61st Live Video Stream with Carlton Pearson - Heretic Hunters

About this sermon

The history of religion has taught us that independent thinkers are dismissed as heretics. Heresy hunters become usually active when fresh revelation comes. Think of the fact that the reformer, Martin Luther was declared a heretic and expelled from the institutional church on 03 January 1521 by Pope Leo X. Catholic defenders of the status quo judged the Reformation to be the rebellion of the human spirit against the divine will. They said that the Reformation, if not checked, could be the end of Christianity in its orthodox form. We are now right in the first Reformation nostalgia with the new Reformation. It was only in 2009 that Pope Benedict XVI, who is evangelical, declared that Martin Luther is no longer a heretic. Yesterday's heresy is today's orthodoxy. Today's heresy is tomorrow's orthodoxy. Because God is infinite, nobody and no 'holy book' can have the last word. The theology I embrace, like any other theology, is not infallible and has to be questioned. I remain open to that questioning and indeed expect it. People don't want you to tell your story your way, they want you to tell your story their way. Fundamentalists think their way is God's way because they based it on their interpretation of "God's word". Again Jesus is quoted to have said to his Pharisaic detractors: "You (Pharisaic fundamentalists) have let go of the commands of God (Love) and are holding on to human traditions." This is always the case when renewal comes and traditionalists are aroused to resent and resist it. Integrated marriage, women in ministry, divorce and remarriage, even having televisions, which were called "one-eyed demons" when I was a child, are all the norm these days as will also gay marriage or marriage equality and affordable health care in America. The expanded consciousness I embrace and promulgate is becoming more and more acceptable and appealing to masses. Oprah's Soulful Sunday is now being watched by people like my 84 year old classical and clinical Pentecostal Mother and millions of others. Change is already here. We resist something the Universe (God) has allowed and inspired? Even Jesus seems to have encouraged Judas to do what he was called and commissioned to do, in betraying him. Remember, heresy means "choice" or opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted. All inventors and innovative thinkers throughout history have been titled heretics. Carlton Pearson After college at the Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma he served for 15 years on its Board of Regents, and two years as Associate Evangelist of The Oral Roberts Association, (ORA). In 1977, Pearson founded Higher Dimensions Ministries (now New Dimensions ), in Tulsa, which grew to over 5,000. Bishop Pearson was consecrated to the office of Bishop in 1996 thru a College of Bishops headed by Bishop Charles E Blake, presently the Presiding Bishop of the Churches of God In Christ, the denomination he was raised in and through whom he was ordained in 1971. In 1993, Carlton married the former Gina Marie Gauthier who is a professional Life Coach and Yoga teacher. More recently, he has felt a passion to proclaim the "Gospel Of Inclusion" and has written a widely acclaimed book by that name, published by Simon and Schuster. It confronts the Christian church's exclusivism as being inconsistent, in spirit with the teachings of Jesus. Pearson's frank and often controversial take on a number of different subjects has earned him appearances on television programs such as NBC and MSNBC's Dateline, ABC's Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley, The Edge with Paula Zahn and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, The Monique Show on BET, and a number of other television, radio and print media outlets. Bishop Pearson was recognized as one of America's 10 Most Influential Black Ministers by Gospel Today and Belief.net. He has received several honorary doctoral degrees. Bishop Pearson recently served as the Interim Senior Minister at Christ Universal Temple in Chicago. He and Gina now host New Dimensions of Chicago, building a local multi-cultural and radically Inclusive spiritual community that emphasizes expanded consciousness and Self Actualization. His newest book, God Is Not A Christian, Nor A Jew, Muslim, Hindu...God Dwells With Us, In Us, Around Us, As Us was published by Simon and Schuster and released in the spring of 2010. Visit our Youtube Channel for more video! Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/bishoppearson Website: http://www.bishoppearson.com Join Email List: http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=cqgwpvn6&p=oi&m=1011112155650

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• Bible Study