The Ministry of Jesse Duplantis
Looking at the Teachings of the Ragin' Cajun
One of the most popular preachers on the airwaves today is Jesse Duplantis. Beginning his ministry in 1978, he is most notable for being the funniest television evangelist on the Trinity Broadcasting Network these days. In 1997, he and his wife Cathie founded Covenant Church in Destrehan, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.
A Powerless God
Like Myles Munroe, Duplantis is of the school that teaches that God can’t act until given permission. Duplantis spoke to one audience about the impending death of his mother and described what appeared to be a confused and subservient God who was suddenly faced with two conflicting commands from two Christians. A mother was telling God to take her, while her son was telling God not to take her. Duplantis says that God then pleaded with him, saying, “You’ve got me over a barrel here….You and your momma gotta get together. I’ve got to obey somebody around here.”
An opponent might disagree with this theory, pointing to the belief that God didn’t need permission to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah or to kill Ananias and Sapphira or to take the life of David’s son.
Christians Who Just Won’t Die
Duplantis says that Christians are so powerful that a Christian will not die until he decides it’s time to die! He boasts that since Jesus controlled His own destiny, modern day humans can control their own destiny too.
While on Kenneth Copeland’s show, Duplantis said, “If you want to die, the only way you can is with your own mouth, because death and life is in the power of your tongue, not cancer or diabetes or high blood pressure or crippling arthritis…or even age.”
Many Christian pastors who oppose this view would point to a passage in Ephesians that's also quoted by Duplantis; it mentions imitators of God is immediately preceded by not letting “any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,” and getting urges getting rid of “all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Paul follows that with, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
They point out that imitating God has to do with our moral character and has nothing to do with being able to decide when a person is going to die. Opponents might argue that if Duplantis is correct, then there would be 1,000-year-old Christians around who have not yet decided to die!
Duplantis on Giving to Get Theology
Duplantis believes that giving out of gratitude to Christ is illogical and that if an individual believes in just giving and not receiving, they are in deception and are mocking God. “He (God) just said whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap - and you say ‘I give but I don’t expect anything in return.’ You’re in deception and you’re mocking God.”
A dissenter might point to a passage mentioned by Duplantis — “Be ye therefore imitators of God as dear children," — in Galatians 6:7-8. It could be argued that this passage has nothing to do with monetary giving and receiving, but the divine consequence of living either a carnal or holy life. Verse 8 connects with verse 7 with the connective, “for” and says, “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Some might argue that by promoting such advice Duplantis is strongly encouraging his followers to lead the carnal life that Scripture warns against.
Duplantis Believes that God Wants Christians to be Rich
Duplantis teaches that Deuteronomy 8:10-18 supports accumulating wealth and possessions because it tells people to bless the Lord for the land given them and reminding them that it is God who gives power to get wealth. Duplantis adds, “Now, if wealth is wrong…why did God give you the power to get it?”
Apologists such as Hank Hanegraaff say that Duplantis sets up a straw man argument because no one says that being rich is a sin, nor does it say that Christians should live in perpetual poverty. Duplantis equates wealth with the necessities and leaves the impression that those fictional Christians who are against wealth are against the necessities of life. However, Hanegraaff says, “Jesus did not condemn possessions, but instead pointed out the foolishness of a temporary rather than an eternal perspective.”
Watching Your Doctrine Closely
There is no doubt that Jesse Duplantis is a very funny and entertaining person, and while some are devout believers in his teachings, others adamantly disagree with his theories.
It is commonly believed that it is the responsibility of all Christians to be discerning as they pick a pastor. As Scripture says “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” (Daniel 2:21)
Sources:
- Christian Research Institute website
- Praise the Lord, Trinity Broadcasting Network,
- Believer’s Voice of Victory, Trinity Broadcasting Network
Jesse Duplantis has Controversial Teachings
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