Homework Anointing
Posted on October 2nd, 2007 by Reformed Pope into the Sermons categoryI recently started a new job, my home computer is not working, and Catalyst is off doing whatever…we need some blog support to keep this business running. So here is a homework assignment…
City Bible Church is currently teaching a series on "The Surplus Anointing". Yes, we could just stop right there…the title alone is enough to know how sad and pathetic this teaching will be, but…nevertheless…I would like YOU to listen to one of the sermons (anyone will do) and send in a recap, quick thoughts, or summary of the teachings for me to post.
Let's get plugged back into the Money Making Bible Machine that is CBC and see where Frank Damazio is taking his church.
Email me your thoughts @ mortonjp14@hotmail.com. I look forward to reading them.
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October 2nd, 2007 at 8:31 am
Without even hearing a word of any such sermon (continued deceitful indoctrination) I already am starting to feel nausiated at the possibilities of what PF is coming up in this series of money accumulation stratagies. It will be interesting to read people’s thought and ideas on the subject.
Thanks Pope, for this opportunity to get this blog back on track of its original purpose.
And I believe that to be, first for some great laughs and then to help people to see much of what the Mega Church has become. That’s about as far from a Biblical Church as they can get.
However, there is a famous old saying that I just made up. Goes like this. “When we think the mega church system has sunken to its lowest level, someone breaks out the shovel.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:38 am
I would still like to know exactly what that word “annointing ” means to its users. Old Testament usage of it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.
Maybe I just don’t understand.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Okay, I don’t know where to post this but I’ll let the Pope decide if he wants to put it somewhere on the blog. I have a great encouraging GodTube skit that you all have to see. It is so great that I am going to show my students tomorrow in class. Here is the location: Lifehouse everything skit it is on GodTube or YouTube, and you will love it.
October 5th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Do they ever preach or teach on the New Testament Gospel and at cbc anymore? I fled there several years ago. Way back then the gospel of money was about all they preached about. Seens like the same old, same old, still today.
Well, anyway, just wondering.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
So-far the surplus message has been really great! The whole premise of the surplus series is to get the blessing of God in someones life, so that they can be a blessing to those around them (and NO that does not always mean monetarily). I think it could be taken out of context and called “prosperity teaching”. But there hasn’t been anything of the likes. I think the world is filled with oppressed and poor people and that we are in many ways oppressed and poor ourselves. However, as God brings us out of our depravity and into freedom He wants to use us as instruments to bring His healing and freedom to others. This is what I’ve been getting out of the surplus messages so far
“anointing” simply comes from a term used to describe the pouring on of oil. Ofcourse it has been symbolic throughout the old and new testaments of other things such as healing, appointing, sending out, etc…
October 8th, 2007 at 8:31 am
try this one,
“Scandal brewing at Oral Roberts” New York Times, October 6th
www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Oral-Roberts-Scandal.html
October 8th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I don’t think Damizio is living in reality. I think from what I heard he thinks everyone should be the same a “super surplus person” and he thinks we all should be “super surplus person’s” because we have the Holy Spirit living in us.
I think if I were the “minus person” the “super surplus person” could be intimidating. This message can also make you feel like you are a second class citizen in the kingdom. You could also want to hide and not be real with others if you weren’t a “surplus person”.
I think it puts unnessary burdens on people. If I were the person who “looked good on the outside” as Frank puts it, but were all “twisted up” on the inside, I would not want to share myself with the “surplus person”. I wouldn’t want people “feeling sorry for me” again as Frank puts it.
I am no bible scholar but I think he takes the scripture out of context to emphasis his point. And a peeve of mine is, the over enunciation of his words to make his point, and it sounds like he says “Holy Spirit”, Holy Shperit” over and over. Made me laugh anyway.
Rhema and others who have been in abusive churches should be all over this one!
October 9th, 2007 at 1:37 am
independent thinker –
Thanks for the lead on ORU.
I’m only surprised it’s taken this long to have a financial/moral? scandal finally come out. The other day, I shared under another thread some stuff I was told from someone who was there years ago, proving this extravagant opulence has been going on for literally decades.
I once asked a friend of mine’s mother — who had been a strong Christian for years, and had been in many anointed services, and had heard many of the great preachers of the day in her time — which was the most anointed, powerful preacher she had ever heard.
She instantly replied that it was Oral Roberts back in the late 1940s, during the so-called Latter Rain Outpouring. She said the Presence of God was literally so strong in his meetings — stronger than anything she had ever experienced before or since — that it could be felt, and that she could barely walk down the aisle when the altar call was issued. I knew her well, and this was a wise and discerning woman, and not someone given to emotionalism or exaggeration.
I think it’s sad to look at what has become of that once powerful ministry. Not the only ones, BTW, who are a shell of what they formerly were.
-joeb
P.S. Indy-think– you do know that a certain someone got (bought?) his M.Div. from ORU, right?
October 9th, 2007 at 1:45 am
I think all this teaching is based on the fact that Frank Damazio knows that people are on to the fact that that only certain people are prospering in his church. He knows people(city business church) are questioning the elaborate lifestyle he’s been living at others expense and wants to make it look like he’s addressing the problem. Of course the problem is the usual, it’s the congregations fault. They have not been giving to others! Only because they were taught to give it all to the church. Heaven forbid that they would see a need and give to someone else. This is what should have been happening all along . It’s what it’s all about. Of course it’s all to be done out of their “super surplus.” He still owns their tithe.
October 9th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Frank Damazio and his family dont live an elaborate lifestyle. Just a lil fyi.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:51 am
NOT ELABORATE?? That is an understatement. He lives much, MUCH more ‘comfortably’ than the majority of us posting here. His adjusted income, what with all the perks as a ‘person of the cloth’ gets for housing, travel, etc., freebies, liberties financially….
Let’s look at material possessions…. is he a 2-car family… vehicles older than 3 years and less than $25,000 new sticker price? Does he only “own” the property he lives on, or does he have 1 or more investment properties? Does he scrimp and save for a family vacation and perhaps have to settle for 1 night in a motel at the beach instead of a week in a resort? Does he make his own coffee drinks or buy them at Starbucks or other coffee places? Does he shop the sales at Freddies for his clothing and that of his family? Or buy off the rack at pricey name-brand stores? ….
October 9th, 2007 at 10:34 am
It is my personal opinion, that comparatively, the Damazio’s do not live an elaborate lifestyle.
I don’t think that owning more than one property is something to criticize–many people I know do, including my parents, and many of my peers–none of whom are pastors or wealthy.
However, those other things you mentioned I think are stupid spending…cars, coffee, clothes, vacations. And most of the people I know who do that are people who can’t afford to yet do it anyway and put themselves in debt. I guess I look at it as a matter of being responsible. I think it is a stretch to try and imply that Damazio is being underhanded with church finances/money/whatever.
I don’t agree with the Prosperity Doctrine either, but I don’t think that most of us realize that it is very hurtful to the families of these pastors when we criticize them. I am not saying we shouldn’t — but maybe try to be more aware of others and try to have a little compassion? We are all human beings, created by God and He loves us all the SAME. I think it is good to question, to admonish, to call attention to wrong doing–but I also think that we cause as much pain as we have felt…and that is sad.
Maybe I am just playing devil’s advocate, but I do know that when I had dinner with one of the Damazio children last week their was pain in their eyes and in their voice when they asked me about this blog. I felt ashamed.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:42 am
just thinking,
I agree with the policy that discussing children is off-limits. However, since you brought it up…. The Damazio children had pain in their eyes and voice before this blog ever started. To place the blame of that onto the people here is to misdirect blame.
I do not feel guilty for questioning the public doctrine of a pastor. And no one should feel guilty for questioning the public policies of MFI. The things said and the things done are public. It is biblically and legally permissible to examine them.
I do not envy the position of the Damazio children. It would be very difficult to grow up in the public eye. May they find grace.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Permissable. But beneficial? Maybe to an extent. But there has to be a point where we stop and evaluate the consequences of our actions, whether good or bad.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Pain is pain. Just because they may have felt pain in the past does not mean that pain is not caused here. I don’t mind this blog–I think it is good. And I don’t want people to feel guilty for questioning or for expressing their own anger, hurt and frustration here. But it seems all to easy to stop thinking of people as people and to disconnect from the fact that we are all connected.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”
-Man in Black
October 9th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Touche, RP.
October 9th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I want to echo agreement here. Anyone in the public eye, especially ones who are responsible for the well-being of others, should be held to constant scrutiny to prevent abuse. Pastors should never be held to a lesser standard simply because they have families.
If PF was above approach, his children would have absolutely nothing to fear from naysayers. The Psalms and Proverbs are full of sayings regarding those who are righteous - they only fear God.
October 9th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I did not say the following:
P Frank is above reproach.
P Frank should be held to a lesser standard because he has a family.
P Frank should not be scrutinized.
Can no on here even acknowledge that their own actions, words and attitudes have caused others pain? Or are we all above reproach here?
Scrutinize away — cbc scares me.
October 9th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
You can disregard my comments. They are pointless, apparently.
October 9th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I for one appreciate your comments…there is nothing wrong with a little balance.
I know I have caused people pain and I have had to apologize for things I said on this blog numerous times. However, if the truth hurts…well…I’m not really sorry about that. This blog was not designed to cause families pain, that is an unfortunate side effect to what we do. I wish it didn’t have to be personal, but all to often it is.
October 9th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Thanks RP. I don’t want anyone here to feel that I don’t think their experiences are invalid or not worthy of sympathy. I do–I really, really do. It hurts me when someone new finds the blog and you can hear their pain through their words. My experiences have not been of the same nature or nearly as painful as others here, but it makes me sad to hear of them.
I always seem to find myself in the middle–I tend to feel sad for everyone rather than leaning one way or another. The truth does hurt–and we all need to hear it.
October 9th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I did not start posting on this blog to cause personal pain, or to scrutinize anyone on a personal level.
I originally posted because I thought the comments were funny and true. I think the Lord is reforming His church, I know He has reformed me. If I were to have come upon this blog say 10 years ago I probably would be posting very differently.
For me it’s not to personally scrutinize Frank but to address a form of church I don’t believe is in the scriptures. I listened to Frank’s teaching because we were asked to and gave my honest opinion.
I personally cringe chanting (my term) back what the pastor says, or chant what the pastor asks me to chant, to the person sitting next to me. I don’t like hipe, which I think some would think is excitement or anointing. I also don’t like it when I feel like I am being asked to put on something that is not who God called me to be. I think for some it could turn into performance or they could feel condemed because they are not a “super surplus person”.
Everyone is different and at different places during seasons of their life. I don’t think being a “super surplus person” is the final destination. There are times that I can give, and times I need to receive. Thinking about what Frank is saying exhusts me.
October 9th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Thinking about what others say about what we say about what Frank is saying is exausting!
October 10th, 2007 at 8:05 am
I mean exhausting. In fact this whole blog is exhausting. Almost without exception everytime someone speaks out against one of the pastors in these abusive churches someone comes back with ” I know them or their children and this is very painful for them to be talked about like that.” Don’t people realize this is a last resort for all of us here? How much nicer to be still going to dinner with the pastor ourselves expressing our concerns over a meal. Don’t people realize how we all got here? If we had been received like that there would be no blog.
Just thinking you said when you went to dinner with one of the pastors children and when they asked you with pain in their eyes and voice about this blog you were ashamed. What were you ashamed of? You could have said “I see the pain in your eyes and your voice but the people on the blog have been devastated by the things the church has done to them. You wouldn’t believe some of the things that they have been through.”
Don’t people get that this is the last resort for many of us here? That this is not just a personality conflict, some superficial need to tear others down, or we just don’t like the way others do things in our former churches problem. Where are the ones standing up for injustice, abuse, wrong doctrine, and the pain in our childrens eyes? Most of us here were held up to public scrutiny, talked aboout, and shunned by the people we thought we were connected to for eternity. Who broke the connection? Who is more concerned about getting rid of people than dealing with them in a right way?
Doesn’t the fact that there are so many of us coming out of these churches broken and wounded, barely hanging on to our faith or sanity tell anybody anything? It is insulting and equally as wounding to have every conversation here reduced to two opposing sides with equal amounts of pain. That is not what is going on at all.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I asked you to disregard my comments–if you could please do so starting now that would be great.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:25 am
I have stidied about abuse for awhile now. what is being said here is typical…An abuser always cries that they are being attacked when the victim protests the abuse. Verbal or physical , spiritual, mental, or just plain brainwashing. None of us like to see that the families and friends of these abusing pastors suffer too. But, we must speech out agaist much leadership. Their families and friends are in denial and need the truth also.
Christianty is freedom. freedom! Freedom!!!! If your worried about what the unsaved think when they read this blog… think again! they are not stupid. why do you think they call us hypocrites. Because most Christians live in fear… not freedom. Get out of the Box everone! enjoy your freedom, free from sin, free from condemnation! free from the jewish laws! Free to have a relationshop with the Father.
We all have the right to be heard, validated. and understood.
If the opposing abuser’s and their family and friend’s choose to defend them they do so knowing how we feel.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Could someone please explain why our pastor’s, minister’s etc. are paid? For being what the bible calls servents. Why don’t they have jobs like the rest of us? From what I see they have someone else doing all the other things around the church. What is it we pay them for?
I have only seen one pastor that made a house call when I needed help, and he had a regular plumbing job. He was the best leader I have ever seen too. The congregation didn’t apreciate him and he moved on. They all wanted some show boat to entertain them. I guess most want a nice club to join. They aren’t looking for anything that might cramp their style.
Or expose any sins, shine a light on any darkness so to speak.
where are we told to support them in the bible? I thought the tithes are for the poor and needy widows and orphins, the hungry.
what I see is another get rich scheme…..the only ones getting rich are the ones at the top.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I think the question is focused on a business scructure. From what I have been learning the NT church wasn’t structured the way we do church today.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I don’t think your heart was wrong. Franks their Dad.