Texas-based pastor Kenneth Copeland has recently faced criticism for a sermon in which he praised God for receiving a dying man’s seed offering, which consisted of a lavish Bentley Bentayga featuring an expensive Breitling clock. Copeland’s friend Mylon LeFevre gave the resources in the hopes that they would bring about healing from cancer.
Copeland and his ministry are associated with the heavily criticized prosperity gospel, one of the most prominent false teachings in modern Christianity. Also known as the “Word of Faith” movement, this belief centers around the idea that health and material prosperity are earned from God. Copeland has often boasted an astounding billionaire net worth he has amassed over the years.
In a recent sermon, Copeland bragged about a diamond-encrusted Breitling he was wearing to a man in the front row. “Do you think that one’s pretty?” the pastor asked. “It’s a Breitling. It has diamonds around the edge. Someone gave me that one,” he added.
Later in his sermon, Copeland mentioned LeFevre, who was battling cancer and seeking healing from God. Subsequently, he gave a seed offering to Copeland in the form of an exorbitantly expensive luxury vehicle: “Whoa! A Bentley with a … um … Thank you, Jesus!”
As a result, prominent Christian leaders have spoken out against Copeland and his false teachings that place a focus on wealth and health. Bible Scholar Justin Peters, known for rebuking the prosperity gospel and other modern perversions of Christianity, called out the pastor.
“Kenneth Copeland knows full well that the people listening to him don’t follow him for exposition; they are there for promises of health and wealth. And there are a lot of sick people listening to him. Not just at this convention but all over the world. And they are sick; they are dying, some of them. And some have sick children, children who are dying,” Peters said. “The bigger miracle you need, the bigger monetary seed you’d better sow,” Peters added while calling him to repent.
The scholar also cited Matthew 7:21-23, which states: 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
“Kenneth Copeland is a wicked, dark man. He hates you, and the only person he hates more than you is God. Enjoy that Bentley, Mr. Copeland. … May God have mercy,” Peter said. However, he expressed that he did not desire for Copeland to endure the wrath of God’s judgment, calling on him to repent for his false teachings. Peters noted, “That is exactly where you are headed right now.” He further cited Psalm 119:104, which maintains, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”
Featured image credit: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenneth_Copeland_2011.jpg