VOL. 19, NO. 4 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1999 EDITOR: KEITH A. MORSE “Breaking Through” His Unorthodox Doctrine and Practice by G. Richard Fisher It is hard to describe a ‘‘worship Though Parsley has difficulty, at service’’ led by pastor and television times, pronouncing biblical names, his evangelist Rod Parsley. Whether stride and jarring verbal onslaughts viewing at home by way of his are unabated. He is definitely emerg- popular daily television broadcast, ing as a key player and force to be Breakthrough, or as part of his 12,000- reckoned with in the world of charis- member congregation, his services mania. Parsley further demonstrates could, perhaps, be described as a he has arrived among the rich and hybrid of pep rally, boxing match and famous of the Charismatic world professional wrestling with smatter- when he found himself featured in ings of Bible verses and hyped-up the cover story of Charisma magazine claims that take people over the edge in March 1998. Parsley’s meetings are of hysteria. It is primal scream set to so out of control that he sometimes spiritual aerobics. Parsley is the ulti- makes even faith healer Benny Hinn mate cheerleader and professional or Brownsville Revival evangelist boxer combined. He deftly and Steven Hill appear tame. quickly moves people into altered His preaching style and intonations states of unreality. There is no ques- are well likened to R.W. Schambach tion that he can be a compelling and but revved-up considerably. His convincing speaker. Neither does he preaching raps are reminiscent of have difficulty or qualms about host- pseudo-evangelist Marjoe Gortner ing the worst of Word-Faith teachers and, at times, he chops his way across and promoting their agendas. the stage with a grimace reminding he gives them to say, waiting to be Rodney Lee Parsley charges back one of the old professional tag team, smacked, pushed or pommeled to the the Bushwhackers. No doubt about it, and forth across the stage of his floor by the “Raging Prophet.’’ World Harvest Church in Columbus, (continues on page 11) Ohio, sweating profusely, railing against the devil in a demonstration Inside this Issue: of heart-pounding Christian calisthen- God's Superstars .......................................................... Page 2 ics and his crowds love it. They follow his lead, bouncing, swaying God Tells Hinn to Relocate Ministry ......................... Page 3 and screaming. It is raw pandemo- Deception: The Legacy of the Mormon Prophets ......... Page 4 nium. They repeat whatever mantras ROD PARSLEY gry, God-seeking audience.’’2 but just receive, that’s it. ... this is (continued from page 1) your night, this is your night as Yet, on the very next page, we read: the high priest standing in this he is a showman par excellance and he ‘‘Rod Parsley began his ministry Holy place. I’m gonna put this has the moves to prove it. as an energetic 19-year-old, in the shofar to my mouth and the backyard of his parent’s Ohio moment I blow it every demon is Parsley melds the antics and crazi- home.’’3 coming off your shoulders, outta ness of the Toronto revival, the Pensa- your mind, outta your finances. His family did not just provide a cola (Brownsville) outpouring and the When I blow it I want you to derivation for his ministry, but as we laughing revival of Rodney Howard- shout like you never shouted a will see, Parsley’s backyard preaching Browne. He shakes in some Word- shout of victory and freedom efforts have grown into a lucrative, Faith teaching and then uses Jesus as that you will ... are you ready?’ family business empire. a prop to try to legitimize the whole (He blows the whistle and every- thing. His followers seem to reason Parsley was an assistant to Lester one is screaming.) There is only that the wilder the time, the more Sumrall. Sumrall, who died in April one high priest and that is Jesus evidence of the work of the Holy 1996, claimed his anointing from if it’s Parsley we’re in deep Spirit. Smith Wigglesworth.4 In 1992, Sum- trouble. This is a perfect example Even his Charismatic colleagues ac- rall supposedly passed his ‘‘sword of of what Jesus warned about in knowledge his showman traits. Cha- anointing’’ to Rod Parsley and his Mt. 24, many will say they are risma, in its cover story, called him the wife.5 The idea of a ‘‘sword of anoint- Christ (anointed). This certainly ‘‘electric evangelist’’ and described ing’’ is resurfacing as the latest Char- implies him as our deliverer.’’7 him this way: ismatic cliche. In Pensacola, at the Brownsville Assembly of God, they Parsley was also so bold as to tell ‘‘Part warrior, part cheerleader ... have actually used real swords to the Church of God’s General Assem- Parsley’s growing congregation dramatize such a passing. bly in San Antonio that ‘‘I am and nationwide audience have superior to the forces of darkness.’’8 come to expect both sass and Christian Research Institute has is- According to Jude 9, no one, not even savvy from this entertaining sued a warning about Parsley, which the archangels of heaven, have the preacher. ... And he’s not afraid reveals his disdain for formal Bible authority to speak this way. Jude goes of shock-value preaching. ... Pars- training: on to say in verse 16 that false ley appears to be a good show- ‘‘Caution and discernment teachers use ‘‘great swelling words.’’ man.’’1 should be exercised when listen- EASIER THAN YOU THINK In actual fact, Parsley’s preaching ing to Rod Parsley because he does not have the shock value that his considers himself to be a disciple It takes no special gifts or talents to antics have. of Lester Sumrall, who promotes work people into a frenzy. What Word of Faith theology ... Also, Parsley does can be done by anyone THE GENESIS OF A his statement on TBN’s ‘Praise at all. These dynamics have been SHOWMAN the Lord’ that ‘exegesis X’s out known for a long time; over 60 years Jesus’ (6/26/92) demonstrates an ago, Elmer Clark explained how it all In Parsley’s book, The Backside of irresponsible perspective toward worked: Calvary, one can find within just two the serious study of the Bible. adjacent pages biographical informa- ‘‘The ground is laid for the gift of This type of anti-intellectualism tion which is contradictory. However, tongues by the well-known is dangerous because it can lead while this segment of the book is not methods of revival evangelism. to a faulty interpretation of meant to be a detailed biography, Pratt finds the explanation of God’s Word.’’6 tellingly absent is any reference to a successful revivalism in the laws conversion story. Moreover, it ap- ALL-POWERFUL of rhythm and crowd psychol- pears that Parsley has little, if any, ogy. It is not to be supposed that The Hawaiian-based apologetic formal ministerial training. He evangelists know much about group, Let Us Reason Ministries, re- dropped out of school in his second psychological principles in the ports in its web site article, ‘‘Rod year at Circleville Bible College. technical sense, but by a process Parsley’s anointing,’’ just how power- of trial and error many have The initial biographical information ful the rising evangelist believes him- become experts. Curiosity is sub- found in this volume states: self to be: tly turned into expectancy; the ‘‘Rod Parsley began his ministry ‘‘Speaking about how the Lord advance publicity usually ‘plays as an energetic 21-year-old in the told him people are bound, ‘I’m up’ previous successes, and testi- backyard of his parent’s Ohio about to set you free. Addictions mony figures prominently in ser- home. The fresh, ‘old-time gos- that you had for years are about mons. The successful evangelist pel’ approach of Parsley’s deliv- to fall off of you. I’m telling you, gets en rapport with his audience ery immediately attracted a hun- you don’t have to do anything quickly; he is always a conserva- October-December 1999 The Quarterly Journal · 11 tive in theology and sticks to ing that the father had sexually to have secretly taped James Parsley themes on which the people are harassed her and offered her money twice making sexual comments to her. agreed. He never argues, but for sex with Parsley’s knowledge.11 Damages could, it was reported, top uses repetition instead of logic.’’9 The woman is Parsley’s aunt and was $1 million. an employee of his World Harvest Clark goes on to describe the other TAG TEAM Church. elements of mass manipulation: A few months after the newspaper’s Endicott was not the only one in ‘‘The denser the throng the more report, the Columbus Monthly maga- court because of the Parsley father successful the revival. So much zine provided more of the details: and son team: the better if people are packed closely together; evangelists al- ‘‘But there is trouble in Parsley’s ‘‘Endicott’s suit is one of two ways crowd them into a rela- paradise. A church employee and facing Parsley and his father. In a tively small space, even if the Parsley relative is suing over civil suit filed in Fairfield County room is only half-filled. Just as what she claims were repeated Common Pleas Court, a former freedom of bodily movement en- incidents of sexual harassment church member named Lewis hances the feeling of indepen- by Parsley’s father. She says she Bungard claims that in Septem- dence, so the loss of such free- sued rather than complain to ber 1991, Rod Parsley choked dom in a dense crowd creates a church officials because they him and James Parsley punched sense of helplessness, which is punish boat-rockers.