“A blow job in the pastor’s study, sex in a bathroom with the deacon, smoking crack, back stabbing their own brothers and sisters in Christ – church is no longer about God and hallelujahs on Sunday mornings.”
That was an excerpt from Reuben Armstrong’s book titled Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit.
As a former pastor in a Texas church, Armstrong realized his calling to preach wasn’t from God, but from man. He was taken under his senior pastor’s wing and had the inside scoop on what goes on behind some pastor’s study doors.
“I’ve seen pastors going to the club saying they’re out there ministering to people and they’re picking up women. I see pastors meeting married women at the donut shop or out to dinner. They’re really having sexual encounters with these women of the church. I’ve seen this firsthand,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong says he became a prosperity teaching preacher until he realized his message was not equal to the Bible’s message. Armstrong is currently a southern radio show host using his platform and books to warn believers about false preachers spewing false doctrine.
In his book, Armstrong specifically tackles mega church pastors Creflo Dollar, Ted Haggard, Bishop Eddie Long, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen who he believes are driven by money and prestige. Furthermore, he states he’s visited pastors’ churches before making accusations about them.
“They’re using the prosperity message to get fame and fortune, but God’s word is free. People are paying to receive the word of God,” said Armstrong. “If you address the big boys where the problem occurs, it’ll trickle down to the small churches.”
Armstrong, who also wrote Snakes in the Pulpit, believes due to the current economic situation, vulnerable congregations and non-believers are now more than ever looking to the church to find answers to their problems and many are being taken advantage of by false preachers.
Dr. A. Charles Ware, president of Crossroads Bible College states both Bible readers and pastors have the instructions for how a leader of Christ is to behave and guide their flock.
God gives instructions for pastors in 1 Peter 5. Ware also cites 1 Timothy 3 for men who desire to become pastors.
“Those qualifications are about 90 percent character. The individual should be developing character that is attested to by other people; they see a character maturity. His giftedness will come forth and make room,” said Ware.
Ware also believes while lost souls look toward pastors to lead them, perhaps a father figure, empty promises or lifestyles or a person to follow, he suggests believers in Christ study the word of God for themselves. Ware believes churches should teach their congregation how to study, interpret and apply the scriptures in an accurate manner.
Ware understands “mega” churches have gotten criticism by skeptics who don’t believe their teachings are sound, but states those looking for a church home (large or small) or those evaluating current places of worship, should look at the church’s message.
“If pastors have a right Biblical message, producing the right Biblical character, they’re advantages of having a large church,” said Ware. “If the product is there, praise God for that, but let’s not sell out the truth of the bible either; its message or model of living just to be large.”
In deciphering false pastors, for Ware, it’s all about Godly discernment.
Neither Ware nor Armstrong wants to send the message that all pastors are false. Armstrong simply aims to use his experience to open church-goers’ eyes to “pulpit pimps” and homosexual church leaders.
“Anybody can get into ministry now days. If I wanted to become a pastor, I could get on the internet and learn how to be a pastor, how to open up a church, how to create a 501c3,” said Armstrong. “Church is not the way it used to be when I was growing up.”
Armstrong states he no longer attends church regularly but continues to read the bible. Furthermore, he states since he’s published his latest book Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit, he’s gotten hate mail and threatening messages about his statements against certain well known pastors.
Excerpt from Reuben Armstrong’s book Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit.
I remember visiting one church that had an ATM in the foyer. When I walked into the sanctuary, the ushers at the front door welcomed me with an envelope. The pastor told his congregation that God had told him that there were twenty-one people that He had elected to sow $500 gifts into the offering in order to get the blessings that they needed. I wasn’t surprised: There are too many pastors who are hustlers and crooks. You should have seen the people almost falling over themselves getting money out of their wallets or running to the ATM in the church foyer.
