Tamaki fires back at Cultwatch

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Tamaki fires back at Cultwatch

3News NZ

Bishop Brian Tamaki

Bishop Brian Tamaki

By Tony Reid

The Head of Destiny Church, Bishop Brian Tamaki, has granted 3 News a rare interview to clarify his position on something close to his heart; the resurrection of Jesus.

It follows revelations by the group Cultwatch, which says Mr Tamaki has rejected Christ’s physical resurrection – and in doing so, alienated himself from the rest of Christianity.

Mr Tamaki is a man who has made a career out of saying ‘no’ to interviews.

When the going gets tough, the Bishop gets going.

But today, he relented, agreeing to talk to 3 News about these comments to his congregation:

"You must get out of your mind that, that Jesus Christ is now, ah, is still Jesus of Nazareth ... But Jesus did not come out of the tomb. The flesh Jesus died in the tomb."

The Bishop’s blasphemy was passed onto the group Culwatch, who say Tamaki’s interpretation is wrong.

“For Christians it’s a huge problem, because the Bible says if Jesus wasn’t resurrected bodily, then our faith is pointless,” says Cultwatch director Mark Vrankovich.

Today, Mr Tamaki chose to speak out, claiming Mr Vrankovich has been “stalking” him and the Destiny Church for some time.

“We’ve never not believed in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Chris, so I don’t know where this guy is coming from,” Tamaki says.

In an article printed today, Garth George wrote Mr Tamaki had “appalled the Christian community by denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, an essential, fundamental tenet of Christian faith”.

Earlier today, the New Zealand Herald published Mr Tamaki’s reponse to the opinion piece in which he refutes the claims.

“I fully affirm the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, which has always been and continues to be a founding doctrine of Destiny Church,” Mr Tamaki says.

“I point out the distinct difference between the pre-resurrected Jesus of Nazareth, who was limited by his flesh body, and the post-resurrected Jesus Christ.”

Mr George refers to Cultwatch founder Mark Vrankovich’s comprehensive record of Mr Tamaki’s teaching and the “doctrinal bombshells” which “blasted Destiny Church off its orthodox foundations”.

Mr Tamaki referred to Mr Vrankovich in his reply saying: “The allegations made by one individual Mark Vrankovich (who is he?) are simply an attempt to attract attention towards himself. The allegations are selective and well out of context.”

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Comments

19/02/2011 4:12:43 p.m.

Alista wrote:

How come the media is only interested in Jesus when Brian Takaki says something that sounds illogical or stupid? How come the New Zealand media never shows anything positive about churches? You are really alienating us Christians.

19/02/2011 9:44:03 a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Is it possible that Tamaki might be right on this point? Modern religious scholars have been trying for decades to sift out fact from fiction in the bible. Most academic tend to accept that the bible is not an inerrant document and that Christians might actually have a distorted view of the life of Christ and of the events that preceded and followed his death. I have never had much patience for bible bashers who quote incessantly from a book that while important is not without error.

19/02/2011 12:10:19 a.m.

Davo wrote:

I admit to holding a certain element of distrust for Brian Tamaki, but having said that, I do believe Mr Vrancovich is pushing an agenda designed to advance the interests of his own ego. In many ways, he's no better than Mr Tamaki himself, whom he accuses of being in essence, a theological megalomaniac. Also, it is interesting to note how the subject of fundamental Christian theological tenets has become fuel for the media's ad hominem attacks on Brian - if Mr Tamaki's view are indeed considered heretical by the majority of Christian denominations, what relevance or importance is it to the media, or to public curiosity for that matter?

18/02/2011 3:28:53 p.m.

father of 2 nd a half wrote:

if for once in tv3 news and cultwatches lives when they try and accuse bishop brian or anybody can the actually play the whole piece instead of editing it to make sound bad when half the time its not!!! and that dude with the blonde hair from tv3 news is a ugly looking dude what a joke he is!!!! just get a life mr Mark Vrankovich even your own pastor supports bishop brian just leave people alone its none of your buisness just try and run your own loser life!!! oh and get a job

18/02/2011 2:01:10 p.m.

pk wrote:

So......A real zombie or just a spiritual zombie, or some kick-arse real AND super spiritual zombie through which you can have a connection through a quasi-cannibalistic renactment ritual? What dilemmas.

18/02/2011 1:51:24 a.m.

Father Ted wrote:

What is Bishop Brennans take on this?

17/02/2011 11:12:42 p.m.

Father of 2 wrote:

Paul the apostle referred to Jesus Christ as "this same Jesus" who was raised from the dead. Jesus of Nazareth and Christ are the same person and when 2 of the apostles told a man to get up and walk they said in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. There once again the word of God settles it

17/02/2011 9:29:34 p.m.

Mum of 3 wrote:

I have tuned in and listened to Brian on quite a few occasions and each time hoped to hear a sermon based on sound biblical knowledge and each time I have been saddened by the heresy that comes out of this man's mouth. What do I base these judgements on?30 years of reading the bible for myself - I have read the entire bible through from cover to cover several times. I test all sermons I hear in the same manner. Most sermons I have heard over the years have passed this test and the best sermons are often from authentic believers whose humility is immediately apparent. I still wait for Brian Tamaki to preach like that and I do pray that that wait won't be in vain

17/02/2011 8:13:11 p.m.

Nelson wrote:

Anyone who fully listens to what bishop Tamaki actually has to say will realise his statements are biblically accurate and full of challenging revelation for these times. I encourage people to tune in and listen to him themselves instead of listening to the rubbish thats said about him.

17/02/2011 6:57:50 p.m.

Phil wrote:

Cultwatch is a dangerous group-dangerous to the "Bishop"'s cashflow...