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.

Jesus loves you.
He died for your sins.
God has a wonderful plan for your life.

I was disappointed to hear this lame and rather overused jargon again today. If good theology is the meat of the Word of God and if some are only able to drink milk because of a lack of maturity, then this is the marshmallow of the Bible. Not any marshmallow, mind you. This is the marshmallow that as a kid I shoved onto the end of a stick and held over a fire. I’d invariably hold the mallow right in the flame and I would be rewarded with a huge fireball on the end of my stick. Ten seconds later it was over and I had a huge, puffy, blackened gob that was crusty, then gooey, then raw. The mallow would then end up as a sticky mess all over my hands, shirt and especially my face… That’s the marshmallow I’m talking about here.

I guess I have a couple of questions. Does John 3:16 say that God loved everyone in the whole world equally, or does it tell how God showed his love to those whom he had chosen?

If Jesus actually died for the sins of every single person, why won’t every person go to heaven…or will they? Was Jesus death only able to bring about the possibility of the remission of sin or did it actually complete that remission?

Is God the great planner in the sky whose wishes are constantly thwarted at every turn by people who can arbitrarily decide their own destiny? Wow. We really are powerful then. It is we who stand in the balance. I have this vision of God. He’s pacing. He’s wringing his hands. He’s visibly concerned. He’s muttering as he paces. “Why did I spend all that energy making all these plans?” “Why can’t people just go along with what I’ve planned for them?” “I wish they’d just do what I want?” “It’s just so frustrating.” I guess the real question is if God is all powerful and if every molecule is upheld by the word of his power what difference would there be between God’s plan for us or God’s will and reality?

Another thing that I heard today was that the devil had conquered, or supposedly conquered, Christ for the short term, but Christ won when he was resurrected from the dead foiling Satan’s plan. Hmmm. I guess Isaiah’s writing that it pleased the Lord to smite him wasn’t really true. I guess God’s releasing his wrath toward sin on His son isn’t really how we are made righteous.

Anyway. Whatever.

Picture is of a wagon way back in a field over by Mendon, MI.