"Word of Faith" Movement

[noelgae]

[Holy Spirit, be with us]

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping to discuss with you, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, how you feel about the "Word of Faith" movement. First, before I go on, the reason I am asking this question is to discuss the following:

a) If it is true or not (and if it matters)
b) If the "Word of Faith" movement causes harm to the message of salvation given to us by our savior, Christ, Jesus.
c) If it actually hinders the body of Christ, and our purpose, or if it builds us up.

With those reasons mentioned, I feel it is fair to discuss this issue since anything that hinders people from experiencing the truth that Jesus has for us is bad, and anything that builds us up in that truth is good. I would like to request that this discussion would not become a quarrel or fight, but rather a simple discussion among our family. May the Lord guide us, Amen.

For those of you who are not familiar with what the "Word of Faith" movement is, let me describe it briefly here. You may search online for more information if you like.

This movement basically states the following (please correct me if I am wrong):

a) Illness is a sin because it was included in Christs atonement for us
b) Poverty is a sin
c) We are little gods. "You don't have a god in you, you are one"
d) "Pray to yourself, because I'm in your self and you're in Myself. We are one Spirit, saith the Lord."
e) Jesus and his deciples were rich, and you should be too
f) faith is a "creative force" which we can use to manipulate things to our wanting just as God did to create.
g) Christ suffered and burned in hell (it is necessary to believe in this to be saved)
h) We should expect nothing less than prosperity as it was included in atonement
i) We are equal to God because Christ is one with God and we are one with Christ
j) .. and much much more

Of course, I can't list everything, and in detail, but I encourage you to find out more on your own. I would put up some links, but I can not yet since I am too new a member here. Some of what I have stated may vary from one Word of Faith preacher to another, but these are some of the basics.

Please share with me how you feel about this, and also what the Holy Spirit is telling your heart. It is my intention to seek out the truth for all of us that love Christ and the salvation he brings us.

Thank you my friends, and I look forward to your comments...

God Bless,
Noel Gae

 

[Chad]

Found this via Google search. This lists ten reasons to REJECT Word of Faith movement/teachings.

It requires 'revelation knowledge'.

Like the gnostic heresies all through the ages, Word-of-Faith needs special knowledge in order to be effective. Leaders see themselves as having a commission to bring new spiritual revelation to the Body, and they condemn 'sense-knowledge' as inadequate. In this scheme, it is not sin and disobedience that causes us to fail, but ignorance of the Word. Moreover, this revelation knowledge is limited to the few who can receive it; the less intelligent are at a disadvantage. This is elitism.

It makes the Almighty God and Creator a weak 'faith-being' who is at the mercy of His own universal laws.

Although Word-of-Faith ministers speak of God in a personal way, they treat Him like an impersonal 'energy source' with 'forces' that can be operated by the use of laws - laws which even God has to obey in order to create and run His universe. God, they say, has left the control of the planet in man's hands and is powerless to intervene without a covenant partner. God's omnipotence and sovereignty is damaged by these teachings.

It makes the Divine Son of God into a born-again man who had to die in Hell to pay the price for our treason.

Jesus, according to Word-of-Faith doctrine, discarded His divine powers and walked earth as a mere man filled with The Spirit. He had to use the Word and the laws of faith to do miracles. When He died, His blood did not atone, but He had to take upon Himself the very sin-nature of the Devil, causing His spirit to die, and suffer three days and nights of hellish torment AS A MAN before the Father gave the command for Him to be re-created as a re-born man. Thus, they say, Jesus was just the first of many sons, the Pattern for us all to follow.

It elevates man to equality with Jesus.

A consequence of the 'Jesus-died-spiritually' doctrine is that all born-again Christians stand in the same place of power and authority as Jesus - not by virtue of their unity with Him, but in themselves, as men filled with the Spirit. This would mean that we have already been resurrected from the dead and it only remains for us to gain 'knowledge' of our new condition in order to discard the trappings of the fleshly body and begin living as spiritual gods on earth!

Thus, the Christian walk is one of education in using the same spiritual laws as Jesus in order to dominate the circumstances and do miracles. In Word-of-Faith teaching, believers do not depend on God's own power, nor submit to His will, but feel they have the right to develop their own powers, and to discover the laws governing creation and dominion on the earth.

It makes man a god.

To understand the special position that Word-of-Faith gives to man, we need to know their interpretation of the Creation. In their teaching, man HAS NO NATURE OF HIS OWN but takes his nature from his 'lord'. When God was his Lord, then man had a divine nature - for he was created as god of the earth, they say - but after man's fall, he took the sin-nature of the Devil and became like Satan. (All this, of course, is contrary to scripture). So, Word-of Faith believers would reason that a born-again man has regained his divine nature. Thus, he is entitled to use the attributes of his divinity, such as creative powers and domination of the environment etc.

It makes the redemption into a restoration of dominion for mankind.

Word-of-Faith teachers stress the loss of dominion over the earth, not sin, as the root problem. So, salvation becomes a matter of re-discovering one's place of godhood and learning to rule as kings on earth. The role Jesus had to play in redemption was that of a substitute Adam, coming to earth to fulfill all that Adam failed to do, demonstrating the possibilities of dominion, and then taking Adam's place in Hell to let mankind 'off the hook'. The worship given to Jesus by Word-of-Faith believers is more from a sense of gratitude than a recognition of His divinity. It also misses the whole point of redemption: that Jesus HIMSELF is the Life and Salvation of mankind and that we are only saved in union with Him.

Its goal is the transformation of the earth by spiritual dominion.

Because Word-of-Faith believers see themselves as having returned to their god-like dominion of the earth, they foresee the time coming when - by sheer force of numbers, probably - all mankind has to bow the knee to God. They teach that all the wealth of the world will flow to the Church, and that the laws, government and entire social structure of the world system will have to change. Despite scriptural warnings of apostasy and increasing wickedness in the end-times, they foresee a great victory for the Church in the future, as the Spirit sweeps millions into the 'kingdom' on earth. Whether or not they claim to believe in the end-times plan of Revelation, the Rapture, the Millennium or any of these things, they still seem to be able to fit a scheme of global Church unity and triumph into the plan of the ages.

It replaces prayer with confession, and God's will with the manipulation of 'forces'.

Word-of Faith teaches Christians to draw upon powerful 'forces' that reside in the human spirit - such as the force of faith - to bring certain laws into operation. They emphasise the word (not the Son of God, but the scriptures) as the power used to operate all these spiritual laws. So, learning and confessing the Word continually is the method used to obtain anything we want. This self-rule leads to pride and greed. But a Christian must deny himself and submit to the entire will of God, as revealed moment-by-moment by the Holy Spirit.

It denies the reality of sin and sickness.

Word-of-Faith ministers teach that the only true reality is spiritual, and the earthly senses are deceptive. Thus, believers are led to deny that they are ill, poor or in any way below par. They are taught to overcome adversity by confessing a suitable 'positive' scripture, instead of seeking God's guidance. Also, the reality of sin, and the need for forgiveness is glossed over by teaching that a simple confession of the Lordship of Jesus will effect a change of lifestyle.

It focuses on self and the world instead of God and Heaven.

The emphasis in Word-of-Faith doctrine is all on success, prosperity, advancement, gain, health and strength. There is little compassion for those who fail to come up to these exacting standards. Any adversity is said to be a 'lack of faith' to confess the appropriate Word. This is a great misunderstanding of the wisdom of God, and His plan to bring his children to glory, for if we refuse to share in the trials, setbacks and persecutions of Jesus, we are not ready to share His glorification. [Rom 8:17]
Some of the Word-of-Faith teachers and ministries have been the worst offenders in bringing the Name and the cause of Jesus Christ into disrepute. Ministries that emphasise prosperity have ended up in greed, manipulating believers into giving money they can little afford. Over-emphasized teaching about God's healing has led to extravagant claims for miracles that have been exposed as hyperbole and sham. Doctrines about man's godhood and superhuman abilities have led to arrogance, self-will and the use of psychic powers to perform miracles instead of a simple dependency on the Holy Spirit. Also, teachings about faith have become rituals and formulas for producing instant result; and many who could not or would not go down this road were derided and rejected as "having no faith".

Legions of hurt people have testified to their bad experiences, both personally and corporately, with Word-of-Faith extremes and excesses. Indeed, the very root of this teaching is bad, coming as it does from Christian Science and the metaphysical schools of thought.

More info on WOF

 

[noelgae]

Thanks Chad, that certainly is useful to understand how WOF is not biblical. So is it safe to discuss what we should do with such doctrines?

To be honest, I am trying not to offend anyone here by stating my opinion on this, but I feel that it MUST be discussed.

Below are a few reasons why we need to ask the Holy Spirit for the truth, and not be blinded by false doctrines. A wise person on this forum once wrote,

[...] We need to focus on JESUS and live for Him and bring those people in darkness into His light. He does not want any to perish and He will be coming again soon.[...]

-ladylovesJesus.

This is exactly why we need to uproot the schemes of the devil. Every false doctrine out there is designed by satan and his demons to fool man in some way or another to cause them to remain in that darkness. I know many people who reject Christ because of these teachings. I am currently trying to save someone I know, and every reason he pointed out for NOT accepting Christ was a concept involving the "Word of Faith" movement. Does it matter what each person believes? Romans 14 says God will accept each person for what they believe. However, he also warns us that false doctrines should be cast out. In the Bible, Jesus himself rebukes false doctrines and Paul and others do the same. Therefore, we must NEVER ignore such teachings and let them grow into satan's masterpieces.

As a followers of Christ, we need to spread the truth around, and not the lies of the devil. This does not mean we must fight, quarrel and argue with those who blindly believe in such things. Sometimes, it may not even be their fault. Yet, we are called to be on guard for such things.

Here are some biblical reasons as to why we should seek the truth about these things in fellowship:

1) It is one of the 10 commandments: "Thou shalt not bare false witness"
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
Proverbs 14:24-26

A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.
Proverbs 21:27-29

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Proverbs 30:7-9

Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:31-33

2) We ARE WARNED to watch out for false teachings over and over in the Bible

[ A Tree and Its Fruit ] "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Matthew 7:14-16

[...] and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matthew 24:10-12

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.
Matthew 24:23-25

You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' "
Mark 10:18-20

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:25-27

One of my favorites:
5) But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7) Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" 8) Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved.
Romans 3:5-8

[ Paul and the False Apostles ] I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that.
2 Corinthians 11:1-... (Grab a bible and read this one completely. Notice how Paul refers to false apostles as "super-apostles")

This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
Galatians 2:3-5
(Does slavery to fleshly desires and earthly things sound similar?)

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:24-26

Very important:
[ Warning Against False Teachers of the Law ] As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
1 Timothy 1:2-4

[ Love of Money ] If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
1 Timothy 6:2-4

[ False Teachers and Their Destruction ] But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2 Peter 2:1-3

[ Test the Spirits ] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1-3

You should read this one in context:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
Revelation 2:1-3

3) False Prophets are an important part of satan's plan:

Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Revelation 16:12-14

But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Revelation 19:19-21

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 20:9-11

Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Revelation 22:14-16


Thats a lot of scriptures, and the reason I am posting them is to point out how serious false teaching is. This topic must be discussed throughly. Pray about it and share how you feel. I have so many more scriptures I can share... but I feel the Bible has made it's point.


God Bless,
Noel Gae

 

[monkeys]

This is an excellent thread. Extremely informative.

I too think it is important to discuss these matters. There a family friend I know who believes in what the WOF teaches, and honestly, it really disturbs me to say the least. As a believer in Christ, I get turned off when I see the way she reacts.

I feel it is important that we know what is going on in our Christian community. If there are people who are potentially teaching things that our Lord did not say, there is a problem. I know for fact that they say that Jesus
"suffered" in hell...which is not said anywhere in the Bible.

I am glad that this thread was created, and I'm looking forward to see what other people have to say about this.