woman, and I know this.
Are the ones that promote this false doctrine well known (superstar) pentecostal teachers/speakers/preachers/ ?
Sisiter Tippins I was raised in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and we were told that unless we had received the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost” according to Acts 2:4 (keep in mind Acts 2:4 is not a guide to how on to “receive the Holy Ghost”) with the evidence of speaking in tongues, we were not saved. Even in my un-illuminated state I saw through this erronesous teaching.
This is just one of the many errors in the pentecostal movement. They allow personal experience to trump the authority of scripture. And they teach a slavation by works.
That’s why women are allowed to preach and folks are allowed to act completely crazy.
Because it “feels” right…..
Very good article! I, too, like that t-shirt! Can I get one made just like it for me to wear? {It might generate conversation with someone, giving me the opportunity to discuss God’s Word w/them) Let me know. I, was also born/raised COGIC (am no more). I identified w/some of the points you made in your article as were practiced in the last church I attended (WOF church). Needless to say, I am no longer there. God bless you! BTW, I now am involved w/an intimate bible study group and I have really been blessed by the fellowship. We study God’s Word and His Word is being ‘rightly’ divided. I have learned so much and God has really ‘opened’ up and revealed so much to me, for which I am thankful. I have learned more about the Word of God from being involved w/this bible study group than I have in years of being involved in the organized, institutionalized “church” system, where little proper exegeses of scripture is taught, for the most part.
Praise God that He allowed your eyes to be open! That shirt is a very hot buy right now……..I’ll let you have one for 7 easy payments of $59.99 and then I would need you sow a (mandatory) “free will” love offering of $200.00
I hope this site is a blessing to you and that you hunger for the word of God never cease……
God bless!
THANKS FOR SUCH A WORD FEW PEOPLE LOVE SUCH , BUT ITS THE TRUTH