Reviewing Bishop Tolan Morgan's Preaching and Teaching

Image Courtesy of SHIPT TV (YouTube)

In this post, I will provide an honest review of the preaching and teaching of Bishop Tolan Morgan of the Fellowship Bible Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, affectionately known as The Ship.

Bishop Morgan was born November 29, 1974, in Detroit. While it is customary to refer to national preachers in a manner that elevates them above others, I forego such practices (Eph. 6:9).

It is folly to suggest one of us is greater than another simply because of prominence. As favored as black folk think such men and women are, there is no biblical support the Lord plays favorites and factually, the text says the opposite (Job 34:19, Acts 10:34).

Furthermore, Bishop is a preacher's kid (PK) who accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at age nine. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Purdue University in 1995 and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity in 2012.

Let me be clear before giving this brother his 'flowers.' I am not one who fawns or becomes silly in the presence of popular preachers (Jam. 2:1-4, 1 Tim. 5:21).

This lack of truth toward these men has contributed to a church culture that rejects accountability and has transferred the glory of God to these would-be 'princes of the church' (Prov. 17:5, Isa. 42:8, John 5:44, John 7:24).

I am honored to be set apart by God to confront pulpit hyenas (fake preachers) who exploit His people being neither called, anointed, nor sent and therefore openly mock the Lord God of Armies.

On judgment day, they will pay dearly for such treachery against His throne, regardless of their man-made doctrines such as "that's not my business because that church is a different denomination and/or autonomous" (Matt. 18:15-17, 1 Tim. 5:20, Titus 1:13).

A example of this neglect presented itself when I requested intervention from the Oneness Pentecostal denomination with a novice, whom they both licensed and ordained, Antonio Wells, who was making shipwreck the cause of Christ (1 Tim. 3:1-7).

However, Bishop Tolan Morgan is genuinely called, anointed and sent by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 13:7).

Not because he leads a church - in my city of Waterloo, Iowa, there are at least seven (7) who do so but weren't called by God or abandoned Him long ago. Unlike most, I don't hide behind a website or social media when making such assertions - I've told them directly.

With respect to Morgan however, I have never sent readers to another black Baptist preacher's video platform. Yet, if one is serious about advanced discipleship, visit the Fellowship Bible Baptist Church's YouTube channel.

Bishop Morgan is so anointed that I didn't even know the church he leads is Baptist! That stuff doesn't matter and as I have said many times prior, I lead a Baptist church but no one has explained to me, exactly, what a Baptist is.

All that matters is preaching Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23, Rom. 6:6).

I was blessed to personally witness Bishop's ministry twice in Iowa. First at the Iowa State Baptist Convention under then-president Dr. Damian M. Epps, a man of God I respect deeply.

The second time was at Corinthian Baptist Church in Waterloo (Iowa) as a guest of then-Pastor Dr. Marshaundus Robinson. Y'all know how much love I have for Dr. Robinson!

Forgive my parsing of the English language but "better not nobody say nothin' bad about Dr. Robinson. Lawd no!" Shoot, don't make me go Nehemiah and start slapping people and pulling out hair (Neh. 13:25).

I am serious Saints because passive Christianity is a theological myth that Jesus never taught nor practiced (John 2:13-16, Matt. 16:23, Matt. 23:13-15).

However, and where Tolan Morgan is concerned, few preachers can make me choke on the strong meat of God's Word (Heb. 5:14, 1 Cor. 3:2).

To date, only three (3) have: Bishop Noel Jones, Tolan Morgan and the Man of Yah, Brother Brion Martin, author of The God Theorem.

When confronted with Morgan's Holy Ghost preaching, my first reaction is often to gasp and question if it's false doctrine - that's how convicting true anointing can be (Heb. 4:12).

I rarely listen to other preachers now that I pastor, but when I do, Jones, Morgan and Martin top my list. My granddaughter once heard Morgan preach (though I can't recall where) and did something that still makes me smile some years removed.

At about five (5) years old, she picked up her toy microphone and perfectly imitated Morgan's signature 'tune-up' whoop: "OOOOOHHHHH is there anybody here..."I had to laugh and said, "Dang, why can't you preach like Papa?"

If you don't want to hear the truth, do not ask a five-year old!

Bishop Morgan also stands out as the most serious-minded preacher I've encountered as well (Titus 2:7, 1 Pet. 5:2-3). I have been harsh with 'Def Jam Comedy' pastors who treat the pulpit like a stage for cracking jokes about things that are not funny.

However, Morgan is the very rare, as in I have only met three (3) pastors ever, whose expressions says: "this is not a game and I am not playing because God is not." With Watchmen and Prophets, that 1,000 yard stare comes standard.

While I haven't spent any time with him personally, the Holy Spirit confirms his authenticity (1 John 1:4).

Another striking habit of Morgan's is after preaching, and leaving the congregation in spiritual awe - he simply puts down the microphone and walks out of the sanctuary.

A dear brother explained the significance to me.

Intense preaching, especially the 'whooping' style, requires tremendous energy and causes heavy sweating, which must be dried immediately and/or the Holy Spirit instructs a preacher to leave prior to over-staying their welcome (preaching too long).

That said, I have one significant concern about Bishop Morgan's messages, particularly those I've heard online. He often preaches as if his entire audience is already saved, with little emphasis on hell or repentance.

It is a mystery to me how the negro preacher can, Sunday after Sunday, take people to the cross yet never mention what refusal of its saving grace means (John 3:15-17, Matt. 25:31-46, et al).

In fairness, I cannot confirm that during the invitation, post sermon, this is not made known.

According to hard data (Pew Research), while 92% of Christians believe in Heaven, only 79% believe in Hell. That means 8% of Christians do not believe in Heaven, at all, and 21% do not believe in Hell.

While this may not be true for his congregation, on the chitlin preaching circuit, this lack risks presenting a comfortable gospel that speaks of growth without confronting sin.

As a church pastor, I say with hard won experience that people do not understand apathy, itself, is sin. How can apathy be challenged by someone as anointed as Bishop without ever, and constantly, calling it sin?

While Bishop doesn't forsake preaching challenging messages, there is little chance that those who attend his guest speaking revivals are being truly revived. Bishop is excellent at pointing out where we come up short but that is a world away from telling people they are in sin.

"I must grow in Christ," to sheep, is not the same as "I am in sin." How could they know when there is emotional response in service to preaching absent Holy Ghost conviction (Isa 29:13, Matt. 15:8-9)?

Take the image on this post for example of Bishop Tolan preaching a sermon about 'Dealing With the Devil in Church.' Without fail, and no matter where a church is located, black Christians all know a devil in their church but it is never, ever them personally!

As someone once said: "it is always easier to look out of a window than in a mirror."

In black church cultural, the louder an audience is, the less Holy Ghost conviction occurs. More plainly, the black church is largely an exercise in 'stress relief' and social clubbing for the 'righteous.'

Preachers who gain national prominence often balance boldness with palatability. This cannot be called evil necessarily because scripture tells us to be 'shape-shifters' of sorts to reach as many as possible (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

Bishop Morgan may be more direct with his own congregation than as a guest preacher, following unspoken black preacher protocols. Protocols are man-made orthodoxy that has nothing to do with scripture (Rom. 3:4).

For example, a local leader once rebuked a young minister for preaching a message she felt was only for pastors. When I asked her biblical basis, she could only cite tradition, not Scripture (Matt. 15:3, Mark 7:8, Col. 2:8).

So why am I giving Bishop Morgan his flowers despite these concerns? Because he is undoubtedly a serious, studious shepherd and moreover, how an audience receives a Holy Ghost message is not his area of concern.

Although he is a pastor and not a prophet, the same commandment applies: "speak my word to them Son of Man, whether they will hear them or not.." (Ezek. 2:5-7). Let those who have an ear hear.

Three (3) observations support Morgan being called, anointed, and sent even if blind church members are missing it (which he constantly reminds them of during sermons):

• He understands the gravity of the gospel and his calling to deliver it - a rare trait today (Rom. 10:14-15, 1 Cor. 9:16).

• As a true shepherd, his teaching is deeply biblical (Eph. 4:11-12, Titus 1:7-9).

• He delivers correction in a way that disciples rather than destroys.

This third point is crucial. Jesus modeled this balance perfectly. Consider these examples:

• The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11): The religious leaders demanded her execution, but Jesus confronted their hypocrisy: "Let him without sin cast the first stone." After they left, He showed her mercy: "Go and sin no more."

  
  

• Healing on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6): When Jesus healed a man's withered hand, the Pharisees watched to accuse Him. Jesus exposed their legalism: "Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath?" He healed the man, prioritizing compassion over tradition.

• Dining with Sinners (Matthew 9:10-13): When criticized for eating with tax collectors, Jesus replied: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I came not for the righteous, but for sinners."

Bishop Morgan operates in this same spirit. I trust what God is doing through him. Furthermore, we all have biases according to the gifts the Lord has given.

Yet when these biases morph into apathy, sin breaks out, the greateast of which is pastors and the culture of no accountability (amongst themselves).

When the name of the Lord is defamed among the heathen in the most public ways (media), how many times has it been some random church member? It is always an unaccountable leader who other leaders knew was wicked and none shunned or used other biblical tools for discipline.

I pray the Lord continues to elevate true shepherds like Tolan Morgan while removing the pretenders who disgrace the pulpit. I mean, goodness gracious, the man preached my then five (5) year-old grand-daughter silly!

May his ministry continue to bear fruit for God's kingdom.