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Earl Paulk is in a better place?

By Bruce W. Robida

 

Earl Paulk Jr., has died. Someone wrote, “He’s in a better place now”. Is he really? I have my doubts.  Throughout his pastoral career, controversy has followed him. Many women have claimed that he manipulated them into sexual relationships, including Jessica Battle who claimed she was sexually abused by Paulk as a young girl. Was he a child molester as well? He would tell the women, “…such bonding relationships were used by God to bring confidence and power to one's spiritual calling”. There’s no doubt that Earl Paulk enjoyed sexual relationships outside his marriage, but is that enough to deny him access to heaven? Aren’t we all in danger of being excluded? Don’t we all fall short of the glory of God? If that’s all there was, I would not be writing about him now, especially so soon after his death. But there is in my mind something greater to consider. What about Earl Paulk’s theology?

Earl Paulk taught Kingdom Now Theology, which is:

A Heretical teaching. It holds that Jesus can not return unless and until "the Church" subdues and rules the earth. For an extensive overview, see Kingdom Theology Defined.

Kingdom Now Theology comes in various flavors, goes by a number of different names, and permeates several related movements. See, for example, Latter Rain Movement, Manifest Sons of God, Dominion theology, and Five-Fold Ministry, as well as the New Apostolic Reformation.

Pat Robertson (CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network, 700-Club) is a major proponent of Kingdom Now theology. Other proponents include Bill Hamon (and other so-called ''prophets),'' Larry lea, Thomas Reid, and many prominent leaders and teachers of today's controversial renewal and revival movements.  http://www.apologeticsindex.org/k00.html

See also, Kingdom Now Theology by Al Dager, for an indepth study.

Teaching heresies and misleading God’s people is not the way to get on God’s good side.  

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2PE 2:1-3

God’s Word warns us about these people and that we should avoid them (see MT 7:15, MT 24:11, MT 24:24, MK 13:22, Gal 2:4, 1 Ti 6:3-5, 1 JN 4:1).

The apostle Paul worked diligently to preach the truth to counter false teaching.

And I [Paul] will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen,  masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Cor. 11:12-15

Earl Paulk spent his final years teaching false doctrine. I don’t know if he actually believed what he taught or if he was in it for the power that he could have over others, or if he was in it for the money he could gain, or maybe all of the above.  I do know God’s Word is clear.  He will be held to a higher standard for his teaching.

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. JAS 3:1

Did Earl Paulk have a deathbed confession? Did he plead on God’s mercy for his sins against those that he was charged with shepherding? Did he plead on God’s mercy for his greed and manipulation, for teaching heresies? Only God knows what was in his heart when he was alive. His death is a sad one for me because the hope I have for him is slim. I have my doubts about Earl Pauk’s salvation.

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