| Wednesday, April 11, 2007 |
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| Written by Kevin Boling | ||
| Wednesday, 11 April 2007 | ||
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Man As God – The Word of Faith Movement
 Yesterday on the “Calling For Truth” Radio Program, we discussed the recent release of the very popular DVD “The Secret”. Specifically we discussed the New Age or New Thought message of this self-help documentary – the theory of the “Law of Attraction”.
The “Law of Attraction” theory basically teaches that “you get what think about and your thoughts determine your destiny”. We noted during the program yesterday, that this type of teaching has infiltrated certain segments of the Church. Nowhere is that more evident than in the “Word of Faith” movement. This movement, which has it roots in a faction that arose during the time of the second century church (called Montanism), is promoted in modern times by such popular health and wealth teachers as Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copland, Charles Capps, etc.
At the center of this teaching are two essential elements: Faith and Words.
When speaking about Faith, the Word of Faith adherents often speak about “spiritual laws that govern the universe”. These “laws” are neutral, perfunctory and impersonal – meaning that they can be used for good and they work automatically, every time we engage them. The emphasis on these impersonal laws is set in direct opposition to the Scriptural teaching of a relationship with a personal God.
In his book, “Man as God – The Word of Faith Movement – An evaluation of the beliefs in the light of historical & biblical Christianity”, Curtis Crenshaw writes, “The new charismatic have adapted the concept by teaching that though the laws are impersonal, the personal God of the Bible has bound Himself by these laws”. He continues in another section to say, “These laws allegedly work by our mental processes, such as knowledge, faith and visualization”.
In other words, if a person has the right knowledge then he can get what he wants. One Word of Faith teacher, Charles Capps writes; “As we understand the laws that govern this world and work in agreement with them, then we can reap the harvest God has provided in the spirit world…”
Under a section entitled “Faith is a Spiritual Force”, Crenshaw writes, “The faith that is taught by these men is not personal faith in a loving God but a ‘magnetic’ force directed at these laws to control them… faith controls, directs and manipulates the metaphysical laws to the end the person has mentally directed them. If one wants prosperity, he must use faith to harness the laws which will create circumstances that bring min money.”
Kenneth Copland (a major proponent of the “Force of Faith”) states: “…spiritual law would be useless if the force of faith were not a real force; but faith is a real force. Faith is a spiritual force, a spiritual energy, a spiritual power. It is this force of faith which makes the laws of the spirit world function”
As for the element of words: Crenshaw writes a section entitled, “Verbally Directing Reality” and states, “These laws are engaged by positive confession: saying positive words while thinking positive thoughts. By doing this, the law must work to bring about whatever we have confessed… consequently what we have in our lives is the result of our confessions. We create our own circumstances by what we say.”
Robert Tilton goes even further to say, “We can tell God on the authority of His Word what we would like Him to do. That’s right! You can actually tell God what you would like His part of the covenant to be!”
As you can see, these teachings (which are very similar to the “Law of Attraction” found in the DVD “The Secret”) have infiltrated the Church to a disturbing level. On today’s “Calling For Truth” Radio Program we will discuss the ramifications of these teachings going unchecked and unchallenged by much of the modern Church.
To listen to the program, click on the words, “Read more”
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