GDT's Golden Calf - Pastor Worship Part 1

In a healthy church, a pastor is primarily an individual who provides spiritual teachings and is present for the edification of the congregation. The term itself - "spiritual overseer" - underscores the notion of service, as seen in definitions that highlight a clergyperson's role in serving a local church or parish. Many pastors wholeheartedly serve their congregations while also juggling responsibilities such as family life, and in some instances, another job. It is truly commendable when someone heeds the call to guide people through the pivotal moments of life, including deaths, births, weddings, joys, and sorrows.

However, in some unhealthy churches, this noble role can become distorted. Instead of the pastor serving the church, the church begins to serve the pastor. When this dynamic shifts, it can inadvertently elevate the pastor to a position where they are worshipped, often without the congregation realizing it.

Our concerns lie specifically with Golden Dawn Tabernacle. The prevailing dynamic here has become skewed. Pastor Isaac Noregia has, unfortunately, shifted the church's focus towards himself. This phenomenon, commonly known as 'Pastor Worship' or sometimes referred to as 'celebrity pastor syndrome' or 'pastor idolatry,' occurs when a pastor is excessively admired or even idolized by the church members. We've identified a list of warning signs and, upon examination, it's evident that GDT displays many of these tendencies. At its core, Golden Dawn appears to have prioritized Isaac's views over divine guidance, reminiscent of the biblical story of the Golden Calf.

Signs of Pastor Worship in Churches:

1. Fear of the Pastor: Fear of the pastor, where people worry more about what the pastor thinks rather than what God thinks.

• Congregants are instilled with a profound reverence and trepidation concerning Pastor Isaac Noriega. The deference to him is nearly unequivocal. Deacons frequently redirect congregants' inquiries to Isaac instead of addressing them directly. Common responses include, "Ask Brother Isaac," "Brother Isaac says so," or "Brother Isaac doesn't like that."
• When someone is found breaking the rules, the immediate concern often voiced is, "Please don't tell Brother Isaac," rather than expressing remorse for going against God's wishes. This response underscores where the genuine apprehension lies.
• Many are apprehensive about being publicly embarrassed, reprimanded from the pulpit, removed from the choir or band, or even being denied marital blessings. There's also a pervasive fear of being slandered by Pastor Isaac, leading to congregants being instructed to ostracize you.

2. Pastor's Servants: The existence of an army of servants in the church, deacons and trustees, who serve the pastor unquestioningly. This excessive servitude is a clear indication of pastor worship.

• Deacons, pastors, elders, and trustees are appointed directly without any democratic process or feedback from the congregation.
• Isaac has a deacon who essentially serves as his personal protector, often seen escorting him to his vehicle.
• Men are coerced into volunteering, ostensibly as a gesture of loyalty and allegiance to the 'Bride' (Isaac).

3. Equal to God: When the pastor is placed on the throne of God, where his word is considered equal to scripture and his authority is unquestioned. This puts the pastor in a position of worship.

• Isaac asserts that God communicates through the 'Golden Dawn's supernatural ministry', which is primarily him and a select group of leaders he's personally chosen.
• Isaac often proclaims statements as if they are direct words from God, when in reality they are merely his personal beliefs. (Thus Saith The Lord)
• The church's rules and doctrines are frequently updated and altered. For instance, there was a time when cellphones with cameras were deemed sinful, but now Isaac himself possesses one.
• Isaac has been known to use information garnered from hearsay or informants, claiming that it was divinely revealed to him."

4. Royal Treatment: The practice of treating the pastor like royalty, where pastors are treated with excessive reverence and adoration, elevating them above others in the church.

• Buildings and even a book have been dedicated in Isaac Noriega's name, a fact we highlighted in an eariler article. Alarmingly, some families in the church have taken to reading the "Two Pioneers" book during their family devotions, placing it on par with the Bible.
• Around Isaac's birthday, there is a discernible pressure on congregants to make monetary donations, purchase lavish presents, or directly gift him money. This expectation even extends to students attending the church's school.
• The church school goes so far as to display framed quotes from Isaac, further emphasizing his prominence.
• Isaac's preference for the Acura MDX has led several congregants to buy Acuras, mirroring his tastes. Similarly, congregants have been observed avoiding black cars, stemming from Isaac Noriega's dislike of them.

We still have additional points and examples concerning the notion of pastor worship to delve into. We plan to cover these in an upcoming article and later integrate it with the present one to ensure brevity. While we could provide numerous other examples, we believe our readers can discern how both GDT and Isaac exemplify this trend. For the time being, we'd like to share a verse for contemplation. It appears that even Jesus himself cautioned his disciples against the danger of letting pride position them as objects of veneration/woship. We sincerely hope that Isaac Noreiga and Golden Dawn Taberancle take this message to heart.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, ³ so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ⁶ and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷ and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.⁹ And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. ¹¹ The greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:1-11 ESV

Do you have any information you'd like to share about this topic? Feel free to comment below, or you can contact us directly at our Contact Us page or via our social media accounts below.

---

Archived Comments

3 comment(s) imported from the original site:

Golden Dawn — October 14, 2023

Es abrumador, sofocante, axficiador, El ambiente en la Iglesia, y entre la congregacion que estan poceidos con esta idolatria.. Como señal de que estas bajó el supuestos ministerio tienes que tener un retrato de Issac en tu sala, minimamente, porque conosco hogares que por toda la casa se despliegan fotos de Issac o algunos miembros de los noriega, asi los miembros del hogar o cualquier visita imcluyendo a Issac sabran tu postura.. Invitarlo a comer a tu hogar es el gesto que le indica a el que tiene pase abierto para dirigir tu hogar, desde que muebles le gustan a el o cambios en la casa, el se fija en todo, desde la vestimenta de las mujeres hasta los porta retratos que tienes, el toma control total de la platica desde que llega hasta que se va, nadie se puede distraer en nada, ni siquiera le gusta que las mujeres se levanten a limpiar la mesa, no le interesa lo que TU tengas que decir, o tus experiencia con el Señor, . El es completamente dominate, no le deja nada a los padres, habla de los que quiere y de quien quiere. Un gesto que no le agrade, lo pondria en su estado agrecivo, .
Una hna soltera de edad, que hiba saliendo de un super mercado, y Alli estaba Issac esperando a su esposa, la miro, y en cuanto ella llegó a casa, ya, tenia varias, llamadas de el, y cuando ella le contestó, la reprendio y le dijo que se estaba vistendo mal porque el viento le pegó la falda y el le dijo que pudo mirar la raya de sus nalgas!!!, igual que en la communion cuando estas pasando por la fila , el te esta mirando toda, toda, y si encuentra algo incorrect , recibes una llamada al otro dia. La Iglesia a aprendido a leer cada uno de sus gestos, y por el terror que le tienen , hacen los cambios necesarios para ponerla contentos.

Guest — October 14, 2023

Lol so true! Theres like 10 Acuras in the church and all owned by his family or ppl that kiss up to him and have him on a pedestal 🙄. There is no denying that everything that is said here is true. People go to Phoenix and hope nobody finds out so they don’t get in trouble. 🙄 And then the people that do call and ask him for permission get denied permission lol everything is about pleasing the pastor including his little army of minions.

David Alcantar — November 22, 2023

So …I have been there from the beginning..too many things to share at one time…So I was a very young man in Issac church.. at the school house…looking back there are a lot traits that were already there in an infant form ….as the years went by he became stronger and felt that he was the center of the church…He once told me ..that if he a had " an emergency the whole church should come to his rescue"..the said emergency was a leaky faucet…who he is today is a gradual climb towards living in his world as an OCD ..