THE WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
By: Victor T. Stephens
"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." (Acts 20:29-31)
CONFESSION AND WEALTH (continued)
Let's look at Mark 10:29-30.
So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or fathers or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time---houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions---and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)
Another ploy of the Word-Faith teachers' prosperity gospel involves the "hundredfold" principle. They refer to Mark 10:29-30 and use it as a guaranteed jackpot formula. Word-Faith teachers are viewed periodically on "The Blasphemy Network (TBN)," pushing their "hundredfold" doctrine to those who will "just go to the phone" with their credit cards and plant a "seed of faith." If you "plant" ten dollars or give a tithe of your income, God is obligated to reciprocate with a hundredfold return of one-thousand dollars or tenfold of your monetary tithe, respectively. The investment returns can also include cars, homes, divine health, etc.
"Give one house and receive one hundred houses or one house worth one hundred times as much. Give one airplane and receive one hundred times the value of the airplane. Give one car and the return would furnish you a lifetime of cars. In short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal." (Gloria Copeland, "God's Will Is Prosperity," Page 54)
So what is the correct interpretation of Mark 10:29-30? Using a metaphorical expression, Jesus was telling the people that if they will leave everything and follow Him, they will receive a "hundredfold" return in a way that relates to inheriting a new household of believers. They would enter into the family of God and experience a compounding of close fellowship with others (Mark 3:31-35; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Timothy 5:1-2). The natural result of this new family would yield a sharing of "houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands...."
Let's examine Luke 6:38.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)
Referring to this verse, wealth advocates teach that "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over" are code terms meaning an abundance of wealth and miracles. After citing this verse, Creflo Dollar encourages his followers to:
"Pray over your seed and expect an abundant harvest." (Creflo Dollar Ministries Website)
While it is true that God will bless those who give liberally, the misuse and abuse of this verse promote more scriptural revisionism. Not surprisingly, Word-Faith proponents have redefined the context of this verse, teaching an extreme viewpoint that contradicts the Word of God.
In proper context, "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over" was simply another metaphorical expression that Jesus exerted to illustrate the compensation of rewards one receives if he gives to those in need. Jesus used this metaphorical expression in a manner identified with the food market. A salesperson, obliged for earlier generosity, is inclined to return generosity to his customers. So that liberal amounts of grain are given, the salesperson would "press down" and "shake" it "together" to make room for more grain until it eventually overflowed. Although some men in the Bible possessed an abundance of material wealth, this synopsis is a far cry from a prescriptive policy for attaining worldly riches.
Wealth proponents incessantly refer to Acts 10:34 to argue that God is not a "respecter of persons." If He will make some men in the Bible wealthy, then it is assumed that it's His will for everyone to be rich in material possessions. This syllogism, however, contradicts scripture; and violates God's sovereignty. In Exodus 33:19 and Romans 9:15, God says, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." These verses indicate that God is not obligated to anyone, and He gives according to His sovereign discretion. Thus, in proper context, Acts 10:34 is referring to salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ saves everyone who believes in him. (v 35-36).
Let's now consider John 14:13-14.
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
Concerning this passage, Word-Faith teachers claim that every believer in Christ has the privilege of attaining the desires of their heart as long as they have enough faith for it and is living a life void of unrepentant sin. Asking in Jesus' name, having much faith coupled with holy living seems to give any person the opportunity to request a blank check from God with His signature on it. With this check, one is free to purchase divine health, expensive homes, cars, and many other possessions.
Fortunately, for our sake, this is not how God operates. No more than an earthly father would give his children whatever they ask; our heavenly Father does not grant our every request. God knows what is best for His children, and thus, there are times when He will say, "No," to a request made in prayer. When God denies a request, one can rest assured that it was because the petition was not according to His will. Word-Faith proponents, however, deny the fact that we should pray according to God's will. As reported by Word-Faith teachers:
"Never, ever, ever go to the Lord and say, 'If it be thy will...." Don't allow such faith-destroying words to be spoken from your mouth." (Benny Hinn, "Rise & Be Healed," Page 47)
"If you have to say, 'If it be thy will or Thy will be done' if you have to say that, then you're calling God a fool...." (Fred Price, "Ever Increasing Faith," TBN, November 16, 1990)
"It is unscriptural to pray, 'If it is the will of God.'" (Kenneth Hagin, "Exceeding Growing Faith," Page 10)
Here, we have some of the most blasphemous statements imaginable spawned from the Word-Faith camp. And it is incredible how large numbers of gullible Christians have accepted this doctrine of heresy when the Word of God clearly states:
"He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'" (Matt. 26:39)
"But took leave of them saying, 'I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.'" (Acts 18:21)
"So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, 'The will of the Lord be done.'" (Acts 21:14)
"Making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you." (Rom. 1:10)
"Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Rom. 8:27)
"That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you." (Rom. 15:32)
"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power."
(1 Cor. 4:19)
"And this we will do if God permits." (Heb. 6:3)
"Then I said, 'Behold I have come --- In the volume of the book it is written of Me --- To do Your will, O God.'" (Heb. 10:7)
"Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'" (James 4:15)
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (1 John 5:14)
Among many others, these eleven verses overwhelmingly indicate God's will shall prevail, not our own will as taught by Word-Faith teachers. It is interesting how these false teachers will allege it is God's will for believers to be wealthy; and then contradict themselves when they dispute the sovereignty of God's will, attempting to reconstitute it as subservient to man's will. It is equally interesting to note that according to Fred Price, Jesus, Paul, and other saints of the Bible would be guilty of calling God a fool since the scriptures clearly show that they prayed according to God's will.
We should submit our requests to God according to the will of God when we pray (1 John 5:14). Taking this action illustrates that we are conforming to His wishes rather than our own. We affirm that we have more trust in God's infinite wisdom than in our limited abilities.
Next: An Evaluation of 2 Corinthians 8:9.
