Saturday, September 22, 2007

No need to let a little divorce get in the way of your ministry.

What you are about to read is a double standard, there are so many holes in this story that do not bring Glory to God. First of all for TBN to stand publicly with this, says all God's people need to know about Paul and Jan and their host's.

Marriage is a Covenant designed by God Almighty, for two people who claim publicly to be followers of Christ to treat Marriage like a throw away toy is beyond Wrong in the site of a Holy God. The people that follow TBN and people like Paula need to look closer at what they believe, and as they will see it does not line up with Scripture. It is then time for you to break away from them, and begin to grow in the truth of God's Word. Rev. Charles J Paul



Loud applause greeted famed life coach and female televangelist Paula White at her first public interview since the announcement of her divorce.



Megachurch Co-Pastors Announce Divorce
White appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network this week as both a guest and preacher, touching on the highly public divorce she's going through while encouraging others not to be swayed by life's trials.
"I embrace the concept that I would not let my trial be wasted in life," said White on a show hosted by contemporary Christian music artist Carman that aired Wednesday and Thursday. "I often say 'I didn't write the script, but I'm learning to live it out with the best of my ability for the honor of God, with dignity, with grace, with favor, embracing His word."
Paula and Randy White, co-founders and former co-pastors of Without Walls International in Tampa, Fla. – one of the fastest growing churches in the nation – announced their decision to split at a Thursday evening service late last month. Married nearly 18 years, the couple blamed the two different directions their lives were going. Both have been divorced before.
Quoting what Jan Crouch, co-founder of TBN, had once told her, Paula White said, "You know who you are and you know whose you are."
"I say this for Randy ... my former husband," she continued. "And Randy is a man of God. No one sets their life out and says, 'Boy, this is what I think I'm going to go through.' And people look at things as failure, why didn't this work. But I see 18 years of the rock that I was healed from and I'm grateful for the seasons in my life because I wouldn't be who I am without all the people that God has used to help me, to develop me, to cultivate me.
"Some of the greatest development in the men and women of God ... were those in adverse situation, those in opposition," White added. "But it pulled out because you had that decision. You can either gravitate and put your hand to the plow and say, 'Okay, God, I don't get this one; I don't even like this one. But still what do You have to say to me? I will not be moved.'"
White is releasing a new book in October that she says contains contents from her personal journals and that it exposes "the inner most of my being." In You're All That!: Understand God's Design for Your Life, White talks about discovering "who you are in Christ."
"Because when you know who you are and whose you are, I believe it gives you that inner fortitude and that strength to face whatever life situation you may have to go through," said White on the show.
"When I don't understand life, I'm not going to draw back. I have decided to do one thing even my mind doesn't comprehend it – draw nigh," she said.
"I believe when people can find out who they are, then you can be equipped to handle life's situations."
News of the trouble in the Whites' marriage was first picked up by The Tampa Tribune in May. The two were rarely seen preaching together anymore as Paula's own ministry works were keeping her busy and growing her renown while Randy was pursuing another church start in Malibu, Calif.
Criticism broke out from former Without Walls staff who said the Whites have shifted their focus to money and fame. Paula White earlier said she knows followers will feel disappointed by the announcement given that evangelical Christians hold marriage as a sacred institution.
Randy White, who took "100 percent responsibility" for the split, will continue to lead Without Walls as senior pastor.
Aware of the critics, Christian artist Carman said people who don't have the "wherewithal" to assess the situation should not judge or "open that person up to look," as he stated it. He told Paula White that she is at the top of her game right now.
Still, with her divorce taking place in the public eye, White said, "Everything God brings me through ... I promise Him, I will hold my hand out to someone else and allow myself to say 'He lifted me through this, He'll life you through this.'
"That's what I think it's about. It wasn't simply for me."
Preaching to the television audience, White said, "Life events will not define who you are. God says who you are. You are somebody."

Here are some other Comments.........

1- Divorces are a direct result of sin, sinning, and sinful behavior. Divorce occurs in marriages long before either person files the paperwork. Divorce is supposed to be the solution to an irresolvable problem in the marriage. Is there a problem in any Christian’s life that the Lord cannot resolve? Is there any sin too great that the Lord cannot forgive? God hates divorce, Malachi 2:16! God did not say adultery was grounds for a divorce. It is not the adultery, but the hardness of your heart that demands a divorce. Adultery can be forgiven, but a harden heart is too prideful to forgive or to hear from anyone, including God.Marriage is a vowed relationship with the Lord. The only other vowed relationship anyone has with the Lord is their vow to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Marriage vows come BEFORE anyone’s “Calling” into ministry. If your ministry is interfering with your marriage, then step down from ministry, immediately, and heal your marriage. It makes you wonder who are Christians following, the pastor, or Jesus Christ? My Bible says to have the mind of Christ, not the mind of the pastor. The many members of the congregation may choose to stay with a pastor who is living in sin or openly committing sin(s). They may say it is out of love and forgiveness, but not really. It is out of pride and selfishness. A sinful pastor will continue to lead them astray, but it is by their personal choice to follow. Whose voice do you follow? If the pastor’s heart is not contrite and humble enough to step down, for a season of healing, then it is only a matter of time before they fall down and take many with them.Ecclesiastes 5:4 states; do not make a vow to God and break it; do not make a vow to God and then say that it was a mistake (paraphrased). You, your spouse, and the Holy Spirit have formed a threefold cord. You now, must break your relationship with God before you can break you relationship with your spouse. Who wants to follow a pastor who is no longer in relationship with God? God has never and He will never tell anyone to get a divorce or to marry someone else because you missed Him in your choice of a spouse. Stop lying about the Word of God. God hates divorce! God also hates lying! I don’t think that God makes any exceptions to His Laws for the rich and famous even if they still claim to be pastors of HIS church. Pastor Leo Bogee

2- I know nothing about this particular case, but from reading the above I cannot help but conclude that there has to be some connection between the huge increase in the Christian divorce rate and the huge emphasis in contemporary church culture on "MY life", "who I am", "ME ... ME ... ME ...". Large parts of the modern western church seem to have lapsed, without realising it, from a body that existed to serve the pleasure of God by putting what is right above what feels good, and into a society where God exists to serve our very individual happiness, fulfilment etc. The sad thing that seems to happen when a high profile Christian marriage ends in divorce is that many struggling couples who looked up to them as role models say, "Well, if they can't make it, what hope is there for us," and they give up too. I would suggest that there needs to be concerted prayer for the marriages in Pastor White's church.

3-Paula White is now trying to come off as the "victim". I don't buy anything she says. She now wants to lean on the word of God. Why didn't she do it before. I've been married for 35 years and we've had plenty of tough times. I got married when I was only 18 years old but we made it last because we love God and wanted to honor our vows. My only prayer is that the body of Christ will wake up and start worshipping God and not these weak examples we call leaders. Shame on you if you still believe anything either one of them says. Trust God and only believe Him because He'll always remain true. TBN won't rebuke these "superstar" christians because they need them for their praise-a-thons. God is not pleased with any of this but one thing I know for sure...this is only the beginning. As for Ms. Bynum and her situation, the marriage was failed from the beginning because he was another woman's husband. Let's not forget that this is marriage number two for ALL these "leaders". God gives His instructions on divorce and to my knowledge, nobody fell into anyone of His catergories. I will be supporting my local church more than ever because I know those who are "laboring among" me.

1 comment:

Shannon said...

What a dreadful thing to see the world creep in and turn God's truth into lies once again.
People do what they want and make excuses for their sin.
We all go through tough times in marriage...should we all get a divorce?!