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Bishop Brian Tamaki urges church to reject media criticism

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Bishop Brian Tamaki

Bishop Brian Tamaki

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Sun, 01 Nov 2009 5:43p.m.

By Laura Turner

Bishop Brian Tamaki has urged his congregation to reject any word against Destiny Church, after a week of media scrutiny suggested the movement was becoming a cult.

Along with Bishop Tamaki, a number of other Destiny Church members have put their houses up for sale - raising questions over whether Destiny will also become a township.

After seven days of media scrutiny, the faithful filed back into Destiny Church this morning.

Along with the traffic controllers, the hierarchy and the new covenant rings for Bishop Tamaki's 700 soldiers.

The Bishop constantly referred to the media attention, urging his congregation never to let their thoughts be tainted by non-believers.

“You should never let your mind be out of earshot from the word of God. That is where the enemy will most have his effect,” he said in a live-feed of his sermon.

A 3 News camera was not allowed inside the service, the church saying they would prefer journalists use the church-edited footage off the internet.

Destiny Church member Richard Lewis says the church want to get on with what they’re doing.

“With us having been in the spotlight the people are very aware of the media and we just want to get on with what we do and that's church,” he says.

But the past week has seen intense argument that Destiny is not a normal church but a cult in the making.

On Thursday night Campbell Live showed hidden camera footage of the church asking not for small change, but for large quantities of money.

Also under scrutiny was the covenant 700 men signed, pledging their unrelenting dedication to Bishop Tamaki.

While the church continues to deny it is planning an exclusive 'Destiny city' it has confirmed it’s currently doing feasibility studies on two properties in south Auckland.

The chosen property will become home to a church, schools, sporting facilities and possibly a retirement village.

Along with Bishop Tamaki's Maraetai house, a number of houses belonging to Destiny Church members are also for sale in the Beachlands-Maraetai area.

The church couldn’t answer why there are so many houses on sale at the same time, but suggested members might just want to be closer to their church.

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Comments [45]

rebecca
18 Feb 2011 10:30a.m.

alot of judgement has been put upon this man. But we must remember that this is not our job to do so. If he is wrong then allow god to deal with him. Every man has his faults even a pastor. My opinion of the things that BT has been doing are wrong in my view but i wont hold that against. just let it go. and allow god to deal with it. i may not know the whole bible but i know that god tells us to love each other. in our wrongs and when we are right.

Eru Wilson
05 Mar 2010 9:37p.m.

Unfortunately mr tamaki the way in which you live your life is contrary to many simple bible principles. An honest hearted study of the WHOLE bible in context makes that blatantly obvious.Case in point read MARK 10:17-22 and you wil find that a wealty young ruler was so impressed by JESUS that went to meet him, knelt before him and asked "teacher what must i do to inherit everlasting life? Jesus replied in v21 that he should sell all he had and give it to the poor and follow him. Thus jesus was testing the mans real heart motivation. The result in v22....the young ruler grew sad at what he had heard and went away. Lesson...he was unwilling to give up his material possesions to be a follower of jesus..note that jesus however didnt ask all who wanted to be his followers to give up their possesions to become his followers. That is how we know that jesus was testing the young ruler...
mr tamaki...are you willing to give up YOUR possessions if need be?...do you need them in order to follow jesus?.....NO YOU DO NOT.
requesting your follwers to give to god...if you dont you are robbing god!!!!!!! emotional blackmail?
so mr tamaki are you gods tax collector? It seems as if that is what you are doing...how then sir are you passing these DONATIONS? on to thier rightful owner.......GOD!!
Thank you for your time.....time which i beleive you should use to undertake a proper indepth study of the bible with the aim of sanctifying GODS name (yes god does have a name) and learning how to live as JESUS did NOT learning how to live as movie stars do...The key words when looking at JESUS...love and humility both of which you are failing to disply.
Thank you again for your time.
Eru Wilson
tamuretane@live.com

Shim
05 Mar 2010 9:27a.m.

I don't agree with a lot that B.T is doing. HOWEVER HE IS CHANGING LIVES IN NZ FOR THE BETTER, and we certainly need it with the hidious things that happen in our country. In the early days I too started off in a penticostal church and got a good grounding of the bible. Iv'e long expanded out and love all faiths. Seek and u shall find.If this is what we truely are doing we are lead thru many doors and B.Ts is just one of them.

taj
03 Dec 2009 11:34a.m.

I belonged to a church cult in Hamilton, he would also ask us to dig deep for his vision of taking 'the word' to the people of the world dressed in his armarni suits and gucci shoes while his ardent followers lived hand to mouth week in week out to support his extravagant lifestyle but god did he look great!! Maori in particular are attracted to cult leaders, why is this? I think the effects of colonization has done this to Maori over time. This is more than just a church it's a political statement! I am not only talking about churches I am also talking about organizations that are run by brown faces from the outside which look and are kosher but dictated to and financially coveted by the 'significant other' (government funding). Usually money is the motivator, feathering their own personal nests all for the 'greater good' of the community....yeah right!! Moreover they will only usually deal with those 'sister' organisations that are powerful and yes wealthy which enables and allows them to headhunt some of the best people in the business; they can then isolate themselves and continue to work in a burgeoning bubble. Oh and the cult church I belonged to the leader was murdered last year, it was on the front page of the Waikato Times, did you see it? We all said his time would come, what goes around comes around, the followers gave in good faith, he received it for personal gain...doesn't work, will never work! BT can build an empire which he is and will but his days are numbered, it will fall as people start to 'think' again for themselves, it will eat away at the core of their being because while his intention may be good, the road to hell is paved with them! By the way I am a brown face that has experienced both of these toxic cult phenomenons with both top dog hierarchies ruling in the name of 'the lord' it's sick and sickening! The drama inside these places is never ending as the tyrant tries to control you, if you pose a threat you are watched and ousted or 'managed out' is the pc term. Oh and they both had and have hench men around them, you can only get to them by being 'sinless' they trust no-one! I have learnt from these experiences that I am 'more than that' and will always think for myself, that is true personal freedom!

unknown destiny church member
05 Nov 2009 8:04p.m.

Brian has taken this leadership to far ive studied on cults
and certianly it all ways up to be one. ive read this document " The oath of loyalty Covenant and it a hole scam to me and this man has danger sign on cultwatch website.
this man is dangerous and i know where he lives.
To Brain dont teach what you called god to my brothers or else Gods wrath and the seven bowls will flood your church because of your falsehood.

Drongo
04 Nov 2009 9:05a.m.

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of how we should be, have Charity, Humility, Service etc.. This Man [not a god] does the exact opposite, he says to be Charitable, but to him, by giving him expensive gifts, money, Iphones and their very lives, this is exactly the opposite of what Jesus Christ would do, he would give all he had to the poor, Tamaki takes and takes and never gives, these things he does are not of God but of the Devil and that is exactly what Tamaki is...The Devil who leads people down the wrong path, just like the Pide Piper leading people down to doom and distruction.

Brian T
02 Nov 2009 6:38p.m.

DONT DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!!!

Naz
02 Nov 2009 5:44p.m.

Linda T, very well put

zasear
02 Nov 2009 4:18p.m.

another opportunist in a long line of predecessors. wait till he realises the bankability of god and global warming or god and the armegeddon - nostradamus predictions. watch for a jim jones pattern emerging in the future.

mj
02 Nov 2009 3:39p.m.

causing conflicts and conspiracy,IS the cause of man-made catastrophys

if BT and his followers feel free to follow their chosen spiritual paths in the name of GOD
then they are entitled to do so, like any other human being, through personal freedom of choice and association.

for once in our heritage of history, we may just have a human corporation all for human considerations
thats got to mean alot for the future majority of mankind, where history and worldwide evolution is
a question we should all be asking, why we are where we are today.

if BT and co distinguish their place is to help us make the choices that are available to us today then good on god for using them.
god said good things only get greater for those that understand its meaning.
so if BT and co have helpd those less unfortunate than themselves, then that in itself is greater than himself .
whats all this fracas really about!
if no one knows, then
there are those, that shouldnt give cause, for conspiracy a chance to grow.HELLO

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