The Word of Faith Movement
"The most important aspect of any theology is its view of God." Robert Bowman
"until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will." ( Daniel 4:32 )
I'm still working on the history of the word-faith movement, and I'm sorry it's taking so long. I just want to be accurate and thorough. Today while I'm still researching the "roots," we'll take a look at a few of the "shoots." ( and fruits )
First let's read from the Book of Daniel because you'll see in one passage three doctrines distinctive of the word-faith movement shot down, as well as diseased fruit. There definitely could be more; you study the text and see what you learn. ( This was actually one of the Scriptures this morning in my one year Bible Reading Plan. )
King Nebuchadnezzar is walking on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon the text tells us:
"Is not this the great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty? While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he wills'" ( Daniel 4:30-32 )
So the words of the prophesy came to pass - as all of them did in the Old Testament without fail. ( See Deuteronomy 13 and 18 for reference. ) We see King Neb living during this appointed time of the Lord's judgment out in a field with his hair plastered down to his head unwashed, long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds' claws the text tells us. He ate grass like an ox.
Can you imagine?
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever." ( Daniel 4:34 )
Okay here we go:
1.) Word of Faith doctrine says that God is not sovereign. It maintains that man, in fact, is in control and God can't do anything unless we give him permission with our faith. This text speaks for itself of our Mighty, Sovereign God from God himself. The Psalmist tells us in 115:3: "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." Job actually did speak with God and his summary was: "no purpose of yours can be stopped" ( Job 42:2-5 ) God's sovereignty is "declared" throughout the entire biblical narrative. To deny it is to deny the Bible itself. Not to mention putting yourself in a very scary place.
God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are not at odds with each other, but we can make no mistake. God is sovereign over everything he has made. ( Proverbs 19:21 )
2.) Word of Faith doctrine says that God has faith. By definition faith is hoping for the things we can't see or know for sure yet. Word-faith doctrine contradicts the essential biblical doctrine that God is all-knowing.
God does not have or need faith. This alone collapses the word-faith argument; however, they keep hobbling along on broken legs.
3.) Word of Faith doctrine says that we operate in faith alone without reason. King Neb said, "my reason returned to me." God says in Isaiah 1:18, "Come let us reason together." God gave us a brain. He said that we are to love him with all of our mind. ( Matthew 22:37, Jesus quoting from the Old Testament. )
How did Kenyon come up with the word-faith doctrines? That's right, he used his reason. He reasoned wrong, but he still used his reason. The biblical narrative teaches us that faith works together with wisdom. ( Proverbs 1:7 ) The word-faith doctrine stresses to throw out reason because they hold to the trichotomy tradition which we will also investigate in later blogs.
4.) Word of Faith preachers display the diseased fruit of pride and elitism much like King Nebuchadnezzar in this passage and they also teach others to pursue faith as a means to their own ends. In teaching their followers how to make God work for them in the areas of health and wealth, success and favor, they encourage self-centeredness. I know this also first-hand from being a part of the movement.
I've seen the arrogance, as you may have seen as well, when preachers like Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, and Andrew Womack, among the others, claim to have developed their faith to such a high level as to never see sickness or a financial need, living in the miraculous at all times. One has to wonder if the fact that they have not encountered a King Nebuchadnezzar moment is really in their best interest or their "best life now."
"Thus says the LORD; 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All of these things my hand has made, and so all of these things came to be, declares the LORD.
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.'" ( Isaiah 66:1-2 )
"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. ( Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount )
"A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit." ( verse 18 )
The greatest displays of faith are the ones that are not put on display for everyone to see. They are you, dear ones, with your Bible opened on your bed and you on bended knees.
I hope this was helpful!
Happy Thursday!
Stay biblical, my friends.
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| I love my neighbor's weeping willow by the creek. |
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