Category 5
Verdict: TD Jakes is clearly a false teacher
Bio
Thomas Dexter Jakes Sr., commonly known as T.D. Jakes, was born on June 9, 1957, in South Charleston, West Virginia, USA. He is an American bishop, author, and filmmaker, best known for his ministry work and his non-denominational megachurch, The Potter’s House, based in Dallas, Texas. Jakes’ ministry has had a significant impact on many people, particularly within the Black American Christian community. Jakes is arguably the most watched pastor in America.
Jakes grew up in a family with a strong faith background, and his mother was a church organist. He began preaching at a young age and went on to attend West Virginia State University, where he studied for a degree in education. After graduating, he worked as a counselor and a pastor before founding The Potter’s House in 1996.
The Potter’s House quickly grew into a megachurch, with thousands of members attending its services. Jakes’s charismatic preaching style, emphasis on personal transformation, and ability to connect with diverse audiences contributed to the church’s growth. He has also authored several best-selling books, including “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” which has been adapted into a stage play, a movie, and a television series. Jakes has produced and starred in several films, including “Jumping the Broom” and “Woman, Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day.” He has also been involved in various philanthropic initiatives, such as the MegaCARE Foundation, which provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid.
Is TD Jakes a modalist?
The number one criticism of TD Jakes is trinitarian heresy. Evidence of this is not difficult to find. A simple website check reveals some issues with The Potter’s House. Their statement of faith stands out for its trinitarian language or lack thereof.
There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.[1]
The keyword “manifestations” denotes a heresy called modalism. Oneness Pentecostalism uses the term “manifestations” often to replace the historic trinitarian understanding of “persons.”
Christians use the term “persons” to describe the Trinity instead of “manifestations” because the doctrine of the Trinity is primarily a statement about the nature of God, rather than a description of how he appears or is revealed to us, as is not the case in Oneness. The term “persons” emphasizes the distinctiveness and individuality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit while maintaining that they are one God. The use of “persons” also reflects the belief that each member of the Trinity has their own distinct characteristics, roles, and relationships with each other and with humanity. The Father is seen as the creator and sustainer of all things, the Son as the redeemer and mediator, and the Holy Spirit as the sanctifier and comforter. These distinct roles and attributes are not mere manifestations or appearances but are essential aspects of their divine nature.
Furthermore, the use of “persons” in discussing the Trinity is consistent with the historical development of the doctrine, which emerged from early Christian theologians’ attempts to reconcile the belief in one God with the reality of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as distinct entities. The term “persons” was chosen to emphasize the unity of God while acknowledging the distinctiveness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In summary, Christians use the term “persons” instead of “manifestations” in discussing the Trinity because it emphasizes the distinctiveness and individuality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit while maintaining their unity as one God. It also reflects the belief that each member of the Trinity has their own distinct characteristics, roles, and relationships with each other and with humanity.
TD Jakes disputes the claims of modalism as they have persisted for decades but even maintained his preference for manifestations over persons. He’s gone so far as to say he’s moved away from Oneness Pentecostalism. Yet Jakes views the debate as semantic rather than substantive, even though his faith statement at his church is unitarian with extra steps. The interview that he did with Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald back in 2012 was poorly conducted because they asked him yes-no questions as opposed to open-ended questions.[2] Jakes attempts to bolster his trinitarianism by stating that some in the Oneness camp believe that he is a heretic.
Overall, the claim that TD Jakes is not a modalist is unfounded, as the consistency over decades of ministry is not outweighed by a forum in 2012. Therefore, this claim of trinitarian heresy is a valid criticism of TD Jakes’s ministry. TD Jakes is doctrinally a modalist.
Prosperity Gospel
The Prosperity Gospel teaches that health and wealth are part of the salvific work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, these are evidence of salvation. The personal wealth of TD Jakes, along with his doctrine, has long invited these criticisms yet he would also tweet out the words, “If you obey GOD you will never be broke another day in your life. #AndItCameToPass #tphonline” in 2017.[3]
This was routinely condemned as a false gospel at the time.
TD Jakes does seem to attempt a critique of the Prosperity Gospel on his personal website, yet his definition is vague.
It’s the unique message that seems to come about when times are good and when money is flowing. As a result, the music is upbeat and praise comes easy.[4]
And this is followed by a tone-deaf digression about how millennials have it economically easier than their parents.
But TD Jakes is not rejecting the Prosperity Gospel, even as he presents it but is merely asking how the preaching will be different in harder times. The subtitle of his article is “Praise is for good times and bad”[5] which serves as the operating answer to the question posed “What is the Prosperity Gospel?”
In a sermon titled, “And Ye Shall Have It,” Jakes teaches that you cannot have prosperity in the natural until you have it in the spiritual.[6] This is obviously untrue as many pagans are quite wealthy. In the sermon that is titled “And It Came To Pass” this was the motivational highlight.
Christians, you say you feel with the Holy Ghost. You gonna rebuke cancer and you can’t reboot debt? You all speak to nations, and you can’t speak to your car payment?[7]
This was the sermon that Jakes was apparently referencing in his tweet about being obedient to God promising prosperity.
The evidence of TD Jakes preaching a Prosperity Gospel is overwhelming and sufficient to label him a false teacher.
Egalitarianism
TD Jakes is well known for his support of female pastors in opposition to the biblical qualifications for pastors laid out in 1 Timothy 3. It’s worth noting that Jakes grew up in this tradition as opposed to adopting it later in life.
Heaven Tourism
TD Jakes has produced multiple movies. One such movie that he produced was Heaven Is For Real, a Heaven tourism story. Heaven Tourism is an unreliable concept as it is, and TD Jakes’s production of this movie is an explicit endorsement of a concept that the Bible does not endorse.
Support For Homosexuality
In a 2015 Huff Post interview, TD Jakes was asked about the Black church’s shift on homosexuality and how he has evolved on the issue. TD Jakes treated homosexuality as an agree-to-disagree issue in the church, meaning that he endorsed the idea of gay churches that could cater to homosexuals.[8]
In a further compromise, TD Jakes would celebrate America for being a pluralistic society, thus able to have homosexual marriage even though Jakes would attempt afterward to say that he did not support same-sex marriage.[9]
It is, therefore, reasonable to conclude that TD Jakes is gay affirming, as he is compromised on this issue.
Additionally, there are allegations against TD Jakes that he is a homosexual, in part because of his relationship with P Diddy. His denial of his gay sex rumors leaves much to be desired.[10] But nonetheless, it appears that P Diddy’s house is something of a Black Epstein Island which TD Jakes has visited numerous times. The verdict will is noting these allegations for the record in the event of a possible update on this story. However, these allegations do not factor into the assessment on Jakes’s ministry.
Conclusion
The evidence is clear that TD Jakes has enough red flags to label him a false teacher. The Black Pope is a negative influence on the Black church in the United States through his undermining of the Trinity, overt teaching of the Prosperity Gospel, and compromise on various hot-button issues.
Yet TD Jakes remains one of the most watched pastors in the world, despite many of Evangelical Dark Web’s findings being known about for years. We conclude that TD Jakes is a Category 5 false teacher, a wolf in wolf’s clothing.
[1] https://www.thepottershouse.org/explore/belief-statement/
[2] https://web.archive.org/web/20140224053653/http://www.bpnews.net:80/bpnews.asp?id=37054
[3] https://twitter.com/BishopJakes/status/911984620283023360
[4] https://www.tdjakes.com/posts/what-is-the-prosperity-gospel
[5] Ibid
[6] “T.D. Jakes Sermons: And Ye Shall Have It” Apr 6, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgjugLZ9gBA
[7] “T.D. Jakes 2021 – It Shall Come to Pass! – T.D. Jakes Motivational Video!” Aug 22, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuJrVkcd7Oc
[8] Bishop T.D. Jakes On The Black Churchs Shifting Stance On Homosexuality Aug 11, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5MRhqSK8Ts
[9] https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/10/td-jakes-clarifies-his-comments-on-evolving-on-gay/
[10] https://evangelicaldarkweb.org/2023/12/28/td-jakes-denies-gay-sex-rumors/
