(OPINION) A common verse used during the Christmas season is that of Isaiah 9:6, saying, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
This verse is traditionally attributed to being a prophetic saying about the coming of Jesus Christ. Yet this past Christmas season, televangelist Jesse Duplantis had another take on it.
“Where is the government now?” Duplantis asked during his sermon. “It’s on us. The government of the world is on mankind, and because we’re made in God’s image and in God’s likeness, you can call us Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Christ in us, the Everlasting Father, whoo! The Prince of Peace. That’s what it means to be the gift that Jesus gave to you.”
No stranger to controversy, Duplantis’ words spread across social media last week like wildfire, bringing with it harsh criticisms of heresy. Pastor Shane Idleman of Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California called out the words as blasphemy on Twitter. Others also called out the preacher’s words and his recent interpretation of the verses in Isaiah. One pointed out that this was exactly why biblical hermeneutics was needed for Scripture. (SOURCE)
