Todd Derstine claims to have a ministry. He publishes his teachings, has a web site and holds himself out to be a leader and a teacher. Does he meet the qualifications of one? Read them verses below and then carefully study the following documents and decide for yourself if he is a teacher from God or a predator. Beware of false shepherds.
1 Timothy 3:1 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 behavior, 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?) 6 Not a novice, lest being
lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a
good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare
of the devil.
Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the
husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be
blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to
wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a
lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful
word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to
exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Todd's 4-13-92
letter to the minister of a young girl that Todd got pregnant who refused to
perform a wedding ceremony. In this letter Todd outlines his belief that if you
sleep with a woman, she automatically becomes your wife and God blesses the
union.
Todd's 8-9-92 letter to another minister and his
wife who refuse to support the idea that the young girl Todd got pregnant is
automatically his wife.
10-22-93 list of charges against Todd by the Assembly of Yah.
Does Todd meet the qualifications of an elder? Reread the verses above and ask yourself that question. Todd is a likeable man, does that make him an elder, a teacher, or a leader?