Oxygen Network’s ‘Preachers Of L.A.’: False Prophets Of Blasphemy

“The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart” – Jeremiah 14:14.

On the heels of the blasphemous reality show “The Sisterhood”, in which a group of pastor’s wives disrespected themselves and the Christian faith weekly, Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen Network is now cashing in on the Christian reality phenomenon. It’s new show, “Preachers Of LA”, will feature 6 Los Angeles-based pastors who teach the heretical Prosperity Gospel doctrine – a false gospel focused on Christians attaining material wealth, health and earthly success, while ignoring the true message of the Bible: forgiveness of sin and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. The pastors, all false prophets by biblical definition, shamelessly parade their riches before the camera and serve as a clear sign of the growing apostasy in the church – the prophesied falling away of Christian pastors and churches from biblical Christianity into false doctrine and man-made heresy.

Here is the trailer for the show:

From the Oxygen Network’s press release:

Preachers of L.A.” will give viewers a candid and revealing look at six boldly different and world renowned mega-pastors in Southern California, who are willing to share diverse aspects of their lives, from their work in the community and with their parishioners to the very large and sometimes provocative lives they lead away from the pulpit.

“’Preachers of L.A.” documents these larger than life characters who are rock stars in their communities, with a fresh, unique perspective that will resonate with our young audience,” said Rod Aissa, Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media. “By teaming up with Lemuel and Holly who are some of the best creative minds in the business and heavily respected within this community, we can deliver this authentic series with integrity, while also staying right on brand with Oxygen.” (source). [Emphasis added].

From the trailer, the emphasis of these pastors and the show is obvious – money. This is the focus of the Prosperity Gospel, also known as the Word of Faith or “name it and claim it” doctrine. It preaches that in order to show one’s faith in God, a churchgoer needs to “sow a seed of faith” by giving money to the pastor. And in return, God will provide a huge financial reward. Its teachers tell their deceived congregations that all the material blessings of this world: high-paying jobs, large sums of cash, luxury homes, cars, beauty and excellent health, are promised blessings to every Christian in the world. But it just takes showing enough faith (by giving money) to “unleash” the blessing and “claim it” using spoken words. This doctrine has absolutely nothing to do with Biblical Christianity but the false teachers are able to deceive millions across the world by taking Bible Scriptures out of context in order to give the false impression that The Lord is bound in Heaven, waiting to give cash to Christians once they “sow.”

The Bible is filled with warnings about these kind of false teachers. Jesus Christ said that as the end times approached:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” – Matthew 7:15-20.

The Preachers of L.A. want some of the wealth and fame of P. Diddy and Jay-Z.

The wolves in sheep clothing today are mega church Prosperity Gospel pastors whose fruit is completely of the world. Rather than put the emphasis on Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, the put the spotlight on themselves and their own fame and provoke their congregations to envy by telling them if they have enough faith and do enough works (giving money, living right, etc.), then they can be just like their millionaire pastor. This is not the gospel. It is just works-based false doctrine. Even in the trailer we hear a pastor compare himself to rappers Jay-Z and P. Diddy, saying “they aren’t the only ones who should be driving Feraris”. The two rappers are men who have made their entire careers selling music that promotes sinful rebellion. And that is who the pastors on this show are aspiring to be. As can be seen in their luxury cars, large mansions and designer suits.

Promoting The Love of Money

Bishop Noel Jones has his follower literally throwing money at him.

Bishop Noel Jones of City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California, is an example of this unbiblical teaching that has run roughshod through the Christian church. Here is he preaching, supposedly about the Day of Pentecost and the moment when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. Here is the actual passage in context:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born…
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ..But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: …that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. – Acts 2:1-21.

The context of the passage is clear. The Apostles were told by Jesus just before He returned to Heaven to wait in their meeting place for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. The Holy Spirit then came and gave a supernatural imparting of power to the twelve apostles. They were suddenly able to speak in numerous foreign languages (the Biblical meaning of “speaking in tongues”) and preached to the many Jews gathered from all over the world celebrating the Feast of Pentecost. The entire purpose of this blessing was to preach the Gospel.Peter makes this clear at the end of the sermon:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it…Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. – Acts 2:22-38.

The entire purpose of the Holy Spirit that day was to empower the Apostles to preach the Gospel. To preach the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And thus the apostles began building the first century church. 3,000 people were saved at this event.

Now here is Bishop Noel Jones preaching on this passage:

With a ridiculous, over the top preaching style, Jones barely quotes Scripture. He is taking the same account above and using it as some sort of “principle” that a Christian call on the Holy Spirit to “sit on them” when they need a blessing. This is not what the text says at all. The Holy Spirit did not sit on the Apostles to give them a blessing or keep the immobile so they would not fall into sin. It gave them supernatural ability to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, repentance and forgiveness of sins. Jones takes this passage and makes it about the churchgoer, not Jesus. He also mixes in the “double portion” spiritual blessing the Prophet Elisha received from God (another “go-to verse” for Prosperity Pastors when they want to incorrectly teach that God has a special “2-for-1 Blessing Package” a churchgoer can receive if they sow enough seed money and receive a double return on their investment).

The focus is on the person and removed from Christ, sins, the wrath of God or the need for salvation. It’s all premised on how we can use God as a tool to get out of personal, earthly problems, while ignoring the real problem Jesus came to address – that all people have sinned, have God’s wrath hanging over their heads and that we desperately need a Savior, not to rescue us from bills, debt, being overweight or loneliness – but to save us from hell and the lake of fire.
Like so many Prosperity Gospel churches across the world, the congregation are literally throwing money at the feet of Jones while he preaches. Giving money to the pastor is equated with faith (and is often called “stepping out in faith”) to manipulate the churchgoer into lining the bank account of the pastor. This is a satanic deception. Faith requires NO ACTION. Giving money is a work, not faith.
Jesus Christ, in His entire earthly ministry never once asked any person for money or any type of compensation, in order for Him to perform a miracle. Faith is in the heart, not in any work.
Not only is Bishop Jones misusing the Bible, he is also using the Preachers of L.A. reality show to showcase his bachelor status and quest for a new wife. 1 Thessalonians 3, which lists the requirements for a pastor says:

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre [money]; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) – 1 Timothy 3:1-5.

A Bishop or pastor is to be married (and only have one wife in his lifetime). Jones rather than showing repentance for disobeying this requirement will instead make his dating life a highlight of the show as he dates several different women during the series before settling down with actress Lisa Raye, star of VH1’s Single Ladies, one of the raunchiest shows on television. This is on the heels of singer and X-Factor contestant Stacy Francis announcing that her baby, Anastasia Noelle Jones, was fathered by the Bishop.

Jones has already gone on record saying that the show is not being used to share the Gospel:

“My original intention was not for this to be an evangelical tool, very certainly not,” said the Jamaican-born Jones. “My original intention was (for) it to be a tool to help bring the minds of Christian people to the place where they give some balance to who their pastors are and how they deal with their pastors…It takes God 40-50 years to put a man together and he ends up in a divorce and he’s no longer any good. It takes God 40-50 years to put a man together and he ends up taking a drink, having a kind of accident, and he’s no longer any good,” (source).

Clarence McClendon – Smooth Words For Itching Ears

Bishop Clarence McClendon, posing in front of his Bentley, does not hide his love of wealth.

Bishop Clarence E. McClendon, of Full Harvest International Church misuses Scripture right in the trailer. At the 1:15 mark, he quotes the book of 3 John, cleverly presenting it as if the Bible teaches that all people should be rich. The actual passage says:

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. – 3 John 1:1-4.

What the Apostle John wrote in this passage is a greeting to his disciple Gaius. His wish for health and material prosperity for Gaius was a compliment to him for the strong faith and Christian ministry work Gaius was doing. John’s wish is that Gaius’ physical health and condition could come close to the excellent spiritual health the faithful disciple possessed. Why? Because Gaius “walked in truth” meaning he believed in the The Lord Jesus Christ and lived a Biblical lifestyle. This is the point of the passage as evidence in verse 4 when John writes: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
This was not a principle for all Christians to live in wealth. But McClendon very slickly presents the verses as it just that – a command from God that all Christians should have luxury cars and millions of dollars like Jay-Z and P. Diddy. Again, it all comes back to using Scripture out of context to put the emphasis on God giving you wealth and ignoring the real gift of God: His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible identifies this type of false teaching and rebukes it:

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” – 1 Timothy 6:3-8.

In this passage, Scripture makes it clear that only a misguided, sin-led pastor would teach that material gain is supposed to be a sign that one is living for God. And Christians are commanded to “withdraw thyself” from pastors who teach this message. The Bible says living for God and being happy with salvation, regardless of your personal earthly situation “is great gain.” Verses 7 and 8 reinforce that Christians should not be concerned with attaining wealth. There is no material item that we can bring into eternal life, the real Kingdom of Jesus Christ. And that having the necessities (food, clothing) should be enough to keep a Christian content.
The passage continues to refute the Prosperity doctrine:

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

This article is not trying to assert that making money, investing, saving wisely or having nice items are sins. Having money and an income in and of itself it not sinful. The point is to expose a doctrine that teaches money as the focus of the Christian faith. The foundation of the Prosperity Gospel is the love of money. And it appears that it is going to be flaunted on Preachers of L.A. McClendon is featured in the trailer being fitted for designer suits, owning several luxury cars and a large mansion. Clearly this pastor has fallen into “foolish and hurtful lusts” as he is drowning in his desire for fame and material wealth. His entire presentation of himself is contrary to what the Bible clearly teaches. This is the sign of a wolf in sheep clothing. And the Bible commands true believers to avoid such men or women.
Robbing God Or Robbing The Congregation?

Salvation in Christ is free. The Prosperity Gospel always requires a down payment.

In the video below McClendon shows how slick and highly skilled he is at Bible twisting. Like many other Prosperity Gospel false prophets, he relies on Old Testament verses on tithing to pressure and manipulate his followers into giving him money.

In a stunning case of misusing Scripture, McClendon preached that the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was really about tithing and Adam and Eve daring to take from God’s 10% cut of their wealth. According to McClendon, the tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil was really an example of tithing and “robbing God.”

There was nothing said about tithing in the account of the Garden of Eden at all. Nowhere in Scripture is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ever equated with the tithe or anything financial. The tree represented sin and spiritual death. This is why God told Adam not to eat from it:

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” – Genesis 2:15-17.

Why was the tree forbidden? Because it had the knowledge of evil which was deadly. There is nothing about money or giving to God at all. Adam was not punished for violating a financial principle. He was punished because of his lack of faith in God’s Word and decision to sin. He and Eve, by listening to Satan’s lies, chose to follow his own way over God’s and eat from the tree God told him would surely lead to his death. But McClendon somehow tries to turn this account into a financial transaction where Adam was messing with God’s money and was cursed for it. And therefore, if any Christian touches the 10% of their paycheck that should be going to McClendon, they will be cursed too! This is misusing the Bible for personal gain.

This has become one of the most misused Bible verses in church history.

McClendon also relies on Malachi chapter 3 in order to deceive his followers. Malachi chapter 3 is the one place where a curse and blessing are linked to tithing so naturally, it is one of the all-time favorite passages of Name it and Claim It charlatans. What the wolves in sheep clothing truly hope and trust is that their fans will not go back and search the Scriptures they quote to see if they are using the Bible accurately. McClendon says the last 2 chapters of Malachi (chapters 3 and 4) are devoted to tithing and “straightening this out.” Malachi chapter 4 does not mention tithing at all and chapter 3 mentions it once.

The last three chapters are addressed to the Levitical priests, not the nation of Israel at large. We can confirm the context in chapter 2:

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. – Malachi 2:1-2.

There is no question as to who The Lord is speaking to in this chapter. Chapters 3 and 4 are continuing the same address of The Lord. This is important to understand because this is how proper dividing of Scripture is done. The Levitical priests were responsible for maintaining the temple and administering the sacrifices and offerings on behalf of the ancient Israelites. God, through the prophet Malachi, rebuked the priests for their sin. And what was that sin? It was abandoning their divinely appointed duties:

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law… Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

Because the Levites were in sin and not teaching and rightly handling the law, the nation was falling apart spiritually and going off to worship false idols. As a result the people soon ceased to support the priesthood. In the tithing system, 11 of the tribes of Israel supported the Levite priests with food and oil in order to survive while they maintained the temple of God. The Levites were to have no other job and own no land, so they had to rely on the tithes (which again was food and not money) from their fellow Israelites to sustain themselves. Once the priests received their tithe, they were to take 10% of what they received and put it in a “storehouse” as an offering to God. This was no longer happening and thus God was “being robbed.”
In the book of Nehemiah (who was a contemporary of Malachi) it is recorded that this offering to God from the priesthood ceased:

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. – Nehemiah 13:10-11.

Since the 11 tribes were not supporting the Levities, the priests stopped putting their tithes in the storehouse and left the temple to go work and make a living. They were doing the exact opposite of what God had commanded them to do. The the house of God was forsaken. So they were in clear sinful error. And this is the proper context for the passage on tithing in Malachi 3 that is so often misquoted:

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. – Malachi 3:7-11.

When The Lord says “ye have robbed me” He is speaking to the priesthood, not the people in general. Hence The Lord saying “ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” It was the sinful behavior of the priests that was the real robbery. Instead of rebuking the nation and urging them to repent and come back to worshiping God and providing for His Holy temple, the priests quit on the job. The lack of tithing was just one end result from their disobedience, which led the people to idolatry and everyone abandoning the worship of God (and notice the verse also says “offerings” – as God was also rebuking the priests for no longer making animal sacrifices of atonement at the temple).
The “curse” received from this sin was a drought and crops being consumed by locusts, which were plaguing the nation of Israel at that time. “Devourer” in verse 11 in Hebrew means ‘eater’, a reference to the locusts that were destroying crops. This was not a general principle for all people for all time. It was a call to stop sinning, repent and receive God’s mercy. Hence God promising to open the “windows of Heaven” and pour out a blessing. The windows of Heaven are what opened at the time of the flood in the days of Noah, to bring heavy rains on the Earth. In a time of drought, heavy rains are a blessing. But many pastors, in deep spiritual error have used this passage as if it is a command to all people of the world for all time to receive a cash money blessing if they “prove God this day” by giving large sums of money to the pastor.

Understanding this passage for its true meaning, does it now make any sense for a pastor to conclude: “so what the Bible is saying here is that you need to sow a seed of money to me and God will give you an even bigger return on your investment”? That’s clearly not what Malachi chapter 3 is saying at all. It’s in fact a rebuke of the religious leadership for shirking their responsibility. Pastors today should read that passage and make sure they themselves are giving enough to God. And not in money – but in their faith, devotion, repentance and Godliness. This is what the passage is telling religious leaders to do – give their whole heart and effort to the building up the house of God by teaching God’s Word accurately.
This passage is descriptive, as it details a specific event of a specific people in Scripture. God made many promises and commands in Scripture that were to a specific person or a specific group of people (i.e., the promise to King David that a descendant of his would be the Messiah. Or the command of God to Ezekiel to lay on his side for 430 days – something you’ll never heard a pastor say his church is “required to do”). That is different from a prescriptive passage that commands something of all people (“Whosoever shall call upon the name of The Lord shall be saved” – Romans 10:13). The tithe, by God’s law, was only to be given to Levites. These Prosperity pastors are not Levites. The tithe was to go the maintenance of the temple in Jerusalem. There is no temple in Jerusalem today. And just as there are no animal sacrifices or incense offerings being done in church, there is also no requirement of a tithe for born-again Christians. The challenge of God to “prove me this day” was not a financial bargain. So trying to somehow say this applies to the modern day church and that all Christians are required to give 10% of their earnings (and they mean “gross earnings” as Prosperity pastor Eddie Long explained), does not line up with Scripture.

Speaking to Christians, 2 Corinthians 9 says: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” There is no required 10% payment in the church. Jesus did not tithe. The disciples did not tithe. And nowhere in the New Testament does any believer in Jesus Christ give a tithe or even mention it. The disciples gave as the Spirit led them. There is no magic formula of giving money to God in order to buy a miracle, financial breakthrough, or “harvest.” But again, McClendon is relying on his followers remaining ignorant of Scripture and never following up on what he preaches. And with his deception he can intimidate his fans into believing that they must give him 10% or they will be cursed. And if they do give their money to him, they will have guaranteed material blessings raining down on them. This is not Christianity, beloved. It is a satanic deception.
A Christian is blessed not because of their actions, or because they give money. They are blessed because of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ did the work to earn every blessing for those who put their faith in Him. And those blessings are eternal and heavenly. That should be a Christian’s emphasis. Jesus said: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). McClendon has turned the Bible into a wealth-making guide book. Jesus Christ said: “Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24-25). McClendon says that God wants all Christians to be rich. McClendon has made millions selling his followers and fanbase on ideas that are contrary to the spoken word of the Messiah.

Dietrick Haddon – Fully In Love With The World

Pastor Dietrick Haddon says it’s critical that Christianity stay “relevant”.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.

Dietrick Haddon, a Gospel singer and pastor on the reality show, has become a music industry sensation singing the songs of artists like Jay-Z and Kanye West and putting “Christian lyrics” in them (something he calls “reversing.”). His entire approach to preaching is based on making church cool, hip and relevant, abandoning “old school ideas” like carrying a Bible and preaching from it, in favor of using pop culture songs, dressing like a hip hop star and making racy movies in order to share the Gospel.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. – 1 John 2:15-17.

Christians are to be separate from the unsaved world and not celebrate or copy what worldly, satanic artists are doing. The 40-year old Haddon even made a song based on R&B singer Usher’s ‘Climax’, a song whose video opens with a scene of fornication and cheating. Why would a pastor ever want to use this song as inspiration to make a song that supposedly worships The Lord? It is because again, the itching ears of the congregation enjoy the type of music that satisfies their lust for the world. And certainly the false teacher on this show promote the three aspects of sin listed in the verses above: the lust of the flesh, as they fill themselves with material goods, the lust of the eyes, as they adorn themselves with designer clothes and security details and the pride of life – boasting of their fame and wealth which they feel they “deserve” to the point that they have a TV show devoted to it.
Haddon also stars in movies as a part of his ministry. In the interview below he discusses one of his movie and in the first minute there are clips of him on stage with scantily clad women gyrating on stage all around him. Why does a pastor need to make a movie like? Or make a movie at all? His desire to be in the world is reflected throughout the interview.

At 1:30 the mark he discusses the “booties” and “legs” of the actresses in the film. Even the interviewer seems disturbed by his lustful attitude. And then he goes on to say that in the songs he sings where he says those words he’s doing so “in Jesus name.” Finally he assails “church people” who have a hard time separating who he is as a pastor from the unrepentant sinner he plays in his feature film. Is it a surprise that his congregation is confused?

Pastor Diertrick Haddon, left, with American Idol judge Randy Jackson. Haddon says he loves artists like Drake, Rihanna and L’il Wayne.

In this next interview below, Haddon explains his desire to be a “relevant pastor.” At the 3:25 mark, he tries to use Jesus as an example of a preacher who was relevant to the times He lived in. He even says “Jesus came to break all the rules.” The Bible never says anything of the sort. Jesus said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17). Haddon then wrongly attributes the 3,000 saved at Pentecost to a sermon by Jesus and says that in order to make the Gospel “up to date” it needs to be made relevant to the culture.

Romans 12:2 says: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rather than bringing the world to Biblical Christianity, Haddon is attempting to conform the church and the Bible to the world.

At the 5:55 mark Haddon says that when it comes to quoting Bible Scripture as a means to witness to the unsaved, “people ain’t buying that no more.” He then proceeds to mock pastors who use the Bible saying people will see them as “suspect..quoting all them Scriptures and carrying that big Bible around.” What kind of spirit is leading a pastor who mocks the Bible? Pastors are charged to “preach the Word” as in the Bible Scriptures and not make church about themselves and all their cool schemes to get people to fill the pews. Clearly Haddon is not relying on the Bible to preach but his own personal experiences, words from “his heart” and “relevant” hip music and image.

The Preachers of L.A. are extremely cool and relevant to worldly lusts of today.

2 Timothy 4 says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” The only “showing off” a pastor should do is to demonstrate regularly that he knows the Bible well, rightly interprets it and can teach it effectively. Is Haddon doing this? No. instead he is off making movies with secular appeal and sinful imagery in order to try and bring people to God.

In this final clip, Haddon lavishes non-stop praise on President Obama:

Despite Obama being pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage Haddon not only voted for him but calls him the greatest President in American history and takes issue with those who criticize him.
Why Are People Even Listening To These Pastors?

The Preachers of L.A. bring in thousands of attendees to their churches every week.

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. – Isaiah 30:9-13.

One might wonder, “why is anyone taking these pastors seriously?” Scripture explains that like the ancient Israelites when they were lost in spiritual error and idolatry, many people today want to hear the message of the false gospels being preached by many apostate pastors today. Rather than listen to “old school” sound doctrine, people in their lusts for the world prefer a message in church that is focused on themselves, earthly success and boosts their ego with messages that “you’re chosen!” “you’re anointed!” or “bring out the champion in you!” This is an age where many in the church are not studying their Bibles regularly or only believe certain portions of it while dismissing others (for example, the huge numbers of female pastors today). Questionable faith calls for a questionable pastor to preach, lest that person be moved to repentance. This is how these pastors and others (for example, Joel Osteen or Benny Hinn) continue to pack arenas all over the world preaching New Age mysticism and false doctrine.

Tune Out Preachers of L.A.

A Christian group is already boycotting the show.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. – Romans 16:17-18.

Pray for this show to fail (a boycott had already started) and for these false teachers to repent. And pray for these millions of fans of these men worldwide to start following true Biblical Christianity. Satan has infiltrated the church with a plague of false teachings being preached all over the world that do not point people to Christ but instead to “another God” who is only here to hand out money and earthly riches. Souls are literally at stake. And pray that Bible-believing Christians will not be afraid to “mark” these false teachers and continue to proclaim the real Gospel of free forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus Christ.