Windows: Frank’s Soul Pt. 2
Posted on May 3rd, 2007 by Reformed Pope into the Pastor Hank categoryAnna posted this comment discussing Frank's sermon Windows: The Provision of God. I thought it was an excellent post that deserved front-page reading (I was actually trying to work up my own run down of this sermon and am glad she did it for me…and better than I would have done). Great job, Anna.
I listened to PF's sermon earlier, today. And all I can do is agree with the sentiment, "Woe, Frank!"
He spent the whole time talking about what it would be like to live under the continual favor of God. Around 17:00 he said, "Whatever it takes to make up a full life, God wants to provide for you." And this is what He will provide:
*provision (great emphasis on $$)
*presence (passing comment)
*providence (everything going your way)
*preview (knowing what's coming ahead)
*promotionThat sermon fills a person with a desire for what God can do for them. Not one, NOT ONE mention of God Himself - what He is like, how kind He is, how generous, how loving. It's like telling someone how to marry a rich man, never mind what he is like. Just think of all the benefits!
PF's sermon is just a CBC version of "The Secret." Except at least The Secret tells you how to get all that good stuff coming your way (visualize success). PF hasn't yet revealed how to get those windows open. Even though the verse says that God will open the windows, Frank keeps talking about how WE can open them. How much you want to bet that next week's sermon says that the way to get the windows open is to give the church $$??
The only problem with The Secret and Frank's Windows is that it can only work in the West. Try to tell the starving widow with children in Sudan that she needs to think good thoughts or give money to her church and then money and opportunity will be hers. Try to explain to the tortured pastor in the Chinese prison that he really needs the windows of heaven open for him so he too can have provision / presence / etc.
Once again I am screaming on the inside, "You twisted it around again!! You have these people lusting after THINGS - even intangible things like preview and promotion - and using God to get them. That is not the gospel! Don't you understand that if you have HIM, that is enough!?! The gospel is the message of a God who pays the ultimate price to provide redemption for His loved ones so that He can live with them in the closest possible relationship.
And yet you spend the whole morning telling people how great it is to have things. Woe, Frank."
Anna, This was what stood out to me when listening to Frank's sermon:
While discussing the way to "throw open the windows of heaven" in order to receive the "Provisions of God" Frank says:
…that is why it is so important that you don't ever stoop to manipulation or lying or cheating or any other carnal means to get what you want…
He then goes into an analogy about why you should never lie on a job application to get a job that you really really want (and believe it's from God because it's a better, higher paying job) because if you do you will likely find that your new employer was also lying to you…and all because you did not wait on the Lord and trust him for Provision.
He says "you may actually get what you asked for"… but it won't be what you need because you used the wrong means to get it (Frank may actually be somewhat prophetic. Hard to believe, but just listen for yourself. He does a great job of describing his own situation at CBC).
While hearing Frank's comment "That is why it is so important that you don't ever stoop to manipulation or lying or cheating or any other carnal means to get what you want…" I began to get a vision…certain words started popping up in my head, I'm not clear as to what they mean or what they were about but I'll share them with you and hopefully you can help interpret.
In no particular order:
Faith, Harvest, Forward, Together, Vancouver, Campus, Three, Hundred, Fifty, Thousand, Dollars, Twelve, Straight, Weeks, Teaching, Tithe.
Frank Damazio, you should listen to your own sermons…you might actually be on to something.
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May 3rd, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Anna said, “that is not the gospel!”
We have the same thoughts on that! As PF started out talking about how to “open the windows”, I leaned over and asked my wife, “I wonder if he will mention anything about repentance or baptism?” Sure enough, there wasn’t a word about either one!
In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Peter tells us the same thing in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
What am I to make of this sermon? He doesn’t care if I get baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit, he just needs me to be financially ‘blessed’ so I can support his building program? This is a new religion…Hyperchurchianity. Jesus asks a question in Luke 18:8, “when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” I’m starting to see why He asked!
May 10th, 2007 at 11:00 am
anna, you got your preach on, girl.
yeah. prosperity teaching is sooooooo predictable at megachurches. i have to give a shout-out for my friend jim henderson who just co-wrote a book with an atheist after visiting some of America’s biggest (and not so big) churches together. The atheist, unindoctrinated by evangelical culture, noted how contrived the pleas for money were at nearly every church. He’d then turn to Jim, his Christian tour guide and ask, “Is that what Jesus told you guys to do?”
(link here for more info about the book and my review of it…)
May 10th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Thanks Pam! This gives me opportunity to climb back up onto my soapbox.
Yesterday I listened to a continuation of the sermon given last Sunday. PF expanded even more on living in blessing; how God will always supply what is needed for your Purpose-Driven Life (yes, he used that phrase several times).
He said living under open windows is “having your needs met and having a margin” and then he went on to talk about margins — enough resources on every level to spare to others.
PF used an example of how God will orchestrate things for your benefit, and he told the story of a generous man with a painting company who offered to paint the ‘Couve campus for only the cost of the paint ($7000) and waived the labor and equipment fees ($30000+). His response to this generosity? “Thank You Jesus!” Any thanks to the generous man? Hmmm.
PF’s spent two (three?) weeks explaining the benefits of living under open heavens, and how wouldn’t it be great if we could do something to get those windows open.
Still waiting for the other shoe to drop… how do you suppose you get all these awesome benefits in your life? How do you get God to be on your side and make it so you sail through life in continual favor? ……….
Thunk! Bingo! That’s right: give resources to City Bible. He said that if people pour out their time and money to the church, that God will pour out blessings from the windows of heaven.
I don’t know anything about the painter guy. I hope he’s truly a kind man and has not been deceived into thinking that by giving to CBC, he’s buying open windows. Gee, if we could purchase God’s favor for a mere $30000, that would be great!
Oh, wait. It was purchased for us, and at phenomenal cost. But since PF preaches Purpose Driven Life and favor bought by supporting his vision, we will never hear about Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I’m crying. :`(