Thursday, July 5, 2012

Word of Faith Movement (Truth or False Teaching)

The following comments are based on the linked article on the Word of Faith Movement.
 Link: http://apprising.org/2012/06/24/john-macarthur-calls-out-the-word-faith-movement-cult/

 I think the best summary I can put is: The Word of Faith (WOF) Movement is Blasphemous and Heretical. Why?...Because it claims God is not sovereign (WOF says God is almighty but not soverign-two different meanings).

WOF claims Jesus has no authority on earth and that authority has been given to the church.

In the WOF system God is not Lord of all, He can’t work unless we release Him to work, He is dependent on human instruments, He is dependent on human faith, and above all, He has to act in response to human words to get His work done.

My opinion: WOF teachings is dangerous because it contorts and twists the Bible for its own uses, claiming verses that unsuspecting people don't know the true context and will agree that what that person is saying is true. They will believe a lie. The only reason I don't think this can be distinctively called a cult is that it says it uses the Bible as its authority as compared to all other cults have something else as the primary authority over the Bible. This however uses experience as authority over the Word of God. It is not outwardly claimed so but in listening to what is preached and taught, this is the case across the board.

The Bible says the heart is deceitful. If what we feel and experience don't line up with the Bible. Throw it out. The false teachers of the WOF are the wolves, don't be deceived. The believers of this teaching need compassion, prayer and love just as anybody that is deceived by false teaching. The Truth of God's character should be stood for.

Definitions: (Source: Wikpedia)

Theology (from the Greek Θεός meaning "God" and λόγος meaning "study of") is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths,

Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for a religious deity or the irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things.[1]

A Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs.

Great resources that go into more detail on the Word of Faith Movement:
A Call for Discernment DVD series by Justin Peters (also in one hour segments on youtube)
The Healing Promise by Mayhue

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