Whether From False Motives or True, Christ is Preached

Just the other day, while I was at work, one of the other technologists brought me some religious materials from the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries which someone had placed on the windshield of his car.  The people I work with know that I attended seminary and am knowledgeable about other religions and about cult groups.

I told him what I knew about Tony and Susan Alamo.  Tony was born in Missouri (USA) in 1934 as Bernie Lazar Hoffman, Susan Lipowitz. A Jewish convert to Christianity, was born as Edith Opal Horn.  When they first met, they were both already married to other people.  After they each obtained divorces, they married in 1966 and had their names legally changed.  As Tony and Susan Alamo, they established a Christian evangelistic ministry in 1969 and also sold Tony Alamo brand clothing.

Tony Alamo was convicted of tax evasion in 1994 and served a four year prison term.  In 2008, he was arrested for possession of child pornography. In 2009, Alamo was convicted of ten counts of carrying minor girls across state lines for sexual activity.  He was sentenced to 175 years in prison.

The Tony Alamo Christian Ministries are still active, with churches in the United States, India, and Africa.  Those of the ministry’s materials which I have seen appear to be orthodox.

I have no idea of the sincerity, or lack of it, of Pastor Tony Alamo but I would believe that regardless of who or what he is, his converts are truly Christians.  The power of the Gospel to save is not dependent on the worthiness of the one who delivers it.  Listen to Paul. 


“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.   The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.   The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”  Philippians 1:15-18

The Bible warns against being deceived by false teachers.  This would be those who teach doctrines contrary to what is clearly taught in the Bible. (Galatians 1:8)

Unworthy teachers may teach true doctrine for insincere, selfish,  or malicious purposes.  The Gospel is more powerful than they are and, when truly preached, is effective for salvation. 

Definition: Megachurch

A megachurch is usually defined as having 2000 or more people in attendance for services each week.  More than 1300 churches in the United States fit this description.  About fifty of these churches have weekly attendance in the range of 10000 to 47000.  Since the megachurch is usually considered to be a Protestant phenomenon, Roman Catholic churches are not usually defined as megachurches though about 3000 US Catholic churches have more than 2000 members.  Five of the largest churches in the world are in South Korea, the only Asian country to be predominantly Christian.  The Yoido Full Gospel Church, a Pentecostal church in Seoul has 830000 members.

Probably the earliest megachurch (19^th Century) was the Baptist Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, led by Charles Spurgeon.

A list of some of the megachurches in the United States follows.  Some are controversial for various reasons.  Inclusion in this list does not indicate that I endorse their policies or doctrines.  Occasionally, the megachurches are accused of being personality cults centered around their founder or current pastor.

Some of the megachurches are criticized as being “big box churches” in which individuals do not matter.  Many are accused of being more interested in entertaining their members than in preaching the Gospel.  Critics also decry the fact that many megachuches are operated along secular business models.

Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas, is pastored by Joel Osteen.

LifeChurch.tv, in Edmund, Oklahoma, is pastored by Craig Groeschel.

North Point Community Church, in Alpharetta, Georgia, is pastored by Andy Stanley.

Willow Creek Community Church, in South Barrington, Illinois, is pastored by Bill Hybels.

Second Baptist Church, in Houston, Texas, is pastored by Ed Young. 

Fellowship Church, in Grapevine, Texas, is pastored by Ed Young, the son of the pastor mentioned above.

Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, California, is pastored by Rick Warren.

Southeast Christian Church, in Louisville, Kentucky, is pastored by Dave Stone.

Woodlands Church, in Woodlands, Texas, is pastored by Kerry Shook.

 Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is pastored by Bob Coy.

The Roberts Group

The Roberts Group was founded in 1971 by Jimmie T. Roberts, a former Pentecostal minister. The group has never taken an official name but is known by several: The Brethren, The Brothers and Sisters, The Church, and The Garbage Eaters (members get all their meals by collecting food from garbage dumpsters). Roberts is referred to as "the Elder" or "Brother Evangelist," and makes all decisions for the group. Roberts makes no claim to deity and lives the same simple life as his followers.

Members of The Brethren see the world as hopelessly corrupt and believe that they are the end-times remnant of Jesus' church; all others are deceitful and wicked. They live a vagrant, migratory lifestyle, sometimes taking odd jobs for spending money. The men all wear beards and the women wear long dresses and do not cut their hair. Women are restricted to the traditional female roles of cooking and child rearing.

In their theology, the group is millenial, apocalyptic, and strictly puritan. Married members remain married but no new marriages are allowed since these are the end-times.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/169-roberts-group-garbage -eaters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brethren_(Jim_Roberts_group)