The Faith Movement "is grievous and threatens to engulf the Church and sweep many professed believers into dangerous currents of false and destructive doctrine." Dr. Donald K. Campbell
The Word of Faith Movement is sweeping the globe. Many people have been influenced by its false teachings. You are not the first and unfortunatly you won't be the last. As we examine the Word of Faith Movement you will see that it has no place in Scripture. That its teachings are extra biblical.
2 Tim 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (KJV)
What do Word of Faith teachers say?
"God wants his children to. . .wear the best clothing. He wants them to drive the best cars, and he wants them to have the best of everything. . .just claim what you need."
"To few people today know that they can write their own ticket with God."
". . .if you will please God, you will be rich."
"Listen to me, I'm talking to you! Be paid, in the name of Jesus. Disappear. Dematerialize. I don't care how you do it, but be gone! Be paid in full! Jesus said you would obey me."
"I don't know that much anyway. All I know is what I've learned and that's all I'm preaching. . . .I'm not 100 percent right. Dear Lord, I don't know what the percentage is, but I expect it's probably pretty heavy on the wrong side. . .there are certain things I am wrong about just simply because I don't know any better."
"Don't give me doctrine!" "Doctrine divides us; it's a waste of time."
The Word of Faith Movement erroneously believes that the human mind and tongue contain a supernatural ability or power. When a person speaks expressing his faith in divine laws, his positive thoughts and posititve verbal expression produce a "divine force" that will heal, produce wealth, bring success, and in other ways influence the environment.
According to the "Faith" teachers, God automatically responds and accomplishes what we command when we positively confess our needs and desires in faith.
This is why Christians must allegedly learn to operate their inner man or "spirit man" in the power of the spirit world through supernatural laws, laws which will operate for anyone, whether believer or unbeliever.
They say that unless Christians abide by and operate such laws successfully, God Himself is hindered in His ability to act in their lives.
Usually, faith is seen as a force or power which can be used to change one's environment (bringing financial or other success) or other people (as in physical healing), and as a by-product, such success will bring self-esteem and self-worth, changing the person. Many teach that exercising a belief in such a faith can even influence divine laws and foce God to act on one's behalf.
Now consider these erronous beliefs of the Word of Faith Movement:
| God |
A supernatural being who operates by spiritual law and who can be influenced by men and women to accomplish their desires. The God of the Faith Movement not only reveals Prosperity doctrine supernaturally to Prosperity teachers, but He also personally and verbally confirms the Faith teachers' unique interpretations of Scripture. |
| Jesus |
God's Son who came to earth to deliver man from sin, sickness, failure, and poverty. He went to hell where, some say, He was tormented by demons and born again to show us the "Faith" way. He continues to supernaturally and personally reveal the Faith message to leading Faith teachers. |
| Faith |
A spiritual force or power that can control the creation, command angels, influence the future, and even manipulater God. |
| The Bible |
A book that contains words of divine power which, to be properly understood, must be reinterpreted in light of the principles of the Faith Movement. The Bible is God's "Book of Success." |
| Salvation |
Salvation is seen in its traditional sense, but further as a higher form of spiritual life where men realize they belong in the "God class" and thus become workers of the supernatural. This secret knowledge of salvation is provided by the Faith teachers themselves. |
| Man |
A potential god. |
| Sanctification |
Spiritual growth in knowlege of the God who offers health, wealth, success, personal peace, happiness, and the ability to do greater miracles that Jesus. |
Consider also these three main beliefs of the movement.
1) Perfect divine healing was made available to all believers through the death of Christ. A person's healing is limited only because of his insufficient faith to receive it.
2) It is God's desire that all believers prosper--financially, physically and spiritually.
3) A person must "claim" his health and wealth. He can do this immediately by believing he already has it and by positively confessing these conditions, even though all outward appearances seem to be different. When sense perceptions do seems to contradict health and wealth beliefs (such as when a person is not healed of his heart attack), our senses must be rejected and a person must live by "faith." The reason given is as follow: The mind is so powerful that "negative confession" is just as potent a force as positive confession and therefore can become a destructive force.
Take your time and study these out carefully. Rightly divide the word of truth. In the end you will find that the beliefs in teachings common in the Word of Faith Movement are not in line with Scripture.
**Note: Parts of this study taken from John Ankerberg & John Weldon.
To help you find what you're looking for on this site quicker I have provided the search engine box below.
|
|
