and

His face grimaces and contorts as he puts his whole being into what he's saying. He will fire away like a hurricane and then become still and quiet long enough for you catch your breath along the way, and then he will wind up and captivate the audience all over again. All this makes for good preaching and it would be, except for half the things he's saying, they're not biblical! Rod Parsley and Pentecostalism are synonymous; however, this is not to be associated with classic Pentecostal teaching; instead it's motivational neo-Pentecostalism of today.  

One thing Parsley never lacks is zeal and, to his credit, it is something we all can use-- when it is under control. Parsley does speak of and desire ethical standards and morality for the Church and our nation, and it is refreshing to hear this being presented. But this message can be lost in his fiery emotional presentation and wayward doctrine. Yet, this does not mean one should reject the content because of the personality. God does use us as individuals to carry his message. However, there is an importance to how it is carried and what is being said. 

You can sum up the time spent with Rod Parsley as mostly preaching up a storm- and debris left often in its wake. Yet the people love him. There is nothing wrong with people displaying controlled emotions and passions, but these are not that. Parsley's meetings are so out-of-control at times that they have defined a new level to Pentecostal hysteria, and they make other wild services look somewhat docile. Television seems to have shaped this new style of ministry as well. During his preaching, Parsley will stop talking to his present audience and turn to the TV cameras, knowing his every exciting move is being watched. He will have his audience stand up and cheer, applaud and jump like kangaroos when the time is presented. He has control over the congregation, and he never lets go of it, as he takes them on a Pentecostal preaching ride from start to finish. He points his finger to the left to the right and everyone else does the same. Like Simon sez: 'do this!' and they follow, trying to imitate every move. He tells the people when to worship and when to clap. I apologize in advance to say this: the service reminds me of guru Rajneesh in its practice. He has the people jump up and down, and then he brings them into a time if quietness... and then it begins all over again. The people don't seem to mind as they enjoy the ride. The music in the background goes up and goes down, reacting to the conductor. Even if the apostles had music, it is doubtful at best they would use it to the extent that the new movers and shakers of modern Pentecostalism do. They would never bring someone on an emotional roller-coaster, as we see displayed by the meetings on TV. Parsley blames all this on the anointing. “Even now my own wife will say I can tell the moment the anointing comes upon you and you literally transform into another human being, but that’s what the anointing does” (Aug. 24, 1999 discussion with B. Hinn on “This is your day,” TBN). Parsley says, “I try to get an anointing like this I got to walk it off.” Erratic would not be descriptive enough to describe his actions on and off the stage, as he furiously paces back and forth when he preaches.  

Maximizing words

 The power of words is exhibited by parsley’s teaching.  He is a man who wants to start a revolution. Parsley tells people to join the army, appealing to our patriotism to the Lord, and join in God’s end time work of miracle marchers. What he is teaching is clearly the Latter Rain heresy. “Were gonna get to the point that  were not going to have to talk we just walk in and we show up God’s there and when we show up the presence is there. We’ve been in the outer court too long we got to take one more step, were goin in where the glory is” (Breakthrough  9/19/2000). This is 'Latter Rain speak.' Parsley believes that those who have this anointing will:  “... walk into the grocery store cancer starts falling off of peoples bodies I’m talking about the glory” (Ibid.), and “... when you walk down the street you won’t have to lay hands on anybody; the mere shadow of your presence will make the lame get up.” Parsley teaches, “They laid the sick the whole the lame the blind in the streets, Peter's shadow caused strength to come back into their legs, some of you are going to be pushing the grocery cart between the frozen peas and carrots and somebody is going to jump out of a wheelchair over in the cereal aisle because of the glory of God that is coming upon you” (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2,000).

How can anyone believe this? He makes it clear by saying,  “For in him (Jesus) dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily that’s what it said the fullness of the Godhead bodily...Now it didn’t say anywhere that you wouldn’t have the same thing. Didn’t say anywhere that you couldn’t obtain unto the same thing. In fact the matter is you’re an heir a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Jesus said don’t look at what I’m doin; brother what your gonna do is greater than what I’m gonna do. Why because the times demand it the hour demands it are you listening to me”(Breakthrough 9/19/2000). Jesus did not obtain the fullness - He was always the fullness (meaning deity). But Parsley seems to think we can obtain this fullness; which means, according to the Bible's definition, deity. He’s absolutely frank about this, “I’m interested in going to another level, I’m interested going into a Christ - an anointing reality.” Parsley continues to put the carrot before the horse by saying “Were going to the next level” know they were on the way to the next level, power and presence in their lives and ministries” (Nov.2, 2000). The preaching of this “next level” has currently become his trademark.  Despite new age innuendos, the people who follow are accepting Gnostic concepts, as new levels have become a normal part of the modern Pentecostal program he and others preach. It was years before that Parsley shared that he has the seven - fold Spirit upon him he says of himself: “you understand I’m not dry I’m wet I’m not a branch without sap and withered I’m feeling the might and the dominion and the strength and the authority and the  wisdom and the knowledge of the seven spirits of God resting upon me and a mantleing in a way that they never have before.” Since he already believes this it is not a far leap to preach one can have the fullness like Jesus. The problem is that the bible says this is only applied to Jesus, the only begotten Son of God and no other man can acheive this.

Parsley describes himself by preaching at the top of his lungs (as if there is not microphone): “I'm a tongue-talking, fire-breathing, Holy Ghost terrorist to the kingdom of darkness. I wish I had somebody to help me preach. Can you hear me tonight (my comment: who couldn't) “I'm so tired of this weak anemic paralytic embalmed thing we call a church…”

“But somewhere in this building God always had an Elijah and Elisha he’s always had a David and a Daniel and he’s got one in this new Millennium...” “I'm not about ready to wait on the mayor to give me the key to a door that God told me to kick down.” “I'm talkin about a new church for a new Millennium”

The Bible says that Jesus opens the door that no man can shut. Parsley seems to think he has so much power he doesn't need Jesus to open the door; he can bust it down himself. “I'm not talkin about asking permission to come in I'm talking about becoming an intruder and making a forced entry.” The kingdom of heaven is not where the rule of God is invited, the kingdom of heaven is where the rule of God is imposed. I'm trying to find somebody whose ready to step over the line and out of the comfort zone to invade enemy held territory that don't need popularity, preeminence or position, or a pat on the back that don't have to be right recognized or rewarded, or regarded I'm lookin' for some foot soldiers who are ready to intrude into this world in force the kingdom.” Taking it by force is what Parsley is about and he has no patience for those who can’t join in.

“To impose the kingdom of God this kingdom was never intended to indulge triflers. And the weak, here’s a prophecy for ya, a weak timid faith in this year will be intimidated.” (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2000) The Bible teaches to uphold the weak, in spirit and body; not mock them.We are to look after the weaker in faith and help strengthen. 

“ Its time to square your shoulder its time to quit staring down at your feet its time to make your backbone like g rail stick the bottom of your jaw out like Arnold Swarznagger and flex your spiritual muscles point your finger under the nose of the devil and  you came to take back what rightfully belongs to you.” (ed. Note: this is today’s trend of taking it by force  part of the “ kingdom dominion” agenda).

“Well how much shall we take back pastor Rod? Let me tell you how much your suppose to take back, everyplace the sole of your foot steps touches for the earth and the fulness thereof is the Lords.” (To appreciate the spirit this is spoken in, one would have to hear the tape and the audience’s participation of going nuts) “And the devil is a squatter and I say its time to rise up in mighty revolution and run him back to hell with his tail tucked between his legs.”

The Bible teaches that this was said to Joshua who was leading Israel into he Promised Land. God was to rule over the new nation as a theocracy. This is a affirming of the promise to Moses, which was spoken beforehand in Deut. 11:23: “then the LORD will drive out all these nations from before you.” This is not a New Testament promise to the Church. Parsley uses this illegally to make his point.

The Devil did not come from hell and were not going to put him there. This is what Jude warned about (vs.8-10) railing against dignitaries. An angel is commissioned to do this after Jesus comes back to set up his kingdom (Rev.20:1-3). Parsley like others believe that we are going to rule and have it all “Just before the return of Jesus Christ God is going to restore to the Church everything the devil has stolen” (Breakthrough Oct.3, 1999).

Parsley believes Jesus is coming soon but, before he does he thinks “Like Israel that set out for the promise land I believe the New Testament bears out the fact that God is about to restore all that Devil has stolen. Acts 3 declares he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heavens must receive until...' listen now,'... the times of restitution of all things. “ What the word of God is clearly saying restitution or restoration precedes the return of Jesus Christ and since spiritually we know Jesus is coming soon how much closer the restoration of all things must be.”... “We are about to see the supernatural blessings of God poured out on his Church without measure… to see your health restored, your finances restored your freedom restored and every form of demonic attack destroyed through the anointing.” (Restoration the sign of his coming Breakthrough, 2000)

 Parsleys interpretation of this Scripture has nothing to do with what the Scripture actually means. In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus, “will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” They meant, according to the Greek word used here, “usher in the kingdom.”  The word “restoration” is a technical medical term, denoting “complete restoration of health;” or “to restore a thing to its former situation.” This is not about the Church but about Israel and the world and the people that fell in sin. “Whom the heavens MUST receive.” When Jesus ascended, he sat down as our high priest until the time of completion of all the predictions of the prophets.  He will stay in heaven “until the times of restitution of all things.” This is connected with which God has spoken by his holy prophets. It means the accomplishment of all the prophecies and promises contained in the Old Testament, relative to the kingdom of Christ upon earth.  Christ returns, not because all things have already been restored by or to the church, but in order to effect this restoration Himself.  He comes again in power to establish His Divine order, eliminating evil. This is speaking of the Millennium. it is at this time things will be put back in oreder under His leadership rule. 

Parsley states, “The closer we get to Jesus the faster things happen.” (Jan. 7, 2000). Where is this expounded upon in Scripture? There is no such thing. What does happen is judgments fall before Jesus comes. It is Jesus who comes quickly. But, first He does battle, vanquishing the Devil and his army taken from mankind. Parsley, instead has his army (the church) to do battle with the Devil before Jesus comes.

Parsley wants to get things done fast: he has claimed to have led six thousand people in a 40-day fast “... you kill Beelzebub, you kill the fly father, the cycle of the birthing process of the fly is forty days.  That's the reason stuff you got rid of comes back ... You didn't kill the larvae.  But God said you fast 40 days.  When you spray a field, you spray it for 40 days.  It not only kills the flies but the ones they were gonna give birth to” (“Rod Parsley's Anointing,” op. cit., pg. 2.Quoted from PFO Journal).

Does Satan have demon offspring?  So, here we have the teaching that we can kill Beelzebub.  If Parsley and six thousand has already accomplished this, why are they still binding him today? Why do we still have problems? He is supposed to be totally gone! Again the Bible teaches that spirits (both good or bad) cannot be killed (Luke 20:36); they Satan’s angels, instead will be judged.  The Book of Revelation has already told us the how the end of Satan takes place. He is disposed of by the none other than Jesus Christ; not the Church. The weapons of our warfare may pull down strongholds but I have yet to find them annihilating spirits, especially by a fast. It would seem that fasting is more powerful than the Word, the Sword of the Spirit. Unfortunately, it is not found among our armor. (ed. note: in the Original Latter Rain movement its teaching was influenced by Franklin Hall’s book entitled, Atomic Power with God Through Fasting, and Prayer.)

You say you want a Revolution

“Don't look now but there's just about to be a revolution. Things are about to get turned right side up."

“What is a revolution quickly it is to roll back to revolve to return to the original state of affairs, it means to renounce allegiance, give no place to the devil, it means to experience disgust and announce enough is enough!” A revolution is an activity which is designed to affect fundamental change in the socio-economic situation of a segment of the population.”  “Were gonna be in the drivers seat before he splits the eastern sky and time is ticking down its close to the last inning and we up to bat its our ball its our field its our bat and our daddy is the umpire.” This is clearly Latter rain teaching that has permeated “Pentecostal preaching” of today. Most older and bible based Pentecostals recognize it as false teaching and see what is really taking place as Parsley has put it: “I'm talkin about a new church for a new millennium.”

“I gotta tell you this now. I quoted to you Matthew's Gospel chpt.11: “from the days of John the baptist till now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” “But you miss something…the first half of the verse you see you can't just read the bible you have READ the bible. From the days of John the baptist until now had only been 2 years Jesus said staggering things have happen, the kingdom is being imposed in every direction. Within 2 years the known world had already had the gospel preached without christian TV without a printing page without a jet airplane. Hear me now WHY DID THINGS HAPPEN SO QUICKLY  because they were still so close to Christ as the center. I'm talking about a revolution, an uprising. Revolution comes from the latin word revolve or come full circle. If were going to get where were going we have to go back where we were. I'm dropping prophetic on ya. You see (repeats himself) … to revolve. What do our planets do around the sun? (Audience: revolve!). Which is the root of revolution. C'mon now watch me the closer you get to the sun the stronger the gravitational pull, the closest planet to our sun mercury the Greek symbol with winged feet why? It was the fastest of all the planets, it is the hottest of all the planets. It emits the most energy of all the planets. God has saved the best for last and you happen to be it” (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2000).

(Saving the best for last and we are it, is Rick Joyner’s teaching! It appears Parsley often borrows the highlights of other “teachers, prophets, and apostles” unbiblical statements and weaves it into his presentation.) Using the planets for his point is just good imagination.

Waht Parsley teaches is what Jesus condemned in the zealots. Jesus said the meek would be the ones to inherit the earth; not the forceful ones. Jesus taught on being humble, being last, and not forcing oneself to be first. He showed this not only in his teachings but His actions. Yet, this is not in Parsley's theology. He has no room for humility, only power.

Parsley changes the basic definition of a revolution and when applied to the Bible it diametrically opposes all that Jesus said about his kingdom. (Revolution means a motion in a closed curve around a center. A cycle of successive events or changes that overthrow or replace a government or political system by those governed. It is a drastic change in a condition method or idea). The word revolution means “turning around.” Politically, a revolution is a rapid transformation of society. It is distinguished from a coup d'etat, a French term that signifies a sudden overthrow of government, usually by military means. I’m not sure which one Parsley is really espousing, it appears to be the later.

From the ancient world through the end of the middle Ages, revolution was regarded as a destructive force that could tear apart the fabric of society without improving it. The primary reason for this attitude was the rigid line drawn between those who governed and those who were subjects. Revolutions in the ancient world were not made by the mass of citizens. They were, instead, transfers of power from one segment of the ruling class to another.  Jesus said if my kingdom were of this world my followers would fight. Parsley wants Christians to take over the world in a revolution is completely non biblical. Despite Parsley's Latter Rain charges, it is Jesus  who will set up the kingdom when he comes back (Dan.7:21-22).

The gospel of prosperity

Money flows easy to Parsley as he shares about how he sows an offering of $41.10 when fear comes into his life. This is based on his own deliverance when God gave him a scripture Isa.41:10 years ago “fear not.” From then on, he was delivered. But there is more than testimony here. He asks his audience to send to him $41:10 as an offering when they are fearful. After all it worked for him: it will work for them!

Yet, when giving a short testimony about after he was baptized in the Holy Ghost when he was young, before he was a pastor, he states, “I wasn’t afraid anymore God reached down on the inside of me and extracted fear out of my heart, I never been afraid since I’m not afraid of anybody anything but God”(Breakthrough 9/19/2000). Well which story is it? How can you never have fear again, be relieved by paying God a scripture amount, and then fear again afterwards? All of this makes good hype and bad Bible teaching. Not a problem when his members will not take notice.

“Parsley is upfront with his congregation about the church's need for money: ‘I just love to talk about money,' he told them.  'I just love to talk about your money.  Let me be very clear -- I want your money. I deserve it. This church deserves it”[“An Empire of Souls,” op. cit., pg. 35 quoted from PFO Journal). One of the qualifications for an Elder Titus 1:7 tells us he must not be, “ greedy for money,” obviously mentioned for good reason. Also, in 1 Tim.3:2-3 A elder then must be blameless, …temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money.” I see Parsley meeting but a few of these, in others he excels.

Concerning Luke 4:18 ... “Notice there was an anointing to preach good news to the poor. A lot of people don't like to look at that because good news to a poor man is that he doesn't have  to be poor anymore. … Jesus is saying, 'I've been anointed to preach the good news to the poor.' ... You have held back the flow. You have denied the perpetual propulsion of power that could deliver you from not only sin and sickness but from the horrible stench of poverty”  (Rod Parsley, God's Answer to Insufficient Funds, 1992, pp. 46-47). Make no mistake about it this is what Copeland and others prosperity teachers teach almost word for word. If the Gospel is about not being poor- then the apostles failed to live what they preached. I refer you to consider the  apostles own words in 1 Cor.4:11-12, 2 Cor.6:9-10. Is Parsley greater than these apostles? Did they fail? That is what you must accept if you take Parsleys words to heat.

Like other prosperity teachers Parsley seems to like nice things. Parsley's home is worth $857,090, say records at the Fairfield County recorder's office.  His parents' home, also new, is valued at $831,480.  Each was built with a $200,000 mortgage taken out in 1990. ... Parsley also owns a $500,000 jet, a seven-passenger Hawker Siddeley 125” (“An Empire of Souls,” op. cit., p. 35)

Borrowing John Avanzini’s revelation, Parsley states “I'm talkin about your money you know one of the greatest things that is going to happen in the year 2,000 - were about to see the church rise up with a revelation that only this generation has ever been given of God’s word concerning high finances in the kingdom of God and we are just about to see the greatest transfer of wealth out of the hand of the wicked into the hand of the just” (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2000).  Looking back, has this happenned? Why do they (the prosperity teachers) continue to hawk this teaching if it did.

Parsley’s teaching of restoration is Latter Rain, and his teaching on money is none other than Oral Robert’s 'seed faith.' “People have said that it's selfish to ask God to give a hundredfold return on the seeds sown in the financial realm. No it's selfish not to expect the hundredfold return. ... The anointing is on the seed. If you will divest, God will invest”(Rod Parsley, God's Answer to Insufficient Funds, 1992, pp. 56-57). Remember, to them the seed is the money, so God now anoints money. Like Mike Murdock, Avanzini and others, Parsley embraces the seed faith teaching wholeheartedly.    

“Now I need to say this God always delivers with a seed” (this is Mike Murdock’ teaching who is another Oral Robert disciple.) “He sowed the seed of his own son to deliver mankind of their sin, this revelation literally began to explode in the spirit of the thousands of men and woman who had gathered in our tabernacle to receive the word of the Lord for this hour” (Breakthrough 11/2/2000).

Where does the Bible ever say such a thing? Jn.3:16 is now changed to “God so loved the world that he gave a seed that whoever believes in the seed.” The only time Jesus mentioned seed in reference to money was in the negative context.

Matt 13:22:  “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” The very thing Parsley, and others, are teaching as revelation is what Jesus warned of that makes the seed (the word) die. There is a stranglehold on the word of God, as it no longer goes forth in the context of Scripture. Certainly this must be the next level spoken of by the promising pulpit prophets of the last days.

Matt. 13:23: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” It's not the seed God is concerned with, but our heart, which in the parable is represented as soil. What kind of soil looks to the sowing of seed as money?

Jesus used the seed, or grain, to show of his death; and, John 12:24, He states “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Instead of an increase, it actually had to die. Jesus gave us the example of his life by denying his self and not loving this world and the grandiose things it offers. V.25-26 explains what he meant as it is an example for us too: “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

The Church of the New Millennium

Parsley, and others, promise, death, disease, divorce -all the adversaries in your life- will be broken by a seed (money). In his Raise the standard conference, (Raise the standard or raise the money conference?) pastors sow $1,000 sow for bigger ministries ($1,000 seems to be the magic number, it was for Mike Murdock as he proclaims “I broke the back of poverty with a thousand dollar seed”.

On his program another Pastor sowed $500 when he had three hundred people in his congregation four years ago, now he has four church’s - 12,000 people altogether. They believe, that by sowing a seed, the amount of members of a church will increase, so they plant a bigger seed for a building. Is this the new way to build a Church by giving money into these ministries? Is bigger better, or is God looking for quality. In the prosperity campthe bigger the minsitry is equal to God's blessing.

Parsley built a brazen altar to burn there debts. (It worked on TBN). Where can anyone find the brazen altar being used in the Old Testament for this? Parsley has brazen nerve, to use a place that was for blood sacrifices and offer up strange fire upon it. Anyone familiar with the Old Testament would not use this illegally as he does. So, he has extended the dead from Oct.29 to Nov.12 for this debt bustin ceremony. On Sunday he will 'pray and believe God to rebuke the devourer so you can receive his blessing. Send in your prayer request but- but don’t forget to include your gift for his ministry along with it!'

While he claims the Church is held captive to the demonic devourer called 'debt.' I don’t think the answer from God is burning them to be set free. He wants us to be responsible and good stewards, most of the people who are in debt have not been responsible (with exceptions of unforeseen circumstances) and are looking for an easy way out of the mess they themselves got into. Instead of getting zapped by the spirit to go down, now they can be zapped to get free from debt. There is no such debt deliverance taught inthe bible, clearly this is a new teaching from outside the written pages.You can blame it all on the Devil but that would be untruthful to themselves, andit  is only a 'band aid' on their problem. It doesn’t solve the behavioral problems that got the people into debt in the first place. No this is not God's solution, and the only one who is getting out of debt, is the one on the receiving end, Parsley and others. 

The Power play

The atmosphere of emotion is high throughout the service, as just about anything can happen.  As with other Pentecostal traditions, slain in the spirit is a part of his package. Parsley’s modus operandi is his spontaneous displays of emotion, loud yelling, and especially the slain in the Spirit. They line up.  He comes, and he pushes peoples heads back, and they can’t help but fall. Charlie, who used to be one of the catchers for Benny Hinn now catches for Parsley. (I guess you would want a catcher with experience, then you will not be sued if someone is hurt.) Benny Hinn settled out of court for one mistake where an eighty-five-year-old woman fractured her hip after she was slain and someone fell on her. She later died)

He says, “the atmosphere of expectancy is the breeding ground for miracles” (Breakthrough Apr.15 1996). (This is borrowed from Oral Roberts.)  The atmosphere of expectancy becomes the playground for those attending and those watching TV at home, as he winds the audience through a rollercoaster ride, covering every inch of track. 

“They laid the sick the whole the lame the blind in the streets, Peter shadow caused strength to come back into their legs, some of you are going to be pushing the grocery cart between the frozen peas and carrots and somebody is going to jump out of a wheelchair over in the cereal aisle because of the glory of god that is coming upon you. The glory of god is going to come upon you and cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah prophesied that the mountain of the lords house shall be established on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow into it, the gravitational pull of the church is going to become so strong on the world because the gravitational pull on us is so strong from our Jesus that its going to make them seem as though they were forced into the kingdom of God. Your sons and daughters are going to get forced in, your neighborhoods, mayor is going to get forced in, the president of the United States is going to get forced into the kingdom of God. We win this thing. Yes, the rapture is coming, …but before then, there is going to be the greatest revolutionary harvest of souls by the army of God that world has ever seen. They're not coming in one or two at a time, They're not coming in a thousand or ten thousand at a time but by the millions they are going to be forced into the kingdom of God” (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2000). Parsley's motivational talk for miracles and salvation are even for those not wanting or desiring it as the Church becomes 'head and not the tail.' Let's see the President be forced in to the kingdom

“1999 was the year of supernatural birthing year 2,000 we are coming out of the spiritual womb a new creation anew church of Jesus Christ with new power, new vision, new victory new vigor I'm looking forward to marching victorious into this new millennium with you Gods revolutionary army is on the move.”(Ibid.)

“I believe in the last day God is raising up an endtime remnant PERSON to take their position on this planet to declare the great exploits of the Lord. I believe they are firebrands of the holy Ghost that God wants to have the opportunity to have a specific time period of impartation into your life.” So, would this person be that would have such contro? If Jesus is the head of the church, is he going to turn such power over to another? Isn't this what the Catholics have with the Pope? Besides Elijah coming who could this be? This is quite a daunting thing to claim.  

Parsley teaches, as the other word faith teachers “The anointing destroys every yoke.” So, if you have a yoke then you have no anointing; this anointing is so powerful. “I’m telling you, God is about to move so supernaturally in the anointing of his Spirit in these days that, when he delivers you, you're not even going to have the remembrance that you got delivered, because you  won’t have any knowledge that it ever bound you.” Is this amnesia from the anointing?

Parsley explains, “When the anointing comes, many times for me, it's as if I can stand outside of myself and watch the Holy Spirit use me I say things that are born of the spirit, that didn't come from any mental reasoning at all.  If I'd of thought about it I'd have never said it.  It just comes up out of your spirit, and the more we learn to be in touch with that spirit man inside of us the more we are going to be released into that anointing, I believe that with all my heart.” This may explain why his meetings take on the shape of a spiritual rock concert, and why he is able to say just about anything, sometimes even contradicting Scripture. When he gets on a roll you need to have your seatbelt fastened for speeding over the Biblical limit (see 2 Cor.4:6).

Healings

He tells us his faith is released toward us (true biblical faith is Godward, not toward man). He says, because he prayed every prayer is answered. This is not faith but presumption. Who is he to say that God will answer everything he asks? Yet, he says, “Healing is not hard. It is as simple and easy as saying, 'I believe your Word, Lord.  Now speak.  Create new life in me’” (The Backside of Calvary, op. cit., pp. 93-94).

If this was a true principle, Paul would not have had thorn in the flesh, and the apostles would not have been persecuted, or put in jail or killed. Is Parsley claiming he never has been sick long or ever had an operation?

“… I’m telling you were raising the standard; were going up a notch; were we’ve been operating were not gonna operate anymore when Peter first got into this thing he came by the Gate Beautiful saw a lame man there and said silver and gold have none, but such that I have give I thee in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk and the man got up. The next time he didn’t go through all discourse, he just said in the name of Jesus Christ rise and walk, and the next time he didn’t say anything about that he didn’t say who else’s name was on the check he came by a lame man looked at him and said, 'Get up' (cheers from the audience)” (Breakthrough  9/19/2000).

First, we need to see that the Bible teaches it was Peter with John, not by themselves. Acts 3:12: “why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” Maybe these people attending need to read their Bible instead of letting Parsley read it for them. The book of Acts does not record every word spoken, but it does record enough for us to know Parsley is wrong. Acts 9:32-34: “Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, 'Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.' Then he arose immediately.” This is essentially the same thing he said the first time, minus the town of Nazareth. The next time for a lame man is not found, so I’m not sure where Parsley read this from. What is found is Acts 9:39-41. Peter had come to the upper room, he ' knelt down and prayed.' And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.” Here we see him praying to the Lord, not just speaking his name, to see a miracle. It does not tell us what Parsley teaches; he is exaggerating at best. This is typical method of  changing the text to have it mean what he wants it to at the time.  Parsley is trying to communicate is that we don’t even have to say Jesus’ name - that we can be so filled with power that we only have to be there for miracles to happen.

Parsley confuses perspiration for inspiration and being loud for the anointing. Yet his followers do not question any of this. His concept of the anointing is greatly flawed. His ministry consists of MIRACLE PRAYER CLOTHS which is taught in his audio cassette series, “Releasing the Anointing ... Your Breakthrough to Victory.”'

“ Jesus' anointing has been passed down from one generation to the next. I myself received this anointing from my spiritual father, Dr. Lester Sumrall, who received it from Smith Wigglesworth, who had been likewise anointed before him by Howard Carter. Now, I want to pass this anointing on to you.” [In 1992, Sumrall supposedly passed his “sword of anointing” to Rod Parsley and his wife.[ The Electric Evangelist,” op. cit., pg. 50].  

The anointing is never passed from mean to man, this is from the Latter Rain teaching of the 40's and 50's.Whatever Parsley inherited from them is not the Holy Spirit who is the anointing from God.

“ …During this special service, I am expecting the tangible transfer of God's creative power to manifest the prophetic promise the Lord gave to me at the beginning of this year when He spoke to my spirit, saying: 'Every miracle you have ever heard of is but a prelude to that which is going to transpire in 1999!' I believe this is your time to receive the tangible transfer of God's miracle-working power, and I want to encourage every one of my Breakthrough Partners and friends to send a prayer cloth along with your prayer needs to be prayed over. When I return your prayer cloth to you, I believe the tangible transfer of God's creative power will flow into your life and birth your miracle!... Every year we receive testimony after testimony of glorious healings, deliverances and salvations as a result of these super-saturated scraps of cloth we receive from around the world. Don't miss this opportunity to receive the tangible transfer of God's anointing into your life” (World Harvest Church Website: From the Pastor: “Birthing Your Miracle,” as of 7/14/99).  Parsley believes the Holy Spirit is tangible, and can be put in objects such as prayer cloths. But the Bible says He is not Tangible, and we cannot transfer God from us to inanimate objects. This is not what Paul did.  

Parsley, of course, is friends with Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes, and others who have influenced him. Parsley said that Hinn came to dominion camp meeting and donated  $100,000 in seed to his ministry. On the same program Hinn said, “And the lord gave us property a mile and a half from the Dallas Stadium right on highway 114…Hinn thought it would be difficult to build. Parsley told Hinn it will be easy “because it is prophetically in the timetable of God, it is the fullness of time, a woman cannot get that baby out until its time.  A.A. Allen had a miracle valley this is going to be a miracle mountain.” Hinn responded “That was prophetic, what you said Rod. Yes, yes.”

This appears to be a false prophecy as it has become difficult and all work has been completely stopped. Using A.A. allen who died of cirrhosis of the liver most believe from drinking is not a good thing. someone needs to ask, did Parsley contribute  church money or his own? That is quite a sum to have to donate out of your own pocket.

The Nature of God

Recently, in one of the sermons, Parsley went far and wide in his presentation. In this one sermon we get insight to Parsleys definition of the nature of God and man. He had this to say:  “I’m here to tell you this morning God the father, God the Son, God the holy ghost God three - in - one, the Holy Ghost is no different than Jesus and Jesus is no different than the Holy Ghost and water. Water, you see it… if you take that to a scientist, and ask it to analyze that and tell you what it is, he won’t tell you its water. He’ll say, 'that’s two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen. That’s H2O.' Now, if I take this and boil it and I capture the steam, and I take that to the scientist, he won’t say it's steam. He’ll say, 'its H2O.' If I take this and put it in the freezer, and take it to the same scientist, hand it to the scientist say, 'analyze this for me,' he won’t say, 'that’s ice,' he’ll say 'that’s H2O.' They’re all H2O, but there different manifestations of the same thing. Do you understand what I’m saying?

I understand perfectly, this is Oneness doctrine not orthodox trintarianism. This is flawed. I’m not sure if Parsley really understand the Trinity or his hanging out with Oneness preachers has finally rubbed off on him. This is probably the most concerning of all, as many word/Faith preachers have this concept that destroys the biblical doctrine of all three as persons simultaneously existing.

Here, Parsley at least gives a warning of the new territory he is bringing the people into. “Now I’m gonna mess you up. It was not Jesus that wiped the blindness out of Bartemaues’ eyes. It was not Jesus that found the coin in the fishes mouth … It was not Jesus that saw the woman taken in adultery and told everything she ever done. It was not Jesus  who raised Jairus daughter from the dead. It was not Jesus, I have to help you, the bible says it was Yahweh Jehovah the El -God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Is that what the Bible says? Well, let everything be confirmed in the mouth of two or three witnesses. I’m glad you asked. Jesus said “the works that I do there not my works I do the works of him that sent me.”  You remember that Jesus stripped himself of all of his heavenly attributes before he left the portals of Glory, before he left God the Father said 'you have to go as a man when you go. You are not humanity deified nor deity humanized. You're all God and you're all man. You're the only one that’s ever been, the only one that will ever be. Now look when you leave here you’ll have to lay some things down. Now, first thing, take off that omnipotence, and take off that omniscience ,and take off that omnipresence, take it off and lay it down.”

While Parsley confesses correctly the dual nature of Christ, he denies it by his explanation. These are the very things that make God who he is. Without them, there is no nature of God left. Who came from heaven if he (took it off and laid it down) left his deity there? He demotes Jesus to being a man with God in him, when, in fact, this denies the incarnation of the only Son of God. He may not intentionally mean this but these are the ramifications of his Spirit-led teaching.  He makes the same theological error his fellow Word/Faith ministers make.  Hence Acts 10:38: “consider Jesus of Nazareth, a man anointed of the holy Ghost who went about doing good and healing whose oppressed by the Devil.”

It's interesting hew used Bartemaues because, when he called on Jesus he said, “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me”(his kingship). Jesus then asks, “What do you want Me to do.” Jesus did not leave his attributes; he only put them aside for use when the Father instructed him.

“God in Christ. It wasn’t Jesus wiping the blindness from Bartemaus eyes; it was Jehovah Raphika, the Lord thy God, the El that healeth thee, personally present in Christ. Do you understand? It was not just Jesus; it was God in him.” Biblically one cannot separate the God in Christ and the humanity, they were one person. Parsley's confusion of manifestations leads him further on the road of error on the nature of God.

Parsley, explaining Jesus’ baptism, said: “and the spirit of the Lord descended from heaven in the form likeness of a  dove and let upon his shoulder, and said, “this is my beloved son hear him.” Was it the Holy Spirit that said this or the Father who spoke from heaven? While one may chalk this up as being said incorrectly, if put along the other explanations, we no longer have orthodox Trinitarianism. I point this out because, in his loose preaching style, this kind of teaching is common.

He goes on: “You see that? Do you see that? Say, 'God in Christ.' Well, we don’t have much of a problem with that, cause it was it was. God in Christ in Matthew Mark, Luke and John. But here’s where we get messed up: when it starts off in the book of Acts, it starts off in verse1. The book of Acts  is the same book of beginnings as John chapter 1:1; and Genesis 1:1 it’s a beginning: it's actually a new covenant. I mean, study it out. It's actually a new covenant, I’ll just put it in the new covenant; that’s fine with me, but its actually a new covenant. In the Old Covenant we did not have Jesus in the flesh. In the next covenant we had Jesus manifest in the flesh. In the next covenant we had Jesus manifest in the flesh; not of a person, but of many in a different form.” 

This again is Latter Rain teaching with a flavoring of new age. It is specifiaclly called the manifest sons of God teaching. How many NEW covenants are there? A new covenant on the cross, and then a new covenant of Christ in you? There is only one New covenant and it was at the cross. I challenge anyone to find another new covenant from the Scripture.

(Parsley is now saying that we, the Church, are Christ, and misunderstands the manifesting in the flesh the Bible teaches. He also is teaching the oneness view. It is not Jesus in a different form, for they are persons who simultaneously exist.) “Are you listening? In Matthew Mark Luke and John its God in Christ-no problem with that, how many of you believe that, how many of you believe that, it was God in Christ. But when you get to the book of Acts you take that great theological leap (He does anyway) and its no longer God in Christ, where you can’t get through the second chapter vs.4 until the God in Christ is now become the Christ in you. Now, if Christ is in you, and God is in Christ, than the Christ in you is the God in Christ in you, and in you can dwell the fullness, I tell you, were going into this thing”  (Breakthrough  9/19/2000).

Parsley finally pulls it all together and delivers where he was going with all this. He completely misunderstands the incarnation and makes us another incarnation despite we did not come from heaven and were not God to begin with. This denies the uniqueness of Christ and uplifts man to the same level.

But he’s not done yet. ‘“The same spirit that raised up Christ from the dead.’ somebody asked, You're saved. How do you know Jesus raised from the dead?’ I look them right in the eye and say ‘I happen to have been there.’ You say, ‘what do you mean you been there?’ You were born in 1957 with 27 inches of snow in 1957, with 26 inches of snow on the ground in Cleveland, Ohio, in St. Luke's hospital-‘you were not around when Jesus went to the cross.’ ‘Yes I was.’ You were not around when he went into the tomb! ‘Yes I was.’ ‘You were not around when he was raised from the dead.’ ‘Yes I was. I am born of the same spirit, I’m baptized and filled with the same spirit, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ livith in me, and the life I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God that loved me and gave himself for me,’what am I talking about? The SAME spirit.” (Breakthrough 9/19/2000)

Parsley's confusion shows how deep he has gone from Christian theology into a new age slant- utilizing this verse to prove he was literally back there in Jesus time. He is not the Spirit. (this is also something William Branham taught who was one of the intiators of the latter Rain movement).While the same Spirit lives in all Christians we do not become him; nor he us. One is born again, not from their physical birth, but from a spiritual one. We still are the same person who came out of the womb, only with a new nature that is in union with our spirit. While the Holy Spirit was there He (Parsley) was not; that should be plain and simple logic. It appears Parsley has a case of mistaken identity, he thinks HE is the same as Holy Spirit. Yet, Parsley must do this to set people up for a Grand Finale in his speech, that would make even Mt. Rushmore blush: That is that we can have the fullness, just like Jesus, and be walking miracle dynamos.

Parsley is a perfect example of someone being gifted in speech and motivation, but with little theological truth guiding the direction of his sermons. Parsley has a great potential to do good with the gift he has, and he was not always this far off.  Unfortunately, he has defaulted to new revelations and many other aberrant practices. It could be the crowd he associates with that has influenced him (Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn etc.), or maybe it is the glitter of fame, and prominence. Time will tell how long people will continue to follow a man who promises everything and, yet, cannot deliver. Even a roller coaster ride gets tired after the rush is gone, even a roller coaster ride glides to an end.