Word of Faith Wrests Scripture!
This scenario is read into the Bible so that it may be extrapolated again in several ways. The first is a fanciful system of Scripture interpretation that arbitrarily assigns new meanings to words and has no regard for the context of passages. For example, Kenyon says: “Adam gained an education through his five senses. His spirit was being made prisoner of his five senses. The psalmist cried, ‘Bring my soul out of prison” (Psalms 142:7). The Hebrew word should have been translated ’spirit’ instead of ’soul’ (The Hidden Man, p. 8). However, a Hebrew lexicon will show that the word for “soul” (nephesh) and “spirit” (ruwach) are two different words. The psalmist in 142:7 uses the word “nephesh.” It cannot be translated “spirit.” Word-Faith teachers also redefine terms in 2 Peter 1:4, a key verse in their doctrine. They claim that the phrase, “you might become partakers of the divine nature,” means that people actually take on God’s nature. This is blasphemy! “A man is re-created by receiving God’s nature into his spirit, which makes him a New Creation and gives him a new self” (The Hidden Man, p. 8). The Greek word translated “partakers“ is koinonos, which, when used as a noun, means “partner.” Peter was saying that Christians are made partners with the divine nature. The Holy Spirit now bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Many other ploys are used to read Word-Faith doctrine into the Bible. Space allows examination of only two of the most outrageous. The first is that of interpreting certain verses to mean the opposite of what the writer intended. Referring to the King James Version’s John 14:14, where Jesus says, “if ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Hagin says: “Here, the Greek word translated ‘ask‘ means ‘demand.’… You’re not demanding anything of the Father. … You’re demanding of the devil” (Faith Food, Winter Edition, p. 58). The Greek text of John 14:14 or a modern translation based on the Greek text has Jesus telling His disciples “If you ask ME anything in MY name, I will do it.” The second ploy is that of denying the validity of a passage that does not square with Word-Faith teaching. Concerning the statement of Job 1:21, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away,” Word-Faith teacher Charles Capps says, “Job did say it, but it is not a true statement. It is a lie. … Job sure was not under the anointing when he made that statement” (The Tongue – A Creative Force, pp. 8-9).
When this kind of fanciful ‘cultic’ Bible interpretation is used, the Scriptures can be made to say anything you want them to say.
Now you are “Divine” you can “Name It And Claim It!”
Clear Scripture passages are altered to fit the Word-Faith system to establish the believer as one who possesses the divine nature so that he can realize his “legal authority.” With this realization comes the knowledge, power, and ability of God. Kenyon says you can “walk as Jesus walked, without any consciousness of inferiority to God or Satan” (The Hidden Man, p. 24). Once the position of being “the same order of being as God” has been established, then it becomes necessary to demonstrate that this “re-created spirit” has unlimited power to create his own reality through positive confession. Capps in his publication, The Tongue – A Creative Force, explains: “God’s Word is spiritual law. It functions just as sure as any natural law. Words governed by spiritual law become spiritual forces working for you. Idle words work against you. … The natural world is to be controlled by man speaking God’s words” (p. 8-9) “You have to believe that those things that you say – everything that you say – will come to pass” (p. 24). “Man was created in God’s class. … a spirit being, very capable of operating on the same level of faith as God. …This is not theory. It is fact. It is spiritual law. It works every time it is applied correctly. To imitate God, you must talk like Him and act like Him” (p. 130-131). “The Word of God conceived in the heart, formed by the tongue, and spoken out of the mouth is creative power. …The spoken Word will work for you as you continually confess it” (p. 148).
The Scriptures used to support this position are selectively chosen from verses affirming that God will give believers what they ask (demand) from Him (Mark 11:23-24, John 16:23-24) to the exclusion of the verses that put these petitions in the perspective of God’s sovereign will (Matthew 6:10; 1 John 5:14). In Word-Faith teaching, man is given the position of a god on Earth. At the same time they denigrate the position of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth and declare that, although Jesus walked with God and that God was in Him, he never actually claimed to be God (Kenneth Copeland, “Take Time to Pray,” Believer’s Voice of Victory; February 1987: 9). This nonsense is amply refuted by the scriptures, for instance John 1:1; 5:18-23; 8:24,58; 10:1-39; and 20:28 all clearly testify to Jesus’ claim to equality with Almighty God.
In common with similar cultic heresies, such as that of the Mormons, man is now raised to a position never given to him in the Bible: “Well, now, you don’t have a human, do you? No, you are one. You don’t have a God in you. You are one,” Copeland declares (The Force of Love, cassette tape). “I am a little God! Critics, be gone!” (Paul Crouch, Praise the Lord, Trinity Broadcasting Network, July 7, 1986) “We are a class of Gods!” (Copeland, quoted in Hanegraaff, Crisis, 116). “As a believer, you have the same spiritual capacity that Jesus has. … Your spirit is just as big as God’s because you are born of Him.” (Copeland, Realm, 16). They claim that once man has been given that position then, with his positive confession, he can create his own reality. The implications of these presumptive teachings are horrifying. The sovereignty of the infinite God is replaced with the sovereignty of finite man. To teach that man can “demand” from God and have everything that he says pre-supposes that man knows what is best in every situation. The only way that could be true is if man is all-knowing. Man is not all-knowing and because of that cannot know what is best in every situation. Only God is omniscient. That’s why we have to rely on His judgment as a loving Father to give us what is best even if it seems harsh at the time. This is what it means to pray “Your [God's] will be done.” This is true faith!
Despite all the fantastic convolutions that Word-Faith teachers go through to try to explain the nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7), it is a clear-cut situation where Paul prays and God answers in the negative! Even though it seemed harsh at the time, it was the act of a loving Father and worked ultimately to Paul’s benefit. It is clear from Scripture that God will refuse some requests and this makes the whole idea of faith as a ‘force’, operating unalterably in accordance with a formula, unsustainable. Further, once we have affirmed that requests must be evaluated in some way, then we have put it back in the hands of God to evaluate all requests. No longer can faith be considered a tool to create realities in accordance with our will, but a trust that God will answer our requests in accordance with His will. (1 John 5:14).
Bring on the Rolls-Royces – give us the cash!
Financial prosperity to those in the Word Faith movement is more than just a blessing. It is an absolute right. In Kenneth Copeland’s words, “Jesus bore the curse of the law on our behalf. He beat Satan and took away his power. Consequently, there is no reason for you to live under the curse of the law, no reason for you to live in poverty of any kind.” (Copeland, Laws, 51). The Bible names countless individuals who, although they were righteous before God, were poor: Paul the apostle (Philippians 4:11-12) who, if you believe Copeland et al, must have lacked faith because he wasted his time making tents (Acts 18:3); his companions (1 Corinthians 4:9-13); the Old Testament faithful (Hebrews 11:37). Even the Lord Jesus lived in poverty (Matthew 8:20)! These facts, however, are vehemently denied by Word Faith teachers, especially John Avanzini, who assures everyone that “Jesus was handling big money.” (Praise the Lord, Trinity Broadcasting Network, videotape, September 15, 1988). In fact, he claims, “Jesus had a nice house, a big house–big enough to have company stay the night with Him at the house.” (Believer’s Voice of Victory, Trinity Broadcasting Network, videotape, January 20, 1991). Frederick K. C. Price agrees: “The whole point is I’m trying to get you to see–to get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and His disciples were poor and then relating that to you. … The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That’s the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce” (Ever Increasing Faith, Trinity Broadcasting Network, videotape, December 9, 1990). Is the average Word-Faith believer driving a Rolls? No – but is it because he doesn’t have enough faith? Or is it the high price he pays for the teaching materials and demands for tithes and offerings that keep the leader in luxury – and the duped followers in poverty? Scripture nowhere indicates that Jesus was wealthy. Instead, it clearly portrays Him as being poor: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). We are made rich in spiritual rewards on earth now and in our certain future destiny in heaven. Paul’s words regarding honest labour and contentment with our present position (Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:22-24) is mocked by these false teachers. Spiritual wealth or life comes to us sinners through the death of Christ. Christians are to be rich in spiritual things (James 2:5), including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Revelation 2:9 speaks of believers who, although poor by worldly standards, are still “rich” because of the spiritual wealth they possess. Temporal riches are of much less value than spiritual riches. According to Paul, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Jesus himself said, “Lay up not for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
To Be Continued…
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