Editing Rick Joyner (section)

==Controversy==
In 1998 Joyner's MorningStar Ministries was grossing $7 million a year, and that year it was denied a religious property tax exemption by the North Carolina Department of Revenue for an airplane, four tracts of vacant land, and two residential houses — one that Joyner lived in and one where [[Don Potter (musician)|Don Potter]] lived and had a recording studio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dornc.com/taxes/property/decisions/scans/wilkes/Morningstar%20Publications%2098PTC168,%20COA.pdf|title = NCDOR}}</ref> Department director John C. Bailey said, "[w]ith MorningStar there are a lot of tracts with costly improvements that affect tax liability significantly... If we did not limit exemptions, it would increase the burden on people, like you and me, who own homes that are not affiliated with any group." MorningStar appealed the Department of Revenue's denial.<ref name=taxhaven>{{cite news|title=Tax Haven on Earth? Religious Groups Add Voices to Growing Chorus Seeking Exemptions|publisher=Winston-Salem Journal|date=September 7, 1999|author=Stolberg, Mary | page=A1}}{{full citation needed|date=December 2016}}</ref>{{update after|2016|12|25}} Also, Joyner's MorningStar Fellowship Church filed a $20 million lawsuit against York County, South Carolina, over the unfinished 21-story hotel on their property that [[Jim Bakker]] had started in the 1980s.  MSFC filed an appeal of Judge Hall's ruling that "MorningStar has not provided substantial evidence to back up its claims."  The building has never been finished and the county found the church in default after they missed a deadline to show their ability to fund the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article12342179.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801071511/http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article12342179.html |archive-date=2015-08-01 |title=MorningStar appeals ruling on Fort Mill tower {{!}} The Herald}}</ref>

Controversy has also accompanied Joyner's support for Canadian revivalist [[Todd Bentley]]. Bentley has claimed that God heals the sick, and sometimes even raises people from the dead in his meetings—including three people in Pakistan<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/controversial-evangelist-todd-bentley-claims-3-raised-from-dead-in-pakistan-crusade-152907/|title = Controversial Evangelist Todd Bentley Claims 3 Raised from Dead in Pakistan Crusade| date=18 December 2015 }}</ref>—reports of which were carried by Morningstar TV<ref>{{cite web | author = MorningStar Ministries Staff | date=September 28, 2015 | title=Three People Raised From the Dead in Pakistan | website=[[YouTube]] | format = excerpt of full video | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZSBT8fd-f0 | access-date=2015-12-14}}</ref><ref name="MorningstarTV">{{cite web|author=Bentley, Todd|display-authors=etal|url=https://www.morningstartv.com/harvest-fest/three-people-raised-dead-pakistan |title=Three People Raised From the Dead in Pakistan | date=September 25, 2015 |publisher=morningstartv.org | access-date = December 14, 2015  }}</ref> which is part of Joyner's [[Heritage International Ministries]]. ABC's ''Nightline''<ref name="ABCNews070908">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaithMatters/story?id=5338963&page=1|title=Thousands Flock to Revival in Search of Miracles |author1=Kofman, Jeffrey |author2=Yiu, Karson |author3=Brennan, Nicholas | date = July 9, 2008 | publisher=ABC News | access-date= July 7, 2008}}</ref>{{verification needed|date=December 2016}} reporting concerning the "Lakeland Revival," before his marital problems became news, stated that "Not a single claim of Bentley's healing powers could be independently verified."<ref name="Lake">{{cite journal | author = Lake, Thomas | date = June 30, 2008 | title = Todd Bentley's Revival in Lakeland Draws 400,000 and Counting | journal = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | url = http://tampabay.com/news/religion/article651191.ece | access-date = December 13, 2015 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080704145551/http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/article651191.ece | archive-date = July 4, 2008 }}</ref>  However, the ''Charlotte Observer'' reported on the same series of meetings, "The revival's media relations staff has tried to document healings. They e-mailed the ''Observer'' information on 15 people reportedly healed, providing phone numbers for each and noting that 12 had received medical verification. The ''Observer'' contacted five, plus three whose names were not provided, including Burgee. Each said God had healed them through, or related to, Bentley and the Lakeland services."<ref>{{cite journal | author = Chandler, Charles | date =  June 19, 2008 | title = Tattooed Preacher Says God Heals Through Him | journal = [[The Charlotte Observer]] | url = http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article8988545.html | access-date = December 24, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Pantagraph ap article">{{cite news | author = Reed, Travis | date = July 28, 2008 | title = Florida Revival Drawing Criticism—And Thousands of Followers | agency = [[Associated Press]] | location = Bloomington, IL | work = [[The Pantagraph]] | url = http://www.pantagraph.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/florida-revival-drawing-criticism-and-thousands-of-followers/article_0fe92491-afdd-51ee-9ccf-2f2d39d3b52a.html | access-date = December 13, 2015 }}</ref>

Joyner's public relationship with Bentley began when he appeared on stage in Lakeland with other church leaders to [[Laying on of hands|lay hands on]] Bentley.<ref name=revivalalliance>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjm.org/regarding-todd-bentley.html |title=Public Statement on Todd Bentley from Revival Alliance  | author=Revival Alliance Staff |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121223353/http://www.bjm.org/regarding-todd-bentley.html |archive-date=November 21, 2008 }}</ref> After Bentley's divorce from his wife in 2008,<ref name=FiledforSeparation>{{cite journal | author = McMullen, Cary | date = August 12, 2008 | title = Evangelist Bentley, Wife File for Separation | website =  TheLedger.com | location = Lakeland, FL | publisher = Gatehouse Media | url = http://www.theledger.com/news/20080812/evangelist-bentley-wife-file-for-separation | access-date = December 23, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="freshfire.ca">{{cite web | author = TFFM Board of Directors | date = August 15, 2008 | title = From the Board of Directors | location = Abbotsford, BC, CAN | publisher = The Fresh Fire Ministries (TFFM) | url = http://www.freshfire.ca/ | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080820120744/http://www.freshfire.ca/printpage_content.php?id=1065 | archive-date=August 20, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=bappress>{{cite journal | author = Roach, David | date = August 19, 2008 | title = Faith Healer Todd Bentley Separates From Wife, Draws Criticism From Charismatics | journal =  [[Baptist Press]] | url =  http://www.sbcbaptistpress.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28727 | access-date= December 13, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112112017/http://www.sbcbaptistpress.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28727 | archive-date = 2009-01-12 }}</ref> Joyner decided to oversee the process of "restoring" Bentley along with [[Jack Deere]] and [[Bill Johnson (pastor)|Bill Johnson]].<ref name="charismamag.com">{{cite web | author = Gaines, Adrienne S. | date = March 10, 2009 | title = Todd Bentley Remarries, Begins Restoration Process | url = http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/20004-todd-bentley-remarries-begins-restoration-process | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314061716/http://charismamag.com/index.php/news/20004-todd-bentley-remarries-begins-restoration-process | archive-date=March 14, 2009 | access-date = December 23, 2016 }}</ref> Joyner made the announcement of the remarriage on March 9, 2009.<ref name="morningstarministries.org">{{cite journal | author = Joyner, Rick | date = 2009 | title = Todd Bentley Begins Restoration Process | journal = MorningStar Ministries | format = Special Bulletins | url=http://www.morningstarministries.org/Articles/1000045589/MorningStar_Ministries/Media/Special_Bulletins/2009/Special_Bulletin_17.aspx | publisher=Morningstarministries.org | access-date=December 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/20005-the-tragic-scandal-of-greasy-grace |title=The Tragic Scandal of Greasy Grace |author=Grady, Lee |date=March 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102193600/http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/20005-the-tragic-scandal-of-greasy-grace |archive-date=January 2, 2010 }}</ref> He also released a statement as to why he chose to be a part of the restoration.<ref>http://www.freshfireusa.com/writings/view/172-SPECIAL-BULLETIN-Todd-Bentley-Restoration {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

There has also been some controversy about Joyner joining the Knights of Malta ([[Russian tradition of the Knights Hospitaller]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theknightshospitallers.org/index.html|title = Knights Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of  St. John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta - The Ecumenical Order}}</ref> Joyner released a long statement explaining who they are and why he joined.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morningstarministries.org/about/questions-and-answers/knights-malta-rick-joyner#.WVV9yOvytEY|title = Knights of Malta Rick Joyner|date = 13 June 2017}}</ref>

Joyner is a promoter of the [[dominionist]] theology known as the [[Seven Mountain Mandate]] or Seven Mountains of Influence, which advocates the need for Christians to be involved in leadership in the seven [[Sphere of influence|spheres of cultural influence]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morningstartv.com/prophetic-perspective-current-events/church-planting-and-seven-mountains|title=Church Planting and the Seven Mountains {{!}} MorningStar TV|website=www.morningstartv.com|date=26 April 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref>  Joyner promotes the ministry of [[Lance Wallnau]] who teaches on the Seven Mountains theology; MorningStar Ministries carries a long list of materials by Wallnau.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morningstarministries.org/biographies/lance-wallnau#.WVqWB-vytEY|title=Lance Wallnau Biography {{!}} MorningStar Ministries|website=www.morningstarministries.org|access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref>

In March 2021, Joyner urged Christians to own weapons to prepare for what he believes will be an inevitable civil war in the United States against those who he says stole the 2020 presidential election from the Republicans.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fearnow |first1=Benjamin |title=Pastor Rick Joyner Urges American Christians to Prepare for Civil War |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/pastor-rick-joyner-urges-american-christians-to-prepare-for-civil-war/ar-BB1eEiVx?ocid=BingNewsSearch |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Newsweek |date=17 March 2021}}</ref>