This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you" if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. - Titus 1:5-9 (ESV)
The Purpose Driven Industrial Complex infamously is always concerned with protecting the brand and trying to get proven money generators back into business as soon as possible after scandals that should disqualify them. Obviously when they come up against outrageous charges as with Robert Morris and Mike Bickle, they often cut bait with the grifter and instead try to save the ministries themselves. If there is an out however, they will always take it to protect the wolf at the expense of the sheep and at the front of the line for this is Charisma News, who never met a wolf they couldn't defend. Such is the case of former persona non grata, Perry Stone. Now, because of the sound doctrine requirement in the key verses, Stone was disqualified long before 11 women in 2020 lodged official complaints of varying degrees of sexual misconduct. These allegations included groping, showing that he was aroused, asking women about their breasts and unwanted kissing. Nine of these 11 different women were directly associated with his ministry. Then we can also apply from the key verses the disqualification for being above reproach, which he is not, as well as being open to the charge of debauchery.
Charisma and Stone's money making grift machine will argue that a Tennessee Grand Jury declined to hand down an indictment. Stone did a victory lap, smearing the sheep that accused him in traditional NAR fashion. The problem of course is deciding to not indict is not an exoneration of wrongdoing and in fact, the investigation remained open. Stone's own head of security said that Stone exhibited a "predatory lifestyle." Nonetheless, and seeming unconcerned about the smearing of the victims, Charisma has been aiding in the rehabilitation of Stone's image by allowing him to again write content, such as the link above asserting the absurd NAR talking about that America being under a curse because people do not vote Republican. So, let us reason once more together so we understand the false arguments that end up trickling down to our local churches.
"Is America under a curse? In a new warning message, Perry Stone revealed the curse that America is currently under. "I was reading a verse of Scripture that leaped out at me," Stone says. --it relates to the condition that many of the people in the United States are in emotionally, mentally and spiritually." The first thing that Stone breaks down is that this curse is not one about profanity or some other worldly, surface idea of a curse, but it has to do with biblical obedience and disobedience. "In the Old Testament, especially the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 and also in Leviticus"there are verses that indicate that God was instructing Moses to give rules of heaven or rules from heaven on how His people should walk and live on earth," says Stone. "God said this, 'if you are willing to do what I say, your life is going to be much better. Your spiritual walk will be deep. Your physical body will stay in health. However, if you refuse to follow me, I'm going to lift the hedge of blessing in favor and protection and you're going to experience some very negative circumstances,'" he continues. Stone points out how this concept became known as the "blessing and curse of the Law." When Israel followed the Lord obediently, they experienced the blessings and fruitfulness that God had for them. However, when they walked away from the Lord, being disobedient to the commands He asked of them, they lost their favor with God." - Charisma News
The spiritual sleight of hand that Stone and the NAR constantly traffic in is that America is somehow Israel. The correlation they always make is to look at Old Testament scriptures that apply to the theocracy of Israel and apply them to modern day America by pretending that we too were under covenant with God. We were not of course. When examining the Deuteronomy verses, Stone also does not even comment on the true purpose of the provision of blessings and curses based upon obedience. There were 613 Mosaic laws that Israel had to abide by in order to receive the blessings and avoid the curses. How did they do? Not too well as failing one of the laws failed you in all. The prophetic curses involving being captured into captivity actually occurred when Babylon overthrew Israel. The actual point of these verses is to explain the need for Christ to save us, not to somehow beat Christians up thousands of years after to vote for your preferred carnal candidate. While Israel occasionally "followed the Lord" they always fell back into idolatry. The vast majority of the Old Testament finds Israel in wild disobedience. We cannot behave our way into some kind of bountiful blessing package from God. His Son already came and died for us. This blessing chasing or political scare tactics is simply the tired dreams of the NAR dominionists.
'Stone points out that when the people chose disobedience, it would follow with acts of terror, drought, a reduction in cattle and that the roadways would be desolate. Division is also promised to come to a nation that has fallen away from the Lord's good and perfect path. These are all issues that America has faced at one point in time over the past 15 years. So, if America, which was founded on the principles of Christianity, turns its back on God, then what kind of curse would we likely experience? "Deuteronomy 28:28, He says now, 'if you abhor My commandments, if you mock My covenant, if you disobey Me and you go into rebellion, here's what's going to happen,'" says Stone. "The Lord will smite you with madness, blindness and astonishment."' - Charisma News
