The Word Faith Movement

History and founders of the Word Faith Movement

- Prominent people leading the Movement are Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Frederick Price, Paul Yongii Cho. Many others could be listed.

- Stems from the Charismatic/Pentecostal circles within the Christian churches.

- Reaches millions of listeners through radio programs, books and tracts; most notable is the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

- Attractive to Bible-believing and born again Christians due to it appearance to be Christian; uses same terminology, uses scriptures, uses evangelical methods.

Doctrines Taught in the Word Faith Movement

Hank Hanegraaff identifies the doctrine in FLAWS: each letter contains four spiritual laws of the Word Faith Movement.

F = Faith.

Faith is a force; therefore you can create your own reality based on faith or its opposite, fear.

Faith is a formula; you name it and then you claim it.

Faith of God is really just His own faith subject to the Laws of Faith and the Force of Faith.

Faith has a Hall of Fame; Biblical people like Job are considered to have failed the laws of faith and therefore have been relegated to the Hall of Shame.

L = Little gods.

Deification of Man is that man was created as an exact replica of God (including shape and size). Man is actually a little god.

Demotion of God is that God is only given power if man gives him permission. He is a failure for allowing the fall of Satan and man. He is equal to man; he even looks exactly like man (six feet tall and weighs 200 pounds).

Deification of Satan is calling Satan the God of this world and giving him more power than God. Demotion of Christ is that Christ is a man and nothing more.

A = Atonement Atrocities.

Re-creation on the cross is that Jesus was changed while on the cross from divine to demonic, taking on the nature of Satan.

Redemption in hell is that Christ was redeemed in hell by Satan.

Rebirth in hell is that Jesus was born again in hell.

Reincarnation is that Jesus was reincarnated back to a divine state after being born again in hell. Believers too, can become reincarnated, becoming “as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.”

W = Wealth and want.

Cultural conformity is that Jesus was rich, wore designer clothes, and lived in a big house. This conforms Christ to our culture, rather than him transforming us.

Cons and cover-ups promise a lifetime of wealth depending on you, your faith and the sin in your life. The secret is seed faith, what you sow you will reap 100 fold. The more you give, the more you get.

Covenant Contract is that God and Abraham made a covenant that if Abraham would allow God to work in the Earthly realm, Abraham would have unlimited prosperity. Context is also important. The biggest error made is taking scripture out of context.

S = Sickness and suffering.

Symptoms and sickness are merely tricks of the Devil to steal your health.

Medicine is seen as a crutch.

Satan and sickness means simply that Satan causes sickness and if you are sick you are not with God.

Sin and sickness is that sin and a lack of faith cause sickness.

Sovereignty and sickness is that man has more sovereignty than God. Do not pray “Thy will be done”, that is considered stupidity. Just claim your health from God.

GOD - He is not exactly like man. Exodus 8:10, Isaiah 46:9, Numbers 23:19. Hosea 11:9 says, “For I am God, and not a man” (NKJV).

MAN - God did not reproduce himself when He made Adam. Look to the direct translation of the Hebrew words for ‘image’ and ‘likeness’ shown in Genesis 1:26-27. This will show that these words are used in an attempt to explain God’s nature by comparing it to something similar, man’s nature.

JESUS - He was not equal to Satan’s nature. He is more than a born again man. Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 3:18, Luke 23:46 (note He did not say into Satan’s hands), Hebrews 13:8.

ATONEMENT - Christ death and resurrection were necessary to pay for mankind’s sin. Hebrews 12:2, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:19-20, John 10:17-18.

MAN'S DIVINITY - Man is not a god. Isaiah 43:10, 44:8, James 2:19, Colossians 1:14-17.GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY - God has all the power. 1 Chronicles 29:11, Deuteronomy 10:14, Job 41:11, Daniel 4:35, Psalm 115:3, Ephesians 1:19-20.

Personal Application from the Word Faith Movement

1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”. Know the Word of God; follow nothing that contradicts it.

Get “Back to Basics." Learn the ABCDE’s ; Amen, Bible, Church, Defense, and Essentials.