Word of Faith

I am increasingly convinced that there is a heresy within American Christianity that began in the not too distant past with parts of Penetecostalism and that is now rooting itself in the minds of average evangelical believers across the nation.  I was under its influence for awhile, people very close to me struggle with the harmful effects of its teaching, and I have many good friends in Christ who are being swayed by it in varying degrees.  The teachings of the Word of Faith movement are unbiblical and dangerous and I hope that you will take some time to read what I say here and then research the issue yourself. 

Lets start with "what is the Word of Faith movement or WofF?"  It is essentially the belief that if one believes the word of God, speaks and confesses the word, never doubts, and tells others about this premise - the person will receive whatever they spoke and confessed.  Yes...whatever.  Confess and have faith in your financial improvement (along with tithing of course) and blamo - God provides.  State with no doubt that you will be healed from cancer and God is obligated to take the disease away.  Ask God to improve family communication within your home and have 100% faith that he will - marital improvement will follow with absolute certainty.

WofF teaching makes God our personal slot machine.  Put a faith quarter in, pull the handle the right way, and JACKPOT - God provides.

Originally put forward by EW Kenyon, the teaching claims that miracles and supernatural acts common in regular Pentecostalism should not be viewed as random outpourings of God - instead they are covenantal guarantees to us by God that can happen at our command IF, as Ken Hagin says...

"say it, do it, receive it, tell it"


WofF teachers misuse Scriptures like Mark 11 and to support their theology. They regard Isaiah 53:5 to mean that complete bodily healing is avaliable now to those who have full faith and that physical sickness is a failure of the Christian to belief, thereby allowing Satan to ron us of our divine right to health.

The WofF crew also likes to teach the odd doctrine that Jesus was wealthy based on statements about him having a treasurer (Judas) and how he did not work during his 3 year ministry. Such teaching obviously influences believers to seek for material fortune, through a process of tithing that ends up being compulsory in direct contradiction to Pauls New Testament decree. How they get around the red letters of the Bible which are so abundently clear that "the love of money is the root of many evils" - I don't understand.

Of course, the primary tenet of WofF belief is in the "positive" and "negative" confession. Falsely based on Proverbs 18:21, the teachings holds to the idea that humans are endowed with the same verbal creative ability that God used to begin our universe. God spoke things into existence and so can we. Belief and confession creates power and likewise, negativity and doubt breed helplessness.

The "name it/ claim it" philosophy of WofF belief is based far more on the New Age Spiritualism and Eastern concepts that came to America in the last 150 years than on any biblical footing. The extraordinary nature of such ideas and the general lack of much Scripture that can even be possibly used to support them should give pause - much less the fact that no major figures in church history attested to such beliefs.

While the practices above are certainly heterodox, they have not yet demonstrated heresy. But, it doesn't take much digging to unearth the theological foundations on which WofF rests. Key to the movement is the premise of being "little gods"...

Ken Hagin notes that by being "born again" we are as much an incarnation of God as Jesus was. He also warps the traditional view of the Holy Spirit by claiming that "You don't have God in you - You are one." His views are founded in yet another misunderstanding of bible verse, this time Psalms 82:6.

Atlanta pastor, Creflo Dollar, teaches his congregation that they are not just the image of God - they are "little g gods." "You're not human" he says "The only human part of you is the flesh you are wearing."

As Hank Hannegraff says: Word of Faith teaching demotes God and Christ and deifys man and Satan.

I hope that these short comments have sparked you interest in looking more closely into the teaching of this dangerous movement that destroys the faith of those whom it fails and that breeds pride in the hearts of sinful men.

12 Points to Ponder...

"I know that 12 points might seem like alot, but this is what has been on my mind the past few days and I need to jot it all down.  Thanks for reading, I hope that something in here proves to be helpful or at least thought-provoking."
-Jason

CATHOLICS ON JUSTIFICATION
I am still trying to figure out what I believe about the Roman Catholic view of justification and whether or not it can be considered Christian in view of the Scriptures.  If I understand the view correctly, Christ infuses his righteousness to us that we might have the ability to partake in it, however we only become righteous ourselves when we cooperate with that infusion through the sacraments and good works.  Am I confused on the stance of Rome?  If that is what they believe then they are in conflict with many biblical passages (including Romans 3:23-28) it seems.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THESE 5 STATEMENTS?
- Humans are born in sin, totally unable to please God on their own.
- Humans can do nothing (at all) to merit or earn their own salvation.
- Jesus died on the cross so that Christians (not everyone) can go to heaven.
- If God decides that he wants something, he gets it.
- Once God has what he wants, he never loses it.
(If you agreed with all those statements you may be Reformed.  Contact your local Presbytery for more info)

SPURGEON QUOTE
"I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, "You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself." My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will."

PRAY FOR CAMERON FORD
My wife's friend from college is looking to land a job with a local church as an associate pastor and urban ministry director.  Please pray that the Lord will work all things in this job hunt for both Cameron's benefit and His glory.  Check out Cam's blog HERE.

SPEAKING OF THAT...
It appears that certain folks (not affiliated with the SBC) in Tennessee are circulating a group of documents to try and "flush out" those pesky Calvinist preacher candidates in Baptist churches.  Go to Josh Gelatt's blog to read more - HERE.

BRUTHA RALPH
My mom of my wife's aunt by marriage posted something that her pastor (Brother Ralph) said this past Sunday.  He said "If we spent as much time praying as we do keeping up with everyone on facebook, texting, and e-mails we would sure have more power in our life and church."  Great quote, now back to blogging...lol.

POWERED BY 4
I joined a e-mail distribution group last night called Powered by 4.  It is a product of Woodrow Kroll's "Back to the Bible' ministry.  They are gonna send me an e-mail every day with some scripture and some insights.  I think that Kroll is pretty solid and I need to get back in the word.  I read through the whole Bible last year for the first time and it was great (and tedious).  I am hoping that this will get me back into some daily Scripture.  Go HERE for more info.

HOW LITERAL IS LITERAL?
Is is necessary to take the creation account literally to be a Christian?  Can we be theistic evolutionists who see the first chapters of Genesis as a metaphor describing a real event?  Was there really a talking snake and a tree with fruit that made us like God in our knowledge?  Since Genesis was written long after that point in history, could Moses be explaining the creation of man, his union with God, his rebellion, and his fall in a way that was easily received as a narrative by those Israelites he penned it to?  Whadda you think?

THE "FULL" GOSPEL
When neo-charismatics use the term "full-gospel" they mean that Jesus death was about more than eternal salvation - it was also a means for our earthly financial prosperity and health.  The term implies that the traditional and orthodox view of the gospel, as the penal substitutionary atonement that provided for the Great Exchange of our sin for Christ's righteousness, is an imcomplete gospel.  I have a suggestion for renaming the "full-gospel"...how about this, "the false-gospel."   Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

WHAT DO POEPLE NEED?
HERE is a good article about disaster relief in the wake of things like the Haitian earthquake.  Novel idea to actually ask people in affected areas what they need rather than assume that we civilized westerners will know best.

A CATEGORY ERROR
Sometimes homosexuals will say that their current fight for same-sex marriage is akin to the civil rights movement of the 60s for African-American equality.  This is a fatal logical fallacy called a category error.  Skin color is a 100% genetically inhereited trait.  There is no choice or behavior involved.  Thats why we were wrong to hold back rights from blacks, they didn't do anything (based on skin color alone) to warrant a refusal of any civil liberty.  Homosexuality however is a lifestyle choice.  It might have genetic predispositionalism as a component, but it is ultimately a choice - in the same way that hereditary alcoholics have to decide to pick up the bottle.  Unlike unchangeable physical characteristics, we do make distinctions regarding volitional behaviors when we deny certain civil rights.  Felons can't vote or carry guns because of choices they made for example.  Whatever your view on the issue it is improper to try and use the 'same as black civil rights' arguement for same-sex marriage.

HOWS YOUR GREAT COMMISSION COMING?
Most of us aren't vocational clergy.  Yet, we are all a priesthood of believers and we are all called at the end of Matthew 28 and in Acts 1:8 to spread the gospel to the whole world for the purpose of making disciples.  It obviously isn't practical for everyone to be an overseas missionary, but most of us neglect the mission field that we engage with every day.  Do you actively seek to engage people at work, at school, at the gym...for the sake of the gospel.  Do you feel the urgency which comes with a sincere care for those lost souls.  Do you show and tell those in your group of friends and accquiantces about God's great mercy, his grace, and the death of his only Son on a regular basis?  This applies to those who say they are Chrisitan also.  Many in the South wear the nominal title and actually practice moralistic deism.  We must all seek to be more proactive, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in reaching out to those immediately around us (whom we already have relationship with) for the purposes of their salvation and God's glory. 

"If you made it this far, thanks.  I feel better now."
-Jason