{"id":16788,"date":"2014-10-22T16:04:54","date_gmt":"2014-10-22T21:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/megaphonedesigns.com\/~pathway\/?p=16788"},"modified":"2014-10-22T16:04:54","modified_gmt":"2014-10-22T21:04:54","slug":"what-is-the-word-faith-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/2014\/10\/22\/what-is-the-word-faith-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Word-Faith movement?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the first in a five-part series on the Prosperity Gospel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does God want me rich? Can my words create reality? Are human beings little gods? <\/span><\/p>\n

Almost without exception, leaders of today\u2019s Word-Faith movement answer these questions with a resounding, \u201cYes!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While elements of the Word-Faith movement are as old as first-century false teachings, the so-called Prosperity Gospel has borrowed from the more recent \u201cmind sciences\u201d and radical Pentecostalism to become a leading form of noxious Christianity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using satellite broadcasts, the Internet, best-selling books, social media, and stadium-size venues, today\u2019s \u201chealth and wealth\u201d preachers are convincing millions of people that material wealth and physical well-being are available through the creative power of our words. <\/span><\/p>\n

But is the Word-Faith movement orthodox in its doctrine? What exactly is the Word-Faith movement? Where did it come from? And who are its leaders? <\/span><\/p>\n

A toxic stream<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Word-Faith movement is a toxic stream of Christianity that emphasizes the power of our words to claim wealth and healing. Essentially, its leaders teach that God wills our prosperity and health; therefore, to be a Christian in poverty or ill health is to be outside God\u2019s will.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosperity preachers say that if we confess \u2013 or say out loud \u2013 that we believe, we will enjoy health and wealth. In other words, our words have creative power. The idea of confessing that we have these blessings in spite of appearances is known as \u201cpositive confession.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Where did the movement come from?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some say the movement arose out of 19th century New Thought metaphysics and mind-science cults such as Christian Science, or even from the occult. Others argue that its roots are in Pentecostalism. Likely, it draws from both.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many point to E.W. Kenyon (1867-1948) as the father of the Word-Faith movement. Kenyon, who pioneered religious broadcasting through his radio program, Kenyon\u2019s Church of the Air, drew some teachings from New Thought and the mind-science cults, but he also embraced the evangelical faith-cure movement of the 19th century.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, most consider Kenneth Hagin (1917-2003) the true father of the Word-Faith movement. Known as \u201cDad Hagin,\u201d he claimed visitations to heaven and hell as well as being resurrected on three separate occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who are its leaders today?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Following is a short list of today\u2019s most popular Word-Faith leaders: <\/span><\/p>\n

Kenneth Copeland. A devoted student of Hagin, Copeland and his wife Gloria use television to share their false teachings with audiences around the world, teachings that include:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSatan conquered Jesus on the cross.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Benny Hinn. Through events, books, and television, Hinn reaches a worldwide audience with his errant views on the nature of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Among his teachings:<\/span><\/p>\n

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each consist of body, soul, and spirit. \u201cThere\u2019s nine of them!\u201d he once proclaimed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why you never ever, ever, ever ought to say, \u2018I\u2019m sick.\u2019 How can you be sick if you\u2019re the new creation? Say, \u2018I\u2019m healed!\u2019 Don\u2019t say, \u2018I\u2019m a sinner.\u2019 The new creature is no sinner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joel Osteen. Arguably the most popular prosperity preacher on earth today, Osteen pastors Lakewood Church in Houston, boasting a weekly attendance of 47,000. Among his teachings: \u201cYou have to begin speaking words of faith over your life. Your words have enormous creative power. The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. This is a spiritual principle, and it works whether what you are saying is good or bad, positive or negative.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Creflo Dollar. Founder and senior pastor of World Changers Church International, Dollar denies the deity of Christ and rebukes pastors that proclaim it, calling them \u201cfantasy preachers.\u201d Among his teachings: \u201cBecause you came from God you are gods \u2013 you\u2019re not just human.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

T.D. Jakes. Jakes leads the Potter\u2019s House mega church in Texas. He serves a Oneness Pentecostal network of churches that reduce the Trinity to three \u201cmanifestations\u201d of God and insists that a person must be baptized in the name of Jesus only. \u201cYou gotta be careful what you speak to, because the power of life and death is in your tongue,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frederick K.C. Price. Price leads the Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles and calls himself the \u201cchief exponent of Name It and Claim It,\u201d adding, \u201cThat\u2019s the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce \u2013 I\u2019m following Jesus\u2019 steps.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Paula White. An internationally known speaker and author, White claims a divine visitation in which God gave her a vision of millions of people to whom she would impart truth, including:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGod does not want us to live in poverty or lack for he wants you to be prosperous. God wants you to have it all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour words create your world\u2026. If God can create something out of nothing, and we are created in his image, then if we can imagine it, then, so it can be for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Next: What do Word-Faith leaders teach?<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the first in a five-part series on the Prosperity Gospel. Does God want me rich? Can my words create reality? Are human beings little gods? Almost without exception, leaders of today\u2019s Word-Faith movement answer these questions with a resounding, \u201cYes!\u201d While elements of the Word-Faith movement are as old as first-century false teachings, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":16791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[35,5,8,30],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is the Word-Faith movement?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This is the first in a five-part series on the Prosperity Gospel. 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