Perry Stone isn’t shying away from the growing criticism aimed at ministers and churches. In a recent message, the prophetic evangelist addressed the confusion, controversy and disappointment many Christians feel toward modern ministry—and why believers need to look deeper.
“I had someone tell me, ‘Perry, ministry should not look like this.’ And I had to agree,” Stone began. He acknowledged that with so many negative headlines involving churches, ministers or doctrinal debates, it’s understandable why some believers are confused or disillusioned. But according to Stone, what’s happening today is not new—it’s biblical.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
“Matthew 13:47–48, the parable of the good fish and the bad fish,” he explained. “All the fish are in the same net, but then there is a separation.”
Using these illustrations, Stone pointed out that the kingdom has always included both the genuine and the false—and that separation comes in God’s timing, not man’s. “People talk about, ‘I don’t go to church because there’s division…’ From the very beginning of the church, it involved people… and anytime you’ve got sheep, you’re going to have manure. Anytime you’ve got goats, you’re going to have manure.”
/**/He also reminded listeners that the early church dealt with major conflict. “They played the favorite preacher game… There was a division over should a Gentile be forced to be circumcised… an argument over meat sacrificed to idols… a division over women and their operating of gifts inside the church.”
“These conflicts don’t affect mature Christians… What they do is they affect baby Christians,” he added, warning that confusion often leads young believers astray.
Stone also spoke personally about the hidden struggles of ministry: “I have been away from my family at major dates… you carry the financial weight of the ministry [and] the demonic pressure when you’re tapping into nations, the principalities and the powers…”
Still, Stone says the reward is worth it. “This is why I do what I do… to be able to feel the presence of God in ministry… the testimonies… from prisoners and the overseas people, the people from Israel, the people from Indonesia who have come to know the Lord.”
Stone ended with a strong word of advice: “Don’t be judging every ministry by some things that have happened negatively… Keep the prize on your mind. Keep Jesus as the author and the finisher of your faith… He is there and He’s going to always be with you if you’ll trust Him.”
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
In a world where ministry can often be misunderstood, misjudged or even attacked, Perry Stone reminds us that division and controversy are nothing new to the body of Christ—they’ve existed since the earliest days of the church. Yet amid the noise, confusion and spiritual battles, one truth remains: we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
