Word of Faith. Have you heard of this sect of professing Christians? If so, then what have you heard about them? Are they a bunch of greedy heretics, or are they just so far advanced in their Christian walk via prophetic revelations, and knowledge of secrets in God's word, that they are nearly perfected? Well, as always, a Christian must look to Scripture to "see if these things are so," as we are instructed to do both in the O.T. and in the N.T. The LORD himself admonished us in Isaiah 8:20 to test what was said by would-be prophets with the law and testimony, and if what they said didn't line up with the law and testimony (or the prophets), then they had no light of dawn in them. Rather, they were mediums, and spiritists, who whispered and muttered their false prognostications and lying dreams to the people, usually for some sort of personal gain, whether it be monetary, or personal fame, but usually both. The purpose of this article is to compare Word of Faith teachings to the Bible. For those who would think that I'm on a crusade to be judge and jury for those involved in this theology, or that I'm prideful, then I assure you, I'm not. I am simply on a mission to see if what they teach is so.
So, we will do what the LORD has declared in the Old Testament, and what Paul admonishes us to do via the breath of the Holy Spirit, in his mentioning the goodly example of the Bereans - to search through the Scriptures, to see if what would be prophets and teachers say, is so! In fact, Paul touches on this fundamental testing of the prophets when he says in 1 Corinthians 14:32 that the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. That simply means that the utterances of 'modern' prophets are control- able by them, and there should be order, not the chaos and wild abandon often seen in heathenish prophets. Just as their O.T. predecessors were able to control themselves, and edified the nation of Israel, they too were expected to do the same. But I think it also means that the uttering of New Testament prophets, had better line up with and support the utterances of the Old Testament prophets that were first uttered.
So, we will do what the LORD has declared in the Old Testament, and what Paul admonishes us to do via the breath of the Holy Spirit, in his mentioning the goodly example of the Bereans - to search through the Scriptures, to see if what would be prophets and teachers say, is so! In fact, Paul touches on this fundamental testing of the prophets when he says in 1 Corinthians 14:32 that the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. That simply means that the utterances of 'modern' prophets are control- able by them, and there should be order, not the chaos and wild abandon often seen in heathenish prophets. Just as their O.T. predecessors were able to control themselves, and edified the nation of Israel, they too were expected to do the same. But I think it also means that the uttering of New Testament prophets, had better line up with and support the utterances of the Old Testament prophets that were first uttered.
What is a Heretic?
By definition, a heretic is a person who believes in, or practices religious heresy, or is a person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted. Heresy is not the same as apostasy, which is a total renunciation of one's faith, or blasphemy, which is out right irreverence for God, or even the audacity of someone calling them self God. The word "heresy" itself comes to us from Greek, and originally meant, "choice", or "thing chosen." Later its meaning morphed into being a "party, or school of a man's choice", and it was eventually coined by Irenaeus in his treatise: 'Against Heresies', and came to mean anyone who didn't agree with his standard of what he claimed was biblical orthodoxy.
So really, this word means someone who doesn't agree with another's "orthodoxy." For example, I can be considered by the Catholic church, to be a heretic toward their unbiblical doctrines, which admittedly, I am. Jesus could be considered a heretic of every religion including Judaism, and he is. So to be honest, I'm not interested in what Ireanaeus, or anyone else thinks is "Christian orthodoxy." I'm only interested in what God's point of view of Scripture is, which is my faithful guide to what true Christian orthodoxy is, not a fickle human point of view. By adopting this attitude, a true, or authentic Christian, can avoid being what Paul called a hairetikos [heretic] of true biblical Christianity, in his letter to Titus. The word hairetikos means one who is subverted, and it carries the inference of a condemned building that is beyond repair. Even so, we are told to try and win back the heretic with sound doctrinal instruction instead of cursing them, burning them at the stake, taring and feathering them, or beheading them, as it was and still is the custom with many religious faiths. So are Word of Faith teachers, prophets, and their adherents heretics according to God's inerrant word? Let's find out by examining their basic tenants and see if they hold water, or if they leak.
So really, this word means someone who doesn't agree with another's "orthodoxy." For example, I can be considered by the Catholic church, to be a heretic toward their unbiblical doctrines, which admittedly, I am. Jesus could be considered a heretic of every religion including Judaism, and he is. So to be honest, I'm not interested in what Ireanaeus, or anyone else thinks is "Christian orthodoxy." I'm only interested in what God's point of view of Scripture is, which is my faithful guide to what true Christian orthodoxy is, not a fickle human point of view. By adopting this attitude, a true, or authentic Christian, can avoid being what Paul called a hairetikos [heretic] of true biblical Christianity, in his letter to Titus. The word hairetikos means one who is subverted, and it carries the inference of a condemned building that is beyond repair. Even so, we are told to try and win back the heretic with sound doctrinal instruction instead of cursing them, burning them at the stake, taring and feathering them, or beheading them, as it was and still is the custom with many religious faiths. So are Word of Faith teachers, prophets, and their adherents heretics according to God's inerrant word? Let's find out by examining their basic tenants and see if they hold water, or if they leak.
Think Before You Speak...
As I go into some Word of Faith doctrines, I want us to do something
that many of us rarely do, and that is think. I know that I just lost most of my readers, but in order for us to really understand what this sect is about, then it is really important for us to use our brains to reason and think about what these people say, and then we must ask questions and search for answers to those questions within Scripture. I was given this axiom: "Think before you speak", by my third grade teacher, and I have never forgotten it, even though I have not always put it into practice. Nevertheless, this is a good thing to do, a much better thing to do than merely reacting emotionally to what someone says. We need to focus, hear, and think about what a person is really saying. I find a good way to do this is to close my eyes, so I can limit any distractions. I mean really, that is all I ever ask of anyone, to just please listen to what I have to say, and think about it, before they fly off the handle into an emotional tail spin.
As I approach the tenants of the Word of Faith teachings, I will then 'criticize', or critique them by using the word of God. This is a righteous thing to do, but many Word of Faith adherents hate this process, so they defame it by calling it: "heretic hunting." Well, if they are in fact telling the truth, and are not heretics, then really, they should have nothing to fear, or at least they shouldn't be defensive and feel threatened by the critical process. Jesus and his apostles never feared Scriptural scrutiny from the prideful members of the local synagogues. And so, taking my third grade teacher's axiom to heart, I have thought a lot about what I was taught over the last three years, during my journey of discovering the truth, and now I have decide to speak, regarding what I have learned about this sect that boldly claims Jesus Christ as their Lord.
that many of us rarely do, and that is think. I know that I just lost most of my readers, but in order for us to really understand what this sect is about, then it is really important for us to use our brains to reason and think about what these people say, and then we must ask questions and search for answers to those questions within Scripture. I was given this axiom: "Think before you speak", by my third grade teacher, and I have never forgotten it, even though I have not always put it into practice. Nevertheless, this is a good thing to do, a much better thing to do than merely reacting emotionally to what someone says. We need to focus, hear, and think about what a person is really saying. I find a good way to do this is to close my eyes, so I can limit any distractions. I mean really, that is all I ever ask of anyone, to just please listen to what I have to say, and think about it, before they fly off the handle into an emotional tail spin.
As I approach the tenants of the Word of Faith teachings, I will then 'criticize', or critique them by using the word of God. This is a righteous thing to do, but many Word of Faith adherents hate this process, so they defame it by calling it: "heretic hunting." Well, if they are in fact telling the truth, and are not heretics, then really, they should have nothing to fear, or at least they shouldn't be defensive and feel threatened by the critical process. Jesus and his apostles never feared Scriptural scrutiny from the prideful members of the local synagogues. And so, taking my third grade teacher's axiom to heart, I have thought a lot about what I was taught over the last three years, during my journey of discovering the truth, and now I have decide to speak, regarding what I have learned about this sect that boldly claims Jesus Christ as their Lord.
Did Jesus Really Die Spiritually?
1 Peter 3:19-20
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits [angels] in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls [men/mankind] were saved by water. [emphasis mine]
2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels [spirits]that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person [soul/souls], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
[emphasis mine ]
So by comparing the two Scriptures, we can easily see that 'spirits' are angles, and 'souls' are men, or mankind. We should also bear in mind that Jesus does not give aide to angels, but to men. Angels are not saved by Jesus' blood, only people, or souls, as the Bible puts it.
For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
Hebrews 2:16
The seed of Abraham are those who accept the gospel, just as Abraham did when God preached it to him, this is what made him righteous, as he simply believed God and took him at his word, just as we are to do. An angel can't receive and accept the gospel, they don't have flesh, or blood, they are spirits. A person must accept salvation before they leave this realm of physical existence, if they want to live forever with Jesus in Paradise. So, once a person, or a soul dies, then there is no hope of salvation for their soul. Many people think this is not "fair", and so would like to think that Jesus went to hell to preach the gospel to the wicked souls of men who died before Jesus was born and suffered and died on the cross for them. Well, don't worry, God is always fair. God never leaves us without a witness, or a preacher of righteousness, at any given time in history. But the text clearly says he preached to the spirits (angels) in prison, not the souls (mankind). Why would he do that?
Going back a bit, let us ask ourselves: Who was God's preacher to the world before the flood? Noah. Did the reprobate sinners listen to him? Did they repent of their sins and return to God? No. So they have no excuse and no other recourse, so now their souls are currently in Sheol (not hell), awaiting their final doom in the lake of fire, contrary to the false teaching of Purgatory. The same can be said of those after the flood. Surly every soul had heard of the great flood, since every nation has their own version of it, even to this day. This is proof that they know it happened. So really, they have no excuse thanks to righteous Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Job, and Moses, who were all preachers of righteousness to the world, after the great flood, but prior to Jesus' bodily sacrifice. They have no excuses, God is fair and just.
Going back a bit, let us ask ourselves: Who was God's preacher to the world before the flood? Noah. Did the reprobate sinners listen to him? Did they repent of their sins and return to God? No. So they have no excuse and no other recourse, so now their souls are currently in Sheol (not hell), awaiting their final doom in the lake of fire, contrary to the false teaching of Purgatory. The same can be said of those after the flood. Surly every soul had heard of the great flood, since every nation has their own version of it, even to this day. This is proof that they know it happened. So really, they have no excuse thanks to righteous Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Job, and Moses, who were all preachers of righteousness to the world, after the great flood, but prior to Jesus' bodily sacrifice. They have no excuses, God is fair and just.
So again, because the world for "spirits" is really angels, why would Jesus preach to the angels who are chained in prison [Tartarus] who have no hope of salvation at all, and not to the lost souls, who really had no hope of salvation either? He preached to the angles in Tartarus in order to 'lord' his victory over them; that victory being his bodily death through his willful sacrifice, that paid the ransom God required for sin, the one that sealed their upcoming and eternal doom.
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [the cross]. Colossians 2:15
Knowing this, now we can ask the question, did Jesus really die spiritually as Word of Faith theology contends; did he go to hell to suffer for us 'spiritually' as a disembodied spirit? The answer is: No. Jesus never sinned, so no demon had any right to touch him, they had nothing on him. Jesus was an innocent, who willingly bore our sin as a spotless sin offering. Anyone who claims Jesus had to die spiritually has no understanding of the O.T. sacrificial system, or the purpose of it. The doctrine of Jesus dying spiritually is not recorded in the Bible, but it is part and parcel of the false doctrine of the Catholic church known as Purgatory. This doctrine of demons (known as Purgatory) is very reminiscent and akin to the JDS doctrine. Please, think about that carefully before you write me an emotionally filled piece of hate mail accusing me of violating Matthew 7, and that I'm a prideful heretic hunter.
Scriptures, from the O.T. to the N.T. indicate that bodily sacrifice (and nothing more) is what is required for the forgiveness of sin --blood--more specifically. Find me a Scripture in both the O.T and the N.T. that states a spirit must suffer in 'hell', or sheol as a means of atoning for sins, and then I'll gladly stand corrected. The fact that Scripture never mentions Jesus' spirit suffering in "hell" should be clear enough to show that the foundation of the Word of Faith theology is heresy, according to the Bible. According to the Bible, they actually preach another Jesus, one whose spirit had to suffer in hell, and one whose blood was not enough to atone for sin. Also, to name names, Kenneth Copeland, the Word of Faith's most prominent prophet, even goes a wicked step further, and says that Jesus' sacrifice was made to Satan and not to God. Wow! Were we not warned by the apostles that false prophets would get worse and worse, as they try to "one-up" each other with their false teachings?
Scriptures, from the O.T. to the N.T. indicate that bodily sacrifice (and nothing more) is what is required for the forgiveness of sin --blood--more specifically. Find me a Scripture in both the O.T and the N.T. that states a spirit must suffer in 'hell', or sheol as a means of atoning for sins, and then I'll gladly stand corrected. The fact that Scripture never mentions Jesus' spirit suffering in "hell" should be clear enough to show that the foundation of the Word of Faith theology is heresy, according to the Bible. According to the Bible, they actually preach another Jesus, one whose spirit had to suffer in hell, and one whose blood was not enough to atone for sin. Also, to name names, Kenneth Copeland, the Word of Faith's most prominent prophet, even goes a wicked step further, and says that Jesus' sacrifice was made to Satan and not to God. Wow! Were we not warned by the apostles that false prophets would get worse and worse, as they try to "one-up" each other with their false teachings?
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13
Hell, Satan's Future Prison
Then there is the false and unbiblical notion with in the JDS doctrine (another leak in their theological cistern) in which they teach that Satan is enthroned and rules from Hell. This is far from true. This notion comes to us from Dante, and his Divine Comedies, which is a treatise against the Catholic Church and their abuses, and not from the Bible. The Bible says that hell, or more accurately, the lake of fire, is the future prison God has made for Satan, his fallen angels, and all the souls of men who refuse Jesus' blood atonement. 'Hell', is not somewhere they want to go, but they will soon reside there after the great white throne judgment. Scripture clearly states that Satan is the prince of the power of the air, and the god of this world, or age, not hell [John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2]. So who are we going to believe, man or God's inerrant word? Moving on to another core Word of Faith doctrine concerning the power of words.
Words. Do they really contain power?
Yes and no. Words are indeed containers, but not necessarily containers of power, in and of themselves. We all know that written and spoken languages are made up of letters, which make up words, and these words are given meanings and are used to form sentences. This is only one way in which we humans are able to communicate with each other, by using words, whether written, or spoken, right? Words therefore, are really containers of information. The only time words contain any "power" is if they are written, or uttered by someone with authority, like an expert, a judge, a police officer, or a military officer. Even then, only within their legal jurisdiction, does that power have any effect. Even parents' words have authority over their children, and many of us have used these words on our youngins, "Because I'm your mom, and I said so, that's why!", when they dare to challenge our authority.
When words are used by a gifted poet, song writer, or author, their wordsmithery can engage our emotions, for good or bad, and are therefore highly influential, especially if the writers are experts or "authorities" on certain subjects. We understand that police officers and judges have legal authority over us to enforce the law. Nations have jurisdictions, and authority over the people that reside within them, while in other areas outside their borders, their powers don't apply. Now consider this - - Jesus has been given all power and authority by the Father, and so, here we have two very high offices held by one being, and so there is no higher court of authority. So what does God, the supreme ruler, holder, and dispenser of authority have to say about it?
One thing he says about authority is that he gives authority to whom ever he chooses. And even then, he limits their authority to certain areas, and time frames. How about the several verses in Scripture that say if we ask anything in Jesus' name, then he will do it for us? Is this a blank check of authority? No, far from it. But it may seem like one, and it may become one, to the unskilled and untrained in righteousness.
First of all, we are told to "ask", and that means to pray, and not command, or demand. I don't know about you but, as a parent, I don't take too kindly to my children demanding anything from me, they must 'ask' me for what they want. There is a marked difference in attitude between asking and demanding, wouldn't you agree? Second of all, what we ask for has to be according to the name of Jesus, or according to his character, meaning we can't ask him for something like another person's spouse, or house; those things are classified under the sin of covetousness. Then, if our petition is in line with his will and character, then Jesus will give us what we asked for. This still sounds like a pretty good deal, right? So, if we ask Jesus to heal someone, then he will do it, because healing is definitely according to Jesus' will and character, right? This is true, but people forget that there are more facets to Jesus' character then being a healer. He is also just, righteous, and is the disciplinarian, or chastiser, of his wayward sheep. Jesus is also ever concerned with our motives and spiritual welfare, not just our physical needs and comforts. So if healing is asked for, but not received, that doesn't mean you didn't have enough faith, it just means the answer was, "No."
Chastening - The Lord's Spanking Spoon
The writer of Hebrews instructs us in regards to chastening in chapter 12:5-9 and rightly references Prov. 3:11-12. Chastening, when researched means: to correct by punishment, or suffering; to prune of excess, pretense, or falsity; to cause to be more humble, or restrained. When humans are in the midst of any kind of physical, or emotional distress, we usually lift our faces toward the heavens and seek God, or at least, that is what we should do. That is the godly and goodly purpose of the suffered chastisement. God often employs his four sore judgments for this very reason - to bring his naughty children running back to him in repentance. God uses these physical chastisements rather then coming down from on high, and putting us across his lap for some well deserved lashes.
As for motive in our asking, James says that we don't have something, because we don't ask for it, or we ask amiss, or not according to God's character and will. Basically, our will must submit to God's will, just as Jesus himself demonstrated this in the garden of Gethsemane. If we ask something that is against God's will, or we don't have the proper discernment of what is going on in a person's life when we ask for healing, then we will not get what we asked for, and this can lead to misunderstandings, resentments, idolatry, heresy, and even apostasy. All these things are things that Peter warns us about in his second letter, in chapter 3, with special emphasis on verse 16.
When words are used by a gifted poet, song writer, or author, their wordsmithery can engage our emotions, for good or bad, and are therefore highly influential, especially if the writers are experts or "authorities" on certain subjects. We understand that police officers and judges have legal authority over us to enforce the law. Nations have jurisdictions, and authority over the people that reside within them, while in other areas outside their borders, their powers don't apply. Now consider this - - Jesus has been given all power and authority by the Father, and so, here we have two very high offices held by one being, and so there is no higher court of authority. So what does God, the supreme ruler, holder, and dispenser of authority have to say about it?
One thing he says about authority is that he gives authority to whom ever he chooses. And even then, he limits their authority to certain areas, and time frames. How about the several verses in Scripture that say if we ask anything in Jesus' name, then he will do it for us? Is this a blank check of authority? No, far from it. But it may seem like one, and it may become one, to the unskilled and untrained in righteousness.
First of all, we are told to "ask", and that means to pray, and not command, or demand. I don't know about you but, as a parent, I don't take too kindly to my children demanding anything from me, they must 'ask' me for what they want. There is a marked difference in attitude between asking and demanding, wouldn't you agree? Second of all, what we ask for has to be according to the name of Jesus, or according to his character, meaning we can't ask him for something like another person's spouse, or house; those things are classified under the sin of covetousness. Then, if our petition is in line with his will and character, then Jesus will give us what we asked for. This still sounds like a pretty good deal, right? So, if we ask Jesus to heal someone, then he will do it, because healing is definitely according to Jesus' will and character, right? This is true, but people forget that there are more facets to Jesus' character then being a healer. He is also just, righteous, and is the disciplinarian, or chastiser, of his wayward sheep. Jesus is also ever concerned with our motives and spiritual welfare, not just our physical needs and comforts. So if healing is asked for, but not received, that doesn't mean you didn't have enough faith, it just means the answer was, "No."
Chastening - The Lord's Spanking Spoon
The writer of Hebrews instructs us in regards to chastening in chapter 12:5-9 and rightly references Prov. 3:11-12. Chastening, when researched means: to correct by punishment, or suffering; to prune of excess, pretense, or falsity; to cause to be more humble, or restrained. When humans are in the midst of any kind of physical, or emotional distress, we usually lift our faces toward the heavens and seek God, or at least, that is what we should do. That is the godly and goodly purpose of the suffered chastisement. God often employs his four sore judgments for this very reason - to bring his naughty children running back to him in repentance. God uses these physical chastisements rather then coming down from on high, and putting us across his lap for some well deserved lashes.
As for motive in our asking, James says that we don't have something, because we don't ask for it, or we ask amiss, or not according to God's character and will. Basically, our will must submit to God's will, just as Jesus himself demonstrated this in the garden of Gethsemane. If we ask something that is against God's will, or we don't have the proper discernment of what is going on in a person's life when we ask for healing, then we will not get what we asked for, and this can lead to misunderstandings, resentments, idolatry, heresy, and even apostasy. All these things are things that Peter warns us about in his second letter, in chapter 3, with special emphasis on verse 16.
So let us remember that words are containers of information, and only have power when authority backs them up. Now let's look at the nature of authority to get more understanding.
The Nature of Authority
"Authority," (like all words) is a word that has the potential to be misused and abused. It is said, and proven true, that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Everyone desires to have a measure of authority, because authority carries power with it, and that is very seductive, but it also requires a great deal of responsibility in order to wield it properly. And in order to have, or to be a legitimate authoritarian, that means others have to recognize your authority, or they will suffer the consequences; a legitimate authoritarian also usually has someone that they answer to. Authority also carries with it knowledge, or the ability to gather intel, and so, there is no greater authority than the Almighty, who has all power and all knowledge, and whose meekness displays absolute power under absolute control, and of course, there is no one higher or more righteous than he.
Again, according to Romans 13:1-5, it is the Almighty who metes out his authority to whomever he chooses, even those who we would consider to be wicked men, for a good purpose, usually for chastisement, or punishment that is being dispensed on his naughty children. I don't know if you noticed this, but God seems to have a penchant for placing wicked people in authority to correct the wickedness of others. Then he punishes the wicked person he gave the authority to, especially if they abuse it by proving to be irresponsible, when they over step their bounds by taking too much authority, or don't give God credit for their solemn assignment. To whom much is given, much is required.
The perfect example of this scenario is King Nebuchadnezzar.
So How Much Authority Do Christians Really Have?
Jesus did indeed give a measure of his authority to every believer, but if we take it lightly, presume upon it, or take more authority than he has given us, or abuse it in any way, then that is a "no no," and we will be dealt with by the ultimate authority - The Almighty. That won't be any fun, I can guarantee it. Here is the commission we have been authorized to perform by Jesus: to go into all nations and preach the gospel to mankind and make disciples and baptize them in his name. That's it. As evidence of our authority we would:
Outside of this we have no other commissioned authority. Notice the stunning lack of authority we have been given over the weather, finances, governments, walking on water, turning water into wine, or the multiplication of food stuffs. For example, on his way to Rome, Paul and company were hit with a hellacious storm at sea, so please take note that he didn't rebuke the wind and waves like Jesus did. Paul even suffered cold, heat, lack of food, and lack of health. This man clearly didn't put into practice the Word of Faith theology, which the Word of Faith teachers claim Paul embarrassed and taught. Surely the Apostle Paul would have exercised such authority, if it was expected of him by Jesus; he was after all personally taught by the risen Savior. If healing was to come to everyone we ever laid our hands on, or demanded to be healed, then surely Trophimus would have been healed, Timothy wouldn't have had tummy trouble, and Paul would have never had to deal with his thorn in the flesh.
And so, I assure you, according to Scripture, we have limits to our authority, and the biggest limiting factor would be God's will in any given situation. To know and understand his will in any situation (small, or great) we must study his word and pray. By reading his word, we will know that his will for us is to obey what is already written down concerning this two great commandments. By praying, we faithfully make our petition to God, thereby strengthening our resolve to receive an answer, be it 'yes', 'not yet', or 'no!' Answer to prayer should not be linked to 2 Cor. 1:17-20, where Paul says that all the promises of God are 'yes', and 'amen.' Those verses deal with the gospel and his faithful and consistent character concerning his promises, in which he says what he means and means what he says; he has no "hidden" intents. So when he says, "yes" that is what he means, and when he says "no" that is exactly what he means. This verse doesn't preach a "blank check" policy with the Lord.
As for casting out demons, Jesus gave us the authority to cast out demons who are possessing a person. Apparently we can cast them out of places, such as a home, by physically getting rid of the things that attract these entities, like idolatrous objects and occult materials, and then repenting for having them in our possession. The simple name of Jesus, with all his power and authority behind his name, but not used as a magical ritual spell, is all that is required to rid a soul, or place of a demon. A curse causeless won't alight, meaning that there is a reason for a curse to be upon a person. But before we go on witch hunts, it is good to keep in mind that even most unsaved people, or sinners, aren't always fully demon possessed. They are admittedly influenced and oppressed by demons, as they are slaves to sin, but by placing a spirit behind everything, good or bad, false teachers can get you to see a demon hiding under every rock, or behind every tree, which, in my opinion, is putting people into spiritual bondage, and is just plain kooky. True spirituality is simple faith and obedience to God, and not the soulish "I gotta feel something" counterfeit Satan dishes out.
As for healing related to demonic oppression, we must pray and seek God's will for the sick person BEFORE we lay hands on them. Why? Because we need discernment to see:
If we solely judge by our eyes, or ears, we will misinterpret what we see and hear. This is what happened in Job's case. His "comforting" friends completely missed what was going on. They based their arguments on what they saw, and on what they assumed. Neither Job, nor his friends knew what we know, that God and Satan were settling a bet to see if Job would curse God or not. This doesn't seem fair to us. Why should we have to suffer while two spirits duke it out by using us? Well, God hardly ever asks our council regarding his affairs, we just need to trust that he has our best interest at heart. In the end, Job received more than what he lost, and God vindicated him as a righteous man to his friends, friends who accused him of being a sinner under God's judgement. They were wrong, very wrong. Sadly, and to my shame, I have been very guilty of the same sin Job's friends were guilty of.
Spiritual Gifts: A Sign of Authority
Speaking in tongues (or different languages) is a hot topic for debate. This gift apparently isn't given to everyone, according to Paul's revelation, and it has rules of engagement. When those rules are broken, then only bad things can happen. Please let me be the first to tell you dear reader, Satan copies this and many other spiritual giftings. For example in the world of Eastern Indian mysticism, the gift of tongues through the laying on of hands, is quite common. In Paul's day, the Ephesians and Corinthians fell victim to a form of demonic gibberish babbling, the same kind of babbling witnessed in India today. This demonic counterfeit is accompanied by feelings of ecstasy, and even electricity, and displays improper behavior such as, but not limited to:
Falling on one's back is also a biblical sign of judgment, where as falling forward, or prostrate on one's face, is a biblical sign of worship, and submitted humility. We are to humble ourselves, but not by acting like, or thinking we are better than anyone else, and not by preforming shameful and humiliating acts - this is disorderly conduct. All gifts and those who use them are ultimately subject to Jesus Christ's authority. If there are abuses, then he will take care of it, but only after they go unchecked and unrestrained by the saints, and woe unto you if you should fall into the hands of the living God!
As for handling snakes and drinking poison, things that certain so-called Christian 'demon'ations do to prove their authority, or power, this falls into the spooky category of false spirituality and should be avoided. Jesus gave us the example of not tempting God when Satan suggested that he hurl himself off the temple pinnacle. And so we are not to purposely put ourselves into harms way, just to prove he loves us, and that includes not going to the doctor for the treatment of curable diseases, as well as handling poisonous snakes during what they call "worship." Honestly, when I see these people dancing around with snakes, it looks to me like they are worshiping the snake god, and really, they are. Satan must be laughing heartily when this stuff goes on. Paul demonstrates what Jesus really meant by this sign of authority in the book of Acts, when that snake bit his hand while he was gathering wood on the island of Malta. Nothing happened to him, and by that sign, which Paul didn't purposely arrange, he was able to preach the gospel with authority and heal the sick, what a concept!
Again, according to Romans 13:1-5, it is the Almighty who metes out his authority to whomever he chooses, even those who we would consider to be wicked men, for a good purpose, usually for chastisement, or punishment that is being dispensed on his naughty children. I don't know if you noticed this, but God seems to have a penchant for placing wicked people in authority to correct the wickedness of others. Then he punishes the wicked person he gave the authority to, especially if they abuse it by proving to be irresponsible, when they over step their bounds by taking too much authority, or don't give God credit for their solemn assignment. To whom much is given, much is required.
The perfect example of this scenario is King Nebuchadnezzar.
So How Much Authority Do Christians Really Have?
Jesus did indeed give a measure of his authority to every believer, but if we take it lightly, presume upon it, or take more authority than he has given us, or abuse it in any way, then that is a "no no," and we will be dealt with by the ultimate authority - The Almighty. That won't be any fun, I can guarantee it. Here is the commission we have been authorized to perform by Jesus: to go into all nations and preach the gospel to mankind and make disciples and baptize them in his name. That's it. As evidence of our authority we would:
- cast out demons [with his name alone, not by ritual]
- heal the sick [after discernment is obtained]
- speak in other tongues [languages]
- be safe from poisons of animals and drinks
Outside of this we have no other commissioned authority. Notice the stunning lack of authority we have been given over the weather, finances, governments, walking on water, turning water into wine, or the multiplication of food stuffs. For example, on his way to Rome, Paul and company were hit with a hellacious storm at sea, so please take note that he didn't rebuke the wind and waves like Jesus did. Paul even suffered cold, heat, lack of food, and lack of health. This man clearly didn't put into practice the Word of Faith theology, which the Word of Faith teachers claim Paul embarrassed and taught. Surely the Apostle Paul would have exercised such authority, if it was expected of him by Jesus; he was after all personally taught by the risen Savior. If healing was to come to everyone we ever laid our hands on, or demanded to be healed, then surely Trophimus would have been healed, Timothy wouldn't have had tummy trouble, and Paul would have never had to deal with his thorn in the flesh.
And so, I assure you, according to Scripture, we have limits to our authority, and the biggest limiting factor would be God's will in any given situation. To know and understand his will in any situation (small, or great) we must study his word and pray. By reading his word, we will know that his will for us is to obey what is already written down concerning this two great commandments. By praying, we faithfully make our petition to God, thereby strengthening our resolve to receive an answer, be it 'yes', 'not yet', or 'no!' Answer to prayer should not be linked to 2 Cor. 1:17-20, where Paul says that all the promises of God are 'yes', and 'amen.' Those verses deal with the gospel and his faithful and consistent character concerning his promises, in which he says what he means and means what he says; he has no "hidden" intents. So when he says, "yes" that is what he means, and when he says "no" that is exactly what he means. This verse doesn't preach a "blank check" policy with the Lord.
As for casting out demons, Jesus gave us the authority to cast out demons who are possessing a person. Apparently we can cast them out of places, such as a home, by physically getting rid of the things that attract these entities, like idolatrous objects and occult materials, and then repenting for having them in our possession. The simple name of Jesus, with all his power and authority behind his name, but not used as a magical ritual spell, is all that is required to rid a soul, or place of a demon. A curse causeless won't alight, meaning that there is a reason for a curse to be upon a person. But before we go on witch hunts, it is good to keep in mind that even most unsaved people, or sinners, aren't always fully demon possessed. They are admittedly influenced and oppressed by demons, as they are slaves to sin, but by placing a spirit behind everything, good or bad, false teachers can get you to see a demon hiding under every rock, or behind every tree, which, in my opinion, is putting people into spiritual bondage, and is just plain kooky. True spirituality is simple faith and obedience to God, and not the soulish "I gotta feel something" counterfeit Satan dishes out.
As for healing related to demonic oppression, we must pray and seek God's will for the sick person BEFORE we lay hands on them. Why? Because we need discernment to see:
- if God is chastising the person into repentance
- if they are suffering at the hands of Satan as a result of being owned by him
- if God is allowing it to give himself glory while making the person grow stronger in faith
- if the illness is just a natural result of living in a fallen world.
If we solely judge by our eyes, or ears, we will misinterpret what we see and hear. This is what happened in Job's case. His "comforting" friends completely missed what was going on. They based their arguments on what they saw, and on what they assumed. Neither Job, nor his friends knew what we know, that God and Satan were settling a bet to see if Job would curse God or not. This doesn't seem fair to us. Why should we have to suffer while two spirits duke it out by using us? Well, God hardly ever asks our council regarding his affairs, we just need to trust that he has our best interest at heart. In the end, Job received more than what he lost, and God vindicated him as a righteous man to his friends, friends who accused him of being a sinner under God's judgement. They were wrong, very wrong. Sadly, and to my shame, I have been very guilty of the same sin Job's friends were guilty of.
Spiritual Gifts: A Sign of Authority
Speaking in tongues (or different languages) is a hot topic for debate. This gift apparently isn't given to everyone, according to Paul's revelation, and it has rules of engagement. When those rules are broken, then only bad things can happen. Please let me be the first to tell you dear reader, Satan copies this and many other spiritual giftings. For example in the world of Eastern Indian mysticism, the gift of tongues through the laying on of hands, is quite common. In Paul's day, the Ephesians and Corinthians fell victim to a form of demonic gibberish babbling, the same kind of babbling witnessed in India today. This demonic counterfeit is accompanied by feelings of ecstasy, and even electricity, and displays improper behavior such as, but not limited to:
- falling backwards
- bodily writhing, and violent head thrashing
- drunkenness
- animal noises, and tongue flicking
Falling on one's back is also a biblical sign of judgment, where as falling forward, or prostrate on one's face, is a biblical sign of worship, and submitted humility. We are to humble ourselves, but not by acting like, or thinking we are better than anyone else, and not by preforming shameful and humiliating acts - this is disorderly conduct. All gifts and those who use them are ultimately subject to Jesus Christ's authority. If there are abuses, then he will take care of it, but only after they go unchecked and unrestrained by the saints, and woe unto you if you should fall into the hands of the living God!
As for handling snakes and drinking poison, things that certain so-called Christian 'demon'ations do to prove their authority, or power, this falls into the spooky category of false spirituality and should be avoided. Jesus gave us the example of not tempting God when Satan suggested that he hurl himself off the temple pinnacle. And so we are not to purposely put ourselves into harms way, just to prove he loves us, and that includes not going to the doctor for the treatment of curable diseases, as well as handling poisonous snakes during what they call "worship." Honestly, when I see these people dancing around with snakes, it looks to me like they are worshiping the snake god, and really, they are. Satan must be laughing heartily when this stuff goes on. Paul demonstrates what Jesus really meant by this sign of authority in the book of Acts, when that snake bit his hand while he was gathering wood on the island of Malta. Nothing happened to him, and by that sign, which Paul didn't purposely arrange, he was able to preach the gospel with authority and heal the sick, what a concept!
Forces of Nature: Negative and Positive.
Word of Faith preachers teach about positive and negative confessions. I'm sure we have all heard that opposites attract; this is usually applied to romantic involvement, magnets, and batteries. In reality negative and positive forces are constantly happening in the world around us, and you can't have one without the other. What do I mean by that? Well, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, according to Sir Isaac Newton. That can apply to many aspects of this natural life. For instance, the opposite of day is night. If it is summer in the northern hemisphere, then it is winter in the southern hemisphere, etc. If we love goodness, then we hate evil. If we are in the light, then we are out of darkness, etc. We experience these opposites on a daily basis as residents of this world. When one action is employed, its equal and opposite reaction is also in effect simultaneously.
And so, I would like to point out that it is a dangerous thing to be always positive, or to be always negative. Why? If you are always positive, then you could end up in the emergency ward. Why? Because you were positive you could jump your bike across all eight of those cars. A "negative" person apparently was not there to voice some doubt about your abilities and thus save you from your delusion. To be always negative is also a bad thing. If you are too negative, then you will never see the light at the end of the tunnel, or you will not strive to survive; you'll just give up. What I am talking about here is the dangers of extremes.
Balance is the key to a healthy life, and that is what a healthy mixture of negative and positive does for us, it helps keep us balanced. We must be willing to take the good and the bad that this life dishes out on a daily basis. Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, this is a proven reality. The Bible even discusses it via the book of Job, and several Psalms touch on this subject. This is an antidote to not only the false 'Positive and Negative confession' teaching, but also to the false teaching of Karma. If these things, such as the New Age teachings of the Law of Attraction, were really "laws", then there would be few exceptions to them, if any, and they would always work when applied, but they don't.
May The Force Be With You
Whether you want to admit it or not, Star Wars was created by George Lucus, who is an ardent New Ager, and closet Satanist. His life's work is the wildly popular story of Luke Skywalker, as he journeys to become the possessor of the good side of "the force." We are taught in Star Wars that there is a positive and negative side of an ambiguous source of life known as "the force", which can be interpreted as a kind of god. Interestingly enough, witchcraft teaches that a "force" is either positive (good) or negative (bad), depending on how it is used. And so, there is nothing "Christian" about Star Wars, it is wicked to the core. This kind of theology would imply that the Almighty is merely a force, or source of power, which is both evil and good, wouldn't it? One of the prominent leaders in the Word of Faith had his followers replace the personal name of God with an impersonal word, "source," (which rhymes with "force") in Scripture.
And so, I would like to point out that it is a dangerous thing to be always positive, or to be always negative. Why? If you are always positive, then you could end up in the emergency ward. Why? Because you were positive you could jump your bike across all eight of those cars. A "negative" person apparently was not there to voice some doubt about your abilities and thus save you from your delusion. To be always negative is also a bad thing. If you are too negative, then you will never see the light at the end of the tunnel, or you will not strive to survive; you'll just give up. What I am talking about here is the dangers of extremes.
Balance is the key to a healthy life, and that is what a healthy mixture of negative and positive does for us, it helps keep us balanced. We must be willing to take the good and the bad that this life dishes out on a daily basis. Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, this is a proven reality. The Bible even discusses it via the book of Job, and several Psalms touch on this subject. This is an antidote to not only the false 'Positive and Negative confession' teaching, but also to the false teaching of Karma. If these things, such as the New Age teachings of the Law of Attraction, were really "laws", then there would be few exceptions to them, if any, and they would always work when applied, but they don't.
May The Force Be With You
Whether you want to admit it or not, Star Wars was created by George Lucus, who is an ardent New Ager, and closet Satanist. His life's work is the wildly popular story of Luke Skywalker, as he journeys to become the possessor of the good side of "the force." We are taught in Star Wars that there is a positive and negative side of an ambiguous source of life known as "the force", which can be interpreted as a kind of god. Interestingly enough, witchcraft teaches that a "force" is either positive (good) or negative (bad), depending on how it is used. And so, there is nothing "Christian" about Star Wars, it is wicked to the core. This kind of theology would imply that the Almighty is merely a force, or source of power, which is both evil and good, wouldn't it? One of the prominent leaders in the Word of Faith had his followers replace the personal name of God with an impersonal word, "source," (which rhymes with "force") in Scripture.
Scripture And The Power of Words
One of the Word of Faith's favorite verses to justify their teaching of the power of words is Proverbs 18:20-21:
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the
produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the
tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
These words came from King Solomon, a man of great authority and wisdom. Word of Faith teachers would have you believe that this verse is teaching that positive words will attract life, while negative words will attract death. This is yet another half truth. In this Scripture, no such distinction is made, so the Word of faith teachers are inserting their vain human reasoning into this verse, by using expert slight of hand techniques. Verse 21 is actually a summation of the previous verses that discuss the ways a foolish person uses words, and how a wise person limits his words.
The foolish person [verbally] rages against all wise judgement [v.1], enters into contention [verbal arguing] and invites blows to his mouth [v.6]. A fool's mouth [where words come from] is his destruction, and a snare to his soul, or inner man [v.8/20 i.e. 'stomach']. However, a talebearer's words are tasty, or seem good, but these deceptively good words destroy the inner most body, or stomach [v.8]. And he who answers a man [with words] before he hears both sides of a story, it is a folly and shame to him. After all, what things are more heart breaking to a man's spirit, than being unjustly declared guilty before he has had his fair say [v.14]?
This chapter also discusses the goodness of a wise man of few words. A wise man's heart [or stomach], and ear [not his mouth] seeks knowledge. The neighbor who comes to examine the one who seems right, does a good thing.
This proverb further states that a wise man knows the name of the Lord is a strong tower, rather than the wealth of a rich man. And so, Solomon sums up his wise observations with the truth that those who love talking [21b] will usually meet with death, while a prudent man of few words will most likely live. In many words there is sin, but he who restrains his lips is wise - Proverbs 10:19. That is what this chapter is talking about, not the New Age teaching of positive and negative words, a.k.a. "The Law of Attraction." So what the Word of Faith minions have done, is they have switched the amount of words by what kind of person for the kind [positive or negative] of words that are spoken.
So, what about words, as related to 'positive' and 'negative' confession? Well this is easily manipulated and I will show you how. "I am positive that we are all going to die when this ship sinks." Or how about: "I can't seem to eat enough good things, if only my stomach could support my veggie craving." These statements are positively negative, or negatively positive. How is the universe going to handle these types of mixed confessions? I have known people who have 'confessed' that they were going to die young, but lived to the ripe ol' age of 80+. So did they mean they were going to die young compared to a sea turtle? Why wasn't this universal "law" applicable to this person? In what way were they exempt from the results of their 'negative' confession? Is this the proverbial exception that proves the rule? No. Then this must be the exception to the rule? No. This is a simple case of God overruling what we say, and this happens a lot. For an example of God hearing a "negative" confession and then over ruling it, please read Numbers chapter 14 and Isaiah 28:15,18. For examples of God over ruling a "positive" confession see: 2 Chronicles 18:5, and Jeremiah 14:15.
So where does the Word of Faith camp get the idea that words are containers of power, if it doesn't come from the word of God? They get it from the practice of witchcraft. According to practitioners of witchcraft, words are not only used in magical incantations, but they are the most powerful when said the right way, using the right magical formula, and with the right pronunciation. Ancient magical texts are known as grimoire [grim-wah], meaning: grammar, in Old French. And no one loves a good formula based on positive grammar, steps, keys, and ways, than false prophets and those who want their ears itched.
The foolish person [verbally] rages against all wise judgement [v.1], enters into contention [verbal arguing] and invites blows to his mouth [v.6]. A fool's mouth [where words come from] is his destruction, and a snare to his soul, or inner man [v.8/20 i.e. 'stomach']. However, a talebearer's words are tasty, or seem good, but these deceptively good words destroy the inner most body, or stomach [v.8]. And he who answers a man [with words] before he hears both sides of a story, it is a folly and shame to him. After all, what things are more heart breaking to a man's spirit, than being unjustly declared guilty before he has had his fair say [v.14]?
This chapter also discusses the goodness of a wise man of few words. A wise man's heart [or stomach], and ear [not his mouth] seeks knowledge. The neighbor who comes to examine the one who seems right, does a good thing.
This proverb further states that a wise man knows the name of the Lord is a strong tower, rather than the wealth of a rich man. And so, Solomon sums up his wise observations with the truth that those who love talking [21b] will usually meet with death, while a prudent man of few words will most likely live. In many words there is sin, but he who restrains his lips is wise - Proverbs 10:19. That is what this chapter is talking about, not the New Age teaching of positive and negative words, a.k.a. "The Law of Attraction." So what the Word of Faith minions have done, is they have switched the amount of words by what kind of person for the kind [positive or negative] of words that are spoken.
So, what about words, as related to 'positive' and 'negative' confession? Well this is easily manipulated and I will show you how. "I am positive that we are all going to die when this ship sinks." Or how about: "I can't seem to eat enough good things, if only my stomach could support my veggie craving." These statements are positively negative, or negatively positive. How is the universe going to handle these types of mixed confessions? I have known people who have 'confessed' that they were going to die young, but lived to the ripe ol' age of 80+. So did they mean they were going to die young compared to a sea turtle? Why wasn't this universal "law" applicable to this person? In what way were they exempt from the results of their 'negative' confession? Is this the proverbial exception that proves the rule? No. Then this must be the exception to the rule? No. This is a simple case of God overruling what we say, and this happens a lot. For an example of God hearing a "negative" confession and then over ruling it, please read Numbers chapter 14 and Isaiah 28:15,18. For examples of God over ruling a "positive" confession see: 2 Chronicles 18:5, and Jeremiah 14:15.
So where does the Word of Faith camp get the idea that words are containers of power, if it doesn't come from the word of God? They get it from the practice of witchcraft. According to practitioners of witchcraft, words are not only used in magical incantations, but they are the most powerful when said the right way, using the right magical formula, and with the right pronunciation. Ancient magical texts are known as grimoire [grim-wah], meaning: grammar, in Old French. And no one loves a good formula based on positive grammar, steps, keys, and ways, than false prophets and those who want their ears itched.
Besides, I can't tell you how many people actually use "negative" words as a motivation tool to prove someone wrong. All you need to do is tell this type of person they can't do something, and they go on a mission to prove you wrong! So does that mean they are immune to "negative" confessions? Apparently. But more likely, this false teaching is only marketed and sold to those who want to buy it; to those who want to be little gods.
Word of Faith's Cistern Has Sprung Yet More Leaks
So by putting together their half-truth teaching, that words are containers of power, and positive and negative words attract what you say, and with their penchant for over stepping the boundaries regarding authority, such as when they teach that just like God, you too can call those things that be not, as though they were, then according to them, you can become what they call "little gods." They claim you can verbally command storms to dissolve, money to fly into your wallet (or bank account), and demand that sickness leave, all in Jesus' name, which is his seal of authority given to the believer. Most people wince, or laugh at these wild claims and rightly so, because they instinctively know this is a huge load of dirty snow.
Word of Faith teachers understand this natural reaction to their bold and false claims, so they are ready with their cleverly wrought justifications and vain human reasoning to cast a fantastic spell over their prey. And if those tactics don't work, then they resort to the tried and true methods of ridicule, mockery, and scorn, to silence the dissenters. These half-truths and evasion tactics reveal the many holes in their theological cistern, and their true identity as wolves in sheep's clothing.
So by putting together their half-truth teaching, that words are containers of power, and positive and negative words attract what you say, and with their penchant for over stepping the boundaries regarding authority, such as when they teach that just like God, you too can call those things that be not, as though they were, then according to them, you can become what they call "little gods." They claim you can verbally command storms to dissolve, money to fly into your wallet (or bank account), and demand that sickness leave, all in Jesus' name, which is his seal of authority given to the believer. Most people wince, or laugh at these wild claims and rightly so, because they instinctively know this is a huge load of dirty snow.
Word of Faith teachers understand this natural reaction to their bold and false claims, so they are ready with their cleverly wrought justifications and vain human reasoning to cast a fantastic spell over their prey. And if those tactics don't work, then they resort to the tried and true methods of ridicule, mockery, and scorn, to silence the dissenters. These half-truths and evasion tactics reveal the many holes in their theological cistern, and their true identity as wolves in sheep's clothing.
God Wants His Children Healthy & Wealthy
Is this really true? Does God really want all of his children (above all things) to be physically healthy and materially wealthy? This motto is whole heartily embraced by the Word of Faith camp. According to them, if you are not rolling in the dough, and you aren't physically free of illness to spend that dough, then you are a sub par child of God, or as they put it, you are not living in his will, or up to your full "sozo", "shalom", or "zoe" potential. Therefore you are living below your 'spiritual' means, and shame on you!
I sat under this short of teaching for most of my "Christian" life. And I can positively say with absolute confidence, that this teaching is a lie! The only reason that the Word of Faith preachers appear to be financial fat cats, is because they are, but not by making an honest living. They obtain their ill gotten gain in the very lucrative sheep fleecing business. But this is not a new business, it is very old. And if one is willing to see it, it is also practiced by Hindu gurus, with much the same results. I lived in Oregon while the Rajneeshpuram was in residence. You'd think I'd have seen the connection. But it's hard to see the forest for the trees I guess.
When you stand back and observe, it is they, and they alone, who have acquired vast amounts of wealth due to their "teachings." These teachings work only for them, because you have to send your love gift to them in order to receive any kind of wealth form their god. You must plant a seed (your money) to meet a (their) need (greed). What if everyone in America sent me one measly dollar? Well wouldn't ya know it? I'd be filthy rich too! Word of Faith preachers are expert ring masters of this kind of half-truth three ring circus. They do indeed put on quite a beguiling show. But thankfully, as always, there are in every flock, some black sheep of sorts, that have the nerve to think for themselves. So in an effort to throw off the few thinkers that are caught in their stolen folds, the wolves use several tactics. Let's see, there's ridicule, hypocrisy hidden with double talk, and vain human reasoning, and then of course there is their use of carefully selected Scriptures, that are misinterpreted, and even the omission of Scriptures that would expose them. Scriptures like 1 Timothy 6: 3-21, with special emphasis on verses 5-11:
I sat under this short of teaching for most of my "Christian" life. And I can positively say with absolute confidence, that this teaching is a lie! The only reason that the Word of Faith preachers appear to be financial fat cats, is because they are, but not by making an honest living. They obtain their ill gotten gain in the very lucrative sheep fleecing business. But this is not a new business, it is very old. And if one is willing to see it, it is also practiced by Hindu gurus, with much the same results. I lived in Oregon while the Rajneeshpuram was in residence. You'd think I'd have seen the connection. But it's hard to see the forest for the trees I guess.
When you stand back and observe, it is they, and they alone, who have acquired vast amounts of wealth due to their "teachings." These teachings work only for them, because you have to send your love gift to them in order to receive any kind of wealth form their god. You must plant a seed (your money) to meet a (their) need (greed). What if everyone in America sent me one measly dollar? Well wouldn't ya know it? I'd be filthy rich too! Word of Faith preachers are expert ring masters of this kind of half-truth three ring circus. They do indeed put on quite a beguiling show. But thankfully, as always, there are in every flock, some black sheep of sorts, that have the nerve to think for themselves. So in an effort to throw off the few thinkers that are caught in their stolen folds, the wolves use several tactics. Let's see, there's ridicule, hypocrisy hidden with double talk, and vain human reasoning, and then of course there is their use of carefully selected Scriptures, that are misinterpreted, and even the omission of Scriptures that would expose them. Scriptures like 1 Timothy 6: 3-21, with special emphasis on verses 5-11:
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
This portion of Scripture should blow the lid off the false Prosperity gospel. But those who will to be [or want to be] rich, as opposed to those who already are rich, through honest trade or legitimate earthly inheritance, are the ones who will fall into temptation and a snare - or sins and false teachings, and are easily duped by their materialistic magicians.
To defuse the dreaded heretic hunters, these false teachers claim that they don't love money, but rather it's the not having it that they hate. I guess this is what you could call, justifying the crime. Listen dear reader, money itself isn't evil, it is merely a tool of commerce, but the love of it is evil. People who only talk about money, and their wealth, seem like greedy money grubbers to the rest of us, and that is because they are. Just because someone says they don't love money, and that they aren't covetous, doesn't mean they are telling you the truth. Their actions and the abundance of their words on any given subject, will speak the truth. As a man thinks so is he. That means a murder thinks about how to murder people; a liar thinks of ways to craft lies; a thief thinks of ways to steel, etc. The bulk of what the Word of Faith preachers think, and talk about, is money and how to get it, which makes them greedy money lovers. To justify their lust for Mammon, these idolaters even claim that Jesus and the apostles were fantastically wealthy. Really? This claim is provably false through Scripture, and should be accepted by those who love the truth as opposed to those who love money and desire (or covet) to be rich.
The facts are:
What about the facts concerning the apostle Paul?
To defuse the dreaded heretic hunters, these false teachers claim that they don't love money, but rather it's the not having it that they hate. I guess this is what you could call, justifying the crime. Listen dear reader, money itself isn't evil, it is merely a tool of commerce, but the love of it is evil. People who only talk about money, and their wealth, seem like greedy money grubbers to the rest of us, and that is because they are. Just because someone says they don't love money, and that they aren't covetous, doesn't mean they are telling you the truth. Their actions and the abundance of their words on any given subject, will speak the truth. As a man thinks so is he. That means a murder thinks about how to murder people; a liar thinks of ways to craft lies; a thief thinks of ways to steel, etc. The bulk of what the Word of Faith preachers think, and talk about, is money and how to get it, which makes them greedy money lovers. To justify their lust for Mammon, these idolaters even claim that Jesus and the apostles were fantastically wealthy. Really? This claim is provably false through Scripture, and should be accepted by those who love the truth as opposed to those who love money and desire (or covet) to be rich.
The facts are:
- Jesus didn't have anywhere to lay his head, meaning he didn't have a home of his own, much less two of them, as Kenneth Copeland claims Jesus did.
- In reality, Jesus was often the guest of someone, or he camped out in the wilderness.
- Yes, Jesus did indeed have a treasurer (Judas Iscariot), but they didn't even have enough cash on hand to feed the masses. If Jesus was rolling in the dough like Kenneth Copeland claims he was, then he could have had the disciples finance the feeding of the multitudes, but instead, Jesus had his authority over the elements, and he made the vast amounts of food from the little he was given.
- Jesus didn't have a gold covered chariot, or a team of fine steeds in his possession while he traveled throughout Judea. Instead, he walked everywhere he went, and borrowed a donkey's colt on his way to Jerusalem, and the cross. I remember hearing K.C. Price say that the donkey Jesus borrowed was comparable to a Cadillac! Really?! A Cadillac donkey colt? Has anyone herd of such a thing? So just because he knows how to fleece sheep, this is makes him an expert on all farm animals? Where does it say anything like that in Scripture? No where! The fact remains - he BORROWED the burro!
What about the facts concerning the apostle Paul?
- The apostle Paul was often hungry, lacked clothing, and never bribed a public official to release him from prison with the gobs of cash, that K.C. Price claims Paul had. According to him, Paul was so rich, that he could have bought justice. Where does Jesus advocate bribery? In fact, Scripture is careful to point out that Felix was hoping to be paid off by Paul, but he wasn't. Why? Because he didn't have the means, or desire to do such a thing.
- Paul got around the world preaching the gospel as a guest of the Roman government, and was even given a high class escort by Roman soldiers, because the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous, or in other words, they will pay the bills. This doesn't mean the wicked's wealth will mystically transfer into the godly's bank accounts with the help of saying magic words like..."money cometh to me now! "