TBN president Paul Crouch made these remarks on the air in 1991 about those who would dare critisize anyone's doctrine who preached on his network
"That old rotten Sanhedrin crowd, twice dead, plucked up by the roots ... they're damned and on their way to hell and I don't think there's any redemption for them ... the hypocrites, the heresy hunters that want to find a little mote of illegal doctrine in some Christian's eyes ... when they've got a whole forest in their own lives. ...
"I say, `To hell with you! Get out of my life! Get out of the way! Quit blockin' God's bridges! I'm tired of this! ... This is my spirit. Oh, hallelujah!' ...
"Have you ever seen the old movie, Patton? ... He's my hero; he's my hero. Old nail-chewin', tobacco-chewin', cussin' Patton--but he read the Bible every day. I have a feelin' we'll see old General George in heaven. ...
"There's a wonderful scene in Patton ... they're tryin' to get the Third Army across the bridge in France and there's an old, dumb jackass--donkey--right there on the bridge and it's blockin' the whole convoy of troops ... General George roars up, pulls that ivory- handled revolver out ... and he shoots the donkey. ...
"There's a spiritual application here. ... I want to say to all you scribes, pharisees, heresy-hunters, all of you that are around pickin' little bits of doctrinal error out of everybody's eyes and dividin' the Body of Christ ... get out of God's way, stop blockin' God's bridges, or God's goin' to shoot you if I don't ... let Him sort out all this doctrinal doodoo!
"I don't care about your doctrines as long as you name the name of Jesus, as long as you believe He died dead [sic] and was buried but came out of the tomb on Sunday morning and ascended to the Father ... I don't care about anything else! Let's join hands ... to get this gospel preached in all the world.
"The rest of this stuff is what Paul the Apostle calls dung--human excrement! It's not worth anything! Get rid of it ... and get on with winning the lost.
"I refuse to argue any longer with any of you out there! Don't even call me if you want to argue doctrine, if you want to straighten somebody out ... criticize Ken Copeland ... or Dad Hagin. Get out of my life! I don't even want to talk to you ... I don't want to see your ugly face!"
BB comments
Paul Crouch knows that if many of the teachings and practices of TBN are exposed in the light of scriptures his ratings would fall and so would his lavish income and power.
What do the scriptures say about the importance of doctrine?
SOUND DOCTRINE
Matthew 16:6-12 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
There are many today that hold the erroneous belief that DOCTRINE is not important. Jesus Christ shows in the above verses that this modernist philosophy is not only false but also in direct conflict with the Word of God. The apostles and prophets who wrote the New Testament under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit give considerable importance and emphasis on DOCTRINE.
Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans...
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of DOCTRINE which was delivered you.
Paul writes again in Romans...
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1Timothy 1:2-10
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and
peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no
other DOCTRINE,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which
minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith:
so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure
heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain
jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what
they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but
for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners,
for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with
mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if
there be any other thing that is contrary to SOUND DOCTRINE;
Paul exhorted Timothy to give attendance to Doctrine
1Timothy 4:13-16
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
DOCTRINE.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the DOCTRINE; continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear
thee.
Those who show contempt for DOCTRINE are fulfilling prophecy.
2Timothy 4:2-3
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and DOCTRINE.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;
The Scriptures are profitable for DOCTRINE.
2Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.
Conclusion
DOCTRINE IS IMPORTANT
