In this last part we’ll explore how the Word of Faith doctrine teaches that you should have perpetual wealth and happiness.
Wealth and prosperity! Who wouldn’t want to be financially prosperous? Being poor certainly isn’t fun. Sometimes though, things in life happen that’s not any fault of your own. I can tell you from experience what it’s like to be homeless. We were, once upon a time in Las Vegas. We even lost a house when we were living in Seattle. Before that, shortly after my wife and I were married I lost my job. I know what it’s like to need food stamps, WIC for our baby, and what it’s like to stand in line waiting for government cheese. It was both very embarrassing and humbling. Through it all God was there. We never starved. As I write this, I’m sitting in my private office in our 2,626 sq foot new home in Texas. I have cars, motorcycles, guns, jewelry, a coin and knife collection and some money in the bank. We are able to give and bless people as the Lord leads. We’re not rich, but we’re not poor either. We’ve always trusted God to provide. And he has.
Yes, there were rich people in the Bible that served God, but I don’t see anywhere that God wants everyone to be rich. Not everybody can be trusted with riches. Riches can turn many away from the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10, NIV: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (Bold, mine) Hence, God in his infinite wisdom may not bestow riches on some.
However, “Kenneth Hagin taught that financial wealth is guaranteed. According to Hagin, the promises of God to bless His people in the Old Testament apply to us today. “Abraham’s blessing—the blessing for keeping God’s commands, His Word—is ours because of Jesus Christ! … Abraham’s blessing includes financial prosperity, and it’s for us today. “God “wants His children to eat the best, He wants them to wear the best clothing, He wants them to drive the best cars, and He wants them to have the best of everything.”
“Joyce Meyer seems to waiver a bit on this teaching. The majority of her teaching seems to indicate that she believes all will prosper financially. The idea of a Christian being poor is “a lie from the pit of hell.” This is because, like Hagin taught, and Life Christian University teaches, God’s promises of prosperity for the Israelites apply to believers today:” (Article, Is Joyce Meyer Word of Faith? By Shawn Nelson, November 2014)
Let’s be clear. Some of the prophecies and promises to Israel were meant just for them. I do not believe in Supersessionism or “replacement theology”. Meaning, the Church has replaced Israel, therefore, all the blessings and promises made to Israel are now for New Testament believers.
The fact is that there are poor Christians here in America as well as all over the world. And it’s not because a Word of Faith teacher hasn’t “enlightened” them as yet. For Jesus himself said, “You will always have the poor among you..” Matt 26:11(a) NLT. However, that being understood, I do believe that a person or family, even a country, can have a spirit of poverty. And that spirit can be passed down from generation to generation. I will concede that I don’t have a lot of scripture to back this up but I’m not dogmatic about it either. Nor would I teach it as established doctrine.
Another reason a person can be poor is that they just don’t make wise decisions with their money, or they’re just plain lazy. You can find a host of scripture in proverbs concerning lack of diligence. You can confess prosperity and “speak words of faith” over your checkbook until you’re blue in the face, but if you make poor financial choices and/or lazy, it’s not going to do a damn thing (yes, I wrote “damn”. It’s in the Bible).
Additionally, I don’t see the Apostle Paul as being rich. The Bible reveals that he was, by trade, a tent maker. He did not live off the churches he started. Not because he wasn’t worthy of being supported, but so as not be a burden on them financially. Paul wrote in Phil 4:10-12, “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (NIV) Further we read in 1 Timothy 6:6, (NLT): “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
Now as far as happiness. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to pursue happiness. On the contrary, the Bible tells us to pursue rightlessness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, peace and gentleness. (1 Tim 6:11; Heb 12:14)
The Word of Faith doctrine is very appealing to the flesh. It puts self in the driver’s seat and like Joel Olsteen’s book “Your Best Life Now”, you can have it all here AND when you get to Heaven. I’m sorry Joel, but it doesn’t work that way. The Bible instructs us to take up our cross here to gain our crown over there.
Before we conclude let me just cite several of my observations about the Word of Faith churches I’ve attended.
1) They usually have very good worship teams. You’re free to be demonstrative while worshiping. You can dance, clap, raise your hands and shout. It’s wonderful!
2) They preach quite a bit on love and to be careful not to be offend others. Most all the messages are what I call “softball” sermons. Meaning they’re all positive messages. It’s all milk with no meat. They teach part of the Bible, but not the full counsel of God’s word. (See 2 Tim 3:16-17) If you’re looking to be challenged by the word to grow and mature, you won’t find it here.
3) They stay away from certain topics; sin, righteous living, sexual purity, God’s judgement, hell, ongoing repentance, sanctification and living a holy lifestyle. There’s never a word about such things as homosexuality (in the church!), pornography or couples living together that aren’t married. In short, they’re very seeker friendly. Personally, I believe in the axiom, “come as you are, but don’t leave as you were”.
4) Most believe in the gifts of the Spirit, but they don’t really teach on them. I believe one reason is that if they did, they feel they may lose control of the service. Even if you have the gift of tongues, prophecy, or interpretation, you are not free to exercise it. They’re very big on control. They have their set of ministers, worship team members, and prayer teams, and unless you’ve been sanctioned as one there is no room for you. (See 1Cor 14:26) However, they’re open to anyone who wants to help clean the church.
5) They’re very big into works. Yes, it’s true that, He created us for good works and that we should walk in them (see Eph 2:10), however, it would seem that these good works are equated to, or in lieu of, one’s personal spiritual growth.
6) No politics!! They will almost never say anything from the pulpit that could be construed as having the slightest hint of anything political. One gets the impression that a Christain should stay out of politics. It doesn’t seem to matter that our constitutional rights are being obliterated, millions of babies being murdered in the womb, or sexually explicit teaching and material is being taught in our public schools, they’re staying out of it!
In conclusion, to the question: Is the Word of Faith Movement sound doctrine or heresy? I hope that I have shown, via scripture, that it is indeed… heresy. One of the benefits of reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God for yourself, is that you’ll be able to recognize false doctrine when you encounter it.
If you’re still not convinced, please look up an article on UC Ministeries Blog, titled, “Why I left the Word of Faith and RHEMA”, by John Edwards.
(Side note; I decided not to reveal the specifics that made me realize that I was in a Word of Faith church. I felt that it would not be edifying. I apologize)