In an article titled “Fellowship’s Ed Young defends appearance of non-Trinitarian T.D. Jakes at Creative Church Conference,” Pastor Young told the Southern Baptist Texan, “But our conference is a leadership conference, it’s not a theological conference.”
I sent Pastor Young of Fellowship Church, where I was a member, this question: Does God know that good leadership promotes One unified Spirit shared among diverse Persons in Community together?
While Young doesn’t inform his congregation of Jakes’ theology, presumably a leading portion knows. His quoted defense is disingenuous. Jakes preaches at those annual conferences. Over a hundred came forward for him at the 2009 conference. According to Jakes, “While I mix with Christians from a broad range of theological perspectives, I speak only for my personal faith and convictions.” (Feb. 1, 2000 Christianity Today).
Before creating anyone, Mr. Jakes’ god was alone, out of touch. He creates persons to relate, something he can‘t do alone. His dark night contrasts with the Trinity’s bright day: “Within the one being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal Persons; namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White pg. 26).
Biblically, the idea that good leadership can take place without (or at least be supported by) good theology, is vacated. Considering this truth from a different angle, Paul says in Romans 1&2 that everyone is naturally a terrible theologian, and consequently, poorly leads themselves. It is impossible to do anything that is not explicitly or implicitly a reflection of theology.
Pastor Young does not call the leadership ability of the Trinity into question, but his own.
Praise His Holy, Holy, Holy Name!