False Preacher: T.D. Jakes

T.D. Jakes or Thomas Dexter Jakes is the bishop or pastor of Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He has his own TV show called The Potter’s Touch. He’s very popular, especially with African Americans. The New York Times named him as one of the top 5 evangelicals to possibly replace Billy Graham. Time magazine even questioned if Jakes would be the next Billy Graham. Jakes even records gospel music.

But Jakes is part of the Word Of Faith movement. Teaching prosperity, how we can talk things into existence with our words, and other usual teachings from them. And what makes Jakes really stand out from other Word of Faith teachers is that he denies the Trinity. One of the core, essential beliefs of Christian theology. Though it’s ironic that his show airs on Trinity Broadcasting Network and even helped in the Praise-A-Thon’s there. Jakes believes in Modalism and yet, still gets respect.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 says "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Isn’t this what is happening with false teachers such as Jakes? That people everywhere believe all they say?

I won’t just show T.D. Jakes false teachings, but also explain why the Trinity is essential and why we must believe on it. I am going to show what Jakes had to say on the Trinity first. Here’s one of his reasons for denying it.

“I think it's very, very significant that we first of all study the Trinity apart from salvation, and first of all that we embrace Christ and come to Him and come to know Who He is. Having come to know Who He is, then we begin to deal with the Trinity, which I believe is a very complex issue. The Trinity, the term Trinity, is not a biblical term, to begin with. It's a theological description for something that is so beyond human comprehension that I'm not sure that we can totally hold God to a numerical system. The Lord said, "Behold, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one, and beside Him there is no other." When God got ready to make a man that looked like Him, He didn't make three. He made one man. However, that one man had three parts. He was body, soul and spirit. We have one God, but He is Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in regeneration. It's very important that we understand that, but I think that the first thing that every believer needs to do is to approach God by faith, and then having approached Him by faith, then they need to sit up under good teaching so that they can begin to understand who the God is that they have believed upon." ("Living by the Word" on KKLA, hosted by John Coleman, Aug. 23, 1998)

When God said that he is one in Deuteronomy 6:4, He meant that he was the one true God. The only God, compared to other religions then that had multiply false gods. Also that He works on His own and doesn’t need any other gods.
And in an article from Christianity Today:
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“The Apostle Paul himself used this term [manifestations] referring to the Godhead in 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Corinthians 12:7, and 1 John 3:5-8. Peter also used the term in 1Peter 1:20” (My Views on the Godhead: Jakes Responds to Christianity Today Article, Apologetics Journal Criticizes Jakes,”

Modalist’s like Jakes believe that God manifests Himself in 3 different forms. Separated completely from God as though they were working on their own, instead of working in unity. They don’t exist all at the same time according to them. Some people, especially Muslims claim the Trinity doesn’t exist because the word Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible. But the concept is since Tri means 3. Check out these verses:

Matthew 3:16, 17 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Here, we see all 3 parts of the Trinity being shown doing something. God the Father speaking, God the Son being baptized and God the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus. God is one yet is still 3 different persons at the same time. The same thing is shown in Mark 1: 9-11

Matthew 28:16,17 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Before Jesus leaves the earth into heaven, he commands his followers to baptize everyone in name of all 3 persons of the Trinity.

Here’s the doctrinal statement on T.D. Jakes site:

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“God: There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Notice that manifestations is used instead of persons.

Jakes once said this silliness:

“He just kept turning into stuff…He became quail and started flying through the air… He became water, came gushing out of a rock…He became a tree and turned the bitter water sweet. I mean, He just kept turning into stuff! One God manifesting in a multiplicity of ways!” (The Potters House, TBN, 7/20/1999)

Actually, nowhere in the Bible does it show or imply that God transformed or manifested into any of those objects while He did the miracles. Though in Numbers 20:6-12, it’s possible that God was in the rock that gushed water since it’s the source of the water, but He was not in the water. But Moses disobeyed God’s command to speak to the rock, choosing instead to hit it twice, kind of like hitting God and taking the credit for himself when he said “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” And God punished Moses because he didn’t trust in Him to honor him as holy.

Here’s a blog post where Jakes seems to have changed his mind more recently on believing in the Trinity. Maybe only a little bit. Or maybe he’s just trying to not be very clear as to offend people.

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“I believe that in a way that persons is a limited word for the Godhead.”

What would be a better word than persons then? Not manifestations I would hope because that would mean that they “appeared” on their own instead of from God only. Or they appear but are seperate from God, working outside the Trinity.

Here’s more verses showing God the Father and Son are separate but still as one: (John 3:17, 35; 5:22-23, 31-32; 8:16-18; 11:41-42; 12:28; 14:31; 17:1-26; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 15:24-28; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; 4:4; Eph. 1:2; 6:23; Phil. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1-2; 1 Tim. 1:1-2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4; Phm. 3; James 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:2; 1 John 4:10; 2 John 3).

Jesus is the Holy Spirit: (“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” – John 15:26)

For more Trinity info and why it’s Biblical, I recommend this link:

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To some people, the idea of the Trinity looks confusing. Maybe one of the better ways to explain it is that God exists in 3 persons, but one substance, coeternal and coequal. It’s a unique relationship.

Now into Jakes other false beliefs and teachings.

Just like the usual prosperity preachers, Jakes believes if you plant that seed of a certain amount of money to him or your church, you can expect God to give you more back. Jakes was also a regular promoter for TBN’s Praise-A-Thon.

Praise a thon:

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Jakes looks like he’s trying to be all emotional and stuff trying to trick viewers into sowing that seed. Or as the video title says, pimping his viewers.

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5:15 “I don’t need anything you lost to bless you! God will always use whatever you got left! The blessing isn’t in what you lost! The blessing is in what you have left! And if you would sow what you got left, God said ‘I’ll give you back whatever ya want!”

Encouraging the viewers to give whatever little money they have left by faith so they can receive more. How do people continue to fall for this? It’s easy for Jakes to say that when he’s so rich and doesn’t have to worry about being homeless. And I also get the impression that the piano playing in the background often during these praise-a-thons is a brainwashing tool, meant to stir up emotions.

"I want to challenge you to sow and come into agreement with me. I believe you don't have to go for it, you can sow for it! And God will bring it to pass in your life. I want you to write me, put in your prayer request and sow a special seed. Believe God for supernatural resurrection harvest in your life!"(T. D. Jakes, "Heirs of The Promise I," After the sermon T. D. Jakes said this while in the studio, March 21, 2005)

Jakes is saying your prayer request to him won’t be listened to unless you include a seed. Which of course means, give him your money to get your prayer answered. It's just a lie for him to make money.

"I am excited! I have been claiming Genesis 26:12. It is powerful! It is life changing! Talks about Isaac sowing a seed and receiving a 100 fold return in that same year. I believe that as you sow God is going to give you a supernatural harvest in your life! I believe it will be at least a 100 fold! Some of you are going to break into that next dimension of 1,000 times more that I've been teaching around the country. I want you to partner with me so that you can get into this flow...Now write me and let me agree with you in prayer over your seed. As we harvest in this same year 100 fold, a 1,000 times more than expected!" (T. D. Jakes, "Confronting Your Promises I," After the sermon T. D. Jakes said this while in the studio, March 20, 2005)

"When you sow seeds into this kind of anointing it releases the power of God that you can harvest. And I want you to get this scripture and read it and believe God with me Genesis 26:12. As we sow, I believe that we're going to experience a resurrection...Genesis 26:12, it says, 'Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in that same year a 100 fold and the Lord blessed him.' This year is your year to receive. You need to sow it and receive it in this year. This is your year of destiny." (T. D. Jakes, "Heirs of The Promise II," After the sermon T. D. Jakes said this while in the studio, March 22, 2005)

Here’s a clip from MSNBC about Jakes aired March 31, 2005:

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0:13 “I’ve been hand selected! I’ve been divinely picked! I’ve been holy ghost anointed! I’ve been designated for assignment! God I will not fail you!”

Ummm, that looks more like pride and boasting? There will be more of that later on.

1:13 “When the product is excellent, it doesn't require a big sales pitch.”(MSNBC News, "Do God and money mix?" March 31, 2005)

Jesus is not a product to be used for money.

At 6:24 then 6:35 Jakes is pictured with Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Both corrupt politicians that have done so much wickedness behind the scenes. Too much to say here, but does Jakes know what they have done, signed or gotten involved in? In many ways, I think it’s dangerous for a so called man of God to be yoked up with people that are just helping to corrupt America and the world.

Did Jakes forget 2Corinthians 6:14? “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?”

Also Luke 6:26 “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” When you are as famous as T.D. Jakes and popular enough to be featured in popular magazines and get the attention of the media over and over and politicians are comfortable to hang out with you, I would be very cautious.

Here’s a clip of Jakes with Oprah Winfrey. Oprah asking if there are many path to Jesus. Sadly she should know since she was raised in church growing up.

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I don’t know why Jakes would want to associate with Oprah since she has denied Jesus as the only way and promotes New Age ideas as shown here:

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Oprah even once promoted the popular book The Secret, which includes New Age beliefs.

And don’t forget that Jake’s messages are also featured on Black Entertainment Television. Why would any pastor want to associate with a network that plays and promotes the music of immoral, corrupt rap artists?

Jakes here answers a question from a Muslim woman on NPR radio whether Muslims and gays can go to heaven. Jakes as I expected, goes into a long, somewhat off topic answer:

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T.D. Jakes believes in Name It & Claim It, like the other Word of Faith teachers:

"My brothers and sisters the power of life and death is in the tongue. You can have whatever you say."(T. D. Jakes, T. D. Jakes During Intermission of "The Bone Collector Part II," TBN, August 12, 2004)

Jakes is quoting from Proverbs 18:21 and of course, out of context and doesn’t imply that there’s some kind of special power in our words that alters reality. More quotes that show that belief:

"You gotta speak to stuff or it won't change. Are you following what I'm saying?"(T. D. Jakes, "The Bone Collector Part II," TBN, August 12, 2004)

“You gotta be careful what you speak to, because the power of life and death is in your tongue.” (The Potter’s House, TBN, 7/7/2004)

"When you stop talking back you stop fighting back. Speak to it! You lose your tongue you've lost your fighting power. Speak to it!"(T. D. Jakes, "The Bone Collector Part II," TBN, August 12, 2004)

What if someone got their tongue cut off? Or even mute? They can’t pray in silence?

"It's what you say to yourself that gets you healed. If you say that you won't be healed you won't be healed. If you say that you are broke you will stay broke. Oh! But I came to serve notice on the Devil. The Bible says, 'The power of life and death is in the tongue. Slap somebody and say, 'You better speak to yourself.'"
(T. D. Jakes, "Seize the Moment," Woman Thou Art Loosed, 2000 Atlanta)

"Did you know that the Bible says, 'You shall have whatever you say.' Now, don't you say that if you don't want no increase. If all you want is what you had don't say that anymore. But, if you want something beyond what you have ever seen, shout increase! The power of life and death is in your tongue. When you open your mouth you release power all over the room! Shout increase!"(T. D. Jakes, "Bible Answer Man Show," Hank Hanegraaff, Audio-Clip, September 14, 2004)

I wonder if I were to shout out “Increase T.D. Jake’s understanding of the Bible!” Since him and his Word Of Faith friends believe there’s power in our tongue. Would that help?

"I want the privilege of praying over your seed. I want to pray over your seed and it would be ridiculous for me to pray that God to give it back to you. Because if all He was going to do was give it back to you, you ought to keep it and then you would just have it. That's ridiculous! You got a $100 or a $1,000 and you're gonna give a $1,000 and I tell you God is going to give $1,000 back. Well, you just broke even! You could have kept that $1,000 and not gone through the trouble! Come on church folk! But God is going to give you some more on top of that. And as you sow it [a person shouts, 'Increase!'] I dare you to say it again, [The audience shouts, 'Increase!']. Oh My God! Woo, we're about to get ours in here. I don't know what you're getting out there. Well, we're about, somebody shout, 'Increase!'" (T. D. Jakes, "Bible Answer Man Show," Hank Hanegraaff, Audio-Clip, July 30, 2004)

And then there’s this blasphemy about power in our words or mouth, which have to do with Jesus death:

“As long as Jesus was talking on the cross he couldn’t die. It was only when he shut his mouth and hung his head in the locks of his shoulder that death could come and take him because he had so much life in his mouth that as long as he was talking, death couldn’t get near him.” (The Potter’s House, TBN, 7/7/2004)

So….Jesus didn’t die of his wounds and being crucified…He died because he stopped talking! That makes so much sense! No, Jesus died because of asphyxiation like everyone who was crucified.

On sickness, just like the WoF teachers, Jakes claims we can speak our sickness away. It’s very dangerous to do that and people have actually died from believing that. I know it’s good to have faith and command things away. But it’s also smart to go to doctors when you have a problem. I believe we can get healed by commanding our sickness away, preferably by a pastor who’s experienced in this since he should have more faith than the person who is sick that he can command the sickness away. But going to the doctor afterwards for a checkup would be a smart thing to do also, to confirm the miracle.

"You're entitled to have wellness in your body. Stop begging for what you're entitled to." (T. D. Jakes, "God Never Meant For You To Lose," TBN, July 29, 2004)

"We believe that it is God’s will to heal and deliver His people today as He did in the days of the first Apostles. It is by the stripes of Jesus that we are healed, delivered and made whole. We have authority over sickness, disease, demons, curses, and every circumstance in life."(T. D. Jakes Doctrinal Statement, website.)“If you got an infection in your body, touch that part of your body that’s up under attack and in the name of Jesus declare it, and decree that God is healing your body from the crown of your head to the sole of your feet. God is healing your body. You’d been up under attack, but the devil is a liar. Healing is the children’s bread. It’s promised to us in the Word of God. Doctors have done what they could do, but God can do things that medicine cannot do. I declare a supernatural divine Holy Ghost healing in this house! Healed, be healed; tumors, be healed; cancers, be healed; growths, be healed; legions, be healed; rashes and issues and eye problems, be healed; kidneys and livers and lungs, be healed. Blood disorders, be healed; skin infirmities, be healed; bone marrows, be healed; skin cells, be healed; eye tissue, be healed. In the name of Jesus, somebody praise Him [tongues]. I feel an earthquake in this place. Give the Lord a praise!” (The Potter’s House, TBN, 2/23/2004)

Like some Word of Faith teachers, Jakes believes that Adam was a clone of God and that we all have a little of that God DNA. That we’re little god’s.

“We were made out of God. When God created Adam, He created him from the dust of the Earth. He put His mouth on him; blew in him the breath of life. He became a living soul. God said, ‘I wanted to see what I looked like so I made you to be in My image. You have My DNA. You are created of Me. You are a derivative of Me. You are My picture in the Earth.” (MegaCare 1, The Potter’s Touch, Lightsource.com, iTunes Podcast, 8/17/2008)

Jakes even seems to love listening to his own voice.

“My God! I'm preaching, I think I'll get my own tape this morning."(T. D. Jakes, "The Invisible King," TBN June 27, 2004)

"Ya'll don't hear what I'm preaching. I'm preaching so good I'm about to 'Amen' myself! Oh!...Oh God! I'm preaching good! Hallelujah!" (T. D. Jakes, "Give it up, Have it All II," TBN, April 15, 2005)

"Oh! That's good! I may have to get this tape myself!" (T. D. Jakes, "Mega Fest 2005," The Church Channel, August 18, 2005)

"This tape is so good I'm going to buy this one myself!" (T. D. Jakes, "Reality Check," From the series "Fight For The Family." TBN August 19, 2005)

"Oh dear! I'm going to buy this tape myself. Give me two tapes! Hold two tapes in the back." (T. D. Jakes, "Dealing With The Unexpected," TBN, November 28, 2004)

What does the Bible say about pride in teachers?

1 Timothy 6:3-5: “If anyone teachers other wise and does not consent to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, Useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose the godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."

2 Peter2 10-18 also does a good job explaining.

"The T. D. Jakes of the next generation could be sitting somewhere back in the back writing notes to somebody across the hall. The next Rod Parsley. The next Creflo Dollar could have been high last night...'How could that be possible? Great men of God like you--they grow up just walking on clouds.'" (T. D. Jakes, "Don't Get lost In The House," From the series "Home Remedies" TV1 Direct T.V. Channel 241. May 1, 2005)

Rod Parsley and Creflo Dollar are also false teachers and they are not great men of God. I exposed them already. Check them out on my false preachers folder to see why.

And finally, a message for the former Pope after he died:

"His holiness, John Paul II was truly a dedicated and courageous messenger of God. His legacy will be a model that all of us should follow. His Holiness was not only a leader of the church, but also a leader of the world. His life was an example everyone can learn from. His mission to spread the Good News of faith throughout the world, and his dedication to human rights was an inspiration." (T. D. Jakes, "Bishop T. D. Jakes Statement on The Passing of Pope John Paul II")

His Holiness? I am sorry, but the Pope is just a man and doesn’t deserve that title. If anyone is to be called holy, it’s God! As for dedication to human rights…well there wasn’t much done with all the sexual abuse scandals done by Catholic priests and bishops, which are reported nearly every day.

I really feel that T.D. Jakes and his false gospel need to exposed and be raised awareness of. Especially with the African American community who think he’s a great teacher. And of course, the idea of denying the Trinity is awful too. Thanks for reading and look forward to the next false teacher.