Every quarter our Southern Ukraine association of churches puts on an all day fellowship/seminar for the brothers. They invited me to speak this time and I decided to talk about the rise of the “Word of Faith” movement, which is unfortunately gaining a lot of speed in Ukraine as it is in many countries.
If you’re not familiar with the Word of Faith teaching just check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith. Often it is called “Prosperity Gospel” or “Health and Wealth”. Some of the main teachers you may have heard of such as, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Hagin, Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn to name a few.
Their main teachings revolve around three key points:
- “Positive Confession”
They teach that words have power in and of themselves. If you believe it, think it, act like it and say it, then God will give it to you. Some go as far as to say that we can create with our words, we must carefully use use them because we might accidentally create something! Check out this example from Pastor Osteen
- Little gods
If man is able to create with his words as God is able to create with His words then the logical conclusion is that man must be a god.
- Limited God
Of course the “little god” doctrine leads to something even worse. If man is a god, then God Himself must be limited in some way. Thus many of the Word of Faith teacher claim that God the Father has a body and is bound by laws that limit His ability to act.
Problems with Word of Faith teaching
The theological dangers of the Word of Faith movement are many but I would like to note just a few below.
- It places a heavy burden on the believer. Luk 11:46, Mat 11:30
- It puts constraints upon God. Isa 14:27
- It ignores million of Christians who live in persecuted countries. 2Ti 3:12
- It places large emphasis upon man rather than God. Eze 36:22
- It cheapens Christianity by making blessedness based upon the external conditions of our life. Mat ch. 5
Ways to avoid Word of Faith fallacy
- Make sure our preaching and teaching comes from God’s Word. 2 Tim 2:15-16
- Encourage our people to investigate God’s Word themselves. Acts 17:11
- Make sure our focus is on God’s glory. Psa 105:8
- Teach people to pray for miracles and healing but we do not demand them from God. Mat 12:39 Joh 9:3
God can and God does miracles today. I prayed for God to miraculously heal my son when doctors diagnosed him with cancer. We should pray these kind of prayers but we should not demand from God or assume that God owes us anything!
Questions: Do you agree? Is there any advice you would add to my list on how to avoid Word of Faith teachings?
dad
May 31, 2012Good stuff. Remind me to tell you about Casey Treat in Tacoma gettting fined for his theology. One of our guys was in court on it.
Caleb
May 31, 2012Wow, I hadn’t heard about that. You’ll have to fill me in later.
Nathan
August 20, 2012Good stuff. It is a terrible problem here in India. One tip – you alluded to, but did not emphasize that it totally does away with the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. Joe Grisban pointed that out to me. It is part of why he left the movement.
Heather
April 5, 2013Thank you for writing about this. I believe the enemy is using these kinds of lies to steer the church away from Truth.
Caleb
April 8, 2013Heather you are right on! These doctrines are driving people away from the real truths of God’s Word!
Caleb
June 1, 2013Michael, great points. I certainly agree that we need to keep God’s Word central. When the Word is central God should naturally be central and we will be humbled!
Giles McKenzie
September 9, 2014Great post! I wholeheartedly agree! These preachers sadden me. Have you seen the new video of Mrs. Osteen “teaching?” Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koIBkYl0cHk
Caleb
September 9, 2014Yes, I have seen that video Giles, seems to be pretty popular recently. Unfortunately I do think that is accurately reflects the focus that there church has, which is a focus on self rather than on God!