False Teachings on Faith

[Chris]

False Teachings on Faith

False Teachings on Faith
By Dave Hunt

We each shrink from pointing the corrective finger at anyone, yet each of us is responsible to check out today's teachers against the Bible, just as the Bereans did with Paul. Critics often demand, "By what authority do you question the teaching of Christian leaders?" My standard response is, "I'm just a Berean, and so are you, so test what I teach by Scripture also."

The failure of Christians to know the Bible, to think for themselves and to do their Berean duty allows church leaders to continue to lead millions astray. That is no light matter and should concern us all enough to do something about it. No one can excuse himself for going along with false doctrine and practices or for remaining silent when others are being misled!

Several people have forwarded to me copies of a Kenneth Copeland letter that is a blatant example of what every Christian ought to reject and reprove. Enclosing a photo of himself standing in front of his "prayer cabin" in the Ozarks, Copeland writes, "There will be moments during those three days and nights [at the cabin] when the anointing on me will be greater than any need you have." Setting himself up as a channel of "the miracle power of God flowing through me," he instructed recipients of the letter to do three "very important" things to get their "miracle":

As you visualize yourself there with me, remember there is no time nor distance in the realm of the spirit. Fill in and return to me the 'Covenant of Agreement' prayer form. I want it right beside me so that every time those special moments of anointing come I can touch you by touching our Covenant Agreement. The very moment your letter leaves your hand to be mailed back to me say with your mouth (out loud)"Lord Jesus, my miracle has started! It's working for me now!"

This three-part ritual was presented as the technique that would assure "you will have what we say." It is sad enough that naive Christians are being led into attempting to manipulate God through white magic, but they are also being relieved of their money and enticed into covetousness by the unbiblical promise that "planting money" guarantees a harvest of money in return. There is one guaranteed winner: the person enticing you with the seed-faith promise, in this case Kenneth Copeland.

He makes clear that giving him a seed-faith offering is an essential part of the ritual: "I want you to remember...your "Covenant Agreement" letter is not the only thing that will be in your envelope when you release your faith words. Your seed-faith offering will also be in your envelope." Describing his ministry as "good soil," Copeland invokes visualization again: "As you enclose your seed-faith offering in the envelope see your harvest coming up!" (Copeland's emphasis for all quotes)

On TBN February 5, 1986, with co-hosts Paul and Jan Crouch giving enthusiastic approval, Copeland explained that Galatians 6:7 means that when you give money to a ministry, if you don't expect to reap a harvest of money you are mocking God! And in her book, Gloria Copeland declares that Mark 10:30 guarantees that for every $1 you give you receive $100, which she says is a very good deal.

It sounds like a slot machine in the sky, a guaranteed way to buy a miracle and at a bargain price! There is nothing mysterious about how it works, however; the money doesn't drop from the sky into the ministries of Hagin, Copeland, Roberts, et al. It is given to them by their supporters, who unfortunately don't have a list of donors to entice into giving them seed-faith offerings, which is the only seed-faith that works! Of course we ought to give to ministries that will use the funds for God's purposes, but it is not biblical to "give to get." Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 13 that even if we give all we have to feed the poor and our bodies to be burned and are not motivated by love (love expects nothing in return) it is not accepted by God.

How did this pagan idea get into the church? It was invented by Oral Roberts "in the early fifties," as he explains in his book The Miracle of Seed-Faith (p 6). The "faith teachers" who use this same money-raising technique learned it from him. There is no way it can be derived from Scripture. In Matthew 13 the seed represents the Word of God, the soil is the heart of those who receive it, and the sower is Christ. In variations of this central parable, the seed represents Christians, the soil is the world and again the sower is God himself. Never is there a hint that "seed" is money or that God blesses those who give to get.

Yet millions of Christians go along with this and other unbiblical schemes, hoping to reap a reward in this world, which, if they did, would rob them of an eternal reward. In direct reproof of this false interpretation, Galatians 6:8 goes on to say, "He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Every Christian ought to firmly oppose false teachings whether they come from Kenneth Copeland or Dave Hunt or anyone else. To fail to do so is not only an encouragement of false teachers but a failure to warn those who are deceived by them. TBC

[Hannah]

It is all based on a gross twisting of the parable of the sower.

Nothing to do with getting financial blessings.

If you don't look at the scriptures these guys quote in context you can easily be fooled.

[mattfivefour]

Another good message from brother Dave. IMO, the most important paragraph in it? "The failure of Christians to know the Bible, to think for themselves and to do their Berean duty allows church leaders to continue to lead millions astray. That is no light matter and should concern us all enough to do something about it. No one can excuse himself for going along with false doctrine and practices or for remaining silent when others are being misled!"

[Carl]

We each shrink from pointing the corrective finger at anyone, yet each of us is responsible to check out today's teachers against the Bible, just as the Bereans did with Paul. Critics often demand, "By what authority do you question the teaching of Christian leaders?" My standard response is, "I'm just a Berean, and so are you, so test what I teach by Scripture also."

But wait a minute! Is it being suggested that I have to know the Bible? The sheeple say just feed me. I will eat anything that is put into the manger, or I will eat anything that is in the pasture.

[myinnuendo999]

As you visualize yourself there with me, remember there is no time nor distance in the realm of the spirit. Fill in and return to me the 'Covenant of Agreement' prayer form. I want it right beside me so that every time those special moments of anointing come I can touch you by touching our Covenant Agreement. The very moment your letter leaves your hand to be mailed back to me say with your mouth (out loud)"Lord Jesus, my miracle has started! It's working for me now!"

This is Kenneth Copeland practicing the occult and witchcraft which God clearly condemns in Scripture. How arrogant, prideful, self-inflated and egotistical can you get to actually believe that You have something I don't--esoteric and very gnostic to say the least which is again not from God? All the treasures of wisdom are hidden In Christ"-- and we who have Jesus have ALL we need in him=Col.2:3. God gives every genuine Believer the Holy Spirit who lives in us. God's word clearly says in 1Jo 2:27 "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Unless of course many of these people are really just not saved and this is just evidence that the Holy Spirit is void in their lives cause obviously their love for things and money are not the desires of a truly saved person. People who are born again can and do fall into the trap of desiring things, but for the most part they desire to know Jesus and grow in their love for Him and be more like Him. Money and things are normally the farthest things from a genuine believers life.

[Kenny64]

Proper Bible interpretation or exegesis. Reading the scripture, the book, chapter and verse in that order.
One has to read the scripture in context with the message of who is speaking or who the speaker is writing too to fully understand. Prayer is a huge factor in bilble understanding scripture.
Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105)

[Dunamis]

We also need to bear in mind that there is truth to the faith movement. We dont throw the baby out with the bath water. I agree some people like mike murdock etc.. have taken this to the extreme and has turned the house of the lord into a den of thieves. May caution while warning christians about these things is noble like paul warned aboult alexander the coppersmith, it could also lead to unhealthy bitterness and judgement. Believe me i have been there. We must look for the prize of the high calling of christ run our race and not let these become inhibiting distractions in our lives. I know brother hagin. He was a good man had a heart for souls and walked in love like nobody else i know. His school has trained thousands of pastors,evangelists,missionaries and has won millions of souls to christ. Faith is the fundamental foundation in our lives for the scripture says " the just shall live by faith" " without faith it is impossible to please god" "we must make daily our confession of faith" Jesus was a faith man. There is a middle road to faith some have gotten into the ditch but, let it not deters us from our love walk for faith works by love??? Love your neighbor as you love yourself?? Did not jesus pray for those that nailed him to the cross? So let us pray for those who have made shipwreck of their faith and the zeal has eaten them up so that they may be forgiven and restored.

[myinnuendo999]

Dunamis said--

May caution while warning christians about these things is noble like paul warned aboult alexander the coppersmith, it could also lead to unhealthy bitterness and judgement.

While I agree that we can become bitter and judge in an unhealthy way, may gently I remind you that Christians are commanded to "test everything hold onto the good, avoid every kind of evil" by judging WITH a heart of Compassion.---FIRST take the beam out of your eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye"-Matthew 7:5. If we truly LOVE people we will have a healthy concern for them being duped to believing false teachings that will send them to hell.

We Judge fairly because God has shed abroad his love in our hearts and we let the word of God expose their lies and the Holy Spirit convict with the truth to expose the lies and judge--not us. We must present the truth to stop the decay of lies. We don't STOP judging for fear that we will offend people especially in this day in age that is so prevalent with false teachings everywhere. Much of the problem we are facing now IS with becoming so laxed in our judging that has caused massive flooding in our churches the sewage and swill of lies and heresy that is destroying people's lives.

Jesus judged and even called the pharisees hypocrites, full of dead man's bones because they WERE enemies of the truth --- not enemies on a personal level for he loved them and had compassion as we should. At the same time people like Kenneth Hagen, Kennith Copeland, TD Jakes etc are enemies of the Truth and we are to expose them and command them to repent if we love them and others.

Believe me i have been there. We must look for the prize of the high calling of christ run our race and not let these become inhibiting distractions in our lives. I know brother hagin. He was a good man had a heart for souls and walked in love like nobody else i know. His school has trained thousands of pastors,evangelists,missionaries and has won millions of souls to christ.

As far as it goes with Kennith Hagen being biblical, being a good man and that he has taught man pastors, evangelists, missionaries etc. I beg to differ in that much of his teachings were not biblical and now he has produced people who are heretics.

Take a look at some of his beliefs--"Kenneth Hagen was a Word of Faith preacher. He claimed to be a prophet called by God Himself. Kenneth believed in the following beliefs: Christians are little gods. Jesus didn't pay for our sins on the cross and he had to finish the job of atonement in hell. If Christians are not healthy and wealthy it is because of their lack of faith or knowledge. Christians have control over their lives by the words that they speak. If they speak sickness and poverty they will be sick and broke. Therefore, if a Christian speaks blessings and healing they will be healthy and have wealth." The believer is called Christ…That’s who we are; we’re Christ!" (Kenneth M. Hagin, Zoe: The God-Kind of Life (Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Inc., 1989), 35-36, 41.
Kenneth Hagin also claims that Jesus Christ took on the nature of Satan, "[s]piritual death means something more than separation from God. Spiritual death also means having Satan’s nature…Jesus tasted death—spiritual death—for every man." (Kenneth E. Hagin, The Name of Jesus (Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1981), 31. Kenneth Hagin Jr. is just a clone of his father.



None of this is biblical nor the mark of a genuine believer in Jesus according to Scripture. Does that mean I know whether he was saved or not?-- I don't but, I do have my suspicions although I repose them with God. Yet Hagin has left quite a destructive path behind with people like Kenneth Copeland and many others who are not biblical at all and I do NOT sympathize with people who are continuing to **** people to hell with another Gospel.

I'm more concerned with speaking out, warning, judging false teachings in light of the truth. What about the People imbibing this hogwash who need to be warned of the caveat of false beliefs so they don't go astray. sympathizing and having compassion on people who are being led astray means having to judge false teachings and be like the Bereans.

[Dunamis]

[QUOTE=myinnuendo999;267940]Dunamis said--

While I agree that we can become bitter and judge in an unhealthy way, may gently I remind you that Christians are commanded to "test everything hold onto the good, avoid every kind of evil" by judging WITH a heart of Compassion.---FIRST take the beam out of your eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye"-Matthew 7:5. If we truly LOVE people we will have a healthy concern for them being duped to believing false teachings that will send them to hell.

We Judge fairly because God has shed abroad his love in our hearts and we let the word of God expose their lies and the Holy Spirit convict with the truth to expose the lies and judge--not us. We must present the truth to stop the decay of lies. We don't STOP judging for fear that we will offend people especially in this day in age that is so prevalent with false teachings everywhere. Much of the problem we are facing now IS with becoming so laxed in our judging that has caused massive flooding in our churches the sewage and swill of lies and heresy that is destroying people's lives.

Jesus judged and even called the pharisees hypocrites, full of dead man's bones because they WERE enemies of the truth --- not enemies on a personal level for he loved them and had compassion as we should. At the same time people like Kenneth Hagen, Kennith Copeland, TD Jakes etc are enemies of the Truth and we are to expose them and command them to repent if we love them and others.



As far as it goes with Kennith Hagen being biblical, being a good man and that he has taught man pastors, evangelists, missionaries etc. I beg to differ in that much of his teachings were not biblical and now he has produced people who are heretics.

------------------------------------------

I have looked at all those and completely agree with them. do you have scripture to disprove them? I have scripture to prove them.

[myinnuendo999]

[QUOTE=Dunamis;267957]

Dunamis said--

While I agree that we can become bitter and judge in an unhealthy way, may gently I remind you that Christians are commanded to "test everything hold onto the good, avoid every kind of evil" by judging WITH a heart of Compassion.---FIRST take the beam out of your eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye"-Matthew 7:5. If we truly LOVE people we will have a healthy concern for them being duped to believing false teachings that will send them to hell.

We Judge fairly because God has shed abroad his love in our hearts and we let the word of God expose their lies and the Holy Spirit convict with the truth to expose the lies and judge--not us. We must present the truth to stop the decay of lies. We don't STOP judging for fear that we will offend people especially in this day in age that is so prevalent with false teachings everywhere. Much of the problem we are facing now IS with becoming so laxed in our judging that has caused massive flooding in our churches the sewage and swill of lies and heresy that is destroying people's lives.

Jesus judged and even called the pharisees hypocrites, full of dead man's bones because they WERE enemies of the truth --- not enemies on a personal level for he loved them and had compassion as we should. At the same time people like Kenneth Hagen, Kennith Copeland, TD Jakes etc are enemies of the Truth and we are to expose them and command them to repent if we love them and others.



As far as it goes with Kennith Hagen being biblical, being a good man and that he has taught man pastors, evangelists, missionaries etc. I beg to differ in that much of his teachings were not biblical and now he has produced people who are heretics.

------------------------------------------

I have looked at all those and completely agree with them. do you have scripture to disprove them? I have scripture to prove them.

Dunamis, As far as presenting the evidence, you have made assertions that you need to prove with Scripture because the burden of proof lies with the person making assertions as you have with Hagen. I'm just calling out the errors and would like for you to tell us what specifically you believe to be true that Hagen has said that I have exposed as heresy

[Dunamis]

[QUOTE=myinnuendo999;267965]

Dunamis, As far as presenting the evidence, you have made assertions that you need to prove with Scripture because the burden of proof lies with the person making assertions as you have with Hagen. I'm just calling out the errors and would like for you to tell us what specifically you believe to be true that Hagen has said that I have exposed as heresy

if you want to take it to the apologetics forum make a thread and we can discuss. i don't think it would be proper to hijack this gentlemens thread.

[Hannah]

We also need to bear in mind that there is truth to the faith movement. We dont throw the baby out with the bath water. I agree some people like mike murdock etc.. have taken this to the extreme and has turned the house of the lord into a den of thieves. May caution while warning christians about these things is noble like paul warned aboult alexander the coppersmith, it could also lead to unhealthy bitterness and judgement. Believe me i have been there. We must look for the prize of the high calling of christ run our race and not let these become inhibiting distractions in our lives. I know brother hagin. He was a good man had a heart for souls and walked in love like nobody else i know. His school has trained thousands of pastors,evangelists,missionaries and has won millions of souls to christ. Faith is the fundamental foundation in our lives for the scripture says " the just shall live by faith" " without faith it is impossible to please god" "we must make daily our confession of faith" Jesus was a faith man. There is a middle road to faith some have gotten into the ditch but, let it not deters us from our love walk for faith works by love??? Love your neighbor as you love yourself?? Did not jesus pray for those that nailed him to the cross? So let us pray for those who have made shipwreck of their faith and the zeal has eaten them up so that they may be forgiven and restored.

FAITH requires being a Saved Believer and NO ONE who denies Christ can be said to have FAITH!

Many of these Word of Faith preachers recognise Jesus as Lord but is He Lord of their lives? If Jesus was their Lord and Saviour they would not teach against the Diety of Christ or Twist God's Word against the true Gospel message. I don't care so much about the preaching for profit, it is the subtle ways many of these preachers deny Christ that offends me and those who deny Christ are defined in Gods Word as anti-christ, false teachers and prophets that lead mankind astray.

2PE 2:17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

I pray a general prayer for those who teach God's Word that they might know and understand the Gospel.

I will not bother praying by name ever Word of Faith preacher. These men and women have the scriptures and if they cannot be Saved through their own diligent study of God's Word then you have to wonder why.

DT4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

These people have every opportunity to come to Christ because they read study the Bible, they good Christian literature at their disposal. They are not without what they need to come to an understanding of the Gospel. They have heard the gospel message and read it over and over again so why have they not responded? Why ahve they not produced spiritual fruit?

These Word of Faith wolves have NO EXCUSE. They ignore what is right under their very noses. IF they truly had a sincere heart to KNOW the Lord they would be different they would not be into their twisting of scripture and preaching for PROFIT, not to mention the digusting way some preach about Jesus (it is subtle but it is there). Some preach outright lies.

It is God who will judge each of them according to what where they stand with Him and what they have done.

I really find it hard to pray for any of them with any kind of compassion when they have the Word of God and read it so often.

What did Jesus say to the Pharisees who would not accept Him as Messiah?

JN 5:36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

JN 5:41 "I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

JN 5:45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

Jesus knew there were those who HAD the scriptures but refused to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Jesus will accuse them before God.

These Word of Faith Preachers are walking on dangerous ground and I am not concerned because they will be judged by the very Word of God they misuse and deny.

HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

They have what they need. My prayers cannot change their will or their decision to reject God and Christ but use Him for personal gain.

I may not be a very loving person but my compassion is reserved for the multitudes who have yet to hear the gospel or even see a Bible. For the illerate who cannot read God's Word for themselves. For those in nations where they cannot freely go out and find out about Jesus Christ and find out what he did or who he is. There are other far more deserving of my time in prayer.

The Word of Faith preachers have everything they need and then some.

As Abraham said to the rich man who begged him to send Lazarus back to his family so they would not end up in his situation.

LK 16:29 "Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

LK 16:30 " `No, father Abraham,' he said, `but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

LK 16:31 "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "