Are The Teachings Of The Word Faith Movement Christian?

There is a heretical movement in America today.

This one is inside the Church.

The Word Faith movement.

What is it ? Name it and claim it. Positive confession.

Question : Are the doctrines of the word faith movement consistent w/ the

doctrines of the historic Church ?

Importance : Doctrine affects the way we live.

I will deal only w/ facts,

I will not attack their character.

I will present documented evidence (no hearsay).

1) Not every faith teacher believes all these things.

2) This is a movement that is fluid.

3) Not everything they teach is wrong.

4) Many sincere Christians are in this movement.

Who are the leaders of this movement ?

Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Dr. Fred Price, John

Avanzini, Robert Tilton, Marilyn Hickey, Paul [David] Yonggi Cho, Charles

Capps, Jerry Savelle, Morris Cerullo, Paul Crouch, etc...

I) WHAT IS FAITH ? Interaction

Ai) Definition of faith (historic) :

Faith - a living channel of trust.

Aii) Definition of faith (Word faith) - Copeland "The force of Faith"

B) How do they justify this Biblically ?

HEB 11:1 "Substance" means basic stuff.

Does Heb 11:1 teach that faith is a "raw material substance" ?

1) Original lang. -

Strong’s Concordance Pistis - Persuasion, i.e. credence, conviction (of

religious truth...) espec. reliance upon Christ for salvation. assurance,

belief.

2) Versions (NASB) "Assurance", (NIV) "Being sure".

C) How does faith work ?

"How to write your own ticket w/ God" Hagin says Jesus told him :

Your words go into heaven and become reality - 82’ yacht.

New age Creative visualization.

D) Where do they get this ?

Metaphysics - the more difficult to comprehend philosophical sciences.

Phineas Parkhurst Quimby - Father of New Thought.

Taught positive confession in the 1800’s.

E.W. Kenyon - Influenced by New Thought Metaphysics.

Hagin teaches Kenyon’s concepts.

This is an Westernized form of Eastern religion.

Is their doctrine of faith consistent w/ that of the Church ?

II) ARE WE LITTLE GODS ?

Do the word faith teachers claim that we are little gods ?

ISA 43:10 Monotheism.

What is the God of the word faith movement like ?

God is a man, man is a little god.

Anthropomorphism. Ps 91:4 He shall cover you w/ His feathers.

Are we an incarnation of God ? (God come in the flesh).

Christ alone was an incarnation of God. (Gr. Monogenes - unique).

What about the trinity ?

On TBN

He claimed this was "revelation knowledge".

Is there doctrine of God consistent w/ the Church ?

III) WHAT HAPPENED WHEN CHRIST DIED ?

1) Did Jesus take on the nature of Satan on the cross ?

2) Did He die spiritually ?

How do they justify this Biblically ?

2 Cor 5:21 He became sin.

A metonym is a word substituted for an associated word or phrase.

T.J Crawford - "There can be no doubt that the expression is metonymical,

since it is impossible that Christ... could be literally made sin."

Jesus didn’t literally become sin,

our sin was imputed to Him.

He became "the sin offering" for us. (Lev 4).

It was offered w/o defect.

If Jesus took on the nature of Satan on the cross, how could He :

1) Be w/o blemish and spot (I Pet 1:19).

2) Pray for His enemies.

3) Commit His spirit to the Father.

If He died spiritually :

1) He wouldn’t be God.

PHIL 2:6 "Being" "Remaining, not ceasing to be".

2) The Trinity would cease to exist.

Was Jesus born again in hell ?

"Firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18) doesn’t mean He was born again.

It means "preeminence, supremacy" over creation.

Jesus did not go to hell when He died.

Lk 23:43 "...today you will be w/ Me in paradise."

"Born again" used 3X only of regeneration of sinful humanity.

Is there doctrine of Christ’s death consistent w/ the Church ?

IV) ARE WE GUARANTEED WEALTH AND PERFECT HEALTH ?

1) Does God guarantee prosperity ?

Concept : By giving to the Church God must make you rich.

Only in America, never in Ethiopia.

1) God becomes a "deal maker".

2) You can get rich w/o working for it.

3) The motivation of giving is only to get.

4) It contradicts Scripture :

JAS 2:5 God has chosen the poor of this world rich in faith.

PHIL 4:12,13 I have learned to be content...

2) Does God promise perfect health ?

Some heroes of faith have been sick :

1) Job.

2) King Hezekiah.

3) 2 TIM 4:20 Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus.

4) JN 9:2,3 The man born blind.

If this were true we would never die of natural causes.

CONC :

Their belief about the doctrine of faith

God

Christ’s death

health and wealth

are not consistent w/ the historic Church.