Scripture
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Perry Noble was the pastor of NewSpring Church and the worship leader of 32,000, with the constant articulated goal of reaching 100,000, As the largest church in South Carolina with multiple campuses, it still wasn’t big enough for an egocentric pastor.
Noble caused a theological stir with his Christmas Eve sermon in 2016, proclaiming that the Ten Commandments were not commandments, but only “promises,” since the word for “commandments” is not in the Hebrew lexicon. Having this epiphany, he wrote a revolutionary sermon in ten minutes, penning it just before the evening worship service, transforming “you shalt not” to “you are free …”
Reputable theologians challenged the mega-church pastor regarding his exegesis. Though the Hebrew word used in the Torah can mean “promises,” it can also be interpreted as “declarations.” It would seem “Thou shall not…” is hardly a promise but most certainly a declaration, which is a commandment. Noble later confessed the Hebrew word could mean “declaration,” though stood by his sermon that Moses, on Mt. Sanai, was given ten promises.
Since its conception the church has been plagued by heretical teachings, which in the first three centuries required numerous ecumenical councils to establish orthodoxy. This heretical disease has persisted with each generation of pulpiters who misrepresent the gospel message to promote a singular theological credence unauthenticated by the established church.
Perhaps promises have a place at NewSpring for a visitor is immediately informed that it is a church, but not like denominational churches, as rock bands, light shows, and vulgarity from the pulpit would substantiate that.
Noble is not the only Elmer Gantry among us.
Joel Osteen admits he has no theological education and learned to preach by editing his father’s sermons for television. This groomed him for preaching at Lakewood Church the soothing message of the prosperity gospel. Perhaps this is why his pulpit is centered before a turning globe of perpetual world blessings, replacing the harsh reality of the cross.
Rick Warren, the founding pastor Saddleback Church, expounds a theology of life teaming with purpose; though, with his cornucopia expositions on predestination a purposeful life becomes null and void. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, succeeded not for its theology but by an intensive marketing campaign prior to publication.
Mark Driscoll, the former pastor Mars Hill Church, did even better, hiring a marketing firm to clandestinely purchase multiple copies of his book Real Marriage to propel it onto The New York Times bestselling list. As a result of this deception, The Times established new guideline for ranking books.
The growth of Saddleback was not birthed by Warren’s fabricated theology. It arose from a young youth pastor who studied the demographics of California and located the fastest growing county, Orange, then the fastest growing neighborhood in that county, and there planted his church. Was Saddleback a product of gospel growth or shrewd demographic growth?
Robert Schuler had the same modus operandi with the Crystal Cathedral. He may have exalted his humble origins of preaching at a drive-in theater, but it was located in the growing affluent white middle-class community of Garden Grove. Unfortunately, decades of white flight transformed the community to a poor Catholic Latino neighborhood, and that majestic edifice of glass is now St. Callistus Roman Catholic Church.
Today we have mega-church pastors who are theological charlatans. Rick Warren seems to twist theology when he writes we suffer “because God is developing within us the character of Christ,” as opposed conventional theology that Christ suffered to be one with us. Yet, his charisma and business acumen, like most mega-church pastors, is able to fog heterodoxy.
Mega-churches are great theatrical productions that foster a flimsy faith. Boasting nonconformity, they renounce the traditions provided by Christendom, thereby denying parishioners of the important faith sustaining components of liturgies, creeds, and hymns – heritage.
It is sad that Joyce Meyer can walk the corridors of these congregations, but doors are barred to the great theologians of our age, such as William Temple and Harry Emerson Fosdick.
Noble Perry published a book titled Overwhelmed, a pop-psychology blueprint to overcome stress. Yet he concluded, on the last page, with a very stressful plea, “One hundred thousand is on the way!” And so, we are given the measurement for pastoral success – numbers – not spirit.
By-the-way, Perry was removed from his pastorate at NewSpring for alcoholism and abuse of staff members and his spouse.