Larry D. Trotter: "I Was At Death's Door"

1/18/2013: For those seeking information on the "Baby Bathtub Scandal", Bishop Trotter's response can be found HERE. We will have NO ARTICLE regarding the issue.  The Dunamis Word DOES NOT ascribe to the terrible internet GOSSIP currently circulating regarding the situation in general, however we can make no sense of why a grown man would be bathing with a child under any circumstance. 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

This article is not filled with bold faced assertions and character assassination is not the object. The object is to examine the conflict between the understanding and application of holiness in the life of many 21st Century leaders.

An Interview With The Bishop

Leadership, is one of the greatest jobs a person can have. Whether it's leading a crew of employees in secular employment or leading a team to competition and victory. The greatest and most exhaustive type of leadership is spiritual leadership. It's often thankless and strenuous. Many desire the accolades that leadership sometimes brings but few want the responsibility or criticisms that comes along with it.

Recently I come across a leader that has a long history within the church and decided to take a listen and hear for myself what he had to say. I can't tell you enough how surprised I was to hear some of what I heard and also how relived I was to hear some things especially if his accounting was true. So far as the content and even my assertions, one can judge for themselves and feel free to express your opinions if you would like.

In an interview with Kevin Bond of Straight Talk of StreamingFaith.com Bishop Larry D. Trotter explained his ministry, separation from The Full Gospel Baptist Church, and his current condition of health. I have captured all 3 parts to this interview on The Dunamis Word View. Pt. 1 is below:

In Pt. 2 of the interview, and to put rumors to rest, the Bishop stated that the separation from the Full Gospel Baptist Church was a peaceful one, and that his current condition of health is partially driven by heart disease and other illnesses for which he is currently undergoing treatment. The reason the latter is important is because there is a current RUMOR that the Bishop's health condition was certainly more serious than he states. My thoughts are that I hope he recovers and continues to recover well and speedily.

One particular part of the interview that stood out was a part regarding his teaching against sin within the church. Here is Pt. 3 of the interview.

Holiness Of The Believer

I thought the initial segment of the interview was very interesting for a number of reasons. According to GCMWatch.com in April 2009 Bishop Trotter conducted a revival at an openly "gay" affirming church within Pastor Yvette Flunder's organization. Now, some will say this is judgemental and is only guilt by association, but the problem is how can one revive something that shouldn't exist? IE: The only way to help a church that is caught in homosexuality is to call the entire church to repentance of their sins and to ask them to renounce homosexuality as the sin that it is. Some may say that the "dead" need to be revived, however I will say that those that are "dead in their trespasses and sins" only need repentance according to the word and that is the only point from which there can be true revival.

Sin And The Old Church

This portion of the interview went like this; As you saw Kevin talked about the lack of preaching in the church against sin. Bishop Trotter responded saying the following:

"It's kind of ahh 21st century church or Christian kinda y'u-know, do what you wannna do..."they all people leave 'em alone." So we don't, as pastors this day and age...The church is so relaxed we just accept any kind of lifestyle, there's no challenge on lifestyle or moves, y'u-know, in the church. It's like OK, I'm gonna get up here and preach, I'm gonna get an offering, I'm gonna get a nice car, or a plane,...I ain't botherin' nobody, about issues of sin.

When have we heard on TV or in our pulpits, collectively, people talk about sin? When do we hear, anymore, people talk about true repentance? Y'u-know, those were things that...when we came to Christ, that we were told as young people, to ask God's forgiveness, y'u-know. And I don't hear that a lot. Don't hear repentance message at all."

As stated, these comments and the Bishop's assessments was especially interesting for a number of reasons. Was the church in St. Louis called to repentance along with the lesbian Presiding Bishop? I don't know but I would like to know when given the opportunity to preach against sin, did the Bishop take advantage of that opportunity, or did he simply just collect his offering and not "bother nobody"???

Additional Observations

Another observation is that Bishop Trotter is known to preach sexuality provocative titled messages and implore a high level of carnality within those messages. In my experience, preachers who do such things are often found with many sexual impurities within their life. Unfortunately, those things are not uncommon to many within "what's up doc?", or "good ole boy" preachin' circles. One example is a message this same Bishop preached in Peoria, IL some time ago entitled, "What To Do When You're Horny". Now, because the church has become so morally weak, and spiritually blind by flesh and it's desire for fame, accolade and association, some may think even that title is acceptable, but just in case you didn't know anything like that is unbecoming of communication between Saints and is very doubtful if not impossible that it's a communication from God.

Ephesians 4:29 ~"Let no corrupt COMMUNICATION proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Colossians 4:6 ~ "Let your speech [be] alway WITH GRACE, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man"

Defilement Of The Sanctuary

In all of this the church is usually only a building where the "show' takes place and there is no real sanctity that goes along with the sanctuary. Case and point and right on que: This Bishop also allowed his church to be used for a Michael Jackson memorial where the church was involved in not only by commemorating Michael's life, but also singing his songs, and having a good time in Michael's name. Now, when Michael died, this was a practice many places within the body of Christ. Pastor's opened their doors for Michael Jackson singing and dancing commemorations. In other words, the house of God was allowed to be defiled in honor and deference to a sinner.

This is a highly confusing message to send to he church if the object is to preach against and stand against sin. I wonder did the older saved individuals to which the Bishop referred present anything like that or along those lines to him in his youth?

Finally, even though Minister Larry Hampton has declared his freedom from homosexuality under bishop Trotter's ministry at Sweet Holy Spirit church, the report however is that there is an overwhelming amount of homosexual members and attendees within his church. To his credit, Bishop Trotter has stood against homosexuality publicly and from his pulpit on various occasions that we are aware of. However, individuals who regularly attend his church, and some who have positions within the church and who are also openly homosexual, and continue to practice homosexuality, remain without remorse or repentance.

Divorce

This is yet another issue that the "old church" to which Bishop makes reference, certainly would not have approved of. That church certainly would not have endorsed divorce, but yet Bishop has unfortunately joined the ranks of Bishop Weeks the $5,000 pen buying, multimillion dollar deal writing, Juanita Bynum II, and Multimillion dollar condo having, recently reinstated pastoring Paula White's and ad nauseum. All of these say that their ministry will be better than it was before the divorces. Paula White even states that her marriage was only for a "season" according to the word of God, and she's entering into a new season to fulfill her destiny.  But that IS another story. In Trotter's case there was so much controversy over the divorce and his lifestyle (and yet is today) that he has made a Uncut Confessions DVD in which he promises to answer all speculations regarding hisife and family issues, and health issues. Although that's good, I would like to hear his wife's story. I believe she will add a great deal of context to what the Bishop says, or doesn't say.

Conclusion

I certainly agree with the Bishop that, no matter what is preached, many will do what they will regardless. However, the actions of the Bishop are a far cry from what he teaches (at least in these instances)and are therefore very difficult if not impossible to reconcile.

1 Timothy 3:1-5 ~ "1-This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2-A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3-Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  4-One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 -(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) "

It is incumbent upon leaders to make the way of the Lord plain and not mix that way with flesh. Since the flesh cannot please God, the rationalizations that are birthed out of the flesh are inadequate when it comes to HIS service.

The deeper message is that this interview represents a sizable contingency of today's leaders. Knowing what should be done but seemingly stuck with the inability to do or perform it. It may be that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Romans 7:15-21 ~ "15-For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16-If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. 17-Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18-For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. 19-For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20-Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21-I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22-For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23-But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24-O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

In these times it is critical to have salvation and further the spirit of the Lord. That begins with relationship with HIM and service to HIM. Without that relationship, we will live contrary to our confession and without that power, we are ineffective in a world filled with misery, grief, misdirection and confusion. However we must overcome, because Jesus has overcome, we will be over-comers also.

I say let's take back 21st Century Holiness and servitude to the level that pleases God. I am certain that much of what we accept and allow in the modern church will be rejected in the Day of Judgement. The church must go back to a solid and firm foundation of truth rooted in truth and be willing to place itself in the way for that truth. Maintenance of and with the world and its system is unacceptable and a futile effort. The change must come from the pulpit, but if it doesn't God is seeking the faithful, the humble and the powerful to walk along side HIM into their deliverance. Will you be one of those?

Micah 6:8~ "He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to WALK HUMBLY with thy God?"

Blessed!