Dear Friends:
As I promised, I will continue to deal with a message that was delivered by Creflo Dollar entitled “Jesus Became God.” This response should be relatively short since what I will deal with will be very easy to refute. In fact, any “Babe” in Christ could argue this point successfully. In this message, Mr. Dollar makes the Blasphemous statement that “Jesus was not God when He came to earth, but that it was added to Him at a later time as He developed into His Sonship.”He then gives two different situations that he says proves his assertions. First, he cites the incident in which Jesus walked up to a fig tree, noticed that it had not produced any figs, and then pronounce judgment on the tree.
Second, he cites the event when Jesus and His disciples were out in the Sea of Galilee and there was a major storm confronting the disciples, but Jesus was in the bottom of the boat asleep. That, according to Mr. Dollar proves that Jesus wasn’t God because according to the O.T. our God does not “Slumber nor Sleep.” Therefore, if Jesus was God, then why was He asleep Mr. Dollar asks?
As I’ve listened to this message a few times, I am more amazed at Dollar’s ability to manipulate his congregation. It is clear that he has a biblical illiterate Church! If they were discerning enough they would raised the issues that I will in a moment. It is interesting indeed to see what a little bit of charisma, good looks, and the gift of “gab” can do to a vulnerable and unsuspecting group of people who obviously mean well.
Let’s quickly refute Mr. Dollar’s first point that since Jesus didn’t know that there wasn’t any figs on the tree, He couldn’t possibly be God! What Pastor Dollar doesn’t understand is a doctrine called “The Self-Emptying” of Christ. There are a few passages of Scripture that demonstrates this point, but perhaps the best known is found in Philippians 2:5-11. While I will not print that passage out, I do want to challenge you to read it, and there you will find that while Jesus was/is clearly God, He decides to “humble Himself” in order that He might do the Father’s will and identify with humanity.
But, at no time did He ever ceased to be God! When Jesus walked up to the fig tree He saw that the tree did not have any figs; He therefore, decided to curse the tree so that it would never again produce figs. The lesson is deeper than what Mr. Dollar is asserting. Fig trees have leaves before the figs . The mere fact that the tree had leaves is a sign that Jesus had every right to expect figs. The tree had a profession without any real possession. Jesus is teaching His disciples and us that a “profession of faith apart from fruitfulness” is unacceptable!
What Mr. Dollar didn’t say and unfortunately, his congregation seem to miss is the fact that Jesus cursed the tree, pronounced judgment upon the tree is indisputable proof that He is God! What man do you know that has ever cursed a tree or a plant and it immediately withered and dried up? Mr. Dollar says that Jesus was able to do this because He was a “Spirit-filled” man. Baloney! Has Pastor Creflo Dollar ever cursed a tree and it withered up in His presence?
Only God has authority over the creation as He is The Creator. And according to Colossians 1:16, “All things were Created by Him: (Christ) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.”This Scripture easily debunks Dollar’s assertion that Jesus isn’t God because He “didn’t know” that there wasn’t any figs on the tree.
The second refutation has to do with the fact that Dollar says that if Jesus was really God, then why was He asleep down in the bottom of the boat? Surely, God doesn’t slumber nor sleep. And how right He is. However, we must remember that Jesus “voluntarily” and “temporarily” emptied Himself of some of His divine prerogatives to meet some specific purpose for the glory of God. In this case, Jesus was asleep due to His humanity and the need for physical rest. Again, why didn’t Dollar point this out:
Jesus was God and demonstrated it in a very powerful and high fashion. He stood up like the God He was/is and rebuked the winds that ran back into its hiding place, consequently, bringing a sense of calmness to the waters. Who could have done that but God? What “Spirit-filled” man you and I know that can make that claim? Where were all of the Spirit-filled people when hurricane Katrina came to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and ravaged the entire City of New Orleans and other places that are still trying to recover from the hurricane damage?
In closing, I want to say a word or two about the fact that while it is true that Jesus purposely limited Himself in certain instances, He also exhibited His divine knowledge on several occasions. The first is found in John 2:24-25. There, Jesus is said to know what was in man and therefore, He would not commit (entrust Himself) to man because “He Knew All Men”. This verse is clearly speaking of Christ’ “Omniscience” (He is All-Knowing). Another place is also found in John 1:47-51. There, Jesus sees and knows Nathaniel even before Nathaniel is anywhere near Jesus. And once Jesus made it clear, Nathaniel understood that the only way that Jesus could have seen him or even know his name He had to be somebody special, which prompted Nathaniel’s response: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
These refutations are very basic and doesn’t require any more attention. I will return, Lord willing, to speak more to this message by one of the Word of Faith’s “Stars”, Mr.Creflo Dollar. Take care everyone and may God reward you abundantly as you “Study to show yourself approved unto God.”
Yours in the Master’s Service,
