Word of Faith Part 1
The defining doctrine of the word of faith movement is Gnostic idea of the God’s power. It goes something like this:
God’s power in this natural realm is called electricity, and God’s power in the spiritual realm is called the force of faith. Just like there are natural laws which govern the force of electricity there are spiritual laws or principles of faith which govern God’s power in the supernatural. As we learn these principles of faith and put them into practice we can further God’s kingdom here on earth.
What are the errors here? First, there seems to be a design here to draw a wedge between God and His power; however, scripture draws no such division. God’s power is not a force to be harnessed, rather it is something intrinsic within Him. The best translations of God’s power or the power of God should be something like “God powerful”. God’s power is himself. He doesn’t use His knowledge of his power to harness it. He is it.
The idea that God would punish or reward people for slight and exacting terminology and formulas for prayer or confession is an anathema to me. The thought of an absent minded “I’m sick of this” making one ill or “Ahhh… that just kills me!” leading to one’s death isn’t a Christian or Biblical idea. It is rather a superstitious and witchcraft like idea. Get our formulas and our mantras just right and God must act on our behalf.
The subtle appeal of this is that while we credit God for our victories and our blessings we really know that it is a direct result of our ability and knowledge to do or say the right thing. The movement is not God centered it is man centered. The negative side is that when we are in a state of suffering or affliction, it is our own fault. We are either in sin or we don’t have enough faith. Rather than suffer with the afflicted among us, we point at them like Job’s friends and discuss their failings.
My God is a sovereign, loving, jealous, consuming fire who holds me in the palm of his hands and provides for my every need whether or not I say just the right thing or have just enough faith. Lord I believe. Help thou my unbelief.
The defining doctrine of the word of faith movement is Gnostic idea of the God’s power. It goes something like this:
God’s power in this natural realm is called electricity, and God’s power in the spiritual realm is called the force of faith. Just like there are natural laws which govern the force of electricity there are spiritual laws or principles of faith which govern God’s power in the supernatural. As we learn these principles of faith and put them into practice we can further God’s kingdom here on earth.
What are the errors here? First, there seems to be a design here to draw a wedge between God and His power; however, scripture draws no such division. God’s power is not a force to be harnessed, rather it is something intrinsic within Him. The best translations of God’s power or the power of God should be something like “God powerful”. God’s power is himself. He doesn’t use His knowledge of his power to harness it. He is it.
The idea that God would punish or reward people for slight and exacting terminology and formulas for prayer or confession is an anathema to me. The thought of an absent minded “I’m sick of this” making one ill or “Ahhh… that just kills me!” leading to one’s death isn’t a Christian or Biblical idea. It is rather a superstitious and witchcraft like idea. Get our formulas and our mantras just right and God must act on our behalf.
The subtle appeal of this is that while we credit God for our victories and our blessings we really know that it is a direct result of our ability and knowledge to do or say the right thing. The movement is not God centered it is man centered. The negative side is that when we are in a state of suffering or affliction, it is our own fault. We are either in sin or we don’t have enough faith. Rather than suffer with the afflicted among us, we point at them like Job’s friends and discuss their failings.
My God is a sovereign, loving, jealous, consuming fire who holds me in the palm of his hands and provides for my every need whether or not I say just the right thing or have just enough faith. Lord I believe. Help thou my unbelief.
7 comments:
So here's something which I can whole-heartedly agree with. I have always found myself nearly vomiting when a preacher blames a lack of healing on the person's lack of faith. At a relative's urging, I had a (hyper faith) preacher pray for me a couple years ago, and after praying for everyone he said that we had been healed. If we left the church that day and found ourselves to not be healed it was due to our own lack of faith, or perhaps something that we had done to 'lose' our healing. That smells like heretical b.s. to me. Oh, and this guy actually tried to push me down, as though God needs people to fall on the floor in order to heal them. Was that in Acts chapter 30 or something?
It has also bothered me when I hear people praying and trying to find the proper formula to manipulate God. Like He needs to be reminded of certain promises He made or something.
I tend to think that God is smart enough to know what needs to be done, and, should He choose to, He'll do it.
I have resigned myself to simply asking for healing, or whatever I am in need of, and not getting into reminding God of every little why, when, how and what. He will do as He wills.
Troy,
I started asking questions like: "Where does the Bible speak of anyone ever losing a healing?"
The few times that people fell down as dead what exactly happened?
I would, however, distinguish between the theatrics and circus mentality of the pentecostal/charismatics and the heretical theology of the Word of Faith movement. Losing a healing via lack of faith is heresy. Pushing a person down is just poor entertainmet.
Joe
I have seen hypnotists (on television, specifically a guy named Criss Angel) who utilize the exact same techniques that some preachers use to instantly 'hypnotize' people. The effect is exactly the same as those who are 'slain in the Spirit'. Usually invilves touching the person's neck, cradling their head or blowing on the person lightly.
I think that in a church setting this is more heretical than theatrical. Manipulation = witchcraft. Witchcraft = not a good thing. My two cents.
Ok. I'll give you that Troy. I guess I've felt that the physical and emotional manipulations are less devastating than the clear anti-Christ, anti-God heresies of the gnostic, dualist WOF movement.
Upon reflection, it isn't just a kind of liking to fall or something. It is looking to someone other than God to fulfill or needs. The gnostics have us look to ourselves, and others may have us look to themselves.
By the way, did you see that Mt. Hope Church in Lansing is being sued by a woman that they had fall but did not catch? The articles said that the fall drove the tines from a hair clip into her skull and she had to ring the blood out of her blouse. It's funny how both sides are engaging in character assasination at this point.
I have not seen anything about the 'Great Mt. Hope Church Incident'. I'm a little out of touch with the outside world.
So I've done some really quick research on the WOF movement. You know, there are some points that I sort think are valid, like speaking things into existence. I just think that their definition of how this happens is way off. For example, if I constantly talk about being successful and having money, I think that it changes something fundamentally within me, allowing me to be those things. If I constantly tell myself that I'm worthless and stupid - I will be. The same applies to how children are spoken to by their parent and teachers.
So, my point is that while I agree that, in some abstract way, words can become reality, I'm not sure that it applies to manipulating God. I have recently watched 'The Secret' and 'What the Bleep Do We Know'. Both deal with quantum physics and speaking things into existence. I don't understand quantum physics that well, but I think that these are the same things that WOF teaches, only with a 'God' spin on them.
Maybe I'm way off...
Troy,
I think the difference between things like having the things we say give us a positive or negative self image or a positive or negative outlook and effecting outcomes and WOF is that the WOF take is that these things we say are like secret formula phrases and are magical or mystical. Of course the things I say influence me. Do the things I say control me or destin me?
It's kinda like them using the phrase that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Well, yeah. That's really a definition of faith. But is it magic in that it makes those things we imagine have substance or is it that those things we hope for (salvation in particular) are made substantive to us by the faith God grants us.
Joe
if this was part one then when is part two?
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