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History of the Word of Faith Movement
The major doctrines of the Faith movement were plagiarized by Kenneth Hagin from the teachings of E.W. Kenyon. Kenyon (1867-1948), who gained much of his theology from the mind-science cults, predominantly metaphysics. He incorporated these teachings with his Christian beliefs in an attempt to satisfy the desires for, as he termed it, a new type of Christianity which people had been longing for. Hagin adopted many of these ideas, adding his own theological views gained from his days in classical Pentecostalism and healing revivalism. The five central doctrines of the Faith movement: Revelation Knowledge, Identification, Faith, Healing and Prosperity, however, were all taken from Kenyon's writings, a man who often drank from the well of the Metaphysical cults, particularly, New Thought and Christian Science (http://www.africanaquatics.co.za/_christian/_articles/word_of_faith.htm).
Word of Faith Theology Features a blend of mysticism, dualism, flavors of Gnosticism, and other teachings from the metaphysical cults.
Some of the false doctrines of Word of Faith teachers
Someone wrote a comment on amazon.com about the Word of Faith movement which I have included below.
The Word of Faith movement is deceiving countless people, causing them to grasp after a way of life and faith that is not biblical. Our hope is in the Lord, not in our own words, not even in our own faith (Psalm 33:20-22). Our faith comes from God in the first place (2 Peter 1:1), and is not something we create for ourselves. Everything around that teaching involves prosperity and what God wants to do for you. Truth is that is partly true. It's not exactly a lie; it's just OUT OF BALANCE. God does want to heal and restore us. But that's not the only thing He wants to do. And when we start majoring in the minors, we get off balance.
Following are examples of the Prophets and Apostles Problems:
1. Paul had a chronic illness with his Eyes
2. Timothy had stomach problems
3. Jonah was depressed to the point of death
4. Peter was crushed in His Spirit after rejecting Christ three times
5. Billy Graham who has personality preached to over 200 million people, yet he has a disease that is killing him. And he was sadden because his wife died is this because of a lack of faith or from God punishment to un-confessed sins?
6. Stephen was stoned
7. James the Great was beheaded
8. Peter was Crucified upside down, Jesus even told him he would die this way John 21
9. Jesus only owned the Clothes on his back, he never married, he was hated, tracked down, betrayed by a close friend, falsely accused, wiped, tortured, and Murdered. And He said others would do the same to us (Mat 10:22, Mat 24:9) was this because Jesus sinned or had a lack of Faith? Why would He warn us if it were not true?
10. 200K believers die every year just because they are Christians from all over the world, is this due their sin?
We ask, knowing we have not yet been given a "yes" from Him for here and now. Yes, we know and confirm it is His will for us to be healed, but that may not be until heaven. We pray for our request (please heal Father) and ask "if in your will." We can't forget that. I've read and know you believe that. But that's not what's being taught if you follow the above statements. By stating otherwise "I am healed Father from this sickness".... that is going against how He asked us to pray. We pray and have faith He can do it, even now. But when we are not healed, we trust in Him and whatever purpose for that is. Like Jesus prayed when facing the cross... "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." He is our example on how to pray..
GOD DOES HEAL. I've been lead to see that He doesn't heal everyone the same way. (Consider the miracle in Acts 9:32-43) We know that God wants to ease our suffering. And in our healings, He's also giving us a taste of the future... our future restoration. With our healings, we see that God wants to reveal himself to us. I also understand that God wants me to pray for healing... And when I'm healed, God uses that healing to build my faith. Scripture is clear that God is more concerned with my faith, heart and devotion, than my physical healing. That is what effects eternity and secures my future. It's my faith that God wants to build. And most of the time, all I see narrowly is how He is or is not coming through for me. Disappointment and bitterness can then sink in. But God wants to do more than heal me physically.
Obviously not all Word of Faith teachers hold to all the same doctrines and the list above is exhaustive. Below are some names of some of the Word of faith teachers.
Benny Hinn
Kenneth Kopeland
Gloria Kopeland
Creflo Dollar
Paul Crouch
Joel Osteen
Myles Munroe
Joyce Meyer
Kenneth Hagen
TD Jakes
Bill Johnson
While I would love to write about every false teacher in this movement I realize that I do not have the time nor space to do so.
Benny Hinn - False Prophet
by Sandy Simpson, 5/6/00
This is an update on the Jesus Christ Slated To Star With Benny Hinn ... IN PERSON! story we sent out a month ago. It contains transcripts and many audio clips as well as links to TBN RealPlayer clips of the "This Is Your Day" on TBN. Since I put the original story out Hinn has been making more and more outrageous claims. That there has been almost no hue and cry from the ranks of orthodox Christianity on the subject of Hinn's latest claims below shows the sorry state of the "Church" today. How much more evidence do Christians need to stand up for the truth? How many more millions of lives will Benny Hinn drag down to spiritual ruination before some Christian leaders make their voices heard loud and clear. From my vantage point, I only see a few discernment ministries laying their necks on the chopping block for the truth, and they do it ALL THE TIME! It's time for other Christian leaders to be counted on this issue. What Benny Hinn is doing is EXACTLY what Jesus Christ warned us about in Matthew 24:
Matt. 24:23-27 At that time if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or, `There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. "So if anyone tells you, `There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, `Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
This is a call for the body of Christ to rise up and cast this wolf in sheep's clothing firmly away from its ranks and call him what he is -- a heretic leading a cult! We have a duty to warn people against the likes of Benny Hinn before those who do not know the Lord NEVER want to know Him ... and those that do shipwreck their faith. If we do not stand against the likes of Benny Hinn and instead continue to call him a "brother in Christ", I am convinced that we will be judged for being "ashamed of Jesus Christ". I'll take the word of the Lord Jesus Christ any day over the word of Benny Hinn. Here is a good quote from Al Dagar about those who are unwilling to stand up for the truth.
"To seek unity with false prophets without challenging their errors leaves one's own beliefs open to question. Those who defend heretics, even if they do not believe in their teachings, are guilty of lending credibility to their heresies, and will be held accountable to God for the souls that are destroyed as a result. It's up to those that know the truth to defend the Church against false teachers whatever the cost to unity or to personal benefit." (Al Dagar, Media Spotlight Special Report, "Latter-Day Prophets: The Restoration of Apostles and Prophets and the Kansas City-Vineyard Connection", September, 1990, (p. 11).
I believe God, in His grace and longsuffering, is allowing people like Benny Hinn to test true believers. While Hinn struts, postulates, makes up stories out of whole cloth to grow his following, and collects obscene amounts of money to do "ministry", he has lately "kicked it up a notch" by going directly against what Jesus Christ warned us about, thereby proving beyond any doubt that he is a false prophet. I believe that God is allowing this last days test for Christians to see if they will love the truth ... or go running after myths. When He comes, will He find faith on the earth (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/hinnfalse.html)?
Benny Hinn's public Statements
Lets look at some of Hinn's public
statements and compare them to the scriptures.
In the text below Benny Hinn says that Jesus will appear Physically
in Kenya Africa.
Audio Version
"The hour is urgent. Many of you have known me for many years. But I am telling you right now, things I haven't said years 'n years 'n years ago. I believe - here this, hear this! I believe, that Jesus, God's Son, is about to appear physically, in meetings and to believers around the world, to wake us up! He appeared after His resurrection and He is about to appear before His second coming! You know a prophetess sent me a word through my wife, right here, and she said 'Tell your husband that Jesus is go'n to physically appear in his meetings.' I am expecting to see, I am telling you that - I feel it's going to happen. I, I, I'm, I'm careful in how I am saying it now, because I know the people in Kenya are listening. I know deep in my soul, something supernatural is going to happen in Nai - in Nairobi Kenya. I feel that. I may very well come back, and you and Jan are coming, to - Paul and Jan are coming to Nairobi with me, but Paul, we may very well come back with footage of Jesus on the platform! You know that the Lord appeared in Romania recently, and there's a video of it? Where the Lord appeared in the back of a church and you see him on video walking down the isle? Yeah! Paul do you remember when I came on TBN years ago and showed you a clip of the Lord appearing in our church in Orlando, on the balcony on the wall? Yeah. You, you remember that? [Paul Crouch] Very well, I saw it! [Benny Hinn] That was '80, 80 something, '86, what - whatever. You know I always wondered why the Lord, why did He do that? Do you know why, now I look back? That was the beginning of the greatest move of God in our church. Because '83, '84, and '85 were horrible years for me, horrible years. Eighty-six the blessings of God began, but they began with a - with this manifestation of the Lord's face on, on the balcony, that stayed for eight weeks. Eight solid weeks! The Lord has done this in the past, but He is about to do it again, now hear this, I am prophesying this! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is about to appear physically in some churches, and some meetings, and to many of His people, for one reason - to tell you He is about to show up! To Wake Up! Jesus is coming saints!"- Benny Hinn, April 2nd, 2000
What does the Bible say regarding Benny Hinn's claims that Jesus will appear physically?
Matthew, Chapter 24, Verse 23,
New International Version
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or,
'There he is!' do not believe it.
The Bible warned us of false prophets and teachers that would appear in the last days, which I believe we are living in. In verse 24 it says that the false teachers will perform many signs and will be able to deceive many. Hinn no doubt has fooled many, and no question the true elect know that he is a false prophet. No one can claim when Jesus will appear, because when he does appear everyone will know it, and no man will have predicted it! He will come as a thief in the night (1 Th 5:2).
Other Benny Hinn Statements
The
Lord also tells me to tell you in mid 90's -- about '94 or '95, no
later than that -- God will destroy the homosexual community of
America . . . He will destroy it with fire.
The Spirit of God tells me -- an earthquake will hit the East Coast
of America and destroy much in the 90's.
Questions
Other websites that debunk Benny Hinn
http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/Hinn.html
Bill Johnson is a well known Word of Faith/Third Wave author and pastor. He has written the books When Heaven Invades the Earth the Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, Release the Power of Jesus and many other Word of Faith/Third Wave Books which can be purchased on amazon.com.
Review of Bill's book Release the
Power of Jesus
---
This book features some outstanding graphics and I applaud Bill &
his graphic design team for their efforts. However, as I will explain
this book features much false doctrine.
Bill states the premise of the book on page 35 and states that this book is about "releasing miracle power." On page 19, Bill explains a story of a boy whom got his feet healed and according to Bill, this whole event was captured on video. I ask Bill to release this video to the public and convert it to digital for view on his website. I seriously wish to see this healing episode. The following pages up to the end of the chapter Bill talks about a number of healing experiences. While I do believe that God can heal people, I believe the Bible is quite clear that the gift of healing has ceased. I challenge Bill and Bethel healers to "heal at will." Please go into a hospital, elderly home, DD center and start healing! There are lots of DD centers in Redding (lived there for 4 years) and I ask Bill to go to Quest, or some other center and heal away. If Bill refuses, I ask why? The disciples and Paul could heal at will and so should anyone that has this gift. If one were to look at the Gospels & the book of Acts and study it, they would come to the conclusion of there being six characteristics of the miracles of Jesus & the apostles and they are as follows (John MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, 262-263).
The apostles healed with a word or a
touch (Acts 9:32-35)
The apostles healed instantly (Acts 3:2-8)
The apostles healed totally (Acts 9:34)
The apostles were able to heal anyone (Acts 5:12-16)
The apostles healed organic diseases
The apostles raised the dead (Acts 9:36-42)
On page 32 Bill makes quite an assumption and states the following "It can't be stated more plainly. Those who believe in Him will demonstrate signs and wonders." Bill continues and states in the same paragraph that we have access to everything that he had available. John MacArthur says the following;
Jesus miracles must, after all, be the standard by which we make such an evaluation. No one before or since has performed as many signs and wonders as he did during his earthly ministry (John 20:30; 21:25). His miracles were strikingly different from those produced by the modern Signs and Wonders movement. None involved psychosomatic infirmities; all were visible and verifiable. They were, in short, true signs and true wonders (Charismatic Chaos, 162).
I once again challenge Bill to show me this videotape of the healing he mentioned earlier in the book. I desire documentation and evidence that such healings are really happening. When Jesus healed, even his enemies could not deny it. On page 33 Bill asserts that raising the dead is possible for those that are filled with the Holy Spirit. If Bill or anyone at Bethel can raise the dead, please do so. I have a list of people I desire him to raise one of which would be John Wayne. Jumping to page 99 Bill says the following regarding the disciples and the feeding of the 5,000 "their obedience helped release the miracle." This is false assumption. Jesus could do miracles by his own power and did not need his disciples to perform miracles. Jesus is full omnipotent, because he is God and He does not need the faith of his disciples nor anyone to heal and do miracles. On page 104, Bill tells of a story of him healing a woman in Germany. What amazes me is that Bill has failed to mention the name of this woman or leave any sort of documentation or evidence so that the reader can verify this healing. Later on the page does Bill tell of 83 people that were healed of deafness. Again, he cites no documentation nor lists no witness to substantiate this story.
On page 121 Bill says, "But Jesus didn't say to pray for the sick. He said to heal them.." That command was issued to the disciples in Mt 10:8, ESV "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay." The command was issued to the disciples and not to modern day Christians. On page 123, Bill says, "Unbelief and offense are two of the biggest hindrances to the miraculous." How unbiblical such a statement is! By such a statement is Bill saying that the ability to perform miracles all relies on me and my belief or unbelief. The Bible teaches that God is the creator of the universe and nowhere do the scriptures state that God needs me to perform a miracle. God can perform miracles regardless of my state of mind. On page 143 Bill says the following "the responsibility of every leader in the Church is to become exposed, and remain exposed, to the miracles of God and the God of miracles. Sincerity and genuine concern for the people of God are important but cannot take the place of such exposure." Lets look at what the scriptures teach on the responsibility of the minister (all scriptures quoted from the KJV).
Rom 10:14-How shall they hear without
a preacher?
1 Cor 1:18- For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God
2 Tim 4:2- Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine.
The primary responsibility of the minister is to PREACH THE WORD, not to experience miracles. Bill has it wrong here.
On page 168 Bill says the following "God cannot be properly or even accurately represented without power. Miracles are absolutely necessary for people to see him clearly." This is hellfire false doctrine here. People need to hear the salvation message and this is the most important thing for people to see. People must see that they are doomed to the hellfire and are a heartbeat away from hell. They must see Jesus and they must repent of their sins. Isa 45:22, NIV "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." Its not about them seeing the miracles, its about them seeing the gospel! The sinners is doomed to the fire, and are a heartbeat away from the burning hell where they will scream, and burn. Jesus came to save mankind from this fire, and He gave the gospel to man, and this is all that is needed. People do not need miracles, for they need the gospel!
One final note in the recommended
reading list pretty much the majority of the list are either books by
Bill Johnson (8/15) or books by someone associated with his church.
It sure appears that Bill's theology does not go much outside of his
movement and other false teachers in the third wave (Word of Faith)
movements. I strongly discourage anyone from buying this book as this
book is loaded with false doctrines.
----
Here is a video review of Bill Johnson's book A Life of Miracles.
A
Life of Miracles video Review
Below is a review of Bill Johnson's book Dreaming with God.
Dreaming with God video Review
I wrote a article in a newspaper
regarding Bill Johnson's ministry
Johnson tries to model after Benny Hinn, whom has had a great influence in his life. In a letter to me, Bill thanked me for comparing him to Hinn. I have to wonder what Bill's flock would say if they knew that he highly values the message of one that prophesied damnation to homosexuals, Fidel Castro, and personally claimed that Jesus would appear physically with him on one of his crusades.
Below are some Audio bytes taken from the Audio Cassette message entitled "Enduring Faith" recorded 1/11/04 at Bethel Church of Redding, CA.
God heals all your Diseases and he does not veto any request
Johnson's comments on the Church
In the audio byte below pastor Bill Johnson claims that Jesus Christ was a human being and only got victory over the demonic powers by his relationship with God the father. Johnson says in his own words that Jesus put His divinity aside.
Bill Johnson's Kenoticism Theology
This teaching has flavors of Kenoticism in nature. Biblical scholar Millard Erickson explains what Kenoticism is.
Christian Theology, Millard J. Erickson, pp. 749
According to this view, what Jesus emptied himself of was the form of God. The second Person of the trinity laid aside his distinctly divine attributes and took on human qualities instead. In effect the incarnation consisted of an exchange of part of the divine nature for human characteristics. His moral qualities, such as love and mercy were maintained. While this may seem like an act of the Son alone, it actually involved the father as well. The father, in sending forth his Son, was like a father who sends his son to the mission field. A part of him went forth as well. What we have here is a parallel in the realm of Christology to the solution offered by modalistic monarchianism to the problem of the Trinity. Jesus is not God and man simultaneously, but successively. With respect to certain attributes, he is God, then he is human, then God again... While this view solves some of the difficulty, it does not account for the evidence we cited earlier to the effect that the biblical writers regarded Jesus as both God and human. Moreover, the indications of an apparent continuing incarnation (1 Timothy 3:16) militate against the maintenance of this theory, innovative though it be.
1 Timothy, Chapter 3, Verse 16, King James Version
And without controversy great is
the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in
the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on
in the world, received up into glory
Also to note that CERM receives dozens of emails from people all over the world asking for advice and discernment on Bill Johnson and his teachings. I received one email report of someone being fired because they did not agree 100% with Bill Johnson. I find it amazing how far the Charismatics will go just because someone does not agree entirely with one of their teachers. Its amazing that a family that so desperately needs an income and is hurting in other areas, receives no quarter by these so called "loving Charismatics" for disagreeing with Johnson and his lies and deceptions.
We have already been 'through the ringer' in church leadership, as my husband was fired from his worship leader position for 'not being on board' with Bill Johnson. We have had two deaths recently in the family and I don't know how much more stress we can take.
I received an email from an individual whom had a unforgetable experience with a female student/attender of Bethel Church. This person claims that this particular female was/is demon possessed. To hear his story click on the audio file below.
One such email of a man and his wife discovering the errors and lies in Bill's teachings is below. NOTE that I later received an email from this man that he and his wife departed from their church.
A email report of a church that idolizes Bill Johnson
A email asking me for help rescuing a lost family member from the Bethel "cult."
A email from Benjamin telling me all about his expereince at Bethel Church and a Fire Tunnel.
Then people go through it. Now, I
am not sure, but I think it has to do
with the Holy Spirit and fire as well as being slain in the Spirit.
I
remember when I went through it I got this amazing feeling! You can
check
out this youtube video here to see what one looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUYQUL2UCFQ
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-4pyiYAlzg
. As you can see they
seem to
show being slain in the Spirit which is a unbiblical practice. The
advocates
of the 3rd wave and WOF movement take verses out of context when
trying to
prove that slain in the Spirit is a biblical practice. One verse they
take
out of context is Acts 2. If you want to read more on why Acts 2 does
not
support being drunk you can read about it here:
http://www.letusreason.org/Pent21.htm
. As for concerning anything more with
Bethel, I remember hearing that people there see angel feathers fall
from
the ceiling. Other than that, I have not read Bill John's books, but
they
look really creepy and weird.
From http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/blessing.html#rclarke
(1) Weighed and Found Wanting: Putting the Toronto Blessing in Context by Bill Randles, 1994
"With TBN, CBN, and Charisma Magazine and a host of other sources, error is having a field day these days! Never has the scripture been so easily fulfilled. II Timothy 3:6-7 "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Eleven chapter e-book with appendix from a Pentacostal minister's perspective. EXCELLENT!
(2) Randy Clark Resigns From Vineyard by MKG, PFO, January-March 2002
"I was told that my Arminian leanings were alienating me from about 70% of the Vineyards. ... More particularly my open view of God was alienating me from many Vineyards," he wrote in his letter. Clark revealed his association with open theist Greg Boyd, stating that he had invited Boyd to speak with him at two of his conferences over the past few years. But, Clark maintains, it has only been recently that he read Boyd's volume on the subject, so "I guess I was a case of guilt by association."
(3) Randy Clark by Apologetics Index
On January 6, 1994, he was a guest speaker at the Toronto Airport Vineyard (now Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship). With about 120 people in attendance for a four-day revival meeting, what a secular reporter later called the Toronto Blessing "fell." Just prior to this occurance, Clark had been anointed by Rodney Howard-Browne
Soon Howard-Browne began influencing others, but on a small scale. Then, while preaching at Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland, Florida, in 1993, laughter in the Spirit once again broke out bringing Howard-Browne out of obscurity. One of his disciples was Pastor Randy Clark from St. Louis, Missouri. It was Clark (who had already experienced strange phenomenons in his church) who preached the revival sermon in Toronto that ignited the whole movement. The Revival has since spread like wildfire, especially in Vineyard and Charismatic circles, and in recent years has penetrated all kinds of denominations.
An account of how Randy Clark received the blessing or anointing of the Spirit from Rodney Howard-Browne is found in the paper What in the World is Happening to us? This was written by Bill Jackson of the Vineyard movement to try to show that the TB is a good Biblical thing. Here is Bill Jackson's account of how the TB began: Randy Clark is the founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian fellowship in St. Louis. Missouri. After years of seeing little fruit and power in his ministry- he became desperately hungry for God. Hearing of unusual manifestations of God's presence through the ministry of South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne Randy attended one of Rodney's meetings in Tulsa Oklahoma. Randy was powerfully touched and, in going home, began to see a similar outbreak of the Spirit among his people.
For more detailed information on the Word of Faith
Movement check out these websites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith
http://www.watchman.org/reltop/charisma.htm
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/char/more/w-f.htm
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/word-faith.html
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