Paul Crouch Curses Those Who Contend For Sound Doctrine

The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is the fastest growing and largest radio and TV network in the world today. Its founders, Paul and Jan Crouch, are thorough-going, ecumenically-minded charismatics who promote fellowship with Roman Catholics and others who preach a false gospel. In the Watchman's Trumpet section of the September-October 1990 issue of FOUNDATION, we warned about and documented the tragic mixture of truth and error being presented around the clock and around the world on TBN. But we were hardly prepared for Crouch's vitriolic, unchristian remarks made recently on his international telecast against those who expose his unscriptural teachings. The shocking manner in which he discounted the importance of sound doctrine and cursed those who exercise the scriptural ministry of reproof and rebuke is documented in the following excerpts from his remarks as transcribed and printed in a recent issue of the CIB Bulletin:

• "That old rotten Sanhedrin crowd, twice dead, plucked up by the roots ... they're damned and on their way to hell and I don't think there's any redemption for them ... the hypocrites, the heresy hunters that want to find a little mote of illegal doctrine in some Christian's eyes ... when they've got a whole forest in their own lives. ...
• "I say, `To hell with you! Get out of my life! Get out of the way! Quit blockin' God's bridges! I'm tired of this! ... This is my spirit. Oh, hallelujah!' ...
• "Have you ever seen the old movie, Patton? ... He's my hero; he's my hero. Old nail-chewin', tobacco-chewin', cussin' Patton--but he read the Bible every day. I have a feelin' we'll see old General George in heaven. ...
• "There's a wonderful scene in Patton ... they're tryin' to get the Third Army across the bridge in France and there's an old, dumb jackass--donkey--right there on the bridge and it's blockin' the whole convoy of troops ... General George roars up, pulls that ivory- handled revolver out ... and he shoots the donkey. ...
• "There's a spiritual application here. ... I want to say to all you scribes, pharisees, heresy-hunters, all of you that are around pickin' little bits of doctrinal error out of everybody's eyes and dividin' the Body of Christ ... get out of God's way, stop blockin' God's bridges, or God's goin' to shoot you if I don't ... let Him sort out all this doctrinal doodoo!
• "I don't care about your doctrines as long as you name the name of Jesus, as long as you believe He died dead [sic] and was buried but came out of the tomb on Sunday morning and ascended to the Father ... I don't care about anything else! Let's join hands ... to get this gospel preached in all the world.
• "The rest of this stuff is what Paul the Apostle calls dung--human excrement! It's not worth anything! Get rid of it ... and get on with winning the lost.
• "I refuse to argue any longer with any of you out there! Don't even call me if you want to argue doctrine, if you want to straighten somebody out ... criticize Ken Copeland ... or Dad Hagin. Get out of my life! I don't even want to talk to you ... I don't want to see your ugly face!"

Not only was the spirit of Crouch's comments not of the Holy Spirit of God, but what he had to say contained some very serious twisting of the Scriptures as well. It is one thing to allow the flesh to take over and speak in an angry, offensive manner; it is quite another thing to pervert the Word of God Itself in so doing--the latter is far worse.

Imagine consigning those who expose false teachers to hell, while at the same time praising General Patton and calling him a hero in spite of Patton's godless living and profane speech!

Crouch twisted the truths contained in Philippians 3:1-9 beyond recognition when he advanced the theologically bizarre notion that "what Paul the Apostle calls dung--human excrement" refers to doctrinal, Biblical teachings which went beyond the basic truths relating to Christ's death and resurrection. He says he doesn't care about a person's beliefs are as long as they "name the name of Jesus" and preach "this gospel." The problem is, however, that this incredibly irreverent and errant attitude toward the Bible results in a situation where even the purity of the Gospel of salvation by faith alone and the perfect Person and finished Work of Christ are thrown out the window. In their efforts to "join hands" with whoever can supposedly "call Jesus Lord," regardless of whatever else their new partners in evangelism may or may not believe, a confusion results in which no one can be absolutely certain about anything; the Bible is set aside. It is this kind of faulty reasoning that paves the way for charismatic, evangelical, and ecumenical leaders to join with Catholics and others who obviously preach "another gospel" (Gal. 1:6- 10) that has God's curse upon it. All of this is in the name of "unity," and all is at the expense of Biblical truth.

Read over the text mentioned above. The Apostle Paul is referring to his actions and beliefs before he was ever saved! He is most assuredly NOT saying that the believer's insistence upon the purity of the Faith is "dung," but rather he is testifying of his own understanding of religion while still in unbelief, while he was still withstanding God's grace and clinging to the righteousness of the Law. Crouch used some strange hermeneutical gymnastics in order to come up with his conclusion that a Christian leader who exercises Scriptural, spiritual discernment is the same as a Christ- rejecting, hell-bound religionist.

Now notice what God has to say about the matter. Read carefully the Holy Spirit's instruction to the leadership of the early churches in Titus 1:7- 14 and 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. ... This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." Titus 1:9-13

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time shall come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:1-4

The man of God will be one who is able "by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers"; one who will "rebuke them [disobedient brethren] sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." God's man will "preach the Word" and "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." Sound like Crouch's counsel? No!