Leverite_Marriage_Law_Vs_Tithing_Law

Slavery was practiced before the law of Moses too, codified into the law of Moses and neither abolished nor condemned in the New Testament! Therefore, is it okay to practice slavery today? Just because something was practiced before the law of Moses, it does not mean it should automatically carry over to the New Testament Christians. This type of argument is deeply flawed and illogical.

Our modern day tithe teachers are leaving an indelible impression in the minds of their followers that the ancient Jews tithed only 10% of their gross income and demand that Christians must also tithe 10% of their gross income to their local Churches.

However, to make such an assumption is totally false and contrary to the scriptures.

There were multiple tithes prescribed in the Mosaic law contrary to popular opinion. Let us focus on the 3rd tithe in this article.

Definition of the 3rd tithe:

After the Sabbatical year, on every third and sixth year the farm owning Israelites must keep the increase of their produce within their gates and distribute it to the Levites, the widows, the poor and the strangers.

The 3rd tithe is also known as:

The Charity tithe / Tithe for the poor / Welfare tithe

Some of the distinct things about the 3rd tithe were, little to no traveling and transportation involved and this is the only tithe for which God promises to bless the works of the giver. No promises were given for the givers of the 1st and 2nd tithes in the Mosaic law. Also after paying the 3rd tithe the tithers were required to offer a specific declaration and a prayer as prescribed in Deuteronomy 26:13-15. There are no instructions in the Mosaic law to offer any specific prayer after paying the 1st or 2nd tithes.

Proof from the law of Moses (Scriptures about the 3rd tithe):

Deuteronomy 14:28

“At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.”

Deuteronomy 14:29

“The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

Deuteronomy 26:12 – 15

“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.”

Questions and Answers about the third tithe:

1. What was tithable as the third tithe?

* One tenth of the increase in the produce. Money (Shekel) is not mentioned and the cattle are not mentioned either.

2. Who were the recipients?

* The Levites, the widows, the poor and the strangers (aliens) were the recipients and the final owners of this tithe.

3. Where should they bring the tithes?

* Within their gates and within the boundaries of their town.

4. What was the purpose?

* In order that the Lord God of Israel may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

5. How often it should be paid?

* Every third year, that was on the 3rd and 6th year from the Sabbatical year.

6. Was it redeemable?

* No, it could not be redeemed. It must be given out and no redemption option was specified in the Mosiac law. The third tithe must not be converted into money.

7. When it was paid?

* At the END of the 3rd year.

8. Were livestock involved?

* No, animals were not part of the 3rd tithe.

9. What was the difference between the third tithe and the other two tithes?

* First tithe should be brought to the nearest Levite cities and the second tithe should be brought to Jerusalem.

* The purpose of the first tithe was to compensate the Levites for their loss of inheritance amongst the rest of the 11 tribes.

The purpose of the second tithe was to teach the fear of the Lord to the Jews.

* Levites become the final owners of the first tithe, the tithers themselves become the owners of the second tithes.

* Only the members of the tribe of Levi were the recipients of the first tithe. The tithers themselves consumed the second tithe with their household.

* First tithes could be eaten anywhere by the Levites and the 2nd tithes could be eaten only in Jerusalem.

* First tithes must be paid yearly and the second tithes must also be paid yearly but only during festival times which included the first born animal.

* For the first tithe, if the tither wants to redeem the tithes from the land they must add 20% of the monetary value as a fine and give it to the Levites. However the livestock were not redeemable.

For the second tithe, no redemption option was specified. The second tithes might be converted into money however in Jerusalem they must use the same money to buy oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever their heart desired. No penalty was applicable if the 2nd tithe was converted into money.

* Levites got the Livestock (tenth animal that passed under the rod) and the first born male animals were part of feasts and participated the 2nd tithes.

* All other tribes traveled an average distance depending upon the location of the Levitical towns to deliver the first tithes. No river crossing involved.

For the 2nd tithe, the Northern tribes like Asher, Naphtali, Zebulen and Issachar traveled the longest distance to Jerusalem. The trans-Jordan tribes had to cross the Jordan river and obviously boats were involved in transportation.

* No promise (to bless the giver) associated with the 1st and 2nd tithes in the Law. The promise in Malachi 3 was specific to those who have returned from the exile when they were rediscovering their culture, religion and language.

* Scriptures for 1st tithe: Leviticus 27:30 – 33 & Scriptures for the 2nd tithe: Deuteronomy 12:5 – 7 & Deuteronomy 14:22 – 26

10. Is there proof outside the scriptures?

Yes, there are 2 important proofs outside the 66 books of the Bible.

a) Famous Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who lived in the first century:

Antiquities of the Jews – Book 4, Chapter 8 and verse 22

“Besides those two tithes, which I have already said you are to pay every year, the one for the Levites, the other for the festivals, you are to bring every third year a third tithe to be distributed to those that want; to women also that are widows, and to children that are orphans.”

b) The Apocryphal book of Tobit:

Tobit the son of Tobiel, son of Ananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, of the descendants of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali in his own words.

Tobit 1:6 – But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained for all Israel by an everlasting decree.

Taking the first fruits and the tithes of my produce and the first shearings, I would give these to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar.

Tobit 1:7 – Of all my produce I would give a tenth to the sons of Levi who ministered at Jerusalem; a second tenth I would sell, and I would go and spend the proceeds each year at Jerusalem;

Tobit 1:8 – the third tenth I would give to those to whom it was my duty, as Deborah my father’s mother had commanded me, for I was left an orphan by my father.

11. Are there any objections about the 3rd tithe?

Yes, there are.

a) The 12 century Jewish Halachic arbitrator Moses ben-Maimon called Maimonides also known as HaRambam

Maimonides: “On the third and sixth years from the sabbatical year, after they have separated the first tithe, they separate from what remains another tithe, and give it to the poor, and it is called the poor’s tithe; and not on those two years is the second tithe, but the poor’s tithe.” — Gill on Deuteronomy 14:28; Maimonides, Hilchot Mattanot Anayim, c. 6, sect. 4. See also Speaker’s Commentary on Deuteronomy 14:28-29, and McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia, vol. 10. p. 433.]

b) Selden and Michaelis also argue in the same direction, saying that a third tithe should be an excessive demand upon the income of a man who had already expended two-tenths of his increase (McClintock and Strongs Cyclopaedia, vol. 10, p. 434).

c) Peake likewise says: “It may be urged that it is not probable that a double tribute should be exacted from the crops.” And again: “Nor is it probable that a tax of nearly one-fifth of the whole produce should be imposed on the farmers.” (Article “Tithe,” in Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, I, p. 780.)

d) Jewish Talmud (Mishna & Gemmarah)

12. So did the Jews pay only the welfare tithe (which we call as the 3rd tithe) on the 3rd and 6th years instead of the 1st and/or 2nd tithes?

Here are the answers to the objections:

a) Deuteronomy 26:12 mentions about “the year of tithing” because years 3 and 6 were the most expensive year for the Jews.

b) If the 3rd tithe had replaced the 1st tithe how did the Levites survive for those 2 years because they paid this tithes only at the end of the 3rd and 6th years

c) If the 3rd tithe had replaced the 2nd tithe did the Jews not celebrate the 3 pilgrimage festivals during the 3rd and 6th years or did they celebrate the 3 pilgrimage festivals without bringing any food to Jerusalem?

d) The Levites needed to survive during the sabbatical year. Therefore they got tithes twice during years 3 and 6, especially on year 6.

e) There is no verse in the Old Testament which says (as its primary subject) that the 3rd tithe should be replaced by 1st and/or 2nd tithes during the 3rd and 6th years.

f) Christians do not believe in the Jewish concept of the oral law. Post-exile Jewish Rabbis added a lot of man made laws and interpretations into their lives. Therefore the 39 books of the Old testament is enough to justify that there was a 3rd tithe apart from the first two. We need not rely upon the interpretations of HaRambam and Rashi.

g) Even though Jewish commentators overwhelmingly agree with Maimonides’ interpretation of the 3rd tithe, Abraham Ibn Ezra, a contemporary of Maimonides who was also a great Jewish commentator recognized that the 3rd tithe was distinct from the other two.

13. Did the Christian Church Fathers write about the 3rd tithe?

* Yes, a few of them wrote about the 3rd tithe.

a) Jerome who included the book of Tobit in the Latin Bible (Vulgate)

Jerome says one tithe was given to the Levites, out of which they gave a tenth to the priests; a second tithe was applied to festival purposes, and a third was given to the poor (Commentary on Ezekiel 45:1, 565. quoted in McClintock and Strong, 10, 434).

b) John Chrysostom who was Archbishop of Constantinople (349–407 A.D) and a contemporary of Jerome believed that multiple tithes existed:

Homily 64 on Matthew 19:27 section 4

And how much did they bestow in alms? One may ask. For this very thing, I am minded to say now, that they who do not give may be roused to give, and they that give may not pride themselves, but may make increase of their gifts. What then did they give? A tenth of all their possessions, and again another tenth, and after this a third, so that they almost gave away the third part, for three-tenths put together make up this. And together with these, first fruits, and first born, and other things besides, as, for instance, the offerings for sins, those for purification, those at feasts, those in the jubilee, those by the canceling of debts, and the dismissals of servants, and the lendings that were clear of usury. But if he who gave the third part of his goods, or rather the half (for those being put together with these are the half), if then he who is giving the half, achieves no great thing, he who does not bestow so much as the tenth, of what shall he be worthy? With reason He said, “There are few that be saved.”

Hebrew words used regarding the 3rd tithe:

al-maw-naw’ – Widow

ger – alien, stranger, immigrants, sojourner

yaw-thome’ – orphan

teb-oo-aw’ – Produce, revenue, gain

NASB Word Usage

crop (4), crops (6), gain (1), harvest (4), income (4), increase (3), produce (10), product (3), revenue (2), yield (5), yield may increase (1).

We have been taught by our modern day word of faith preachers that tithing is a “law of prosperity” and they demand tithes from widows, orphans and aliens contrary to what the Israelites practiced. If widows, poor, aliens and orphans were the recipients of the tithe, then how would their “law of prosperity” become applicable to windows, orphans, poor and aliens? In fact many mammon loving preaches live a luxurious life using tithes from widows who live from their social security/pension. They misuse Malachi 3:10 where it says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…” but totally ignore about this important triennial tithe which actually promises ” in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do” – Deuteronomy 14:29b.

In many Churches tithing is a requirement for membership. Why don’t they deny membership to those who refuse to tithe to the widows, orphans, poor and strangers? How can they deny membership to widows and poor who cannot afford to tithe especially if they have huge medical bills to pay as in the case of Loretta Davis. Please read how Loretta was kicked out of the Church for not paying tithes.

A 65-year-old wheelchair-bound woman with congestive heart failure was kicked out of her church because she was not paying her tithe, NBC 4 reported. Loretta Davis told NBC 4′s Mike Bowersock she was shocked when she received a letter saying she was no longer considered a member of her church, The Living Word Tabernacle. Davis made an agreement with the church that she would give 10 percent of her income. Then she became ill and stopped making payments, so the church revoked her membership. “Since Jan. 5, I’ve been in the hospital 15 times,” Davis said. “I’ve suffered with cellulites since I’ve had the open heart (surgery).” Davis is no longer paying the church $60 per month from her $592 per month Social Security check, Bowersock reported. “I have my tithes that I was supposed to pay, but I have not paid them since this has went on,” Davis said. “In the time of (Davis’) need, they should be caring, supporting, asking what she needs — help her if she needed help,” said Teresa Meeks, who is Davis’ daughter. “I was so hurt on what they did to her.” The church moved out of its building in Waverly earlier this year and Davis’ dismissal has become the talk of the town, Bowersock reported. In a letter to the editor of the local paper, the former pastor said it is true that Davis lost her membership for not paying her tithes. In the same letter, he said Davis was not kicked out of the church for not paying her tithes. The Rev. Paul McClurg, who started the church, said Davis is still welcome to attend church but is not allowed to be a member. The issue upset Davis’ 83-year-old mother so much that she quit the church. The members have been holding services in a Lion’s Club hall while waiting to build a new church. There are at least two former members who will not be attending with them.”

Only for the 3rd tithe a return blessing is promised in the Mosaic law unlike the first 2 tithes. Why this principle is ignored by the prosperity preachers today? Testing God in Malachi 3:10 was specific to the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity and not to the Christian Church!

Tithe teachers gleefully quote Jerome and Chrysostom as tithe proponents in the early Christianity but hide the fact those 2 men also believed in multiple tithes.

Christians, please understand, how tithing was practiced in the Old Testament period and be on guard against the mammon loving wolves.

Russell Earl Kelly who had spent countless hours in researching about tithing in the Bible presents the truth from God’s word.

This is a 4 part series in Vimeo

Christians please watch these 4 part video series and protect yourselves from mammon loving Word of Faith preachers!

Atonement Where? (Part Three of Four)

by MORENO DAL BELLO

JESUS: THE FIRST BORN-AGAIN MAN?

Here is the picture as painted by the Faith movement thus far: The satanic nature entered Jesus at the point of spiritual death upon the cross. It was then that He literally became sin and was separated from God. The spiritual death of Jesus transformed Him from a man into a mortal and satanic creation. Kenneth Copeland ‘enlightens’ us, “See you have to realize that He (Jesus) died; you have to realize that He went into the pit of hell as a mortal man made sin. But He didn’t stay there, thank God. He was reborn in the pit of Hell and resurrected.” ⁵⁴

Furthermore, we are told by Copeland that while in hell Christ’s “…emaciated, poured out, little, wormy spirit…” ⁵⁵ was tortured by Satan and every demon in hell without legal right. The reason given by Copeland as to why Jesus could not be detained in hell is that Jesus was not an actual sinner but was only made sin as the result of the sins of others, plus the fact that Satan had forgotten this detail. Copeland says, “The Devil forgot to take into consideration that Jesus hadn’t sinned Himself but, rather, had merely become sin as a result of the sin of others.” ⁵⁶ I don’t know how stupid Copeland thinks Satan is, but it is very difficult to perceive how the wisest of God’s creatures could simply forget such a truth. Where is the evidence to sustain all of this in Scripture anyway? Conveniently, what Copeland and others fail to find support for in the Bible is attributed to personal conversations with God or His Son, as has so often been the case with other espousers of ‘new truth’.

This apparently was the opening God had been awaiting. We are told that God spoke forth words of faith into hell, and as Copeland articulates:

“…that Word of the Living God went down into the pit of destruction and charged the spirit of Jesus with resurrection power! Suddenly His twisted, death-wracked spirit began to fill out and come back to life. He began to look like something the Devil had never seen before. He was literally being reborn before the Devil’s very eyes. He began to flex his spiritual muscles….Jesus was born again–the first born from the dead.” ⁵⁷

This is nothing but sheer fantasy. Copeland twists the meaning of first born from the dead (Col. 1:18), from that of pre-eminence, to the false notion of Christ’s being born again. What possible need would Jesus, the sinless and Holy Son of the Holy God have to be born again? This teaching, perhaps more than others we have discussed, does away with the truth that Jesus is unchangeable, and strips Him of His eternal deity! (Heb. 13:8). This false teaching unveils Copeland’s ignorance and distinct lack of understanding of Biblical terminology, his total disregard for Bible scholars, the most eminent theologians and Church history. Not surprisingly, these sources are often ridiculed by Copeland and other Faith leaders.

The fable does not end here. Charles Capps teaches that the outcome of all this was the birth of the Church! Capps says, “Jesus was born again in the pit of hell. He was the firstborn, the first begotten, from the dead. He started the Church of the firstborn in the gates of hell… He went down to the gates and started His Church there….The Church started when Jesus was born again in the gates of hell.” ⁵⁸ Not only was the Incarnate Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ born again in hell, but, according to Capps, the very Church of Christ can trace its roots to the gates of hell! This teaching is so preposterous that I will give only the briefest response by answering with the truth that the birth of the Church, as any Christian knows, began on the day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2.

Best-selling author Benny Hinn gives this piece of ‘revelation knowledge’ to his hearers:

“My, you know, whoosh! The Holy Ghost is just showing me some stuff. I’m getting dizzy! I’m telling you the truth–it’s, it’s just heavy right now on me….He’s (referring to Jesus) in the underworld now. God isn’t there, the Holy Ghost isn’t there, and the Bible says He was begotten. Do you know what the word begotten means? It means reborn. Do you want another shocker? have you been begotten? So was he. Don’t let anyone deceive you. Jesus was reborn. You say, ‘What are you talking about?’ …He was reborn. He had to be reborn. …If He was not reborn, I would never be reborn. How can I face Jesus and say, ‘Jesus you went through everything I’ve gone through, except the new birth?’”⁵⁹

Despite Hinn’s claims to divine revelation, the word begotten does not mean reborn. The true meaning of the word begotten is simply born, or to be born. It has nothing to do with being reborn. A moment of basic Bible study will reveal that Jesus is referred to as the only begotten from the Father (NASB), or, the one and only Son who came from the Father (NIV) (John 1:14; cf. John 1:18; 3:16), which stresses the unique nature of our Lord. Hebrews 1:5, “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee,” is a reference to Christ’s resurrection. God raised up Christ from the dead and imparted life to His body, and, as Albert Barnes notes, “By His own power restored Him; and hence is said figuratively to have begotten Him from the dead” ⁶⁰ (cf. Psa. 2:7; Acts 13:33). The resurrection was a type of begetting to life, or its beginning (Rev. 1:5).

Copeland accentuates the issue (note his subtle changing of the word firstborn to reborn), by saying “It is important for us to realize that a born again man defeated Satan….Colossians 1:18 refers to Jesus as the firstborn from the dead….He was the first man to be reborn under the new covenant.”⁶¹

The original Greek word for firstborn (prototokos), speaks not of being born again, but of primacy; headship and pre-eminence. Colossians 1:18 (cf. Rom. 8:29), simply denotes Christ’s supremacy over all creation, as the context of Colossians 1 will bare out (cf. Col. 1:15). The remainder of v.18, …among the dead, is a reference to Christ’s bodily resurrection, not of a mythical spiritual death from which He needed to be reborn. Michael Moriarty expounds:

“Scripture is clear that the term ‘firstborn’ is used to refer to the physical birth of the first child born into a family, but also speaks of a person’s position, rank or status. For example, in Israel the firstborn son had special birthrights and privileges. He succeeded his father as head of the house and received a larger portion of the inheritance; these were his birthrights. The nation of Israel is also called God’s ‘firstborn’ and received special blessings and privileges as compared with the heathen nations (Ex. 4:22). In this same way Jesus is called the firstborn (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:6). The term has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus being born again; such an option is completely foreign to the Biblical text and is much closer to the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ understanding of this word (firstborn = first-created), than it is to orthodox Christianity’s. Jesus Christ is the Pre-eminent One, the first Heir to all creation. The N.T. calls Jesus the firstborn in reference to His exalted position and firstborn rights of inheritance. He is first in rank and has first place in everything. ‘And He is the Head of the body, the Church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence.” (Col. 1:18).⁶²

Kenneth Hagin, who on occasion has denied that he has ever taught such things, clearly does so in this statement, “Why did He (Jesus) need to be begotten, or born? Because He became like we were: separated from God. Because He tasted spiritual death for every man….Jesus was the first person that was ever born again.” ⁶³

Gloria Copeland, in her book God’s Will, says, “After Jesus was made sin, He had to be born again….(Therefore) Jesus is a born again man. This is the same new birth that the Good News of the Gospel still offers to any man who will accept it.” To teach that Jesus needed to undergo a new birth is to teach that He at one time had an unregenerate and sinful nature, which is precisely what these Faith teachers would have us believe. It is to deny the indisputable fact that Jesus is the eternal God and has always been God. According to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus cannot change in essence. He is eternal. There is no beginning, no end and NO INTERRUPTION to His Godhood! (cf. Mal. 3:6; John 5:26; Phil. 2:6).

As we approach the next chapter, one may be thinking, ‘where are all these extraordinary teachings leading to? The following statement made by Kenneth Copeland will show exactly where. It will take us to the precipice and then plunge us head first into an age old lie. The Serpent’s lie!! Copeland declares:

“The Spirit of God spoke to me and He said, ‘Son, realize this. Now follow me in this and don’t let your tradition trip you up.’ He said, ‘Think this way–a twice-born man whipped Satan in his own domain.’ And I threw my Bible down…like that. I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘A born-again man defeated Satan, the firstborn of many brethren defeated him.’ He said, ‘You are the very image, the very copy of that one.’ I said, ‘Goodness, gracious sakes alive!’ And I began to see what had gone on in there, and I said, ‘Well now you don’t mean, you couldn’t dare mean, that I could have done the same thing?’ He said, ‘Oh yeah, if you’d had the knowledge of the Word of God that He did, you could’ve done the same thing, cause you’re a reborn man too.’” ⁶⁴

If ever there was an absolute departure from the Word of God, from the most basic understanding of what the Bible teaches, this is it. Kenneth Copeland, a mere man, not only claims that he could have redeemed mankind by defeating Satan in hell, but he dares attribute this nonsense as being communicated to him directly by the Holy Spirit!!

If Copeland could have redeemed us, then we also could have done the same thing. We could all have been our own saviours were it not for our lack of knowledge! The Christian is to be on guard against false doctrine, especially when it is presented to him with a smile and in an authoritative manner. Oftentimes, such ‘new truth’ is presented to the eager listener as God’s very own Words.

THE DEIFICATION OF MAN

Thus far, we have investigated the Faith movement’s claims that Christ’s death on the cross was not enough to atone for our sins; that Christ had to die spiritually for every man; that He took upon Himself the satanic nature; and that He needed to suffer the agonies of hell and become born again in order to acquire the redemption of mankind. And the outcome of all this, so Kenneth Copeland believes, is that, “He (Jesus) was the pattern of a new race of men.” ⁶⁵

One always needs to be aware of the origins of a doctrine and where it leads. Perhaps the underlying reason for this massive straying from Scriptural soundness on the part of Faith leaders, has been to lead us to the subject at hand: The Deification of Man!

No words can better illustrate what the Faith leaders teach concerning the rebirth and what it means for us, than the following statement made by Benny Hinn:

“When you were born again the Word was made flesh in you. And you became flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. Don’t tell me you have Jesus. You are everything He was and everything He is and ever shall be…. It (the new man) says, ‘I am as He is.’ That’s what it says.. As He is, so are we in this world. Jesus said, ‘Go in My name, go in My stead.’ Don’t say, ‘I have.’ Say, ‘I am, I am, I am, I am, I am.’” ⁶⁶

The demotion of Jesus, the deification of man!

More recently, Hinn has declared, “When you say, ‘I am a Christian,’ you are saying, ‘I am mashiach’ in the Hebrew. I am a little messiah walking on earth, in other words. That is a shocking revelation….May I say it like this? You are a little god on earth running around.” ⁶⁷

The Faith movement and certain charismatics hold that upon being born again, Jesus’ divine nature returned to Him, and subsequently every born again person has also been infused with God’s own nature. 2 Peter 1:4 is the verse that is quoted to prove that we have the nature of God, “…that by these (promises) you might be partakers of the divine nature…” Note that Peter here has said that we might be partakers of His divine nature not essence. The verse is simply saying that we may become partakers of God’s attributes, His divine qualities not His divinity for God has said, “…I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me” (Isa. 43:10).

In order to better understand who Copeland says we are, we need to grasp just who he believes Adam was. Copeland believes that:

“God’s reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself and in the Garden of Eden He did just that. (Adam) was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even….Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus….Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh.” ⁶⁸

The Faith movement does not adhere to the Biblical teaching of Adam and what happened at the Fall. They believe that Adam inherited Satan’s nature at the Fall and that this was our condition before becoming born again partakers of the divine nature. Kenneth Hagin expounds on this concept and believes that not only was Adam, God manifest in the flesh, but that we are all just as much incarnations of God as Jesus was!! Hagin states, “Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁶⁹ It would appear from this statement that Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden, “ye shall be as gods” (Gen. 3:5), has taken on yet another facade. Hagin’s claim divests the word incarnation of its unique reference to Jesus Christ (John 1:14), and turns a one time act into a daily occurrence.

Hank Hanegraaff makes the observation that the whole idea of an incarnation only makes sense if a person existed prior to having a physical body. He explains:

“…while the Bible clearly declares Christ to be pre-existent (John 1:1; 8:58; 17:5), nowhere in Scripture do we find the concept of human pre-existence. In fact, human pre-existence remains a concept relegated largely to such cults as Mormonism. The fact that Christians are indwelt by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (John 14:17,23) in no way implies that the Bible endorses the concept of incarnation for Christians.” ⁷⁰

It is unsettling enough that many such claims are coming out of the Faith movement. What is of greater concern however, is the fact that they are being all too readily accepted as Christian teaching, which should make the disciple of Christ wonder just what is happening in Christianity today. One has commented that the Faith movement has infiltrated Christianity, not unlike the New Age invasion of the world’s affairs. If there are any who doubt that the Faith leaders are proclaiming that all Christians are gods, please read on.

Kenneth Copeland makes the bold announcement that, “You don’t have a God living in you, you are one!” ⁷¹ And again, “God has been reproduced on the inside of you.” ⁷² Kenneth Hagin also promotes this tenet when he says,

“This eternal life He came to give us is the nature of God.” He then adds, “It is, in reality, God imparting His very nature, substance, and being to one human spirit….Zoe, then, means eternal life, or God’s life. This new kind of life is God’s nature….Even many in the great body of Full Gospel people do not know that the new birth is a real incarnation….Jesus was first divine, and then He was human. So He was in the flesh a divine-human being. I was first human, and so were you, but I was born of God, and so I became a human-divine being!” ⁷³

Hagin here elevates himself to the rank of a god. His view is that we are all god-men as was God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The view is similar to Nestorianism, a 5th century heresy which was condemned by Church leaders at the Council of Ephesus in A.D.431. Michael Moriarty explains:

“This view, developed by the scholarly monk Nestorius (ca.381-ca.452), taught that the Word did not actually become flesh (John 1:14) but only united Himself to a human being. Christ was in effect a God-bearer rather than the God-man. Nestorius ended up making Christ out to be a man in whom, in Siamese twin fashion, the divine and human natures were combined in a mechanical union rather than in an organic union of natures. Hagin’s view of the incarnation is very similar to the fifth-century Nestorian heresy.” ⁷⁴

The concept which teaches that, at conversion, we become spirit-gods who merely reside in human bodies is Gnostic in origin and is also touted by Gloria Copeland. She states in her article ‘A Fast Brings New Direction’, in Christian Life magazine, “When we are born again we become a spirit being in a flesh body.” Gnostic belief held that material creation is evil, but that sparks of divinity have been encapsuled in the bodies of certain ‘spiritual’ individuals who have been destined for salvation.

Kenneth Copeland makes his views quite clear when he says, “You need to realize that you are not a spiritual schizophrenic–half-God and half-Satan–you are all God.” ⁷⁵ One can easily identify whose fingerprints are impressed upon this teaching and others that we have mentioned specifically in this chapter, for they all promote the Devil’s lie to Eve in the Garden “…ye shall be as gods…” (Gen. 3:5).

There has not been much analysis of these teachings in this chapter purely because they are self-damning. However, we will take a closer look at the most popular passage from Scripture applied by Faith teachers to support their ‘little-gods’ theory, John 10:31-39. In v.34 we see Jesus addressing the Jews and saying, “Is it not written in your law, I said ye are gods?” Jesus is here responding to his opponents with an ironical use of Psalm 82:6, where God condemns the unrighteous judges of Israel for their self-righteous attitude and pride. These judges sinned by showing partiality towards the wicked rather than defending the weak. Psalm 82:7 is one verse you will never hear from the mouth of Faith leaders. After calling these judges gods, God says in the next verse, “But ye shall die like men…”

Jesus was reminding the Jews that the Scriptures called Israel’s judges gods, not because they were in any way divine, but because of their roles as representatives of divine justice. Moses and the judges in Exodus were also referred to as gods because they, like God, held the power of life and death (Ex. 4:15,16; 6:28-7:2; 21:6; 22:8,9). The word gods is used symbolically to show that the judges were the representatives of God. God told Moses in Exodus 1, “I have made thee a god to Pharaoh”, an obvious reference to Moses’ being as a god, not literally divine. Walter Martin comments on John 10:34, “Jesus mocks the people as if to say, ‘You all think you’re gods yourselves. What’s one more god among you?’ Irony is used to provoke us, not to inform us. It is not a basis for building a theology.” ⁷⁶

The idea that we, or any created being can be like God is a lie of Satan’s. It was this very desire–to be like God–that brought the fall of Lucifer (Isa. 14:14). There is only one God– there shall only ever be one God (Deut. 5:35,39; 32:39; 2Sam. 7:22; Isa. 43:10; 44:6; 45:5,6; 21-22; 1Cor. 8:4,6; Gal. 4:8). No one is as God is, neither is anyone even remotely like God.

The Faith movement doctrine which purports that being born again means we become as Christ was–a God-bearing people–a new race of men, was also presented to the Church during the 4th century, and is known as the Appolinarian heresy. John 1:12, 13 is used as a proof text that we share God’s divinity. The fundamental difference between Jesus as the Son of God and the Christian as a son of God, is that He is the only begotten of God, and we are adopted sons. Contrary to Copeland’s claim that, “Jesus is no longer the only begotten Son of God” ⁷⁷, the Bible tells us that Jesus is God’s only begotten Son (John 3:18; 1Jn. 4:9). Jesus remained the second Person of the Trinity when He became flesh. We are not an incarnation; we are not gods in the flesh. We are never spoken of in Scripture as being incarnations of God. The notion that man is, or ever will be, a god is only ever spoken of in Scripture as idolatry and blasphemy. These declarations of men are more at home with the ravings of Orange People guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who once exclaimed, “When you call Jesus, really you have called me. When you call me, really you have called Jesus.” ⁷⁸ Or that of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi of Transcendental Meditation fame, “Be still and know that you are God.” ⁷⁹ Faith teachings have yet another infamous comrade in Jim Jones, who taught, “It is written that ye are gods. I’m a god and you’re a god….until I see all of you knowing who you are, I’m gonna be very much what I am–God, Almighty God.” ⁸⁰

Some might think we may be going overboard by likening the teachings of Yogis and a murderous madman with what the Faith teachers are professing. You may not think so after you read the following abominable and blasphemous claims of Kenneth Hagin and His students:

“Man…was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God’s presence without any consciousness of inferiority….God has made us as much like Himself as possible….He made us the same class of being that He is Himself….The believer is called Christ….that’s who we are; we’re Christ!” ⁸¹

Morris Cerullo, whose claims include having being transported to heaven for a face-to-face meeting with God, has this to say, “…when we stand up here, brother, you’re not looking at Morris Cerullo; you’re looking at God. You’re looking at Jesus.” ⁸² Finally, and perhaps the worst and most obscene claim of them all, is made by Kenneth Copeland, who had this to say to his audience during a crusade on July 19, 1987: “I say this and repeat it so it doesn’t upset you too bad….When I read in the Bible where He (Jesus) says, ‘I Am,’ I say, ‘Yes, I Am too!’” (tape on file with CRI)

The ‘little gods’ theory of the Faith movement is a type of pagan-polytheism which constitutes doctrinal heresy. Walter Martin speaks wisely when he says, “Our identity is greater than any human concept of ‘godhood.’ We are the heirs of eternity, recipients of an indescribable gift. Let us not cheapen that inheritance or dilute it with perverted theology. The cost is far too great.” ⁸³

THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF
THE FAITH MOVEMENT

Many Christians believe that the Faith movement is a by-product of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Some even believe that it is the Charismatic movement, however, this is not historically correct. The Faith movement’s roots can be traced to evangelist, pastor, Bible teacher and author E.W. Kenyon. Kenyon (1867-1948), was greatly influenced in his ministry by cultic sources such as New Thought metaphysics. He attended the Emerson college of Oratory in Boston, a veritable breeding ground for New Thought philosophy. The major doctrines of New Thought should be very familiar to Faith movement devotees: Health or healing, abundance or prosperity, wealth and happiness. These ideas are evidenced in Kenyon’s writings and by his students. Dan McConnell explains the New Thought system:

“…New Thought was a system of cultic belief that taught that true reality is spiritual, that the spiritual is the cause of all physical effects, and that the human mind through positive mental attitude and positive confession has the power to create its own reality; either health and wealth; or sickness and poverty.” ⁸⁴

The founder of New Thought philosophy, Phineas P. Quimby, whose ideas gained prominence toward the close of the 19th century, was also a student of spiritism, occultism, hypnosis and other expressions of parapsychology. It is also interesting to note that Quimby, the man whose ideas Kenyon studied and embraced, and who, in turn, was copied by Hagin, at one time, “attempted to make witchcraft credible by the use of scientific language.” ⁸⁵ The classic account of Kenyon’s life and his connection with the Faith movement, has been thoroughly and meticulously researched by Dan McConnell in his book A Different Gospel.

Kenyon, the true father of the Faith movement, can be clearly proven to be the source of the majority of Hagin’s teachings. Kenyon, too, was a man who denied that the physical death of Jesus was sufficient to pay the penalty for sin. In fact, he denies that Jesus’ death even touched the sin issue. Kenyon was also the originator of the claim that “every man who has been born again is an incarnation, and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸⁶ The reader will recognize this as an earlier quote of Hagin’s.

Kenyon’s own daughter, Ruth Kenyon Houseworth, easily recognizes her father’s message upon the lips of Faith leaders. She says:

“They’ve (Faith teachers) all copied from my dad. [E. W. Kenyon] They’ve changed it a little bit and added their own touch….but they couldn’t change the wording…These that are coming along now that have been in the ministry for just a few years and claiming that this is something that they are just starting, it makes you laugh a little bit. It’s very difficult for some people to be big enough to give credit to somebody else.”⁸⁷

A man who, on occasion, ministered with Kenyon was one time friend John Kennington, pastor of Emmanuel Temple in Portland, Oregon. He has this to say concerning the plagiarism of Kenyon’s teachings:

“Today Kenyon’s teachings are in the ascendancy. Via the electronic church or in the printed page I readily recognize not only Kenyon’s concepts, but at times , I recognize pure plagiarism, for I can almost tell you book, chapter and page where the material is coming from. Kenyon has become the ‘father’ of the so-called ‘Faith’ movement.”

Later, in the same statement he made this comment:

“At one time I was a blind follower of E.W. Kenyon….Now with the passing of a little time and with a little more understanding I have come to realize that E.W. Kenyon has simply ‘baptized’ many concepts from Christian Science. In so doing, he became a source for a form of ‘Pentecostal Christian Science’, even though Kenyon himself was not a Pentecostal.” ⁸⁸

Many have identified certain Faith teachings as being carbon copies of Christian Science dogma. Kennington was often puzzled by the similarity in what was being taught by Kenyon and Christian Science. On one occasion, he remembers Kenyon admitting the connection and saying, “All that Christian Science lacks is the blood of Jesus Christ.” Kenyon also admitted that he, “…freely drew the water of his thinking from this well.” ⁸⁹

Due to the Faith movement’s unbiblical ties with Kenyon and his association with the Metaphysical cults, we may conclude that Hagin, Copeland and co., however unknowingly, are in fact espousing teachings which are neither Biblical nor orthodox. If the root be cultic, so must be also the fruit. Although there is strong evangelical and Pentecostal theology throughout the Faith movement’s teachings, it’s cultic origins are readily seen at key points. It has been said that the Faith movement is, in fact, a cultic infiltration of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.

In what was to prove a turning point in his life, Kenyon began to recognize a growing discontent among some Christians with orthodox Christianity, a discontent that he too felt strongly. In an effort to ‘help’ the Church compete with the Metaphysical cults, Kenyon drew from their ideas and practices. In his book The Two Kinds of Life, Kenyon makes this observation, “Discerning men and women have been asking for a new type of Christianity. They do not want a new philosophy, or a new metaphysical concept of Christ, but an unveiling of the reality that was seen in Jesus in His earth walk.” And a new type of Christianity–which is no Christianity at all–is exactly what Kenyon and the Faith movement have given to millions. There are many new forms of Christianity out there, but there is only one which is genuine. Just as there is an endless array of new answers to the problem 2 + 2, yet there is only one answer which is correct. It has been well said that, “All that is old may not be gold, but all that is new is not true.”

Dan McConnell explains how Kenyon sought to forge a synthesis of metaphysical and evangelical thought, “…in order to help the traditional Church provide for its members the missing supernatural element that caused many to defect to the cults. The resultant Faith theology is a strange mixture of Biblical fundamentalism and New Thought metaphysics.” ⁹⁰ The Bible says, Thus saith the Lord, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” (Jer. 6:16).

The plagiarism of Kenyon’s teachings by Kenneth Hagin is proof that the Faith teachers are not getting their doctrine directly from God, but merely from human beings. Hagin’s widespread use of Kenyon’s material fits into the pattern of many movements. History shows that leaders of new religious movements/factions often take on ideas made popular by a preceding group, mold them into a new form and add on a few new ideas of their own. Solomon wisely said, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9).

“The charges of cultism and heresy leveled against the Faith movement in the past are not without basis. The Faith movement is cultic because of its roots (its historical origins) and it is heretical because of its fruits (its doctrines and practices).” ⁹¹

Atonement Where? (Part Two OF Four)

by MORENO DAL BELLO

CLAIMS OF A SPIRITUAL DEATH

There are many Faith movement leaders, and a growing number of charismatics, who claim that Jesus Christ needed to die spiritually in order to complete our redemption. Kenneth Copeland is one who holds to this tenet, and the following statement made during a taped sermon will give the reader a clear insight into his thoughts on the matter. Copeland proclaims most vehemently that:

“The death of Jesus Christ was not a physical death alone. If it had been a physical death and a physical death only, Abel would have paid the price for the sins of mankind. He’s the first man that died because of honoring God in His Word….Every prophet that walked the face of the earth under the Abrahamic covenant could have paid the price if it were a physical death only.” ²⁰

That Jesus died spiritually, is a key doctrine so vital to the Faith movement that many of its leaders have pronounced divine judgment on any who dare question it. Kenneth Copeland, in commenting on one minister who rigidly opposed the teaching, states, “That fellow is dead today. Now I said that to warn you. Don’t criticize people for preaching (Identification). If you don’t understand it, keep your mouth shut and pray.” ²¹ My suggestion is that you pray and study the Word of God with diligence to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11). The spiritualization of Jesus’ death strikes at the heart of the true Gospel, and must be seen for what it is, an heretical doctrine.

Both Copeland and Hagin are strong advocates of the spiritual death theory, as is evidenced by the following quotes. First, Kenneth Hagin states: “He (Jesus) tasted spiritual death for every man. And His spirit and inner man went to hell in my place. Can’t you see that? Physical death wouldn’t remove your sins. He’s tasted death for every man. He’s talking about tasting spiritual death.” ²² By claiming that physical death would not remove our sins, Hagin is in conflict with everything that the Bible teaches concerning the blood atonement (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22). Copeland agrees with his mentor: “Now it wasn’t the physical death on the cross that paid the price for sins, because if it had’ve been, any prophet of God that had died for the last couple of thousand years before that could’ve paid that price. It wasn’t the physical death. Anybody could do that.” ²³

With such an abhorrent declaration, Copeland flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches concerning the death of our Lord, and also ignores what the Church has believed and taught on the death of Christ for nearly two thousand years. Not to mention the great cloud of witnesses in the Bible who attest to the fact that only Jesus’ spotless (sinless) sacrifice could have made our redemption possible (Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43; 1Tim. 2:5,6). Copeland’s blasphemous statement dispossesses the Lord Jesus of His unique role in history.

One of the reasons the Faith movement believes in a spiritual death of Jesus, is because of their view that all disease is of a spiritual origin, therefore, the method that God uses to heal must be spiritual as well. The conclusion arrived at is that the atonement had to be a spiritual and not a physical act. The concept of physical disease having a spiritual origin comes straight from the metaphysical cults.

There are many verses in Scripture which attest to our redemption being fully accomplished by the physical death of Jesus. For example ” …we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10; cf.Rom. 7:4; Col. 1:22; 1Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 4:1). No mention is made in the Bible of this mythical spiritual death. Galatians 3 also teaches that it was His physical death on the cross that did away with the curse.

Another passage which strongly supports the efficacy of Christ’s physical death is Colossians 1:20-22. In this passage we notice the following, “And having made peace through the blood of His cross…” v20; and in v22 we are told, ” …yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death…” What other death could a body of flesh experience apart from a physical death? These verses could not speak in a more unmistakable manner concerning the kind of death that Jesus suffered. How can any Christian say and believe in his heart that it was not a physical death alone which secured our redemption in light of these verses?

One Scripture which is highlighted by Kenneth Hagin, in support of the spiritual death theory, is Psalm 22:6, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” Hagin’s claim is that the words I am a worm and no man, refer to the spiritual death of Christ. In an article entitled Christ our Substitute, from the March 1975 issue of The Word of Faith magazine, Hagin says, “He utters the strange words, ‘But Thou art holy.’ What does that mean? He is becoming sin…His parched lips cry, ‘I am a worm and no man.’ He is spiritually dead–the worm.” The words in the Psalm mean nothing of the kind! Hagin’s statement is a prime example of eisegesis as opposed to exegesis. This passage simply refers to Jesus having been ridiculed and considered a worm and not a man during His life on earth, and especially during His time upon the cross. If one reads on in this passage from Psalm 22, it will be seen that verses 7 and 8 contain words familiar to the Gospel of Matthew 27:39,43 (see also Mark 15:29,30; Luke 23:35). Jesus was slandered during His life. He was despised and accused of being in league with Beelzebub (Matt. 10). Even in His sufferings upon the cross He was ridiculed and cursed, taunted and made sport of. “David was sometimes taunted for his confidence in God; but in the sufferings of Christ this was literally and exactly fulfilled.”²⁴

Rather than alluding to a spiritual death of Christ, Psalm 22:6 is actually another verse which speaks of His physical death. Henry M. Morris, in his book Sampling the Psalms, provides us with a fascinating insight into the Hebrew word for worm (tolath), and its frequent use in the O.T. to mean scarlet (e.g. Ex. 25:4), or crimson (Isa. 1:18). The reason he gives for this equivalence is due to the scarlet worm being the source of a fluid from which people of ancient times made their scarlet dyes. This prophetic verse in Psalm 22 is Christ’s own portrayal of His body stained crimson by the cross (cf.Col. 1:20). Morris explains:

“…no doubt the deeper significance of His identification of Himself as the Scarlet Worm lies in the remarkable life-death cycle of this unique animal. For when the mother worm of this species is ready to give birth to her baby worms, she will implant her body in a tree somewhere, or a post, or a stick of wood, so firmly that she can never leave again. Then, when the young are brought forth, the mother’s body provides protection and sustenance for her young until they reach the stage where they can leave home and fend for themselves. Then the mother dies. And as she dies, the scarlet fluid in her body emerges to stain her body and the bodies of her progeny and the wood of the tree where they were given life by their dying mother.” ²⁵

What an amazing analogy we have here of Christ’s crimson-stained body upon the tree.

The Faith movement also contend that when Jesus uttered the heart wrenching words, “My God, My God. Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46), He was speaking of a separation between Himself and the Father. God, it is affirmed, had to turn His head from the Son when He ‘became sin’. In the next chapter we’ll learn of the Faith leaders’ monstrous teaching that on literally becoming sin, Jesus actually took on the satanic nature in His own spirit and that it was at this precise moment that God turned from Him and Jesus was heard to cry the words found in Matthew 27:46, thereby heralding His spiritual death.

There are many Bible teachers, aside from the Faith leaders, who teach that God hid His face from His sin-laden Son. Psalm 22:24, however, repudiates the belief that God had hidden His face from His Son on the cross. You’ll notice that it states just the opposite, “For He has not despised, nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him for help, He heard.” Jesus was not forsaken in the sense that He ceased to be the second Person of the Trinity, for He and His Father are one (John 10:30). Christ’s spiritual relationship with the Father can never be broken. “…as God poured out His wrath and judgment upon Jesus, He (Jesus), sensed that His fellowship with the Father was severely hindered.” ²⁶ Jesus was not aided on the cross as He had been at the Mount of Temptation and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:43).

The alleged spiritual death of Christ and what exactly this teaching entails, will be looked at in finer detail in the succeeding chapter. Suffice it to say, that whatever Jesus meant by his words, “Why hast Thou forsaken me?”, Jesus did not for a moment cease to be God either before, during or after His time on the cross. Though, in our finiteness, we are not able to understand the full import of Jesus’ statement, we may be certain that it did not mark the moment of His ‘spiritual’ death, nor does it signify the Father’s having abandoned Him (John 16:32).

Not all Faith movement leaders agree that the cross was the location of Christ’s ‘spiritual death’. Frederick K.C. Price believes that His spiritual death occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane. He says, “Somewhere between the time He (Jesus) was nailed to the cross and when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane–somewhere in there–He died spiritually. Personally, I believe it was while He was in the garden.” ²⁷ An interesting sidenote concerning Mr. Price is that he was reared in a Jehovah’s Witness environment. Also worth noting is the fact that the above spiritual death teaching is the same opinion that James E. Talmage, an apostle of the Mormon Church, taught in his book, Jesus the Christ!

It is quite obvious to the Bible student that Jesus Christ, in His physical death, achieved all that was needed to be achieved in order to gain the redemption of mankind. Ephesians 2:15, “Having abolished in the flesh the enmity…”, and Hebrews 10:10, “…we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”, are just two verses which confirm this fact.

The Faith movement has another verse, probably the chief text, which is utilized to support their double-death theory. Faith movement leaders have made a grave error in their interpretation of Isaiah 53:9, “He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death…” It is noted that the Hebrew word for death in this verse is in the plural form, deaths. This is taken as proof that Jesus suffered a double-death, physical and spiritual upon the cross! There is much at fault in this misinterpretation, not the least of which is the fact that it is based upon one word taken from one verse of Scripture. McConnell explains the use of the Hebrew plural in this text:

“Plural nouns are extremely common in the Hebrew Scriptures. They are not just used to denote numerical plurality, but also to emphasize a particular meaning of the noun. In Hebrew, plural nouns express majesty, rank, excellence, magnitude and intensity. In Isaiah 53:9, ‘deaths’ is a plural of intensity used by the writer to indicate that the death mentioned was a particularly violent one. It no more means that the king of Tyre died two deaths than that the Messiah died two deaths.” ²⁸

Another example of this is found in Ezekiel 28:8-10, which depicts the violent and certain death of the king of Tyre: “you will die the death of those who are slain.” Keil and Delitzsch, in their Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 7, Isaiah, inform us that in both the Isaiah and Ezekiel passages, the plural form for death is an example of pluralis exaggerativus: “it is applied to a violent death, the very pain of which makes it like dying again and again.” I’m sure the reader will be familiar with the Eastern phrase, “You will die a thousand deaths”. It does not mean that you will literally die more than one death, but speaks instead of the intensity of that one death.

The truth of what did happen to Christ’s spirit may be clearly seen in passages such as Luke 23:46, “Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit” (cf. Matt. 27:50; John 19:30). He yielded up His spirit to God, and then breathed His last. He gave His body for us, and committed His spirit to God. His spirit did not die.

Gloria Copeland makes the following proclamation concerning the ‘death’ of Christ’s spirit, “He (Jesus) paid the price for Adam’s sin. He suffered in His own body, and more important, in His own spirit. Jesus experienced the same spiritual death that entered man in the Garden of Eden.” ²⁹ This is an extremely unenlightened statement to say the least. The spiritual death of man came because he had sinned. Jesus was no sinner, as I’m sure Mrs. Copeland would agree. He suffered but one death and it was a physical death. Jesus spoke often of His impending physical death, yet never once did He refer to a spiritual death (Mark 9:31). Notice also in her statement how Christ’s physical suffering is considered not as important in comparison with His spiritual suffering. When error is mixed with truth, it quickly becomes the more prominent of the two. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Jesus Himself told us to remember Him by partaking in the body and blood; both, you will notice, are physical matter not spiritual (cf. Luke 22:19,20; 1Cor. 11:24-26). In 1Corinthians 11 we are told that as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup we are proclaiming the Lord’s death till He comes. You’ll notice that it is only one death which we proclaim, not two. This Scripture speaks of His physical death. This is the death we are to remember Him by. He suffered only one death on the cross, the death of His flesh, the only death He became obedient to (Phil. 2:8).

It is interesting to note, in considering the teaching that Jesus died spiritually, the marked absence of any element which symbolizes this death at the Lord’s supper. The bread–a symbol of His body–and the wine–symbolic of Christ’s blood–are clear reminders to us of Christ’s physical death (see 1Cor. 10:16; Heb. 10:19-24). We observe no element at the Lord’s supper which is used to put us in remembrance of his ‘spiritual’ death, for the simple reason that Jesus did not die spiritually. Jesus spoke of laying down His life in John 15:13, not His Spirit.

In John 6:51, Jesus describes Himself as, “…the living Bread which came down from heaven, and the bread which I shall give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” This is the Jesus of the Bible speaking! He speaks not of giving His spirit, as does the jesus of the Faith movement, but rather HIS FLESH for the life of the world. The Greek word flesh denotes the body as opposed to the soul or spirit.

There are a multitude of Scriptures that verify the fact that Christ’s death upon the cross was purely a physical death. Here are just a few for your private study: John 2:19-21; Eph. 2:15; Col. 1:22; Heb. 10:10; 1Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 4:1.

THE SATANIC NATURE

The Faith movement claims that at the Fall, Adam and Eve lost their Godly nature and were infused with the very nature of Satan. In this chapter we will be looking at the validity of such a claim, as well as the contention that our Lord Jesus took upon Himself the satanic nature when He died ‘spiritually’.

Contrary to what the Faith movement believes, Adam and Eve were as distinctly human as you and I are. Their nature was not replaced by that of Satan’s, rather it was damaged or distorted at the Fall. The Bible still refers to man, even after the Fall, as being made in the image of God (Gen. 9:16; 1Cor. 1:7; Jas. 3:9). Calvin pictured the image of God in man as shattered after the Fall, yet as with the reflection of one’s face in a cracked mirror, a distorted image of God’s glory can still be seen in mankind today.

Kenneth E. Hagin believes that, “spiritual death means something more than separation from God. Spiritual death also means having Satan’s nature… Jesus tasted death–spiritual death–for every man.”³⁰ Hagin also writes, “…just as receiving eternal life means that we have the nature of God in us, spiritual death means having Satan’s nature.” ³¹ Does eternal life mean that we have the nature of God in us? Does spiritual death mean that we have the nature of Satan? And where does human nature fit into all this? Let us turn to the Scriptures for some words we can depend upon. Paul spoke the following words to those who were of the opinion that he and Barnabas were gods, “Sirs, why do you do these things? we also are men of like passions with you…” The word passions here is translated, of like feelings or affections. The revised Version has the word nature in the margin. Here was Paul, a born-again man of God saying that he had the same affections, the same nature in fact as those who were yet unsaved heathen. No satanic or Godly natures here. According to Paul, they were all of one nature, human. Paul was saying that he and Barnabas were not to be treated as gods, for their nature was as the nature of men. It is also clearly taught in the Scriptures that when a man is born-again, he does not put off a satanic nature, but in fact put’s off the old man. Accordingly, he does not put on the divine nature, but simply a new man (Eph. 4:24; cf. Eph. 2:10; 4:22). Note that both are human natures, the former fallen, the latter redeemed. Michael Moriarty, author of the book The New Charismatics, writes:

“Although people are born in sin, or born with a sin nature, there is no evidence that they are born with a satanic nature, or that a sin nature is equal to a satanic nature. Saying that humans have Satan’s nature makes them little more than demonic entities imprisoned in human bodies. This sounds more like Scientology than Christianity. While people are born with sinfully corrupt natures, all are still made in the image of God (Gen. 9:6; Jas. 3:9), not in the nature of Satan …when Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 8:44, ‘You are of your father the Devil’, he was referring to their spiritual and ethical bankruptcy, not to their ontological union with Satan….Human beings are born with a sin nature, but are made in the image of God. They are not demonic spirits clothed in flesh. The teaching that humans have the nature of Satan is an unbiblical deposit from the fertile imagination of E.W. Kenyon. It is not taught in Scripture.” ³²

The Faith movement adopts 2 Corinthians 5:21 to substantiate their claim that Jesus literally became sin upon the cross, and by doing so, took upon Himself the very nature of Satan. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” What Hagin does not seem to realize is the fact that, if Jesus had taken upon Himself the satanic nature, He too would have needed a Saviour. Hebrews 1:3 says in part, “He had by Himself purged our sins…” How could He have accomplished this if He had literally become sin? (cf. Heb. 9:14).

According to Romans 8:3, Jesus was sent by the Father in the likeness of sinful flesh, or with the nature of man yet without any sin. It was human nature without any of its sinfulness. Albert Barnes comments, “The atoning sacrifice was made in the likeness of sinful flesh that thus He might meet sin, as it were, on its own ground and destroy it.” ³³ In order to understand 2 Corinthians 5:21 properly, we need to take a closer look at the word sin as it is used in this verse, a verse which is central to the Faith movement’s satanic nature theory. Hank Hanegraaff helps us in our comprehension:

“…scholars agree that the word ‘sin’ in this passage is used in an abstract sense. They are virtually unanimous in pointing out that the phrase ‘to become sin’ as used here is a metonym (a word or phrase substituted for another associated word or phrase), for Christ ‘bearing the penalty of our sins’. Expositor, T.J. Crawford, maintains that ‘there can be no doubt that the expression is metonymical, since it is impossible that Christ, or any person, could be literally made sin’.” ³⁴

The verse teaches that Christ has been considered as though He were a sinner. As with the lamb in the O.T. sacrificial system, sin was imputed to Christ. According to Isaiah 53:4,5, the sin of man was laid to the account of Christ. Our sin was imputed to Jesus, and His righteousness was imputed to our favour. The Levitical concepts of both substitution and imputation will ably assist us in understanding more accurately the true meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:21. The reason Christ’s sacrifice was acceptable to God was because He was without blemish, i.e., without sin. Prominent commentator Phillip E. Hughes writes:

“But God made Him sin: that is to say that God the Father made His innocent Son the object of His wrath and judgment, for our sakes, with the result that in Christ on the cross the sin of the world is judged and taken away. In this truth resides the whole logic of reconciliation….Not for one moment does he cease to be righteous, else the radical exchange (the just for the unjust 1Pet. 3:18), envisaged by the apostle here, whereby our sin is transferred to Him and His righteousness is transferred to us, would be no more than a fiction or an hallucination.” ³⁵

God treated Christ as if he were a sinner, just as He now treats the Christian as if he had never sinned. If Jesus had literally become sin, His offering would have been unacceptable to God. The N.I.V. has 2 Corinthians 5:21 footnoted with the translation, ‘or be a sin offering’. Michael Moriarty grants us an even deeper insight into the word sin:

“The Hebrew term for ‘sin’ and ‘sin offering’ is one and the same. The Hebrew term, hatt’t can be translated either ‘sin’ or ‘sin offering’; the context determines the meaning. When hatt’t was used in reference to the O.T. animal substitute (which remained holy before and after its death), it was understood by the Jewish people as a ‘sin offering’. The same is true in reference to the Greek term for ‘sin’, harmartia, in 2Cor. 5:21. The apostle Paul, a Hebrew of Hebrews, clearly had sin offering in mind and not literal sin….The O.T. sin offering did not typify something ‘sinful’ at death to the Jews as Hagin and other charismatics depict Christ; it typified ‘a sinless sacrifice for sin’. Jesus did not become unholy on the cross, but was a holy sin offering who ‘gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma’ (Eph. 5:2).”³⁶

Insistence upon Christ’s sinful nature on the cross is evidence of the Faith movement’s ignorance of the Levitical image of the substitutionary sacrifice. According to the O.T., a sin offering, being a substitute, was required to be perfect and unblemished (Lev. 4:3,28; 9:3; cf. Deut. 15:21). The animals chosen for the sin offering were, according to Leviticus 4:32, a bull without defect; Lev. 4:23, a goat without defect; Lev. 4:32, a lamb without defect (see 1Cor. 5:7, Jesus as the Paschal Lamb). The one offering up the sacrifices would place his hand on the beast, signifying a symbolic transfer of sin and guilt (Lev. 4:4, 24,33; see Isa. 53:6 “…and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” cf.John 1:29). Death was then inflicted vicariously upon the sacrifice (Lev. 17:11). The atonement, or covering of the sin, was what God saw rather than the sin. With the sin covered or atoned for, the sinner was made free from his sin. If this imputation of sin upon the offering were to render it unholy, causing it to literally become sin, it could never have been accepted by a Holy God. The sin offering which was to be killed was called holy, and anyone who touched or ate of it also became holy (Lev. 6:25-27,29). “The sacrificial animal did not become sin; sin was symbolically imputed to it. It was a substitute for sin; a holy offering that atoned for sin by virtue of its perfection and consecration to the Lord.”

A sin offering was to be WITHOUT DEFECT!! What made Jesus’ offering acceptable to God was that His was a sinless offering, a Holy and unblemished offering to God. How could Jesus have literally become sin when Hebrews 9:14 tells us that He offered Himself “without blemish to God”. ” Leviticus 6:25-29 clearly shows that the sin offering was “most holy” to God both before and after its death! 1Peter 1:19 describes Christ as …a Lamb without blemish. “Without blemish (anomos),” says J.N.D. Kelly, “recalls the Jewish requirement that such an offering must be faultless,” and, “spotless” (aspilos) emphasizes “that in Christ’s case the faultlessness must be understood in terms of sinlessness and holy consecration.” ³⁷

The Jesus of the Faith movement literally became sin; and had literally taken on the nature of Satan. How could this have been a sacrifice holy unto God (Eph. 5:2)? Kenneth Copeland, in a recorded sermon, has correctly stated, “He went to the cross as the spotless Son of the living God.” ³⁸ Although Copeland here makes the truest of statements, he then makes the following contradictory claim on the same taped message, “He accepted the sin nature of Satan in His own Spirit…” Obviously Copeland believes that although Jesus went to the cross spotless, He did not remain so. What we have here is a truly horrific picture; a blend of both satanic and divine natures resident in the eternal Son of God. This is the gospel according to Kenneth Copeland. As with the O.T. offering, Jesus was Holy unto God both before and after His death. There is nothing in Scripture that even remotely suggests anything to the contrary.

If there are those who are still not convinced that Jesus did not literally become sin, perhaps Isaiah 53:12 will persuade you. God says here that “…He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bore the sins of many…” Again, in Isaiah 53:11, God says of His Son, “…for He shall bear their iniquities…” (cf.1Pet. 2:24). Jesus carried our sins, He did not become them. Jesus is also referred to in v.11 as God’s Righteous Servant.

Not only does Kenneth Copeland teach that Jesus literally became sin on the cross, he also adds another dimension to this perverse theology, by insisting that Jesus became a sign of Satan upon the cross! Copeland expounds:

“The righteousness of God was made to be sin. He accepted the sin nature of Satan in His own Spirit. And at the moment that He did so, he cried, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ You don’t know what happened at the cross. Why do you think Moses, upon instruction from God, raised the serpent upon that pole instead of a lamb? That used to bug me. I said, ‘Why in the world would you want to put a snake up there–the sign of Satan? Why didn’t you put a lamb on that pole?’ And the Lord said, ‘Because it was a sign of Satan that was hanging on the cross.’ He said, ‘I accepted, in My own spirit, spiritual death; and the light was turned off.’” ³⁹

One would suspect that the only light that has been turned off is the one inside Mr. Copeland. Not only does he teach this blasphemous concept, but he dares attribute these words as having been uttered by God Himself! The Scriptures that are used to support this unholy doctrine come from Numbers 21:8, 9 and John 3:14. Copeland makes the erroneous comparison of Jesus’ being lifted up on the cross and Moses’ lifting up of the bronze serpent on the pole in the desert, as proof that Jesus had taken on the satanic nature, the serpent being the symbol of Satan. The reality that these two passages show is simply the manner of Christ’s death i.e., His being lifted up on the cross. Jesus said that He would be “lifted up from the earth”, and, Scripture says, that He said this …signifying what death He would die (John 12:32,33). John 3:14, is where Jesus gives Nicodemus an analogy between the lifting up of the serpent–something he would have been familiar with being a Jewish teacher–and His own death. Moriarty explains:

“In Numbers 21 we are told that the rebellious Israelites were plagued by fiery serpents that killed off many of the people. Moses interceded with God on behalf of those who repented of their sins, and God directed him to make a bronze serpent and elevate it on a pole. All who were bitten by a poisonous serpent could look at the bronze serpent and live (see Num. 21:5-9). The bronze serpent did not produce the healing, it was merely a symbol that reminded them of their sin and the divine judgment sent to punish their sin. It was the saving grace of God in response to the genuine faith of the repentant Israelites that brought deliverance. They believed God’s Word and obeyed His command and were healed. By turning from their sins and trusting in God’s specific provision for deliverance, the Israelites felt as if they received a new surge of life and had been born all over again. Jesus uses this profound story of deliverance to illustrate God’s provision for receiving spiritual life. The elevation of the bronze serpent on a pole in the midst of the camp of Israel is a picture of Jesus Christ being elevated on the cross (Jn 3:14,15)….Nicodemus would have been thoroughly confused if he understood Jesus to be teaching that He would soon become united with the Devil on the cross. In fact, by analogy, if Jesus became a ‘serpent’ in nature as Copeland and his followers teach, then healing was provided by Satan, the Serpent, in Numbers 21 and not by God, since healing came as they looked to the elevated bronze serpent.” ⁴⁰

The final Scripture we shall be looking at which is used by Faith teachers to bolster the idea that Jesus had taken on the satanic nature is 1Timothy 3:16, “…God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit…” Kenneth Copeland believes the verse teaches the following, “In 1Timothy 3:16, God was manifested in the flesh and justified in the Spirit. Now you can’t get somebody justified and made righteous in the spirit if it (sic) wasn’t first unrighteous. The righteousness of God was made to be sin.” ⁴¹ (Notice how Copeland subtly adds the words made righteous in his commentary). Jesus’ being justified in the Spirit means nothing of the kind. This Scripture is simply telling us that Christ’s claims of being the Son of God were justified or vindicated by the Holy Spirit. A recognized authority on the Greek New Testament, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, makes this observation:

“The two phrases in 1Tim. 3:16 must be taken together: ‘God was manifest in the flesh,’ that was His Incarnation. And then immediately after that we read, ‘justified in the Spirit.’ This means that through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit which came upon Him, His claims for Himself as the God-Man were confirmed” (Matt. 3:16; Rom. 1:4).

He was also shown to be right by His holy life, and because of His resurrection. The New American Standard Bible says that he was ‘vindicated by the Spirit.’ New Testament scholar, William Hendrickson, sums it up best when he says, “Not everyone saw His glory. ‘He was despised and rejected of men’ (Isa. 53:3). By His enemies His claims were denied, and He Himself was cast out (Heb. 13:12). But by the Spirit He was vindicated: His own perfect righteousness and the validity of His claims were fully established.”

Any teaching that would take from the eternal righteousness of Jesus Christ, is anti-Christian and is to be shunned by every true believer.

REDEMPTION IN HELL?

The Faith leaders hold that the work of redemption was not finished upon the cross, but was rather completed in the bowels of hell. As was mentioned earlier, they believe in the ancient Ransom Theory and have added a few new ideas of their own. Their claim is that Jesus was tortured in hell by the Devil and his demons, and that this was the ransom price which God paid to Satan in order to enable Him to resume His place in the universe from which He had previously been banished. It was Kenneth Hagin who first introduced this teaching into Faith doctrine, though he was not the originator of it. E.W. Kenyon first embraced this lie after being influenced by numerous Metaphysical cults such as Unity Thought.

Kenneth Copeland, who began his ministry by memorizing the sermons of Kenneth Hagin, gives his version of what ‘really’ happened, “When Jesus cried, ‘It is finished!’ He was not speaking of the plan of redemption. There were still three days and nights to go through before He went to the Throne….Jesus’ death on the cross was only the beginning of the complete work of redemption.” ⁴² Again, we are confronted with a direct and open attack on the effectiveness of Christ’s physical death upon the cross, a subject of which the Bible speaks clearly. It is curious how many Christians would normally recognize a teaching such as this as being heretical, and a direct assault upon the central doctrine of the Church, yet when it is preached by people who claim Jesus as their Lord and quote the Bible, most remain in a numbed silence. I would remind Copeland and his devotees that our redemption is through Christ’s blood–His physical death (Col. 1:14; cf. Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12). Christ’s physical death marked the end of His work. There is no such thing as the cross and…

Robert Tilton, currently facing a variety of lawsuits in America, assures us that our redemption was accomplished in the pit of hell. He says, “For three days and three nights He (Jesus), was in the pit of hell, breaking the powers of darkness to set us free.” ⁴³ The danger of such a teaching is realized in the fact that it shifts the central focus of the Christian away from the cross, and not to it. It also implies that the powers of darkness were not conquered at the cross as the Bible clearly teaches (Heb. 2:15). The following statement is a prime example of the focus being shifted from the cross to hell. Frederick Price, who has added his own ‘twists’ to faith theology, has this to say:

“Do you think that the punishment for our sin was to die on a cross? If that were the case, the two thieves could have paid your price. No, the punishment was to go into hell and to serve time in hell separated from God….Satan and all the demons of hell thought that they had Him bound and they threw a net over Jesus and they dragged Him down to the very pit of hell itself to serve our sentence.”⁴⁴

By urging that our redemption could have been paid by the two thieves if the punishment for our sins was to be the death of the cross, Price demonstrates a distinct lack of ability to comprehend the significance of what occurred upon Calvary’s hill. This Faith movement doctrine, without a doubt, qualifies the Faith leaders as advocates of a different gospel. The late Paul Billheimer was another Faith teacher who promoted this tenet. He once gave this abhorrent account of what happened on the cross, and then later in hell:

“Because He (Jesus) was ‘made sin,’ impregnated with sin, and became the very essence of sin on the cross, He was banished from God’s presence as a loathsome thing. He and sin were made synonymous….It was not sufficient for Christ to offer up only His physical life on the cross. His pure human spirit had to descend into hell….His spirit must not only descend into hell, but into the lowest Hell….The Father turned Him over, not only to the agony and death of Calvary, but to the satanic torturers of His pure spirit as part of the just dessert of the sin of all the race. As long as Christ was ‘the essence of sin’ He was at Satan’s mercy in that place of torment….While Christ identified with sin, Satan and the hosts of Hell ruled over Him as over any lost sinner. During that seemingly endless age in the nether abyss of death, Satan did with him as he would and all Hell was ‘in carnival’.” ⁴⁵

To believe this fable, one would have to do away with several passages from the Bible, not to mention its most major doctrines such as the sovereignty of God and the fact that Jesus is the same (in essence), yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). Billheimer introduces us to an almighty Satan and a hell where, amidst all the agonies and torments, demons are able to party and celebrate and be ‘in carnival’! He also teaches that the cross just wasn’t enough, that more was needed to be done if mankind was to be fully atoned for. This line of teaching is a sure and reliable sign that the ones promoting it are not professing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, however strongly they may hold to such beliefs; however sincere their intentions.

Another Faith teacher who believes in the rejoicing in Hell theory is Charles Capps, a man who believes Jesus was the product of God’s Positive Confession;

Here are his thoughts on the matter:

“In the place of the wicked dead, all the demons of Hell and Satan rejoiced over the prize. The corridors of Hell were filled with joy. ‘We’ve done it! We’ve captured the Son of God! We’ll no longer be in the pit of the damned! The earth and all that is therein is ours! Forever it will be ours!’ Rejoicing in hell had never been so great as it was that day. But it was short-lived.” ⁴⁶

Capps speaks as though rejoicing was a daily occurrence in Hell! My Bible speaks of that place in no other way but a place of darkness and indescribable agony. Where Capps has acquired such ‘knowledge’ is any ones guess, I only know that he didn’t get it from the Bible. Jesus did not need to go to hell at any time to conquer the enemy, for that task was achieved on the cross (Col. 2:15). Satan was defeated on the cross! The Jesus of the Faith movement had to go to hell and suffer at Satan’s mercy. The true Jesus, the One Supreme Commander of the hosts of heaven (1Pet. 3:22), completely triumphed over Satan and his minions upon the cross (cf. Heb. 2:14,15). Jesus bore our sins in His body ON THE CROSS, not in hell! The cross was not just the place where Jesus died, but was His Mount of Triumph! Here are just some of many Scriptures for Faith movement adherents to follow up: John 19:30; Col. 2:13-15; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:20,21; cf. Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 2:13; Heb. 9:22; 13:12; 1Pet. 1:19; 1Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 5:9.

A valid question that may be asked at this juncture is: Did Jesus ever enter into Hell? It is of a certainty that Jesus went into Paradise to be with the Father (Luke 23:46), and not with Satan to Hell. Hades was a place separated by a great chasm, on one side there were those in torment, and on the other those at rest in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16).

1Peter 3:18 has often been applied as proof that Jesus did in fact enter Hell and preached the Gospel to its inhabitants. Closer examination shows this to be a presumption. Though vv.18-20 is a difficult passage, one thing is clear–Jesus did not preach the Gospel to those prisoners. The original Greek word for preached as used in v.19 is ekeruxen. The correct translation is that He proclaimed His great victory over the Devil, sin, death and all evil, and that this news reached even the bowels of hades. The Vines Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, says it is a proclamation of His victory made after His resurrection to fallen angelic spirits (cf. 2Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). “Recent scholars teach that the resurrected Christ, during His ascension to heaven, proclaimed to imprisoned spirits His victory over death. The exalted Christ passed through the realm where the unbelieving spirits reside, or where the fallen angels are kept, and proclaimed His triumph over them (see Eph. 6:12; Col. 2:15).” ⁴⁷ Moreover, there is nothing in this passage which describes the spirits mentioned as being human.

The teaching that claims Jesus preached the Gospel to those in hell, was set forth as early as the 2nd century by Marcion and the Shepherd of Hermes, who were espousers of the purgatory lie. The Roman Catholic Church erroneously teach that Jesus went into Purgatory (a temporary place of torment), to deliver the imprisoned spirits of men.

Both Copeland and Hagin would have us believe that Christ was a prisoner of hell, yet this passage in 1Peter 3 says only that Jesus preached to the prisoners, not that He was one. Though it is difficult to fully comprehend the meaning of the passage, it is clear that there is no mention at all made of Jesus suffering in hell, or of being tormented by Satan in the pit of darkness.

One source of support that the Faith teachers employ to add credence to their redemption in hell theory, is the fact that some ancient Christian Creeds make mention of Christ’s descension into hell. The phrase descended into hell, did not appear, however, in such Creeds as the Apostle’s and Athanasian until the 4th century and was not included in the originals. One can be sure that neither the early Church fathers or the writers of the Creeds did not, for one moment, believe that Jesus suffered in hell under the direction of Satan.

Another of the more frequently used texts implemented by Faith leaders as proof of Jesus’ descension into hell, is Matthew 12:40, “…so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The Jewish use of the word heart was to indicate the interior of a thing or of being in it. Here it is referring to the grave or tomb. The verse is simply speaking of Jesus’ body in the tomb, and can in no way be considered by the serious Bible student as evidence that Jesus went into hell and there suffered its torments.

“Now that he ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth” (Eph. 4:9). This verse is speaking of Christ’s ascension into heaven after His resurrection and 40 days on earth, and His initial descension to earth from heaven as the Incarnate God. Some see this as denoting Jesus’ humiliation in enduring death (see Phil. 2:6-8). Others believe it refers to hades (the underworld). The most likely interpretation is that of Christ’s coming to earth in His incarnation. The key to understanding this passage is that His descension to the lower parts of the earth is contrasted with His ascension far above the heavens (Eph. 4:10; see also Isa. 44:23). Importantly, the contrast is between heaven and earth, not heaven and hell (cf. John 3:13,31; 8:23). The Faith movement conveniently interpret lower depths as a reference to hell, and then add their innovative idea of Christ’s having been tortured by demons.

Interestingly, David uses the same expression, lowest parts of the earth, in Psalm 139:15ff. David here states that he was in fact made in the depths of the earth. If the Faith movement is correct in their interpretation of this phrase as referring to hell, then we must conclude that David was created in Hell! Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. The passage in Psalm 139:15,16 is purely a metaphor for the deepest concealment i.e., the womb (cf.Eccl. 11:5).

Acts 2:31, “…His soul was not left in Hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” (cf. Acts 2:27), is another verse used to show that Jesus did enter the portals of Hell. This verse is taken from Psalm 16:10. The King James Version has the word hell, though a more accurate translation would be sheol in Hebrew and hades in Greek. Sheol is used 65 times in the O.T., yet seldom is it used to denote a place of torment. The customary meaning is, realm of the dead, meaning the state of death or the grave (cf. Gen. 37:35; 42:38; 1Sam. 2:6; Psa. 141:7). As in the O.T. Hebrew, the N.T. Greek term for hades is usually interpreted the realm of the dead. According to Luke 16:23,25 hades may mean a place of torment, though it may equally be described as a place of rest, in Abraham’s bosom.

Acts 2:27, “…neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption”, is an obvious reference to God’s refusal to allow the body of Jesus to undergo the normal process of decomposition. Jesus’ body was not to return to dust nor even begin to see corruption, but was to be restored to life. The earlier part of the verse says, “…Thou wilt not leave My soul in Hell…” The term My soul here may mean nothing more than Me or Myself. In other words, Thou wilt not leave Me in the grave. A more precise meaning would be breath, life, a living being (see Psa. 11:1; 35:37; Job 9:21). Throughout Scripture the word soul is nowhere used to mean a separate state, or separated from the body.

Acts 2:24 is another verse which the Faith movement has taken to show that Jesus did suffer the pain and torments of hell. It says, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death…” Pains of death, or pangs of death has the meaning here of the Hebrew, the cords or snares of death (cf.Psa. 18:4; 116:3; 2Sam. 22:6), or the cords of sheol (Psa. 18:5). Albert Barnes writes:

“The word translated ‘pains’ denotes, properly, the extreme sufferings of parturition, and then any severe or excruciating pangs. Hence it is applied also to ‘death’, as being a state of extreme suffering. A very frequent meaning of the Hebrew word, of which this is the translation, is ‘cord’ or ‘band’. This perhaps was the original idea of the word; and the Hebrews expressed any extreme agony under the idea of ‘bands’ or ‘cords’ closely drawn, binding and constricting the limbs, and producing severe pain. Thus death was represented under this image of a ‘band’ that confined men; that pressed closely on them; that prevented escape; and produced severe suffering (see Psa. 119:61; Isa. 66:7; Jer. 22:23; Hos. 13:13)….We are not to infer from this that our Lord suffered anything after death. It means simply that He could not be held by the grave, but that God loosed the ‘bonds’ which had held Him there, and that he now set Him free who had been encompassed by these pains or bonds, until they had brought Him down to the grave.” ⁴⁸

Despite efforts by several concerned Christians to speak with Kenneth Copeland, he remains resolute in his beliefs. The Bible speaks of Jesus’ having made Himself obedient to death (Phil. 2:8). Copeland adds to this truth by teaching that Jesus also became obedient to Satan, “He allowed the Devil to drag Him into the depths of Hell as if He were the most wicked sinner who ever lived. He submitted Himself to death. He allowed Himself to come under Satan’s control….For three days in the belly of the earth, He suffered as if He’d sinned every sin that exists.” ⁴⁹ Again, we see here a subtle blending of the truth with error, of the “leaven with the dough.”

The best way to answer these outrageous claims is for me to allow the words of Jesus Himself to speak and defend the truth. Jesus said that, “…the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). This verse speaks of the innocence of Christ. Satan had no ground by which to destroy Him. Jesus experienced physical death upon the cross because of His willingness to die, not because of any legal ground Satan had. According to Luke 22:53, Satan was permitted to do his worst, to employ his authority for a time. Jesus however was not dragged into hell by Satan, there is no Scripture that will substantiate this claim. Jesus became obedient to the death of the cross, for it was God’s eternal plan and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled (cf.Isa. 63:16; Eph. 1:3; 2Tim. 1:9,10; 1Pet. 1:18-20; Rev. 13:8).

In this next passage, Jesus shows clearly whose ‘lordship’ was to be prominent at the cross, “…I lay down My life that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment I have received of My Father” (John 10:17,18; cf. Jn. 2:19). No man–or devil–took Jesus’ life from Him, He laid it down voluntarily. Jesus says that He has power to lay His life down, and power to take it up again. These words show plainly that Jesus was sovereign over His own death. He was in full control. Anything Satan did at Calvary’s hill, was permitted him to do. Jesus was divine and remained divine even after the death of the cross. No dead man has power to revive himself, only God can restore life, only God can raise the dead. Jesus reveals here that He had the power to take it again, to restore life to His body, thus demonstrating the unchangeableness of His eternally divine essence.

Now back to a statement made earlier by Kenneth Copeland concerning Jesus’ final words upon the cross, “It is finished”. Copeland asserts that, “When Jesus cried ‘It is finished!’, He was not speaking of the plan of redemption….Jesus’ death on the cross was only the beginning of the complete work of redemption.” Astute readers will notice that Jesus’ words were, “It is finished”, and not, it has just begun! The Greek word for this term is tetelestai, which means it is paid; the debt has been paid in full. “The finality of Jesus’ accomplishment upon the cross is made crystal clear by the tearing of the temple curtain that veiled God’s earthly sanctuary, the holy of Holies, from man, thus signifying that access to God had been restored at that precise moment” ⁵⁰ (Mark 15:38; cf. Heb. 9:1-14; 10:19-22). Likewise, noted Bible scholar Merrill C. Tenney says, “The use of the perfect tense in ‘It is finished’ signifies full completion of Jesus’ work and the establishment of a basis for faith.” ⁵¹

Copeland and some charismatics refute this by believing that the final words of Jesus were merely the announcement of the close of the Abrahamic covenant. Scripture, however, does not speak of the Abrahamic, but rather the Mosaic covenant of the law as being the one fulfilled, or brought to a close, in Christ’s sacrificial death upon the cross. “The law of sacrifice, which provided an atonement for sin, had been given to Moses at Mount Sinai, not to Abraham. It was the Mosaic covenant of the law and sacrifice that was fulfilled and done away with at the cross by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, as the New Testament clearly states” ⁵² (Matt. 5:17-19; Col. 2:13, 14; Heb. 8-10).

The Faith movement openly teach a different gospel. They teach a redemption not fully achieved upon Christ’s cross of triumph, but one which was fulfilled in the pit of Hell. Hank Hanegraaff alerts us to:

“The fact…that virtually every cult, in one way or another, denies the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through the sinless sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The Bible plainly states that your eternal salvation rests on what you personally believe about the blood atonement of Jesus Christ. It is at the cross–not in Hell–that your salvation is either won or lost. And that is precisely the problem with the most notorious of the Faith teachings. These teachings have transferred the saving work of Christ from the cross to the deepest dungeons of hell.” ⁵³

Atonement Where? (Part One of Four)

by MORENO DAL BELLO

A Comprehensive Study of Word-Faith Doctrine

A biblical analysis of the disturbing claims put forward by the Faith Movement, which include the inefficiency of Christ’s blood, alone, to atone for the sins of Man; the need for Christ’s spiritual death, and that the redemption of Mankind was completed in Hell!

Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than truth itself. Irenaeus

The doctrines of the Faith movement which will be investigated in this publication would not normally deserve a response, were it not for the fact that multitudes of sincere people have fallen prey to, and unknowingly accepted, a false view of the events leading up to and including the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is to these people, primarily, I declare foremost, that the precious blood of Christ alone DID atone for our sins!!

INTRODUCTION:

The Faith movement had its beginnings in 1963 in Garland, Texas, at the home of Kenneth E. Hagin, where he had set up his own office from which he distributed his tapes and books for approximately three years. The origin of most of the Faith movement’s doctrines, however, have a much longer history, as will be borne out in a later chapter.

The Faith movement is also known by the titles ‘The Word movement’, and, ‘The Word of Faith movement’. It is sometimes referred to by it’s detractors as ‘The Faith-Formula movement’ and ‘The Hyper-Faith movement’. It’s acknowledged ‘father’ is Kenneth E. Hagin, also known as ‘dad Hagin’. Kenneth Copeland, reckoned by many in the movement as ‘God’s man of the hour’, is Hagin’s heir apparent. Other leading identities of the Faith movement are: Kenneth Hagin, Jr., Gloria Copeland, Fred Price, Jerry Savelle, Charles Capps, Norvel Hayes, John Osteen, Robert Tilton, Lester Sumrall, John Avanzini, Marilyn Hickey, Buddy Harrison and Morris Cerullo.

It may surprise those Christians who believe the Faith movement to be a by-product of the Charismatic movement, to learn that this is not the case. The Faith movement did not spring from either the Charismatic or Pentecostal movements, but their roots. In fact, it can be traced back to the metaphysical cults, specifically New Thought. Though many charismatics have warmly welcomed and adopted certain Faith practices and beliefs, it is interesting to note that some charismatics actually frown upon the Faith movement, and view the Hagin/Copeland gospel as a gross distortion of true Bible doctrine, and have opposed it, virtually, from it’s inception.

Many believe the Faith movement is a true moving of the Holy Spirit, simply because of numerous purported healings and supernatural occurrences for which it claims to be responsible. Experiences and results, as is increasingly the case, are what many people are forming their beliefs on, often at the expense of true Bible doctrine. What many fail to realize is the fact that every major religion produces ‘results’ and ‘experiences’. D.R. McConnell, author of the outstanding book, A Different Gospel: A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement explains:

“Results can never be the criterion by which the truth of an idea is proven. If that were the case, charismatics would have to admit that Mary Baker Eddy is a prophetess and that Christian Science is true gospel. Likewise, the numerous healings and miracles occurring in the Faith movement are not necessarily signs from God that the Faith gospel is the Gospel of the New Testament. Charismatics who naively assume that healings vindicate truth are overlooking the fact that almost every major religion and cult the world has ever known has produced healings. For every god there is a religion, and in every religion there are healings.” ¹

As will be detailed in a later chapter, the major doctrines of the Faith movement were plagiarized by Kenneth Hagin from the teachings of E.W. Kenyon. Kenyon (1867-1948), gained much of his theology from the mind-science cults, predominantly metaphysics. He incorporated these teachings with his Christian beliefs in an attempt to satisfy the desires for, as he termed it, a new type of Christianity which people had been longing for. Hagin adopted many of these ideas, adding his own theological views gained from his days in classical Pentecostalism and healing revivalism. The five central doctrines of the Faith movement: Revelation Knowledge, Identification, Faith, Healing and Prosperity, however, were all taken from Kenyon’s writings, a man who often drank from the well of the Metaphysical cults, particularly, New Thought and Christian Science.

In the ensuing pages we will learn of the Faith movement’s iniquitous assertions of Jesus coming to earth only as man; that Christ took on the satanic nature upon the cross; that His precious blood, alone, did not atone for our sins; that Jesus suffered a double-death upon the cross–spiritual as well as physical; and that man’s redemption was completed in hell, where Jesus, it is alleged, became the first born-again man!

It has been said that, ‘Christianity is Christ’! “Christianity centers on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth: His deity, His humanity, and His atoning death as a substitute for sinners. To fool around with the Biblical material at these points is to engage in error at the level of eternal loss.” ²

As we enter now into a Biblical analysis of the relevant Faith doctrine, the Faith follower is reminded that we follow the Lord Jesus Christ and no other. The Christian is not to be hesitant or become apprehensive of any investigation into the teachings of those they listen to and love. Salvation is not gained by our loyalty to a man, but by our acceptance of the truth. Let us recall the words of A. Lindsley, “The Christian has nothing to fear from thoughtful investigation.”

KENOTIC THEOLOGY

“Why didn’t Jesus openly proclaim Himself as God during His 33 years on earth? For one single reason. He hadn’t come to earth as God, He’d come as man.” ³ Kenneth Copeland.

Kenotic theology, the contention that Jesus Christ divested Himself of His deity during His incarnation, is in essence, heretical theology. Although Kenneth Copeland does not subscribe to the belief that Jesus was not God, he does however believe that Jesus did not come to earth as God. Nor is he of the opinion that Jesus even claimed to be God during His earthly ministry. Copeland claims to have received a direct revelation from God during which Jesus allegedly told him, “…I didn’t claim I was God; I just claimed I walked with Him and that He was in Me…” ⁴ In addition, Copeland asserts that, “This man–Jesus, was a carbon copy of the one who walked through the Garden of Eden.” ⁵ He gives his reason as to why it had to be this way, in the following statement, “He (God) has to have a man like that first one. It’s got to be a man. He’s got to be all man. He cannot be a God and come storming in here with attributes and dignities that are not common to man. He can’t do that. Its not legal.” ⁶

At the time of the alleged revelation from Jesus that Copeland ‘received’, it produced great concern among a number of Christians, one of whom was the late cult researcher, Walter Martin, who actually wrote Copeland expressing his concern at this ‘revelation’. Sadly, “Copeland refused correction or even correspondence on the subject and re-issued his position, standing by his alleged revelation.” ⁷ In the August, 1988 issue of Copeland’s Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine, Kenneth Copeland made these disquieting remarks:

“Jesus hadn’t come to earth as God; He’d come as man. He’d set aside His divine power and had taken on the form of a human being–with all its limitations.” And, that Jesus lived on earth, “…not as God but as a man.” He also teaches that Jesus prayed, “…not as the divine One who had authority as God but as a man…” And that Jesus never believed Himself to be “…the Most High God.”

The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology informs us of the orthodox Church view on the kenotic theory: “…all forms of classical orthodoxy either explicitly reject or reject in principle kenotic theology. This is because God must be affirmed to be changeless (Heb. 13:8); any concept of the incarnation that would imply change would mean that God would cease to be God.”

In contrast with Copeland’s belief that Jesus did not claim to be God while on earth, the Bible clearly teaches that He did. In John 8:58 Jesus says of Himself, “…Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM.” The term I AM, is of course one that God has assumed as His name, and was recognized by the Jews as a title of deity (see Ex. 3:14; cf. Isa. 44:6; 47:8). Also, the high priest’s reaction to Jesus’ use of the title, in the Gospel of Mark, suggests that he considered Jesus’ utterance of it as being a blasphemous claim to deity (Mark 14:61-63). Jesus makes it perfectly clear in John 8 that He is most certainly God (cf. John 3:13; 5:18; 10:33; 17:5). Noted American theologian A.A. Hodge, speaks truly on this matter of the Person of Christ:

“Jesus of Nazareth was very God, possessing the divine nature and all its essential attributes. He is also true man, His human nature derived by generation from the stock of Adam. These natures continued united in His Person, yet ever remain true divinity and true humanity, unmixed and as to essence unchanged. So that Christ possesses at once in the unity of His Person two spirits with all their essential attributes, a human consciousness, mind, heart and will…. Yet it does not become us to attempt to explain the manner in which the two spirits mutually affect each other, or how far they meet in one consciousness, nor how the two wills cooperate in one activity, in the union of one person. Nevertheless, they constitute as thus united one single Person, and the attributes of both natures belong to the one Person.” ⁸

The Scripture most widely used to support the view that Christ emptied Himself of His divinity is Philippians 2:7: “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” The Revised Version has it, ‘But emptied Himself, taking the form…’ The Greek here means literally to empty. The question we have before us is: In what manner did Jesus empty Himself? Some contend that the kenosis (an emptying), was merely a concealment, a veiling of His divine attributes, not unlike the sun as when veiled by clouds still gives its light but the full radiance is concealed. John 1 shows clearly that Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead, was made flesh, maintaining His divinity and attributes. The Unger’s Bible Dictionary informs us that, “The ancient Church, with but few exceptions, taught that the Son did not retain the divine glory for Himself, for His own advantage, while yet He did not cease even in the flesh to be what He eternally was.” Luke 2:49, “How is it that ye sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” indicates that even as a Child, Jesus was conscious of His divinity, as well as during the years of His ministry (John 8:58; 10:30; 14:9-11; 17:25).

Philippians 2:6 speaks of Jesus, being in the form of God… The word form (morph), is best defined by Gifford in his book The Incarnation, “morph is…properly the nature or essence, not in the abstract, but as actually subsisting in the individual, and retained as long as the individual itself exists…Thus in the passage before us morph Theou is the Divine nature actually and inseparably subsisting in the Person of Christ.”

Perhaps the strongest verse which attests to Christ’s divinity is Colossians 2:9: “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” This verse plainly states that the fullness of the Godhead ie., divinity or divine essence, became incarnate and indwelt the body of Jesus Christ. It does not mean that only the will of God dwelt in Him, nor even of the divine knowledge alone, but that the whole deity had become incarnate and dwelt in human form. Jesus was not just a man who had God dwelling in Him, He was wholly God and wholly man. Hebrews 13:8, an oft used verse by both Faith movement teachers and followers alike, is proof that Jesus was wholly divine, and yet in human form during His ministry on earth, for He is forever unchangeable. According to Philippians 2:6-8, Jesus came to earth in the form of God, and in the form of a servant. “The eternal, infinite form of God took upon Himself flesh” (John 1:1, 14).

Kenneth Copeland has, in clear contradiction to his earlier statements in this chapter, on occasion taught correctly that Jesus “…was and is God manifested in the flesh.” ⁹ Yet, as we have seen, Copeland elsewhere denies Christ’s having come to earth as wholly man and wholly God. We hope that Mr. Copeland would soon realize his own confusion and inconsistency and teach only the truth, that Jesus came to this earth as God manifested in the flesh (see Isa. 9:6; Rom. 8:3; 1Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:14).

THE BLOOD ATONEMENT

The cross of Christ is the most central doctrine of the Christian faith. It was there that Jesus’ work of atonement for mankind was completed, a fact evidenced by Jesus’ own words, found in John 19:30, “…it is finished…” and by Paul in Colossians 1:20: “…having made peace through the blood of His cross…” “It is this doctrine, perhaps more than any other, that has been repeatedly attacked by non-Christian cults and false religions. These concentrated attacks, however, can no longer be confined to the enemies outside the Church, but are quickly beginning to surface within the broad walls of Christendom.” ¹⁰

The Faith movement is one of these enemies which has surfaced and presented, to the Church at large, a different account of what occurred and what was achieved upon the rugged cross. Kenneth Copeland states quite emphatically in a taped sermon entitled, ‘What Happened From The Cross To The Throne?’, “…if it had been a physical death only, it wouldn’t have worked.” Consequently, Copeland teaches that our redemption was not completed on the cross, but in the pit of hell! (more on this later).

The Faith movement employs what is known as a metaphysical view of salvation, which spiritualises the atonement and deifies man. The completion of the atonement is located in hell rather than the cross, thus depriving the physical death of Christ of the power to atone for our sins, which the Bible attributes solely to the blood of Christ (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 10:10). The central doctrine of the Christian faith has been plundered.

Although there are several theories as to how the atonement was achieved, we are interested only in the Faith movement’s view and why it is a false teaching. Most Christians would agree that our sins were fully atoned for by the physical death of Jesus upon the cross. The Faith movement has other ideas. We shall be dealing specifically in this chapter with their belief in Kenneth Copeland’s claims that,

“Since He (Jesus) was made to be sin, He had to pay the penalty for sin. He had to die spiritually, which took Him into the regions of the damned, before He could redeem us.” ¹¹

He also says, “…When His blood poured out, it did not atone. It did away with the handwriting of the ordinances that were against us.” ¹²

Faith movement theology concerning the cross was known to the early Church as the ‘Devil Ransom Theory’ or ‘The Classical Theory’ or ‘The Fishhook Theory’. The early Church fathers who subscribed to this thesis, believed that because of sin man belonged to Satan. In order to save mankind, God is purported to have offered His Son Jesus as a ransom to the Devil. This is in sharp contrast with the Bible’s teaching that Christ had given Himself as an offering for us, and as a sacrifice to God not Satan (Eph. 5:2; cf. 1Cor. 5:7; Heb. 10:12).

The theory that Christ was a ransom paid to the Devil, did not originate with the Faith movement. It was taught as early as A.D. 230 by Origen and more emphatically by Gregory of Nyssa A.D. 370. This doctrine however was always met with the strongest opposition and denial by theologians such as Athanasius A.D. 370; and Gregory of Nazianzum A.D. 390. Never did it become the official and accepted view of the Church.

The Devil Ransom Theory gradually faded from view due to its lack of intelligent support, and after Anselm (1033-1109), an 11th century scholastic theologian, subjected it to criticism in his book Cur deus Homo? (Why Did God Become Man?).

Another historic atonement theory that parallels, at least in part, the Faith movement view is called ‘The Example Theory’. It was promulgated by the Socinians, a 16th century movement founded by Faustus Socinus, who was to later become the leader of Unitarianism. The Socinians denied the Trinity, the deity of Christ, that men are fallen, and also claimed that Christ’s death on the cross did not atone for the sins of mankind.

Two centuries later another group emerged which denied the efficacy of Christ’s atoning blood. Swedenborgianism, founded by Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), also discarded the concept of the Trinity. The vicarious atonement is considered an “abomination” and “mere human invention”, while the death of Christ is considered “a climax to a life of service”, not “a debt of blood.”

A more recent group of dissenters from the Biblical teaching that the atonement for sin was fulfilled by Christ’s death upon the cross, is The Seventh-Day Adventist Church. They teach that the atonement is an ongoing event! Ellen G. White, the group’s ‘prophetess’, has this to say of the precious blood of Christ, “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel sin…It will stand in the sanctuary until the final atonement.” ¹³ Ephesians 1:7 assures the Christian that his sins have been cancelled, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…” (cf. Rom. 8:1).

Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, believed that the shed blood of Christ was ineffectual for sin. She stated in her ‘divinely inspired’ book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, that, “The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon ‘the accursed tree’ than when it was flowing in His veins.” She even denied the need for a physical sacrifice, labelling it as a ‘heathen conception’.

The Biblically alert Christian will instantly recognize these claims as blasphemous and a direct attack upon the effectiveness of Christ’s physical death in atoning for our sins. The reader may have already noticed an affinity between Copeland’s teachings and some of these others just mentioned. We propose to present to the reader in the following pages, irrefutable evidence that the Faith movement is no less a dissenter from the true Biblical doctrine of the atonement than are these others.

Though Copeland and other Faith teachers do not totally discount the blood from being a necessary part of the atonement ‘package’, they do not, however, believe that the blood–the physical death of Jesus–alone, was sufficient to complete our redemption.

E.W. Kenyon, the originator of most Faith movement doctrine, teaches that the shed blood of Christ did not effect the sin issue at all! Kenyon states that the physical death of Jesus could never eradicate sin and sickness, as these were of spiritual origin. He also declares, as does Kenneth Copeland, that Jesus’ physical death was only the beginning of His redemptive work, and not a mark of its completion.¹⁴

Let us now briefly turn to the Scriptures and hear what the Word of God teaches about the cross and the atonement. The apostle Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal. 6:14). Paul did not glory in any mythical spiritual death of Christ, nor did he ever speak of a glorious redemption completed in hell. It was in the cross that Paul centred his attention and gloried. And it is the cross which the church of Jesus Christ has always gloried in. It has been wisely stated that the Church’s roots are in the cross–in the atonement (cf. 1Cor. 1:18).

Revelation 1:5, “…To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood”, describes the cleansing and purifying power of the atoning blood of Jesus. Revelation 7:14 states, “…These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.” The usage of the word blood in the Bible is evidence of the fact that it is synonymous with physical life given in death. Leon Morris explains:

“Of the 362 uses of the Hebrew word for blood (dam) in the O.T., 103 refer to sacrificial blood and 203 refer to violent physical death of some kind. Likewise, of the 98 uses of the Greek word for blood (haima) in the N.T., 25 refer to violent physical death, 12 refer to animal sacrifice, and 37 refer to the physical death of Christ.” ¹⁵ (see 1Pet. 1:18,19; cf. Heb. 10:19,20; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7).

Therefore, we are to understand that when the Bible speaks of Christ’s blood, it is talking about His physical death and His physical death ONLY. When Copeland denies the sufficiency of Christ’s physical death alone to deal fully with man’s sin, he not only diminishes the full redeeming power of the blood, but also its role in God’s plan of salvation for mankind, as set out in the Bible. The shedding of Christ’s blood which secured the forgiveness of sins, was made possible because it was blood poured forth in a violent sacrificial death made on our behalf (Rom. 5:8,9; 8:32; Eph. 5:2; Gal. 3:13; 1Thess. 5:10; cf. Isa. 53).

Several Scriptures which refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God (Mark 1:4; Luke 1:77; John 1:29), clearly portray a familiar image found in the O.T. sacrificial system, which included the sacrifice of a lamb as a sin offering (Lev. 4:32,33). It is a well known fact that without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness, for …the life of the flesh is in the blood…it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11; see also Heb. 9.22). One would be hard pressed to find a clearer statement in support of the fact that the word blood in the Bible speaks expressly of physical death. In O.T. times it was the physical death of an animal that would atone for a man’s sin. Hebrews 9:14 tells us that if this was the case then, How much more shall the blood of Christ…purge your conscience from dead works…? In other words: How much more would the physical death of Christ atone for the sins of mankind?

The Old Testament sacrifices were a mere shadow of the one true Sacrifice which was to come. In O.T. times, the sacrificial system was set up in order, primarily, to atone for sin. The blood of the sacrificial offering was brought into the presence of God (Heb. 9:6,7; cf. Heb. 9:12), and was necessary in satisfying (stilling), the anger of God. The Hebrew word kippûr, (propitiation or atonement), denotes the covering of sin or the sinner by means of an atonement. The blood of the sacrifice was placed between man and God, thus ‘shielding’ the man from the wrath of God, much like the blood on the doorpost kept those inside the house safe from the angel of death in Exodus 12.

According to Hebrews 10:4, animal sacrifice had no merit in itself to take away sin, this was made possible only because of God’s choosing it as the way (Lev. 17:11). How the O.T. sacrificial system was a foreshadowing of the N.T. sacrifice of Jesus will be discussed in greater detail in a later chapter.

The point in mentioning the Old Testament sacrifice here, is to show that the way sins were atoned for in the past was by the physical death of animals. Now, of course, there is no further need for such animal sacrifices for we have the physical death of Jesus, the one, true and only sacrifice by which the sins of man are atoned. Jesus said it Himself when at the Last Supper He declared, “This is My blood…which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). Notice He did not say ‘this is My Spirit…’ Again, the blood here denotes His physical death. In this verse, Jesus is signifying that His physical death on the cross would be the means whereby men’s sins shall be forgiven.

Christ’s physical death on the cross effected a universal forgiveness of sins. “It is finished,” was His cry from the cross. The atonement was completed. The resurrection which followed was God’s seal of approval on Christ’s atoning work upon the cross. There are many Scriptures which confirm this fact. Here are just a few: Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32; John 10:11-17; Acts 17:1-3; 20:28; Rom. 8:1-3; 1Cor. 6:9-11; 2Cor. 5:14,15; Gal. 3:13; 1Pet. 3:18; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:1-3.

One can only imagine what the saints of Revelation 5 and 12 would say to the Faith teacher’s claims of the insufficiency of Christ’s blood, alone, to atone for our sins. Those who cry so loudly, overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb, denoting His sacrificial atoning death. They were redeemed by His shed blood (His physical death), and by virtue of that blood atonement were enabled to achieve victory, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony… (Rev. 12:11).

We turn our attention now to the Faith movement’s ‘ransom theory’, the belief strongly adhered to by Copeland and co. that Christ’s alleged spiritual death was the price that was paid to Satan in order to win mankind back to God D.R. McConnell sets the record straight as to who Jesus was a sacrifice to:

“The central focus of any doctrine of atonement should be on the fact that Christ’s death is a sacrifice to God. The righteous and Holy God is the party that must be satisfied by atonement, not Satan. Paul tells the Ephesians that “Christ loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:2). Elsewhere, Paul writes, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1Tim. 2:5,6). As the Mediator, Christ’s ‘ransom’ was to God, not to Satan.” ¹⁶

There are only three verses in the N.T. which speak of a ‘ransom’, 1Timothy 2:6, Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 (cf. Lev. 5:14-7:1-7; Num. 5:5-8; Isa. 53:10). The word ransom literally signifies a means of loosing. The Bible teaches that the ransom that would release mankind from sin and death was to be the sacrificial death of a sinless man. Only God made flesh could fulfill this role. Jesus gave His life a ransom for many. He died in the sinner’s stead, and God accepted the pains of His death in place of and on behalf of sinful man.

The ransom, in Scripture, is more commonly referred to as the atonement (cf.Rom. 5:11), meaning reconciliation (see Rom. 11:15, 2 Cor. 5:18,19). The word atonement is actually mentioned only once in the N.T. (Rom. 5:11), and usually means a ransom or sacrifice which has effected a reconciliation between God and man. It is never spoken of as a ransom paid to Satan. In point of fact, Scripture does not say to whom the ransom was paid, only that Christ was a ransom for many, however, Ephesians 5:2 clearly states that Christ, …hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God…

God did not, nor has He ever, owed Satan a ransom. In fact, God has never owed Satan a thing except to cast him down to the bottom of the burning lake. Millard Erickson writes:

“It was not the payment of a ransom to Satan that ensured his defeat and the triumph of God, but Christ’s taking our place to free us from the curse of the law. By bearing the penalty of our sin and thus satisfying once and for all the just requirements of the law, Christ nullified Satan’s control over us at its root–the power to bring us under the curse and condemnation of the law. Christ’s death, then, was indeed God’s triumph over the forces of evil, but only because it was a substitutionary sacrifice.” ¹⁷

The cross holds central place in the N.T., for it is there that Jesus Christ–the Lamb of God–was to make the atonement for man’s sin. It was the ‘altar’ whereon His body was to be slain. It was the physical death of the Messiah on the cross that accomplished, in full, the once and for all atonement of mankind (Heb. 9:26; 10:10).

Ephesians 2:13 states ,”But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.” We are made near to God. We are able, with boldness, to approach the Living God by means of Christ’s shed blood, signifying the physical death of Jesus Christ which, according to the Bible, was all that was needed, indeed, all that could atone for our sins (see Heb. 10:19; cf.1Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5).

Kenneth Copeland, in the November, ’93 issue of his magazine The Believer’s Voice of Victory, has written a letter to his ‘partners’, in an apparent attempt to quell any doubts or questions his own followers might have on his views of the blood of Christ. He heads the letter, “Faith in the blood of Jesus demands honor for the blood!” Copeland proudly declares that, “I have faith in His blood to guarantee my redemption and forgiveness.” This statement is inconsistent with others he has made, such as “…when the blood poured forth it did not atone…” and, “If it had been a physical death only it wouldn’t have worked”, (these comments are documented above). Upon further investigation, it has been ascertained that when Copeland makes the statement that he has faith in the blood to guarantee his redemption, he is including in this the erroneous belief of Christ’s spiritual death. The two cannot be separated according to Faith movement teachings. Much of what is heard from the mouths of Faith movement teachers sounds like the Gospel, but upon closer examination one discovers that it is in reality a different gospel.

In a taped sermon Copeland joyously exclaims, “You’re free, you’re free. Set free by the blood of Jesus.” ¹⁸ Although Copeland makes such a remark, if pressed for more detail one would learn that it is no an atonement by Jesus’ blood alone that he rejoices in, but one in which the blood is only a part of God’s redemption ‘package’. The language remains the same but the meaning is variant.

Kenneth Hagin, too, has made contradictory statements concerning the blood atonement. In his pamphlet entitled The Precious Blood of Jesus, Hagin’s position appears to be orthodox. He fails, however, to inform his readers of such prominent Faith teachings as the spiritual death of Christ and of His taking on the satanic nature, events which play a vital role in the Faith movement’s account of the atonement. Hagin has taught often concerning the blood, openly denying the efficiency of Christ’s physical death. In a letter dated April 23, 1986 Hagin wrote that, “because Jesus was made sin with our sins He had to pay the penalty for sin… This, as we know, cannot be referring to natural, physical death or else any sinner following his death could say he had paid the penalty for his sins.” What an amazing statement to make. How could the death of ‘any sinner’ pay the penalty for sin? If that were true, then why did Jesus come to this world all the way from heaven to do what, according to Hagin, any one of us could do?

…The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin (1Jn. 1:7). The blood atonement, according to Scripture, is critical to the Christian faith, and anyone who would diminish its role, treads on extremely dangerous territory (Gal. 1:9, 10 ). In conclusion to this chapter, Hank Hanegraaff writes this warning to all those who would dare do so:

“I cannot emphasize too strongly that the atonement is crucial to the historic Christian faith. Interestingly, the word ‘crucial’ comes from the Latin word ‘crux’ or ‘cross’. So when I say that the atonement is the crux of Christianity, I am in effect saying that just as the cross stands at the centre of all history, so also our understanding of the atonement is central to the faith. Tampering with the doctrine of the atonement is the most direct road from Christianity into the kingdom of the cults–and, for some people, into the world of the occult.” ¹⁹

Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 are the favorite verses for the tithe teachers because in this verse Jesus “commands” people to tithe!!!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Tom Brown, a Word of Faith preacher says the following in this website:

Notice Jesus said, “You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)….Some argue that Jesus’ words are not applicable to us today, because Jesus was under the Law and spoke to those under the Law. Their theory goes something like this: Jesus was giving an instruction to the Jews so His words are not binding to us. The problem with this interpretation is that these teachers are bringing Christ down to the level of a Jewish prophet or Teacher of the Law. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, so this means every word that comes out of His mouth is eternal. He cannot say anything without it being “spiritual law” and everlasting. Jesus emphasizes this point by saying, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt 24:35). These supposed Bible teachers are making the words of Jesus pass away—obsolete and out of date.

If Christians need to use the logic of the likes of Tom Brown, then we should also consider the other saying of Jesus and obey them! Shouldn’t we?

1. Thou shalt not tell anyone about thy healing…

Matthew 8:4 / Mark 8:40-44

Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.

Matthew 9:30

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!”

a) Christians are not supposed to tell anyone if they get healed.

b)Take the offering prescribed by Moses to the Pastor of the local Church?

2.Thou shalt evangelize ONLY the Jews and not other people group.

Matthew 15:24

Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep–the people of Israel.

3. And say to non-Jews that God’s blessings are not for gentiles

Matthew 15:26

Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.

4. Thou shalt not proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah to anyone…

Matthew 16:20

Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Wondering if tithe teacher John Hagee referred this verse before declaring that Jesus was not the Messiah.

5. Christians must sell all their possessions and give them to the poor.

Matthew 19:21

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

6. Christians must follow all man made laws including Corban offering!

Matthew 23:1-3

v1. Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

v2. The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.

v3. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

Notice, in verse three Jesus says “So practice and obey whatever they tell you…”

7. The Word of Faith people should NOT call Kenneth Hagin Sr., Dad/Papa.

Matthew 23:9

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

The WoF community often describes Kenneth Hagin Sr., as Dad Hagin or Papa Hagin.

8. No tithe “teachers” in our midst, only tithe brothers!

Matthew 23:8

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

We have a lot of WoF teachers.

9.Christians need to call Apostle Peter as Apostle Satan (and remember the scripture cannot be broken)

Mark 8:33

But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

10. Justification is NOT by faith but by obeying the commandments of Moses!

Matthew 19:17

And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

So in order to lead an unbeliever to salvation, Christians must ask them to keep the commandments of Moses instead of asking them to trust Jesus.

11. Thou shalt randomly enter into any house and thou shalt not stay in Hotel rooms!

Luke 9:4 / Luke 10:7

“Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.

When we go to minister to the lost, Christians should randomly enter into a house and stay if they accept Christians. We should not make reservations to stay in hotel rooms! No continental breakfast and wireless internet for tithe teachers!!!

12. Thou shalt not attend thy Father’s wake/funeral and when thy Father dies, thy shall proclaim the Gospel everywhere!

Luke 9:60

But He (Jesus) said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.

13. Christians should not carry wallet,money, check book, credit card when they go for ministry!!!

Luke 10: 4

Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.

Christians are not supposed to wear shoes, boots and sandals and we should go bare foot while going for ministry. No bags are allowed and we can save on flight ticket. Greet no one on the way…. Christians should not say Hi to anyone on the way, no smiling, no good mornings and no good afternoons. No eye contacts but frown at whoever you come across on the way!

13. Follow Jesus’ method while evangelizing:

Luke 10:25-26

v25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

v26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

Christians must ask seekers “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

14. Thou shalt not wash thy hands and thou shalt not use hand sanitizers!

Luke 11:38

When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.

15. Never invite friends and relatives for lunch or dinner!

Luke 14:12

And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.

16. Only invite poor, crippled, lame and blind

Luke 14:13

But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

17. Thou shalt celebrate the passover!

Luke 22:8

And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”

All the above mentioned points were uttered by Jesus Himself and we know His words will not pass away even when heaven and earth pass away!

Therefore tithe teachers, why do you need to obey Matthew 23:23 alone? What about the other sayings of Jesus?



Our modern day tithe teachers do not have intellectual honesty.
Most of the pro-tithers cling onto Matthew 23:23 & Luke 11:42 and say that even Jesus said so, therefore the NT Christians need to tithe.  If they take Matthew 23:23/Luke 11:42 as a command for New Testament Christians to tithe here are the questions they need to answer:
1. According to Mishna and Flavious Josephus the 1st century Jews practiced
multiple tithes (almost 3). How did the early Christians practice all 3 tithes?
2. Did the early Christians who did not own farms and cattle give 23% of their earned income to their Churches?
3. Levitical tithes were yearly and it went to Levites according to their
locations. Who are the Levites today and who were the Levites in 1st century
Christianity?
4. How did the “NT Levites” take the 10% of the 10% to the “NT Priests”?
5. If the NT Pastor is the priest don’t we have to tithe to the ushers, choir,
greeters and other Church staff members and let them tithe from their tithes to
the (senior) Pastor?
6. Why does the Senior Pastor collect all tithes today and give salaries to the
staff members and leave many Church workers unpaid? The OT High Priests did not
do that. The OT Aaronic Priests received only 1% of the total tithe.
7. In the OT the High Priests themselves did not tithe but why do our modern day prosperity
preachers tithe to their cohorts?

8. Regarding the festival tithe, do Christians need to go to Jerusalem to observe it as the Jews did? What is our Jerusalem now? Did the NT Christians practice pilgrimage to Jerusalem?. The festival tithe must be taken to Jerusalem. If that was prescribed to NT Christians we should make pilgrimage to Jerusalem like the Muslims visit Mecca?!?!?!

9. The 3rd tithe for poor (Charity Tithe): Why don’t tithe asking Pastors give their congregation the liberty to take care of the poor? Why would it go to the benevolent funds controlled by the Church board? Poor people need to go through hoops to get some help. That really complicates the process?
10. Even if we assume that tithing was commanded to NT Christians the pro-tithers fail to consider one important thing:

* The plurality of the NT Church leadership.

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Therefore the pro-tithers still would not meet the NT model of tithing even if it was practiced by the early Christian church.

New Testament Christians Don’t Be Deceived By these Mammon Lovers!!!

Let us first examine the writing of Saint Irenaeus who was one of the early Church Fathers:

Who was Irenaeus?

Saint Irenaeus, was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, which is now Lyons, France. His writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology. He was a notable early Christian apologist. He was also a disciple of Polycarp, who was said to be a disciple of John the Evangelist. His best-known book, Against Heresies (c 180) enumerated heresies and attacked them. Irenaeus wrote that the only way for Christians to retain unity was to humbly accept one doctrinal authority—episcopal councils.Irenaeus was the first to propose that all four gospels be accepted as canonical.

From Irenaenus’ Popular Book – Against Heresies

Chapter XIII.-Christ Did Not Abrogate the Natural Precepts of the Law, But Rather Fulfilled and Extended Them. He Removed the Yoke and Bondage of the Old Law, So that Mankind, Being Now Set Free, Might Serve God with that Trustful Piety Which Becometh Sons.

Section 3

“And for this reason did the Lord, instead of that [commandment], `You shall not commit adultery,’ forbid even concupiscence; and instead of that which runs thus, `You shall not kill,’ He prohibited anger; and instead of the law enjoining the giving of tithes, to share all our possessions with the poor; and not to love our neighbors only, but even our enemies; and not merely to be liberal givers and bestowers, but even that we should present a gratuitous gift to those who take away our goods”

Please pay attention that Irenaeus saying “…instead of the law enjoining the giving of tithes, to share all our possessions with the poor…”.

Here is another passage by  Irenaeus on the same book “Against Heresies”:

Chapter XVIII.-Concerning Sacrifices and Oblations, and Those Who Truly Offer Them.

Section 2:

“And the class of oblations in general has not been set aside; for there were both oblations there [among the Jews], and there are oblations here [among the Christians]. Sacrifices there were among the people; sacrifices there are, too, in the Church: but the species alone has been changed, inasmuch as the offering is now made, not by slaves, but by freemen. For the Lord is [ever] one and the same; but the character of a servile oblation is peculiar [to itself], as is also that of freemen, in order that, by the very oblations, the indication of liberty may be set forth. For with Him there is nothing purposeless, nor without signification, nor without design. And for this reason they (the Jews) had indeed the tithes of their goods consecrated to Him, but those who have received liberty set aside all their possessions for the Lord’s purposes, bestowing joyfully and freely not the less valuable portions of their property, since they have the hope of better things [hereafter]; as that poor widow acted who cast all her living into the treasury of God.

Please notice that Irenaeus saying ” …And for this reason they (the Jews) had indeed the tithes of their goods consecrated to Him, but those who have received liberty set aside all their possessions for the Lord’s purposes…”

Here he contrasts between the Jews living under the law and the New Testament Christians who were living in the liberty of Jesus Christ.

Conclusions:

* Irenaeus believed that tithing was part of the law of Moses.

* These statements by Irenaeus proves that the early Christians did not tithe.

* The early Christians believed that they were commanded to share all their possessions with the poor INSTEAD of tithing.

* Irenaeus recorded that the Jews had tithed but Christians set aside all their possessions. He actually contrasted between Old Testament Jews and New Testament Christians!

* Money is not mentioned by Irenaeus at all.

It is interesting to see that these writings appear in his book “Against Heresies“. Irenaenus probably would have labeled all modern day tithe teaches as heretics!

Therefore my friends, please realize that the early Church never practiced tithes and they did not even believe that they were commanded to tithe unlike what our modern day tithe teacher tell us.

May the Lord open the eyes of whoever reads this blog post about the dangers posed by the mammon loving Word of Faith preachers.

Sources:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book4.html

http://slaveoftheword.blogspot.com/2006/03/tithing-in-ante-nicene-period-second_05.html

The Word of Faith preachers keep telling us that there is a special difference between the words Logos and Rhema.

According to Word of Faith theology:

• Rhema means “spoken word”, and Logos means “written word” or Jesus Himself
• Rhema means “particular word” and Logos means general word
• Rhema is subjective and Logos is objective
• Rhema is specific word and Logos is generic word or universal word
• Rhema is contemporary and Logos is eternal.
• Rhema is the “now” word and Logos is the Bible itself
• Rhema is a revelatory word and Logos is the written word
• Rhema is the quickened word and Logos is the written word
• Rhema word contains power and Logos word is only black letters in white paper

These claims are absolutely contrary to the scriptures.  In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) and in the Greek New Testament Rhema and Logos are used interchangeably.  They are used synonymously and there is no difference between Logos and Rhema at all.

Kenneth Hagin Sr. founded “Rhema Bible Training Center” a.k.a “Rhema Bible Twisting Center” based upon this false assumption!

Let me give one example related to a verse which is commonly used in the Charismatic circles:

1 Corinthians 12:8 Greek Study Bible (Apostolic / Interlinear)

ᾧ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος δίδοται λόγος σοφίας, ἄλλῳ δὲ λόγος γνώσεως κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα,

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

Word of Knowledge and Word of Wisdom are specific messages from the Holy Spirit for a particular situation. They are supernatural and inspired. Word of Knowledge is informative and Word of Wisdom is directive.

Ignorant followers of Kenneth Hagin would assume that Paul had used Rhema to in 1 Corinthians 12:8 but to their surprise it is LOGOS.

Here is another example from the Gospels:

Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word (Strong’s # 4487 – rhema) of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the **** crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Mark 14:72 And Peter called to mind the word (4487- rhema) that Jesus said unto him, Before the **** crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Luke 22:61 And Peter remembered the word (Strong’s # 3056 – logos) of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the **** crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Neither Septuagint translators nor NT writers distinguished between Rhema and Logos but Kenneth Hagin got a special revelation (he probably borrowed it from E.W. Kenyon) and established this as his flagship doctrine. Therefore foundation of WoF itself is built on a lie.

And here is yet another.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (4487 – rhema) of God:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word (3056 – logos) of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12 both describe the word of God as a sword, but Ephesians uses the Greek word “rhema” for the “word” of God, while Hebrews uses the Greek word “logos” for the “word” of God. Should we assume that there are two different “swords” of God’s word, one that is a rhema word and one that is a logos word? No, the obvious answer is that it’s the same sword being described in both cases and that the words “rhema” and “logos” are not distinct enough to justify creating two different categories of the word of God.

If Hagin Sr. had lied about this fundamental truth how can we trust him with his other (alleged) revelations?

http://blabitandgrabit.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/rhema-and-logos-no-difference/

Are we little gods?

The blab it and grab it word of faith preachers keep telling us that we are little gods.  Let us look at the scriptures they use to justifiy their position.

John 10:34-36:

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

Pslams 82:6

I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.

Yes men are called as gods.  Even Satan is called as the god of this age.  Even the God said that He executed judgement against the gods of Egyptians.

For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments — I am the Lord. (Exodus 12:12)

The Lord had also executed judgments on their gods. (Numbers 33:4)

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people (Jethro’s testimony). (Exodus 18:11)

According to the above mentioned verses we can also call heathen idols as gods?  What is wrong in calling pagan deities as gods as the scriptures cannot be broken here as well?

DESCRIPTION DOES NOT EQUAL TO PRESCRIPTION

Even if we assume that we could call ourselves as gods why can’t we call Satan as god (2 Cor 4:4).  That is also stated in the Bible and the scripture cannot be broken.  We can also call pagan deities as gods as they are also mentioned as gods in the Bible and again scriptures cannot be broken.

We are also called as sons of God but there is a world of a difference between the ONLY begotten Son of God and us.

What is the motive behind the word of faith preachers telling us that we human beings are gods?   Their point is, we human beings are little gods and therefore we have the same kind of creative power like the Almighty God.  Our tongue is a creative force and we can speak things into existence by uttering positive confessions.  That is where they are taking this little god teaching to.

Well, these word of faith preachers are little gods with BIG mouths, probably bigger than Almighty God’s mouth – LOL

Also Almighty God rested on the seventh day after unleashing His creating power for 6 days, however our blab it and grab it preachers confess with their mouth unceasingly without rest.  As we all know many things they blab with their mouths do not come to pass.  Kenneth Hagin blabbed with his mouth that he would live for 135 years but he could not grab it.

So the word of faith movement needs to answer the following questions:

1.  What is the use of calling ourselves as little gods?

2.  Are we going to miss some of God’s blessings if we don’t consider as little gods.

3.  Can Christian women call themselves as little godesses or is the little god title applies only to Christian men?  Both Psalms 82 and John 10:34-36 are addressed to men!!!

4.  Scriptures cannot be broken if we can be called as gods.  So scriptures cannot be broken if we call Satan as god – right?

5.  If is not wrong to call ourselves as gods because the scripures cannot be broken then why can’t we call pagan deities as gods?

6.  Is it a command for New Testament Christians to call or consider ourselves as gods?

7.  Why did Apostle Paul never exhort Christians to call themselves as gods?

The word of faith preachers also quote Athanasius, Early Church Fathers and Charles Spurgeon for endorsing calling Christians as gods.  Well, all of these claims are true but none of them exhorted Christians to utter positive confessions with their mouth to exercise their creative power as the word of faith preachers do.

Again DESCRIPTION DOES NOT EQUAL TO PRESCRIPTION

Athanasius and Church Fathers on the little god subject:

http://www.angelfire.com/md/mdmorrison/hist/DIVINIZ.html

Charles Spurgeon on the little god subject:

http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps082.htm

Response to word of faith apologist Tom Brown!

This article is not about proving or disproving if Jesus was tormented in hell but the purpose is to highlight the fallacies in Tom Brown’s answer regarding what happened after the death of Jesus on the cross.

Tom Brown who is a popular word of faith preacher tries to defend that Jesus indeed went to hell and got tormented. However the reasons given by Tom Brown is grossly inadequate to prove that Jesus went and suffered in hell. Let us examine Tom Browns claims one by one and compare them with what the Bible has to say.

1. Jesus said “today” and not three days!

Tom Brown claims (I am paraphrasing his statements) that Jesus went to the Paradise section of the hades ONLY on that day of His death on the cross and after that Jesus went to the hell section of the hades and suffered for 12 hours.

Someone called William Carpenter has posed a question to Tom Brown citing Luke 23:43

” I have a question about Jesus’ descent into hell. In Luke 23:43, “And Jesus replied,’ Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.” TLB

The question I am wondering about is how could He have defeated Satan in hell if He declared to the thief that they both would be in Paradise that day? I believe Jesus made an open display of Satan on the Cross, according to Col.1:14: “Who bought our freedom with His Blood and forgave us all our sins.”

Could you also explain to me how the Word of Faith teaching responds to Luke23:43? I’ll be waiting for your reply.

Sincerely, William Carpenter

Tom Brown answer is:

As far as the passage in Luke 23:43 Jesus did go to Paradise that day. I agree. Jesus, however, did not say that He would be there for all three days. That’s where you make a wrong assumption. Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Today does not mean three days; it simply means the current day.

Let us analyze Tom Brown’s response to William Carpenter. According to Tom Brown Jesus did not say that He would be in Paradise for all three days. That’s where you make a wrong assumption. Tom Brown here charges William Carpenter for making a wrong assumption for interpreting “today” as three days!

Well before making such an accusation Tom Brown needs to realize that he was the one who makes the wrong assumption and not William Carpenter. If Tom Brown’s “right” assumption that Jesus went to paradise before going to the hell section let him give an answer to Patriarch Abraham who answered differently to the suffering rich man.

Jesus tell us about the conversation between Abraham and the suffering rich man in Luke 16:24 through 26

Luke 16:24
“And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

Luke 16:26
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

Tom Brown needs to answer how Jesus was able to cross over to the other side while He was still spiritually dead? He needs to make his own assumption now that God the Father sent Jesus to Paradise first just to escort that thief and God made Jesus to cross over!

2. Three deaths for human beings:

Here I have to agree with Tom Brown that human beings who are not born again will experience 3 deaths. However I differ in defining the kinds of death that an unbeliever would experience.

* Spiritual death – Cessation of communication with God. When Adam and Eve sinned they died spiritually
* Physical death – This was not in God’s original plan for Adam and Eve to die. But because of sin their spirits and souls needed to depart from their bodies. This is the cessation of communication between the human body and the spirit/soul.
* Eternal death – Cessation of communication with God for ever. This is the eternal on-going destruction of the lost spirit and soul first in the place where that rich man went and later in the lake of fire after the great White throne judgment.

However according to Tom Brown the 3 death’s were physical, spiritual and soulish. I don’t why Tom Brown has not explained about the eternal death! It is true that the soul experiences the torment in hell but so does the spirit. According to Hebrews 4:12 the soul is compared to the bone and the spirit is compared to the marrow. In other words in the human personality the soul surrounds the spirit. The human spirit is also known as the “heart”, inner man and inward man.

3. Death in Hebrew is in plural.

Tom Brown is again correct in pointing out that the word death is mentioned in plural in Isaiah 53 in Hebrew. Tom Brown even gives some pictorial evidence to that in his website. The following 2 pictures are from one of Tom Brown’s own Bible as he brags in his website. He points out that death in Hebrew is mention in plural with scanned copies from one of his own Bibles!

Does the plural form of death necessarily indicate more than one death?

“B’motav” means “in his deaths” and “b’moto” means “in his death”. But does this indicate plurality? NO! If it were “b’moteihem/b’motam”, then he would have a point beyond any doubt, since this would mean “in their deaths/in their death”, which is indisputably plural. But this word in Isaiah 53:9 does not support anything he goes on to say. But the plural expression of that word is indeed used elsewhere in scripture. Let’s look at Ezekiel 28:

(8) They shall bring thee down to the pit; and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain, in the heart of the seas….

***

(10) Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken, saith the Lord YHWH.’

These are examples of a single person being addressed and threatened to die deaths (plural). Now it is often said that these are instances that the word “deaths” refer to the plural “uncircumcised”. Well, that doesn’t excuse the plural use either, because the Old Testament shows us that the singular is used in reference to a multitude [e.g. Numbers 23:10; Let me die the death (singular; moth) of the righteous (plural; y’sharim)]. And also verse 8 is a striking example of the plural being applied to a singular person. It speaks of “m’motei chalal b’lev yamim” which translates “in the deaths of one slain in the in the heart of the seas”. The plural (chalalim) is not used here (e.g. Isaiah 66:16, Daniel 11:26). So the plural for of deaths does not necessarily indicate that Jesus experienced multiple deaths.

4. Tom Brown on Acts 2:27

Tom Brown explains Acts 2:27 like this:

Peter, in his first sermon, mentions the suffering of Christ’ soul in hell:

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27, KJV)

Jesus’ soul was in hell, but not left there. Praise God. Why did Jesus go to hell for us? He went there because the punishment of sin is for the soul to be cast into hell. Since Christ suffered the penalties and punishment for our sins, it stands to reason that He would have to suffer in hell, and He did!”

Well here we should notice that the KJV has incorrectly translated hades as hell. Also why would Tom Brown say that the punishment of sin is for the soul to be case into hell instead of the lake of fire after the great White throne judgment. Jesus went to the paradise section of the hades. Acts 2:27 did not say that the soul of Jesus was tormented in “hell”. It says “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell”. Even that place where the Old Testament saints were confined was a place in the nether world without hope. Only the Messiah, the Son of God would bring them redemption. So the soul of Jesus was not left behind in the hades because He Himself was the redeemer.

Tom Brown may say why would the verse say thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, does it not indicate that Jesus was expecting God the Father to rescue Him from the torments of hell? Well we can also argue like this: If Jesus was not suffering in hell He was definitely in the paradise section of the hades. That place is again a place of captivity. The Old Testament saints did not have the freedom to cross over to the other side and their freedom of movement was limited. So alternatively we can say that God the Father did not leave Jesus in the place of captivity and Jesus still needed to get out of that place. Leaving Jesus in the place where Abraham and Lazarus were present would have stilled messed up God’s plan of redemption. If Jesus was left behind in paradise He would not have resurrected and the Old Testament saint would have been in captivity together Jesus!!!
John 10:17 and 18

“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.

“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

John 10:18 clearly proves that Jesus Himself had the authority to take His life back. Therefore after suffering 12 hours in hell how Jesus had the ability to take His own life back.
5. Tom Brown uses The Apostle’s Creed to justify his position.

Tom Brown writes:

The Apostle’s Creed. A portion of the creed affirms Jesus descent into hell, the very thing that Hanegraaff disbelieves. It says:

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty…” (Emphasis added)

It’s clear that the early church believed that Jesus descended into hell. Were they heretics? The fact is, during their time if anyone refused to believe in the entire creed they were disfellowshipped…”

Steven Gertz is editorial coordinator for Christian History gives a vivid answer about this. According to Steven Gertz

“The oldest extant version comes from Bishop Marcellus of Ancyra (ca. A.D. 337), and it does not contain the clause about descending into hell. Scholars call this version “The Old Roman Form”—the earliest creed of the Roman church.

Apparently the clause first appeared in the East with Sirmium’s fourth formula in 359—also called the “Dated Creed”— though the Eastern church rejected it as tinged with Arianism. The first mention of the descent in the West occurs in the writings of Rufinus of Aquileia, who included it in his baptismal creed around 400. Over time, the Latin church appropriated it as well, officially integrating it into the Creed in 750″.

The United Methodists commonly incorporate the Apostles’ Creed into their worship services. The version which is most often used is located at #881 in the United Methodist Hymnal, one of their most popular hymnals and one with a heritage to John Wesley, founder of Methodism . It is notable for omitting the line “he descended into hell”, but is otherwise very similar to the Book of Common Prayer version.

So, yet another blow to Tom Brown’s claims. Tom Brown also makes a strange claim that Because of efforts like Hank Hanegraaff some churches have removed this part of the Apostle’s Creed from their statement or they rephrase the creed to say, “He descended into the Grave.”

Tom Brown does not give details about which churches have changed the Apostle’c Creed as persuaded by Hank Hanegraaff.
6. Tom Brown fails to answer other important questions:

a. Did Jesus cease to be a member of the Trinity when He suffered in hell?

b. Did Jesus cease to be God when He was tormented in hell?

Conclusion:

My point is not to prove whether Jesus indeed went to the place of torment and suffered for us or did He ONLY go to the place where Lazarus went. My article is to point out the fallacies in Tom Brown’s article.

What happened in the cross? What happened when the darkness surrounded the entire earth? Was Jesus separated from God the Father? Was the Holy Spirit who was residing in Jesus beyond measure was taken away? Did Jesus cease to be a member of the Holy Trinity? With Jesus and the disciples not physically being around we cannot come to a clear conclusion.

Deuteronomy 29:29 gives us the answer:

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

We don’t know the answers to all these questions until we get into eternity. Believing in Jesus is the only condition for Justification and to obtain eternal life. An unsaved person obviously need not believe that Jesus went to hell to suffer for him/her in order to obtain eternal life. That is good news.
Finally, according to Tom Brown the belief that Jesus suffered in hell is necessary to understand the full redemptive work of Jesus.

My question to Tom Brown:

In what way you are different than other men of God who preached the Gospel powerfully in Church history who did not hold this view about Jesus’ death?  In what way believing that Jesus was tormented in hell makes the Word of Faith believers better than other Christians Tom? Do the WoFers get more blessings for believing this particular doctrine?
Related links:
Hear it from the horse’s mouth: Tom Brown’s answer to William Carpenter

http://www.tbm.org/jesussuffershell.htm
Atonement Where? Excellent article by Moreno Dal Bello (© 2003 Tricia Tillin of Banner Ministries. All rights reserved)

http://www.intotruth.org/wof/moreno1.html
Steven Gertz, the editorial coordinator for Christian History enlightens about the history of Apostle’s creed!

Copyright © 2002 by the author or

Christianity Today International/Christian History magazine.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/asktheexpert/nov15.html
Information about the Apostle’s Creed in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles%27_Creed

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Jesus warned “” Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruit…”  (Matt.7:15-16). यीशु ने “” आप कौन से भेड़ के कपड़ों में आए, लेकिन अंदर की ओर वे हिंसक भेड़िये हैं झूठे भविष्यद्वक्ताओं से सावधान चेतावनी दी. तुम अपने फल के द्वारा उन्हें पता चल जाएगा … “(Matt.7 :15-16).

Apostle Paul also warned: प्रेरित पौलुस को भी चेतावनी दी थी:

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. “मुझे लगता है कि मेरे जाने के बाद पता है, जंगली भेड़ियों में तुम में आएगी और इस झुंड नहीं छोड़ूँगा. अपनी स्वयं की संख्या पुरुषों से भी पैदा करेगा और ताकि उन्हें दूर करने के बाद चेलों को आकर्षित करने के लिए सच बिगाड़ना. So be on your guard! तो अपने गार्ड पर हो! Remember, I have never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears”  (Acts 20:29-31). याद है, मैं रात दिन आँसू से तुम में से हर एक चेतावनी “(अधिनियमों 20:29-31) कभी नहीं रोका है.

Before we analyze how to identify a wolf let us make certain facts straight about the wolves that Jesus and Paul are trying to warn us. इससे पहले कि हम कैसे एक सियार को पहचानने के लिए हमें कुछ तथ्यों का विश्लेषण भेड़ियों कि यीशु और पौलुस हमें सचेत करने के लिए कोशिश कर रहे हैं के बारे में सीधे कर दीजिए.

1. 1. Obviously Jesus and Paul are not referring to wolves in the animal kingdom but they are comparing human beings who exhibit the characteristics of a wolf.  Likewise sheep here means the members of the body of Christ. जाहिर है यीशु और पौलुस भेड़ियों को जानवरों के साम्राज्य में जिक्र नहीं कर रहे हैं लेकिन वे जो एक सियार की विशेषताओं एक्ज़िबिट मनुष्य की तुलना कर रहे हैं. इसी तरह भेड़ यहाँ मसीह के शरीर के सदस्य है.

2. 2. Common sense teaches us that an ordinary believer is not referred to as a wolf in these verses.  These wolves are “Christians” who preach from the Bible and who are usually  in the leadership position. सामान्य ज्ञान है कि एक आम विश्वास करने के लिए इन पंक्तियों में एक भेड़िए के रूप में उल्लेख नहीं है हमें सिखाता है. ये भेड़िये हैं “जो बाइबिल से उपदेश और जो आमतौर पर नेतृत्व की स्थिति में हैं ईसाई”.

3. 3. It is also vivid that a ferocious wolf mentioned would kill the flock spiritually even though the sheep could  die physically before their appointed time because of the abuses they go through from these wolves. यह भी विशद है कि एक क्रूर भेड़िया आत्मिक भले ही शारीरिक रूप से वे भेड़ के माध्यम से इन भेड़ियों से जाने को गालियाँ की वजह से अपने नियत समय से पहले मर सकता है झुंड को मारना होगा उल्लेख किया.

Characteristics of a wolf and how they apply to the spiritual wolves today: एक भेड़िया के अभिलक्षण और कैसे वे आध्यात्मिक भेड़ियों को आज लागू होते हैं:

1. 1. Wolf looks of prey. वुल्फ शिकार के दिखता है.

They search for prey in packs lead by an alpha male wolf.  We all know these mammon loving prosperity gospel preachers have taken over the airwaves like packs.  They operate like a gang.  The WoF wolves always mention their alpha preachers to frequently.  They quote them frequently and even brag about their associations with them.  Usually the authority of the Bible is superseded by what the alpha wolves teach.  These wolves are masters in proof texting. पैक में शिकार के लिए वे खोज एक अल्फा माले सियार द्वारा सीसा. हम इन सब धन प्यार समृद्धि सुसमाचार प्रचारकों पैक की तरह airwaves संभाल लिया है. वे एक गिरोह की तरह काम करते हैं. WoF भेड़ियों हमेशा अक्सर करने के लिए उनके अल्फा प्रचारकों उल्लेख. वे उन्हें बोली बाइबल की बार बार और भी उनके साथ उनके संगठनों के बारे में शेख़ी. आम तौर पर इस अधिकार का अल्फा भेड़ियों क्या सिखा द्वारा superseded है. ये भेड़िये सबूत texting में विशेषज्ञ हैं. They desperately seek supporters and a broader audience.  They do not hesitate to engage in un-biblical fund raising methods to expand their own kingdoms. वे सख्त और व्यापक दर्शकों समर्थकों चाहते हैं. वे संयुक्त राष्ट्र में शामिल करने के लिए बाइबिल निधि अपने राज्य का विस्तार करने के लिए तरीके उठाने में संकोच नहीं करते.

2. 2. Wolf snatches a sheep वुल्फ एक भेड़ छीनती

Usually a sheep is snatched when they are feeding on the grass with other sheep.  Here the sheep are snatched from the mainstream orthodox Christianity.   When a sheep is snatched by a wolf we all know they cannot free themselves.  They go into spiritual bondage and once they are snatched they are at the mercy of the prosperity preachers.  They need some external help. आमतौर पर एक भेड़ जब वे दूसरे भेड़ के साथ घास पर खिला रहे हैं छीन लिया है. यहाँ भेड़ को मुख्यधारा से रूढ़िवादी ईसाई धर्म छीन रहे हैं. जब एक भेड़ एक सियार ने हम सभी को वे खुद मुक्त नहीं कर सकते पता छीन लिया है. वे आध्यात्मिक बंधन है और एक बार में जाने वे समृद्धि प्रचारकों की दया पर हैं छीन रहे हैं. वे किसी बाहरी मदद की ज़रूरत है. They are deceived basically and a spiritual force of darkness grabs them.  They need to be set free by a real shepherd. वे मूलतः और अंधेरे grabs उनमें से एक आध्यात्मिक शक्ति धोखा कर रहे हैं. वे मुक्त एक असली चरवाहा द्वारा निर्धारित करने की आवश्यकता है. I am not trying to say whoever believes in the WoF teaching is demon possessed.  No, not at all.   However they are obviously influenced by the seducing spirits operating through the word of faith minsters.  The process of snatching is forceful and it is never a gentle process.  The prosperity gospel message appears to be authentic and innocent Christians are forcefully plucked out of the mainstream.  They do not have an opportunity to analyze the prosperity message with intellectual honesty and proper Biblical exegesis and henumatics.  The victims are indoctrinated and brainwashed about how to think instead of leaving them to the leading of the Holy Spirit. मैं जो भी इस WoF शिक्षण में राक्षस है कहने की कोशिश नहीं कर रहा हूँ अधीन. नहीं, बिल्कुल नहीं. लेकिन वे स्पष्ट रूप से इस seducing आत्माओं विश्वास minsters के वचन के द्वारा संचालित से प्रभावित हैं. छीनने की प्रक्रिया सशक्त है और यह कभी भी नहीं है एक कोमल प्रक्रिया है. समृद्धि सुसमाचार संदेश प्रामाणिक होने और मासूम जबरदस्ती मुख्य धारा से बाहर plucked हैं ईसाई प्रकट होता है. वे एक मौका बौद्धिक ईमानदारी और उचित बाइबिल टीका और henumatics साथ समृद्धि संदेश का विश्लेषण करने की जरूरत नहीं है. पीड़ितों indoctrinated रहे हैं और के बारे में brainwashed कैसे बदले के बारे में सोच करने के लिए उन्हें छोड़ने के पवित्रा आत्मा की अग्रणी.

I John 2:27 मैं जॉन 2:27

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him”. “क्या आप के लिए के रूप में, तुम उसे क्या आप में से जो abides प्राप्त अभिषेक, और आप की कोई जरूरत नहीं करने के लिए किसी को भी तुम्हें सिखाने के लिए है, लेकिन रूप में उनकी अभिषेक सभी चीज़ों के बारे में आपको सिखाता है, और सत्य है और एक झूठ है, और नहीं है जैसा , क्या तुम उसे में पालन “तुम्हें सिखाया है.

3. 3. Wolf kills a sheep वुल्फ एक भेड़ को मारता है

Killing is an act of severing the relationship with the rest of the world.  Cessation of communication with the rest of the world is death.  People affected by the prosperity Gospel considers themselves isolated from the rest of the Christian world.  They cannot have regular communication with them.  “Only we have the full light of the truth” and only our leaders preach the full gospel kind of an attitude isolate them from the orthodox Christianity.  The sheep is conditioned to hear from the alpha wolves and their followers and not from God. हत्या शेष दुनिया के साथ संबंधों severing के एक नाटक है. दुनिया के बाकी के साथ संचार की समाप्ति मौत है. लोग समृद्धि इंजील स्वयं ईसाई दुनिया के बाकी से अलग मानती से प्रभावित. वे के साथ नियमित संचार नहीं हो सकता उन्हें. “सिर्फ हम” और सच का पूरा प्रकाश है केवल हमारे नेताओं को एक दृष्टिकोण की पूरी तरह सुसमाचार प्रचार के रूढ़िवादी ईसाई धर्म से अलग है. भेड़ भगवान से अल्फा भेड़ियों और उनके अनुयायियों और नहीं से सुनने के लिए अनुकूलित है. Sheep is affected by on going indoctrination of the WoF teachings which covers the hearer as a dark cloud and isolating from hearing from the Holy Spirit. भेड़ों के द्वारा जो एक काले बादल श्रोता के रूप में शामिल किया गया है और पवित्रा आत्मा से सुनवाई से अलग इस WoF शिक्षाओं के विचार जाने पर प्रभावित है. False teachings that are used to excommunicates the sheep from the mainstream include but not limited to Misuse and abuse of Romans 10:9 and 10, Atonement happened in hell, Jesus became literal sin, went to hell and tormented by demons, Jesus was rich (Was He not the richest carpenter in Nazareth and did He not have various branch offices all across Israel?,  He had richest disciples too who even supplied fish to the Chief priest and Jesus had connections in Herod’s palace as well!).  Genuine Spiritual experiences like the miracle of regeneration, assurance of salvation, joy of being forgiven of the past sins, peace with God, love of the word, conviction about sin, judgment and hell, repentance that frees us from dead works are dismissed as  feeling based experiences but extra-Biblical revelations which are the real feeling based experiences which are thought by the alpha wolves are considered legitimate experiences.  The sheep is discouraged to have a life changing encounter with Jesus which results in the supernatural new birth with a definite change in the life but encouraged in participate in feeling based emotionally stirring activities. झूठी शिक्षाओं है कि मुख्य धारा से excommunicates को भेड़ों का उपयोग किया जाता है, लेकिन शामिल दुरूपयोग तक सीमित नहीं है और रोमन 10:9 और 10, महादालत का दुरुपयोग नरक में, यीशु शाब्दिक बन पाप हुआ, भाड़ में गया और राक्षसों द्वारा सताया, यीशु अमीर था ( नासरत में सबसे अमीर बढ़ई वह नहीं था और वह था नहीं इज़राइल सब भर में विभिन्न शाखा कार्यालयों है?, वह सबसे अमीर चेले भी जो भी मुख्य पुजारी और यीशु के लिए मछली की आपूर्ति की थी और साथ!) हेरोदेस का महल में संपर्क किया था. आध्यात्मिक वास्तविक पुनर्जनन का चमत्कार, उद्धार का आश्वासन की खुशी तरह के अनुभवों ने पिछले पापों, भगवान, वो मर चुका कार्यों से हमें मुक्त शब्द, पाप, न्याय और नर्क, पश्चाताप के बारे में विश्वास के कारण प्रेम के साथ शांति की भावना पर आधारित अनुभव के रूप में खारिज हो माफ किया जा रहा लेकिन जो असली लग रहा है जो अल्फा भेड़ियों द्वारा वैध अनुभवों पर विचार कर रहे हैं सोचा हैं अनुभवों पर आधारित हैं अतिरिक्त-बाइबिल रहस्योद्घाटन. भेड़ एक जीवन यीशु के साथ जो कि अलौकिक नए जन्म में जीवन में एक निश्चित परिणाम बदलने के साथ मुठभेड़ में बदलाव के लिए निराश है लेकिन भाग में भावनात्मक रूप से गतिविधियों आलोड़न आधारित महसूस में प्रोत्साहित किया.

There are 2 important ways that the sheep is killed.  One is gradual process.  These wolves need to have some sheep alive to supply their needs.  The other one is instant process.  Once the sheep is deemed uselss to their ministry they are disqualified which is the equivalent of physical killing. इसमें 2 महत्वपूर्ण तरीके कि भेड़ों को मार डाला है. एक क्रमिक प्रक्रिया है. ये भेड़िये कुछ भेड़ उनकी आवश्यकताओं की आपूर्ति को जिंदा करने की जरूरत है. दूसरा एक पल की प्रक्रिया है. एक बार भेड़ वे जो है निरर्हित हैं उनके मंत्रालय को uselss समझा जाता है भौतिक हत्या के बराबर.

4. 4. Wolf eats a sheep. वुल्फ एक भेड़ खाती है.

This is the most exiting part in the entire process.  A wolf being a carnivore always considers a sheep, a herbivore as a food source.  In order to survive and live a wolf needs prey.  Therefore they constantly eat killed sheep.  They consider sheeps to be resources (food sources) to live a luxurious life.  A freshly killed sheep brings immense joy to the wolves and the freshly killed sheep is also shared with their fellow wolves and when a sheep is freshly killed all wolves rejoice like this “Ha ha ha, a millionaire got saved, this member has a political connection, he has his own jet plane etc.,) यह पूरी प्रक्रिया में सबसे बाहर निकलने हिस्सा है. हमेशा एक भेड़, एक खाद्य स्रोत के रूप में एक herbivore समझता एक सियार एक मांसभक्षी जा रहा है. आदेश में जीवित रहने के लिए और एक भेड़िया शिकार रहने की जरूरत है. इसलिए वे लगातार भेड़ों को मार डाला खाओ. वे sheeps करने पर विचार एक विलासितापूर्ण जीवन जीने के लिए संसाधनों (खाद्य स्रोतों) हो. हौसले से एक को मार डाला भेड़ भेड़ियों और बेहद खुशी लाता के हौसले को मारा भेड़ों को भी अपने साथी के साथ भेड़ियों और साझा किया जाता है जब एक भेड़ हौसले सब भेड़िये को मार डाला जाता है इस तरह से आनन्दित “हा हा हा , एक करोड़पति, यह सदस्य एक राजनीतिक संबंध है बच गया, वह) अपने स्वयं के जेट विमान आदि है

5. 5. Wolf has no intention to feed the sheep. वुल्फ ने भेड़ फ़ीड करने के लिए कोई इरादा नहीं है.

Since a wolf always considers sheep as a resource they do not feed them.  How can a herbivore be fed by a carnivore? चूंकि एक भेड़िया वे हमेशा उन्हें फ़ीड नहीं है एक संसाधन के रूप में भेड़ समझता है. कैसे एक herbivore एक मांसभक्षी द्वारा खिलाया जा सकता है? Spiritual food comes from the Holy Spirit quickening a particular scripture and makes it available to our human spirits. आध्यात्मिक भोजन पवित्रा आत्मा से एक विशेष धार्मिक ग्रंथ स्पन्दन आता है और यह हमारे मानव आत्माओं के लिए उपलब्ध बनाता है. We cannot be spiritually fed by listening to WoF tapes or reading their books.  Since WoF preachers substitute positive confessions to force the Sovereign God to release miracles the victims do not take time to listen to the Holy Spirit. हम आत्मिक WoF टेप सुनने या उनकी किताबें पढ़ कर खिलाया नहीं किया जा सकता है. चूंकि WoF प्रचारकों प्रभु परमेश्वर ने पीड़ितों समय नहीं लेते चमत्कार की रिहाई के लिए मजबूर करने के लिए सकारात्मक बयान स्थानापन्न पवित्रा आत्मा सुनने के लिए. Many Christians are deceived by the false teachings of Rhema and consider unleavened teachings as their spiritual food but they don’t realize that all these teachings are designed to get their seed offerings to keep the wolves alive.  For example how many of you have ever heard a prosperity preacher teaching about humility, cross carrying, discipleship, crucifying self, justification and other Biblical themes.  Indoctrination is not feeding! कई ईसाई Rhema की झूठी शिक्षाओं से धोखा कर रहे हैं और उनके विचार आध्यात्मिक भोजन के रूप में शिक्षाओं अखमीरी लेकिन वे कहते हैं कि इन सब उपदेशों को बीज प्रसाद ने भेड़ियों को जीवित रखने के लिए प्राप्त करने के लिए डिज़ाइन कर रहे हैं एहसास नहीं है. उदाहरण आप कैसे के कई के लिए कभी सुना है विनम्रता के बारे में एक समृद्धि उपदेशक शिक्षण,, शिष्यत्व पेट, आत्म, औचित्य और अन्य विषयों बाइबिल crucifying पार. भरोसा खिला नहीं है!

These topics are indeed mentioned by prosperity preachers only incidental remarks and not as a subject matter.   The prosperity preachers feed into the sheep’s ego. इन विषयों वास्तव में एक विषय के रूप में समृद्धि प्रचारकों केवल संयोग टिप्पणियों और नहीं द्वारा वर्णित हैं. समृद्धि के प्रचारकों की भेड़ के अहंकार में खिलाओ.

6. 6. Wolf has no intention to protect the sheep. वुल्फ कोई इरादा नहीं भेड़ों को बचाने के लिए किया है.

When tragedy strike the sheep oftentimes these wolves are unavailable to their flock.  They sheep is told that their minister had to meet an alpha wolf in a particular place or attend a WoF or they are too busy in talking to a congressman, senator or other government officials.  They even resent if a member of their congregation desperately needs them while they are on luxurious vacation trips. जब भेड़ इन भेड़ियों उनके झुंड के लिए अनुपलब्ध हैं त्रासदी हड़ताल बहुधा. वे भेड़ कि उनके मंत्री को एक विशेष स्थान पर एक अल्फा सियार को पूरा करने के लिए या एक WoF में शामिल है या वे भी एक कांग्रेसमेन, सीनेटर या अन्य सरकार से बात करने में व्यस्त रहे थे कहा जाता है अधिकारी. वे भी विरोध करते हुए वे शानदार छुट्टी यात्रा पर हैं, अगर उनकी मण्डली के सदस्य उन्हें सख्त जरूरत है. Even if they happen to establish contact the wolves they are told to utter certain positive confessions, accused of lacking in faith, yielding to fear, believing mind instead of believing in heart, worrying about lying symptoms and so on. यहाँ तक कि यदि वे बिल्कुल कुछ सकारात्मक बयान के लिए कहा है भेड़ियों, विश्वास में कमी का आरोप संपर्क स्थापित करने के लिए, डर से बेदखल करने के लिए, के बजाय दिमाग विश्वास दिल में विश्वास है, और इतना पर लक्षण झूठ के बारे में चिंता हो.

7. 7. Sheep are scattered once they spot a wolf in action. भेड़ एक बार वे कार्रवाई में एक भेड़िया जगह बिखरे हुए हैं.

Once someone is exposed and identified as a wolf the sheep is scattered and lose interest in things after God.  Some of them even detest Christianity.  Steve Lambert explains this vividly in his amazing book “Charismatic Captivation”. एक बार जब किसी को खुल रहा है और भेड़ बिखर जाता है और परमेश्वर के बाद चीजों में दिलचस्पी खो एक भेड़िया के रूप में पहचान की. उनमें से कुछ भी घृणा ईसाइयत. स्टीव Lambert इस vividly अपने अद्भुत किताब “करिश्माई Captivation में” बताते हैं.

8. 8. Wolf does not treat a sheep gently. वुल्फ धीरे एक भेड़ का इलाज नहीं है.

We all have different levels of faith.  New converts have are not matured to know certain Spiritual truths and they need milk.  However the prosperity preachers make condemning statements like “Oh you don’t have faith and that was the reason you are not healed”, come and confess openly in the platform that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus even you are still sick, if you hesitate to confess that you are still sick then you are walking by feelings etc.,  So innocents believers especially new converts are so confused by their arrogant way of commanding them.  These wolves often have a pushy personality which helps them to force their victims to utter un-biblical positive confessions which do not touch the reality.  Bible talks a lot about the power of proclamations and Jesus is called as  the Chief priest of our confession. कुछ आध्यात्मिक सत्य जानने के लिए परिपक्व नहीं कर रहे हैं हम सभी विश्वास के विभिन्न स्तरों पर है. नई धर्मान्तरित किया है और वे दूध की जरूरत है. लेकिन समृद्धि प्रचारकों “अरे तुम विश्वास नहीं है और है कि आप” ठीक नहीं कर रहे हैं इस कारण था जैसे बयानों की निंदा करने , आओ और खुले मंच है कि आप यीशु के धारियों ने भी आप अभी भी बीमार हैं चंगा में स्वीकार कर रहे हैं, अगर आपको लगता है कि आप अभी भी तो तुम भावनाओं से, निर्दोष तो आदि चल रहे हैं बीमार हैं स्वीकार करने के लिए संकोच खासकर नए धर्मान्तरित विश्वासियों इसलिए कर रहे हैं उन्हें कमान के अपने अभिमानी तरह से भ्रमित. अक्सर जो उन्हें अपने शिकार को कहा जाता है जो संयुक्त राष्ट्र के बिल्कुल. बाइबल घोषणाओं की शक्ति और यीशु के बारे में बहुत बातें की वास्तविकता छूना मत बाइबिल सकारात्मक बयान करने के लिए मजबूर करने में मदद करता है एक pushy व्यक्तित्व हैं ये भेड़िये हमारे बयान के मुख्य पुजारी के रूप में. (Heb 3:1).  In stead of teaching the flock to utter positive confessions in the right way they apply force and their deceived followers are forced to think God as a heavenly wending machine. (Heb 3:1). बिल्कुल सकारात्मक बयान करने के लिए वे और शक्ति लागू उनके अनुयायियों धोखा सोचने के लिए मजबूर कर रहे हैं सही रास्ते में झुंड अध्यापन के बजाए परमेश्वर एक स्वर्गीय wending मशीन के रूप में.

9. 9. Wolf considers itself as a different class (elitism) from the sheep. वुल्फ एक अलग वर्ग की भेड़ों से (elitism) के रूप में ही मानता है.

A carnivore cannot hangout with a herbivore.  Wolves led by their alpha wolves considers themselves above their flock.  Only they can pray, preach and prophecy.  Purveyors of truth.  Only Rhema trained ministers can rule the Church and make all decisions. एक मांसभक्षी एक herbivore के साथ मुलाक़ात की जगह नहीं कर सकते. भेड़िये अपनी अल्फा भेड़ियों के नेतृत्व में उनके झुंड के ऊपर स्वयं को समझता है. केवल वे प्रार्थना कर सकते हैं उपदेश और भविष्यवाणी. सच्चाई का Purveyors. चर्च पर राज कर सकते हैं और सभी फैसले केवल Rhema प्रशिक्षित मंत्रियों. Only the super rich and major financiers to the preachers enterprise can get a glimpse of their inner circle. प्रचारकों के उद्यम के लिए केवल सुपर अमीर और प्रमुख वित्तपोषक उनकी अंदरूनी सर्कल की एक झलक मिल सकती है. One of the Church fathers’ Justin Martyr says that in the early Church pastors (in plural) used to be friends of the poor and  they used to be the bridges between the wealthy Christians and the poor Christians. एक चर्च पिता ‘जस्टिन शहीद का कहना है कि जल्दी चर्च pastors बहुवचन () में गरीबों का दोस्त हुआ करता था और वे अमीर ईसाई और गरीब ईसाइयों के बीच का पुल हुआ करता था.

10. 10. Sheep cannot have fellowship with a wolf (communication). भेड़ एक भेड़िया (संचार) के साथ सहभागिता नहीं कर सकते हैं.

Watchman Nee in his “The Release of the Spirit” book clearly illustrates this.  The victims know inwardly that something mysterious is repelling them from their leaders.  One creed and confession says they believe in the communion of saints but in Rhema circles people realize that they cannot have communion with the spirits of their minsters. चौकीदार Nee अपनी ‘रिलीज आत्मा की “पुस्तक में स्पष्ट रूप से यह illustrates. पीड़ितों अंतरात्मा में है कि कुछ रहस्यमय उनके नेताओं से उन्हें repelling है. एक सम्प्रदाय और बयान वे संतों के अधिकार में है लेकिन विश्वास में Rhema हलकों का एहसास लोगों का कहना है कि वे उनके minsters की आत्माओं के साथ समन्वय नहीं हो सकता.

I John 1:7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin”. मैं जॉन 1:7 “लेकिन के रूप में वह खुद को हल्के में है अगर हम लाइट में चलना है, हम एक दूसरे के साथ है, और यीशु के लोहू उसका बेटा फैलोशिप है सब पाप से” हमें शुद्ध.

11. 11. Sheep affected by wolves need special care. भेड़ भेड़ियों से प्रभावित विशेष देखभाल की जरूरत है.

Again I strongly recommend Steve Lambert’s book “Charismatic Captivation”.  Sheep who are set free from the Rhema captivation are affected in various degrees. फिर मैं दृढ़ता से जो मुफ्त में Rhema captivation से विभिन्न डिग्री में प्रभावित हो रहे हैं स्टीव Lambert की पुस्तक “करिश्माई Captivation”. भेड़ की सलाह देते हैं. Some of them are severely abused and disappointed.  They need special prayers by committed intercessory prayer warriors. उनमें से कुछ गंभीर का दुरुपयोग कर रहे हैं और निराश. वे प्रतिबद्ध हिमायत का प्रार्थना योद्धाओं द्वारा विशेष प्रार्थना की जरूरत है.

How does a wolf wear sheep’s clothing? कैसे एक सियार पहनने के कपड़े भेड़ है?

These wolves appears to feed the sheep by preaching the from the word of God and wish them well.  They present themselves as the “full Gospel” preachers.  They still need to “feed” the sheep because they need on-going support from them.  Only when the sheep is perceived to be useless it will be killed (disqualified).  So in order to continuously “feed” the sheep and get new victims they need to wear clothes. इन भेड़ियों को परमेश्वर का वचन से और अच्छी तरह से उन्हें इच्छा उपदेश से भेड़ फ़ीड करने के लिए प्रकट होता है. वे “पूरा इंजील” प्रचारकों के रूप में स्वयं को प्रस्तुत करते हैं. क्योंकि वे पर जरूरत से उन्हें समर्थन जा वे अभी भी “” को भेड़ फ़ीड करने की जरूरत है. केवल जब भेड़ अनुभव है () निरर्हित मारा होगा बेकार होगा. तो में आदेश लगातार “” भेड़ों फ़ीड करने के लिए और वे कपड़े पहनने की जरूरत है नए शिकार हो जाओ.

Some of the clothes: कुछ कपड़े की:

a. a. The cloth that is called as the right doctrine appearing as part of the Orthodox Christianity. कि सही सिद्धांत के रूढ़िवादी ईसाई धर्म के हिस्से के रूप में प्रदर्शित होने के रूप में बुलाया है कपड़ा.

b. ज. Parading their achievements like supporting an orphanage in a 3rd world country or helping a poor community.  (Jesus said let you left hand not know what your right hand do and not to parade ourselves) एक 3. दुनिया देश में एक अनाथालय का समर्थन या एक गरीब समुदाय की मदद करने. (यीशु ने कहा कि जैसे उनकी उपलब्धियों Parading आप अपने दाहिने हाथ और परेड खुद) क्या नहीं पता नहीं हाथ छोड़ दो

c. c. Use of humor हास्य का प्रयोग

d. मृ. Appear to be interested in the well being of the followers.  Wealth wishers disguised as well wishers. प्रकट की तरह अनुयायियों की जा रही है. दौलत wishers रूप शुभचिंतकों भेष में दिलचस्पी होगी.

e. e. Bragging about their connections with top government officials, politicians and other celebrities (just to impress people that their message is authentic) शीर्ष सरकारी अधिकारियों, नेताओं और अन्य हस्तियों के साथ उनके संबंध के बारे में डींग मारने (बस) लोगों का मानना है कि उनके संदेश प्रामाणिक है प्रभावित करने के लिए

f. f. Twisting their tongues with different accents (imitate the alpha wolves). अलग दिन के साथ अपनी जीभ घुमा () ने अल्फा भेड़िये की नकल.

g. जी Use of Apologetic/defending faith. का प्रयोग करें अफसोस की / विश्वास बचाव.

h. एच. Doing acts of kindness in front of others but their out bursts of anger is well known among their close followers. लेकिन दूसरों के सामने दयालुता के कृत्य करना गुस्से का bursts उनके बाहर अच्छी तरह से उनके पास अनुयायियों के बीच में जाना जाता है.

Even though this articles primarily focuses on the word of faith side, it does not mean other organizations or denominations do not have wolves among them. हालांकि इस लेख मुख्यतः विश्वास का वचन पक्ष पर केंद्रित है, यह उन भेड़ियों के बीच में नहीं है अन्य संगठनों या मूल्यवर्ग इसका यह मतलब नहीं है.

A wolf can even be in a missionary organization or a in a charitable organization. एक सियार भी एक एक मिशनरी या संगठन में एक धर्मार्थ संगठन में हो सकता है.

Don’t use the touch not the anointed  concept to live in a state of denial.  We are all God anointed and priests.  Jesus commended  a revelation church for spotting false apostle (Revelation 2:6).  Also it does not mean some one prophesised and the prophecy did not come to pass.  NO.    Let us be on guard and warn others about the wolves.  We are accountable to God. इनकार के एक राज्य में रहने के लिए अभिषेक किया अवधारणा को हाथ मत का उपयोग न करें. हम सब भगवान का अभिषेक किया और याजकों. यीशु (रहस्योद्घाटन 2:6) झूठे प्रेरित खोलना करने के लिए एक रहस्योद्घाटन चर्च की सराहना कर रहे हैं. साथ ही यह किसी एक prophesised इसका मतलब यह नहीं है और भविष्यवाणी पारित करने के लिए नहीं आया था. NO हमें सावधान रहना और भेड़ियों के बारे में दूसरों को सचेत करते हैं.. हम भगवान के लिए जवाबदेह हैं.

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Jesus warned “” Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruit…”  (Matt.7:15-16).

Apostle Paul also warned:

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember, I have never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears”  (Acts 20:29-31).

Before we analyze how to identify a wolf let us make certain facts straight about the wolves that Jesus and Paul are trying to warn us.

1. Obviously Jesus and Paul are not referring to wolves in the animal kingdom but they are comparing human beings who exhibit the characteristics of a wolf.  Likewise sheep here means the members of the body of Christ.

2. Common sense teaches us that an ordinary believer is not referred to as a wolf in these verses.  These wolves are “Christians” who preach from the Bible and who are usually  in the leadership position.

3. It is also vivid that a ferocious wolf mentioned would kill the flock spiritually even though the sheep could  die physically before their appointed time because of the abuses they go through from these wolves.

Characteristics of a wolf and how they apply to the spiritual wolves today:

1. Wolf looks of prey.

They search for prey in packs lead by an alpha male wolf.  We all know these mammon loving prosperity gospel preachers have taken over the airwaves like packs.  They operate like a gang.  The WoF wolves always mention their alpha preachers to frequently.  They quote them frequently and even brag about their associations with them.  Usually the authority of the Bible is superseded by what the alpha wolves teach.  These wolves are masters in proof texting. They desperately seek supporters and a broader audience.  They do not hesitate to engage in un-biblical fund raising methods to expand their own kingdoms.

2. Wolf snatches a sheep

Usually a sheep is snatched when they are feeding on the grass with other sheep.  Here the sheep are snatched from the mainstream orthodox Christianity.   When a sheep is snatched by a wolf we all know they cannot free themselves.  They go into spiritual bondage and once they are snatched they are at the mercy of the prosperity preachers.  They need some external help. They are deceived basically and a spiritual force of darkness grabs them.  They need to be set free by a real shepherd. I am not trying to say whoever believes in the WoF teaching is demon possessed.  No, not at all.   However they are obviously influenced by the seducing spirits operating through the word of faith minsters.  The process of snatching is forceful and it is never a gentle process.  The prosperity gospel message appears to be authentic and innocent Christians are forcefully plucked out of the mainstream.  They do not have an opportunity to analyze the prosperity message with intellectual honesty and proper Biblical exegesis and henumatics.  The victims are indoctrinated and brainwashed about how to think instead of leaving them to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I John 2:27

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him”.

3. Wolf kills a sheep

Killing is an act of severing the relationship with the rest of the world.  Cessation of communication with the rest of the world is death.  People affected by the prosperity Gospel considers themselves isolated from the rest of the Christian world.  They cannot have regular communication with them.  “Only we have the full light of the truth” and only our leaders preach the full gospel kind of an attitude isolate them from the orthodox Christianity.  The sheep is conditioned to hear from the alpha wolves and their followers and not from God. Sheep is affected by on going indoctrination of the WoF teachings which covers the hearer as a dark cloud and isolating from hearing from the Holy Spirit. False teachings that are used to excommunicates the sheep from the mainstream include but not limited to Misuse and abuse of Romans 10:9 and 10, Atonement happened in hell, Jesus became literal sin, went to hell and tormented by demons, Jesus was rich (Was He not the richest carpenter in Nazareth and did He not have various branch offices all across Israel?,  He had richest disciples too who even supplied fish to the Chief priest and Jesus had connections in Herod’s palace as well!).  Genuine Spiritual experiences like the miracle of regeneration, assurance of salvation, joy of being forgiven of the past sins, peace with God, love of the word, conviction about sin, judgment and hell, repentance that frees us from dead works are dismissed as  feeling based experiences but extra-Biblical revelations which are the real feeling based experiences which are thought by the alpha wolves are considered legitimate experiences.  The sheep is discouraged to have a life changing encounter with Jesus which results in the supernatural new birth with a definite change in the life but encouraged in participate in feeling based emotionally stirring activities.

There are 2 important ways that the sheep is killed.  One is gradual process.  These wolves need to have some sheep alive to supply their needs.  The other one is instant process.  Once the sheep is deemed uselss to their ministry they are disqualified which is the equivalent of physical killing.

4. Wolf eats a sheep.

This is the most exiting part in the entire process.  A wolf being a carnivore always considers a sheep, a herbivore as a food source.  In order to survive and live a wolf needs prey.  Therefore they constantly eat killed sheep.  They consider sheeps to be resources (food sources) to live a luxurious life.  A freshly killed sheep brings immense joy to the wolves and the freshly killed sheep is also shared with their fellow wolves and when a sheep is freshly killed all wolves rejoice like this “Ha ha ha, a millionaire got saved, this member has a political connection, he has his own jet plane etc.,)

5. Wolf has no intention to feed the sheep.

Since a wolf always considers sheep as a resource they do not feed them.  How can a herbivore be fed by a carnivore? Spiritual food comes from the Holy Spirit quickening a particular scripture and makes it available to our human spirits. We cannot be spiritually fed by listening to WoF tapes or reading their books.  Since WoF preachers substitute positive confessions to force the Sovereign God to release miracles the victims do not take time to listen to the Holy Spirit. Many Christians are deceived by the false teachings of Rhema and consider unleavened teachings as their spiritual food but they don’t realize that all these teachings are designed to get their seed offerings to keep the wolves alive.  For example how many of you have ever heard a prosperity preacher teaching about humility, cross carrying, discipleship, crucifying self, justification and other Biblical themes.  Indoctrination is not feeding!

These topics are indeed mentioned by prosperity preachers only incidental remarks and not as a subject matter.   The prosperity preachers feed into the sheep’s ego.

6. Wolf has no intention to protect the sheep.

When tragedy strike the sheep oftentimes these wolves are unavailable to their flock.  They sheep is told that their minister had to meet an alpha wolf in a particular place or attend a WoF or they are too busy in talking to a congressman, senator or other government officials.  They even resent if a member of their congregation desperately needs them while they are on luxurious vacation trips. Even if they happen to establish contact the wolves they are told to utter certain positive confessions, accused of lacking in faith, yielding to fear, believing mind instead of believing in heart, worrying about lying symptoms and so on.

7. Sheep are scattered once they spot a wolf in action.

Once someone is exposed and identified as a wolf the sheep is scattered and lose interest in things after God.  Some of them even detest Christianity.  Steve Lambert explains this vividly in his amazing book “Charismatic Captivation”.

8. Wolf does not treat a sheep gently.

We all have different levels of faith.  New converts have are not matured to know certain Spiritual truths and they need milk.  However the prosperity preachers make condemning statements like “Oh you don’t have faith and that was the reason you are not healed”, come and confess openly in the platform that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus even you are still sick, if you hesitate to confess that you are still sick then you are walking by feelings etc.,  So innocents believers especially new converts are so confused by their arrogant way of commanding them.  These wolves often have a pushy personality which helps them to force their victims to utter un-biblical positive confessions which do not touch the reality.  Bible talks a lot about the power of proclamations and Jesus is called as  the Chief priest of our confession. (Heb 3:1).  In stead of teaching the flock to utter positive confessions in the right way they apply force and their deceived followers are forced to think God as a heavenly wending machine.

9. Wolf considers itself as a different class (elitism) from the sheep.

A carnivore cannot hangout with a herbivore.  Wolves led by their alpha wolves considers themselves above their flock.  Only they can pray, preach and prophecy.  Purveyors of truth.  Only Rhema trained ministers can rule the Church and make all decisions. Only the super rich and major financiers to the preachers enterprise can get a glimpse of their inner circle. One of the Church fathers’ Justin Martyr says that in the early Church pastors (in plural) used to be friends of the poor and  they used to be the bridges between the wealthy Christians and the poor Christians.

10. Sheep cannot have fellowship with a wolf (communication).

Watchman Nee in his “The Release of the Spirit” book clearly illustrates this.  The victims know inwardly that something mysterious is repelling them from their leaders.  One creed and confession says they believe in the communion of saints but in Rhema circles people realize that they cannot have communion with the spirits of their minsters.

I John 1:7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin”.

11. Sheep affected by wolves need special care.

Again I strongly recommend Steve Lambert’s book “Charismatic Captivation”.  Sheep who are set free from the Rhema captivation are affected in various degrees. Some of them are severely abused and disappointed.  They need special prayers by committed intercessory prayer warriors.

How does a wolf wear sheep’s clothing?

These wolves appears to feed the sheep by preaching the from the word of God and wish them well.  They present themselves as the “full Gospel” preachers.  They still need to “feed” the sheep because they need on-going support from them.  Only when the sheep is perceived to be useless it will be killed (disqualified).  So in order to continuously “feed” the sheep and get new victims they need to wear clothes.

Some of the clothes:

a. The cloth that is called as the right doctrine appearing as part of the Orthodox Christianity.

b. Parading their achievements like supporting an orphanage in a 3rd world country or helping a poor community.  (Jesus said let you left hand not know what your right hand do and not to parade ourselves)

c. Use of humor

d. Appear to be interested in the well being of the followers.  Wealth wishers disguised as well wishers.

e. Bragging about their connections with top government officials, politicians and other celebrities (just to impress people that their message is authentic)

f. Twisting their tongues with different accents (imitate the alpha wolves).

g. Use of Apologetic/defending faith.

h. Doing acts of kindness in front of others but their out bursts of anger is well known among their close followers.

Even though this articles primarily focuses on the word of faith side, it does not mean other organizations or denominations do not have wolves among them.

A wolf can even be in a missionary organization or a in a charitable organization.

Don’t use the touch not the anointed  concept to live in a state of denial.  We are all God anointed and priests.  Jesus commended  a revelation church for spotting false apostle (Revelation 2:6).  Also it does not mean some one prophesised and the prophecy did not come to pass.  NO.    Let us be on guard and warn others about the wolves.  We are accountable to God.

Another Excellent Article About “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”

http://www.denniscramer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=8

Copy Right: Dennis Cramer Ministries – Article written by Prophet Dennis Cramer.

The Bible warns us to be on our guard against wolves.

A wolf takes control no matter what it takes- trickery, deceit, manipulation, intimidation, false doctrine, clandestine meetings, power plays, secrecy, planting seeds of distrust, discord, disloyalty, or spiritual witchcraft-he will use any means available.  A wolf thinks nothing of illegal, unethical, or unscriptural behavior.  To a wolf, the end always justifies the means. Left to his own devices a wolf will ultimately destroy any church he leads.

How to identify a man by his fruit?  – Insightful article by Jeremy Myers

http://www.tillhecomes.org/Text%20Sermons/Luke/Luke%206%2043-45.htm

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Many people in America know that the WoF preachers control the Christian TV and radio airwaves to spread their lies.  However many Westerners do not realize the extent of the damages that the WoFers have done in third world countries.  I want to tell the readers in advance that no pen or words can appropriately describe the damages that have been caused and are being caused by the WoF heretical teachings in India.  Only heavan knows the full picture about the extent of the damages.   However I will try to describe the WoF activities in my home country of India to the best of my ability. अमेरिका में बहुत से लोग यह है कि WoF प्रचारकों ने ईसाई टीवी और रेडियो airwaves उनकी झूठ फैलाने का नियंत्रण है. लेकिन कई पश्चिमी देशों को नुकसान कि WoFers तीसरी दुनिया के देशों में किया है की मात्रा का एहसास नहीं है. मैं अग्रिम में पाठकों को बताना चाहता हूँ कि कोई पेन या शब्दों को उचित है कि और कारण किया गया है भारत में WoF विधर्मिक शिक्षाओं के कारण किया जा रहा है कि नुकसान का वर्णन कर सकते हैं. केवल heavan को नुकसान की मात्रा के बारे में पूरी तस्वीर जानता है. लेकिन मैं में WoF गतिविधियों का वर्णन करने के लिए कोशिश करेंगे मेरी अपनी क्षमता का सबसे अच्छा करने के लिए भारत के घर देश.

Whenever a false teaching movement starts in any part of the world, they want to propagate it.   For that to happen they need agents in other countries.   As many of you know most of the third world people live in poverty and foreign currencies are a source of seduction, hence the name almighty dollar!!!.    In the Mid 80’s the dark clouds which had surrounded the Western Christian world started descending into India also.   The WoF poured out thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars, to lure certain individuals with their deceptive techniques (they essentially bought them out).   This was required to established connections in India, which is how they propagate their teachings. जब एक झूठे शिक्षण आंदोलन दुनिया के किसी भी भाग में शुरू हो, वे इसका प्रचार करना चाहिए. उस के लिए वे अन्य देशों में एजेंटों की जरूरत होती है. तुम में से कई के रूप में तीसरी दुनिया के अधिकांश लोगों को पता है गरीबी में रहते हैं और विदेशी मुद्रा एक स्रोत हैं लुभाव, इसलिए नाम सर्वशक्तिमान डॉलर की!. मध्याह्न 80 में जो पश्चिमी ईसाई दुनिया घिरा था अंधेरे के बादल भारत में भी उतरते शुरू की है. WoF, डॉलर के हजारों उंडेल दिया नहीं तो करोड़ों डॉलर, प्रलोभित करने के लिए उनकी भ्रामक तकनीक के साथ कुछ व्यक्तियों (वे मूलतः) उन्हें बाहर खरीदा है. यह भारत में, जो कि कैसे वे अपनी शिक्षाओं प्रचार कनेक्शन की स्थापना की है, करने के लिए आवश्यक था.

In India and in other third world countries people are very respectful.   Especially to preachers who are presumed to preach God’s word.    The Indian Word of Faith leaders teachings and life style most often goes unchallenged, because people do not want to “touch the anointed”.     Many wolves in sheep’s clothing’s take advantage of Indian hospitality and start controlling and manipulating people.    Also when prosperity is promised, people are stirred up emotionally and pay attention to these perverts. भारत और अन्य देशों के लोगों को तीसरी दुनिया में बहुत सम्मान कर रहे हैं में. जो परमेश्वर का वचन प्रचार करने के लिए परिकल्पित हैं प्रचारकों खासकर के लिए. भारतीय वर्ड विश्वास नेताओं शिक्षाओं और जीवन शैली सबसे अक्सर unchallenged की जाती है, क्योंकि लोगों “को स्पर्श नहीं करना चाहता हूँ में “अभिषेक किया. कई भेड़िये भेड़ के कपड़े भारतीय आतिथ्य का लाभ उठाने और शुरू नियंत्रित करने और लोगों को जोड़ तोड़ रहा है. इसके अलावा जब समृद्धि का वादा किया है, लोगों को भावनात्मक रूप से उभारा हैं कर्मचारी है और इन पर ध्यान देना. So the WoF preachers were able to jump start their “ministries” by first going into Radio and most recently in TV and the internet.    For them money is not an issue at all.   The Rhema “Bible Training” Institute, and those of their ilk, are pouring out thousands of dollars, if not millions to support their WoF cronies in India and other parts of the World. तो WoF प्रचारकों अपने “मंत्रालयों कूदना शुरू करने के लिए” पहले रेडियो में है और सबसे हाल ही में टीवी और इंटरनेट. उन्हें पैसे के लिए बिल्कुल भी एक मुद्दा नहीं है जाकर पा रहे थे. इस Rhema “बाइबल प्रशिक्षण” संस्थान है, और वे उनके ilk की , डॉलर के हजारों बाहर डालने का कार्य कर रहे हैं नहीं तो लाखों लोगों ने भारत और विश्व के अन्य भागों में उनकी WoF साथी का समर्थन करने के लिए.

Other Indian Christian denominations and individual ministers started attacking the WoF teachings.   But they made one fatal mistake and that they still make that same mistake: The same ministers who attacked the WoF teachings restricted their role to attacking them in principle only.   But also take huge sums of donations from the WoF ministries.   Also many good Indian ministers married their daughters or sons to WoF preachers.   And as a result of this, the stand against the WoF heresy was quailed, nullified and buried.   These are some of the reasons why the WoF gained momentum in India and still is a menace to my country.   The WoF style of preaching and their ability to attract innocent and unsuspecting people have become the modus operandi for many Indian preachers, who are not WoF.   Therefore in many cases we see WoF-lites!!!.   Many good Indian Christians name their baby boys Kenneth as their first names. अन्य भारतीय ईसाई मूल्यवर्ग और व्यक्तिगत मंत्रियों ने WoF शिक्षाओं पर हमला शुरू कर दिया था. लेकिन वे एक घातक गलती की और कहा कि वे अब भी लगता है कि एक ही गलती: वही मंत्री जो WoF पर हमला सिद्धांत में ही. पर भी भारी ले उन पर हमला करने के लिए उनकी भूमिका सीमित शिक्षाओं इस WoF मंत्रालयों से दान की sums. भी कई अच्छे भारतीय मंत्रियों को अपनी बेटियों या WoF प्रचारकों के बेटे से शादी कर ली. और इस के परिणामस्वरूप, इस WoF पाषंड के खिलाफ खड़े हो, quailed था nullified और मिट्ठी दी. ये कुछ कारणों से कर रहे हैं क्यों WoF भारत में और गति मिली अभी भी अपने देश के लिए एक खतरा है. उपदेश का WoF शैली और उनकी क्षमता और पहले से न सोचा निर्दोष लोगों को आकर्षित करने के लिए जो WoF नहीं कर रहे हैं कई भारतीय प्रचारकों के लिए ढंग operandi बन गए हैं. इसलिए हम WoF देख कई मामलों में -lites!. बहुत अच्छा भारतीय ईसाई अपना पहला नाम के रूप में केनेथ उनके बच्चे लड़कों नाम. (in homage to Kenneth Hagin).   This includes non-WoFer’s too!!! केनेथ Hagin को श्रद्धांजलि () में है. यह गैर शामिल WoFer की भी!

How the WoF preachers evangelize is an interesting thing.   They do not concentrate on the poor and needy.   But they target college professors, doctors, engineers, lawyers, businessmen and other high income group people.   You might think their target group would be people from other religions.   But unfortunately the truth is these people who are targeted by WoF are Christians from other denominations!!! कैसे WoF प्रचारकों इंजील का प्रचार करना एक दिलचस्प बात है. वे गरीब और जरूरतमंद पर ध्यान नहीं है. लेकिन वे कॉलेज प्रोफेसरों, डॉक्टर, इंजीनियर, वकील, व्यापारियों और अन्य उच्च आय वर्ग के लोगों को निशाना. तुम अपने लक्ष्य समूह के लोगों से किया जाएगा लगता है कि कर सकते हैं अन्य धर्मों. लेकिन दुर्भाग्य से सच जो WoF द्वारा लक्षित कर रहे हैं ये लोग है अन्य मूल्यवर्ग से ईसाई हैं!

This is how a typical WoF soul winning goes: The WoF preachers will establish contacts with wealthy Indian Christians and offer them the “full gospel”!!!   Sir/Madam confess Jesus with your mouth according to Romans 10:9 and you will be saved.   No need to repent or experience a change in your life.   But just a simple confession based on the Romans 10:9 magic formula will save them.   But God only knows what they hope to be saved from by doing this?   This is not the gospel of Christ!   Genuine born again experiences and regeneration are simply dismissed by the WoFers as a “feelings based experience”.   If the people continue to live in the same sins, the WoF would shamelessly say “Oh, salvation is a gradual process!”.   Sounds good but what if a thief goes through a gradual process by gradually giving up his stealing habits.   Or what if after the Romans 10:9 based confession a child molester only molest less and less Children as they “grow” in the Lord There is no conviction about sin or the emphasis on the necessity of repentance.   Then the victims are promised health and wealth as part and parcel of the atonement.   Here is the climax; the WoFer’s then demand of the new Indian converts to sow seeds into their  ministries,  for them to get a hundred fold return.   These innocent victims who just got “saved” in order to inherit the full kingdom blessings, sell their possessions or donate them to the WoF.   Preachers often give them a piece of land, property or their vehicles.   The WoFers then ask their new converts to utter positive confessions regularly in order to possess the promises.   If they still have sickness, these perverts would say that the sick ones do not have enough faith. यह कैसे एक ठेठ WoF आत्मा को जीत जाता है: इस WoF प्रचारकों धनी भारतीय ईसाइयों के साथ संपर्क स्थापित करेगा और उन्हें प्रस्ताव को “पूर्ण सुसमाचार”!! अपने मुँह से! सर / मैडम कबूल यीशु रोमंस 10:9 के अनुसार, और तुम बच जाएगा . कोई जरूरत नहीं है पश्चाताप करने के लिए या अपने जीवन में एक परिवर्तन का अनुभव. लेकिन रोमनों 10:9 जादू फार्मूले के आधार पर ही एक साधारण बयान उन्हें बचा लेगा. लेकिन भगवान ही जानता है कि वे क्या आशा है यह? यह नहीं है करके से बच करने के लिए मसीह के सुसमाचार! वास्तविक जन्म फिर अनुभव और पुनर्जनन केवल एक “भावनाओं के आधार के रूप में WoFers द्वारा” अनुभव को खारिज कर दिया है. यदि लोगों को एक ही पाप में रहने के लिए जारी है, WoF बेशर्मी “ओह कहेंगे, मोक्ष एक क्रमिक प्रक्रिया है!” . अच्छा लगता है, लेकिन क्या अगर एक चोर एक धीमी प्रक्रिया के माध्यम से धीरे धीरे उसकी आदतें चोरी को देकर चला जाता है. या फिर के रूप में वे “” प्रभु में बढ़ने क्या हुआ अगर रोमनों 10:9 आधारित बयान एक बच्चे molester के बाद ही कम से कम बच्चे छेड़छाड़ वहाँ फिर शिकार अंग के प्रायश्चित्त के स्वास्थ्य और धन के रूप में देने का वादा किया है पाप या पश्चाताप की आवश्यकता पर जोर के बारे में विश्वास नहीं है.. यह अंत है, इस नए भारतीय धर्मान्तरित के WoFer है तो मांग में बीज बोने के लिए उनके मंत्रालयों, के लिए उन्हें एक सौ गुना वापस पाने के लिए. जो अभी “” क्रम में करने के लिए, पूर्ण राज्य आशीर्वाद वारिस बेचना उनकी संपत्ति या WoF करने के लिए उन्हें दान बच गया ये मासूम पीड़ितों. प्रचारकों अक्सर उन्हें जमीन का एक टुकड़ा, संपत्ति दे क्रम में वादे के अधिकारी या उनके वाहनों है. WoFers तो बिल्कुल सकारात्मक बयान करने के लिए नियमित रूप से अपने नए धर्मान्तरित पूछो. अगर वे अब भी बीमारी है, ये कर्मचारी कहेंगे कि बीमार लोगों को काफी भरोसा नहीं है. And if the victims financially suffer again, they are told “encouraging” words like “you should walk by faith and not by sight”, “believe in your heart and not with your mind”,,, etc, etc.    Many victims are still blabbing with their mouths but still not grabbing, confessing but not possessing. और अगर पीड़ितों आर्थिक रूप से फिर से पीड़ित हैं, वे “” आप विश्वास से चलना चाहिए और नहीं दृष्टि से “,” अपने दिल में है और न अपने मन “के साथ, विश्वास, आदि, आदि कई पीड़ित अभी भी कर रहे हैं जैसे उत्साहजनक ‘शब्द कहा जाता है उनके मुंह के साथ है लेकिन अभी भी blabbing हथियाने नहीं है, लेकिन रखने कबूल नहीं. May the blab it and grab it Hocus Pocus only appear to work in the West and my people will not be deceived!!! मई में यह बकवादी और धोखा देना Pocus हड़पने केवल पश्चिम में और काम करने के लिए अपने लोगों को धोखा नहीं होगा दिखाई!

The WoF preachers frequently go on house visits to these rich Indian Christian houses.   And they let their wives and children hang out with their counter parts.   However they would not do the same to a poor believer’s family.   In the English language the word “you” is neither a respectful term nor a disrespectful term.   It can be used to address an elderly person or a little Child.   However in my language there are separate words for you to use when you are addressing an elderly person or a familiar person like a little kid.   It is disrespectful to use the casual word for you to an elderly person.   The WoFer’s do not hesitate to call poor Christians with the disrespectful you word, regardless of their age.   But they are very cautious to use the respectful word for you to a rich Indian Christian who is a potential donor.   I have seen this with my own eyes because I had a WoF “pastor” live in hometown, even on the same street as me!!!   They look for victims but only rich victims!!! इस WoF प्रचारकों अक्सर इन अमीर भारतीय ईसाई घरों को घर यात्राओं पर जाते हैं. और वे अपनी पत्नियों और बच्चों को उनके काउंटर भागों के साथ बाहर रखती हैं. लेकिन वे एक गरीब आस्तिक के परिवार के लिए एक ही काम नहीं चलेगा. अंग्रेजी भाषा में शब्द “क्या आप” न तो एक सम्मानजनक शब्द और न ही एक असभ्य शब्द है. यह एक बुजुर्ग व्यक्ति या एक छोटे से बच्चे को संबोधित करने के लिए इस्तेमाल किया जा सकता है. हालाँकि मेरी भाषा में वहाँ अलग शब्दों के लिए आप का उपयोग करने के लिए जब आप एक बुजुर्ग व्यक्ति या एक परिचित व्यक्ति को संबोधित कर रहे हैं एक छोटे बच्चे की तरह. यह तुम्हारे लिए एक बुजुर्ग व्यक्ति को आकस्मिक शब्द का उपयोग करने के लिए अनुचित है. WoFer है निरादरपूर्ण तुम शब्द के साथ गरीब ईसाइयों फोन करने के लिए, चाहे उनकी उम्र का संकोच नहीं करते. लेकिन वे बहुत उपयोग करने के लिए सतर्क कर रहे हैं एक अमीर भारतीय है जो एक संभावित दाता है क्रिश्चियन के लिए आप के लिए सम्मानजनक शब्द. क्योंकि मैं, मुझे के रूप में एक ही सड़क पर भी एक WoF “पादरी” गृहनगर में रहते थे मैंने अपनी आँखों से देखा है! वे पीड़ितों के लिए लेकिन देखो केवल अमीर शिकार!

In India we speak British English with our own flavors.  Americans cannot understand our English unless we speak slowly and we cannot understand the American English either unless it is spoken slowly. भारत में हम अपने flavors के साथ ब्रिटिश अंग्रेजी बोलते हैं. अमेरिका, जब तक कि हम धीरे धीरे बोलते हैं और हम अमेरिकी अंग्रेजी नहीं समझ सकता हमारे अंग्रेजी नहीं समझ सकता है या तो जब तक यह धीरे बात की है. However the Indian WoFers deliberately twist their tongues to change their accent to sound like American accent.  Even while singing they do the same. हालांकि भारतीय WoFers जानबूझकर अमेरिकी उच्चारण की तरह बात करने के लिए अपने उच्चारण को बदलने के लिए अपनी जीभ मोड़. भी जब वे एक ही हो गा. In other words they try to imitate their Rhema counterparts in America.  This is just to impress innocent people to show that they have connections with Western countries. वे अमेरिका में अपने Rhema समकक्षों नकल की कोशिश करो. यह सिर्फ है कि वे पश्चिमी देशों के साथ संबंध है दिखाने के लिए निर्दोष लोगों को प्रभावित करने के लिए है दूसरे शब्दों में. They believe that changing their accents would give them credibility and make their messages part of Christian orthodoxy.  Many poor people were turned off by their elitist mentality because they could not understand their glorified English!!! उन्होंने कहा कि बदलते हुए उनके दिन उन्हें विश्वसनीयता प्रदान करेगा और ईसाई कट्टरपंथियों के अपने संदेश भाग कर विश्वास करते हैं. क्योंकि वे अपनी महिमा अंग्रेजी नहीं समझ सकता है बहुत से गरीब लोग अपनी elitist मानसिकता से बंद कर दिया गया था!

I am still longing to see an Indian WoF preacher flying in his own private jet plane.   For more than 20 years they keep blabbing with their mouths.   But are still unable to get even a helicopter!!!    They need to learn the difference between capitalism and socialism and using common sense.    If the prosperity “gospel” works (or appears to work) for Western preachers, why doesn’t it yield the same results for their third world counter-parts? मैं हूँ अभी भी तरस एक भारतीय WoF उपदेशक अपनी निजी जेट विमान में उड़ान को देखने के लिए. वे अपने मुंह से blabbing रखने से ज्यादा 20 साल के लिए. लेकिन फिर भी यह भी एक हेलीकाप्टर प्राप्त नहीं कर पा रहे हैं! वे पूंजीवाद के बीच का अंतर जानने के लिए की ज़रूरत है और समाजवाद और सामान्य ज्ञान का इस्तेमाल करते हैं. यदि समृद्धि “सुसमाचार” काम करता है (या काम करने के लिए प्रकट होता है) पश्चिमी प्रचारकों के लिए, क्यों यह उनकी तीसरी दुनिया का मुकाबला करने के लिए एक ही परिणाम-भागों उपज नहीं है?

In the  eighties a Doctor from India got attracted to the WoF teachings. अस्सी के दशक एक चिकित्सक से भारत में WoF उपदेशों की तरफ आकर्षित हो गया. And he took my home state by storm (converting the Christians there to WoF) using his seductive powers and charismatic personality.   He said that he would never get sick.    And he even ridiculed those who were still sick.   He was spearheading the WoF movement in my home state.   Many innocent Christians were deceived by his false teachings.   But in April 1991, thankfully to God he died of a disease.  Several individuals were destroyed by that ferocious wolf.   But in spite of God expressing His disapproval by removing that man from the earth, his followers and relatives never repented. और वह तूफान से () अपने मोहक शक्तियों और करिश्माई व्यक्तित्व का उपयोग कर WoF को ईसाई वहाँ परिवर्तित मेरे गृह राज्य लिया. वह कहता है कि वह बीमार नहीं है. और वह भी जो लोग अभी भी बीमार थे उपहास. वह WoF आंदोलन में spearheading था अपने गृह राज्य. कई निर्दोष ईसाइयों उसकी झूठी शिक्षाओं के द्वारा धोखा दिया गया था. लेकिन अप्रैल 1991, शुक्र है भगवान का वह एक रोग की मृत्यु हो गई. कई व्यक्तियों है कि क्रूर भेड़िये द्वारा नष्ट किया गया. लेकिन भगवान के बावजूद से उस आदमी को निकाल कर उनका अस्वीकृति व्यक्त पृथ्वी, उनके अनुयायियों और रिश्तेदारों पछतावा नहीं है. They are still advancing his legacy which was heresy! वे अभी तक जो पाषंड था उसकी विरासत बढ़ते हैं!

Once the WoF movement conducted a massive crusade in India focusing on Divine healing.   Some secular news magazine reporters also attended the meeting to see what was really going on.   The WoF Bible college students used to stand in various places in the crowd and encouraged the sick people to go to the stage and testify about their healings.   When the sick people hesitated they were told not to walk by sight or feelings but by facts, revelation knowledge and not common sense.   These innocent people went to the stage and testified that they got healed while they were still sick.   The secular reporters later interviewed the people who gave their testimony on the platform and found out that they were still sick.   This news got published in a widely read magazine in my language and the name of the Lord was blasphemed.  Our fellow Indians used this to ridicule this as an “imported faith”, mocking and saying yeh right, the blind hear and the deaf see? एक बार WoF आंदोलन भारत में देवी उपचार पर केन्द्रित एक विशाल धर्मयुद्ध का आयोजन किया. भी क्या सच में हो रहा था देखने के लिए इस बैठक में भाग लिया कुछ धर्मनिरपेक्ष समाचार पत्रिका संवाददाताओं है. WoF बाइबिल कॉलेज छात्रों की भीड़ में विभिन्न स्थानों पर खड़ा करने के लिए और बीमार प्रोत्साहित करती थी लोगों ने मंच पर जाना और उनके healings के बारे में गवाही. जब बीमार लोग दृष्टि या भावनाओं पर तथ्यों, रहस्योद्घाटन ज्ञान नहीं है और सामान्य ज्ञान से चलने के लिए नहीं कहा गया था झिझक. ये मासूम लोगों को मंच के पास गया और कहा कि वे गवाही जबकि वे अभी भी बीमार थे चंगा है. धर्मनिरपेक्ष संवाददाताओं बाद जो मंच पर अपनी गवाही दी और कहा कि वे अभी भी बीमार थे पता चला कि लोगों को साक्षात्कार. यह खबर एक व्यापक रूप से पढ़ा पत्रिका में अपनी भाषा में है और प्रभु के नाम प्रकाशित किया गया था निन्दा की . हमारा साथी भारतीयों उपहास करने के लिए यह एक “आयातित विश्वास” के रूप में, मजाक यह प्रयोग किया जाता है और ये सही है, कि सुन अंधे कह रही है और बहरा देखा? What a shame! क्या शर्म की बात है! Many people are skeptical about genuine Christianity, healings and miracles because of the activities of these WoF perverts. बहुत से लोग असली ईसाई, healings और इन WoF की गतिविधियों की वजह से चमत्कार के बारे में उलझन में हैं कर्मचारी है.

I apologize to the readers that I have not quoted any verses from scripture in this article.   God willing I am planning to release a series of articles refuting the WoF teaching.   Including but not limited to the misuse and abuse of Romans 10:9.   Was Jesus tormented in hell?   Is financial prosperity always Gods will?   If someone is sick is it because he or she does not have faith or is in sin?  Positive confession: When and how?   The concept of faith according to WoF compared with Biblical position on Faith.   And many more things about the WoF.   And I promise to quote a lot of Bible verses. मैंने पाठकों के लिए है कि मैं इस लेख में पवित्रा शास्त्रा से कोई छंद उद्धृत नहीं की है माफी माँगता हूँ. भगवान मैं लेख के WoF शिक्षण refuting की एक श्रृंखला जारी करने की योजना बना रहा हूँ तैयार. भी शामिल है, लेकिन दुरुपयोग करने के लिए सीमित नहीं है और रोमन 10:9 का दुरुपयोग. था क्योंकि वह विश्वास नहीं करता है या पाप में है यीशु नरक में सताया? वित्तीय समृद्धि हमेशा परमेश्वर यदि कोई बीमार है करेगा? क्या है? सकारात्मक बयान: कब और कैसे? WoF को बाइबिल की स्थिति पर साथ तुलना अनुसार विश्वास की अवधारणा विश्वास रखो. और WoF के बारे में कई बातें. और मैं बाइबल का एक बहुत उद्धृत करने के लिए वादा छंद.

The WoF teachings are like a few drops of poison in a pure glass of milk.  Before our Lord Jesus Christ returns we must do our best to do to purify His body and bride from this monstrously evil movement. इस WoF शिक्षाओं दूध का शुद्ध ग्लास में जहर की कुछ बूंदों की तरह हैं. इससे पहले कि हमारे प्रभु यीशु मसीह हमें इस monstrously बुराई आंदोलन से उनके शरीर और दुल्हन को शुद्ध करने के लिए करने के लिए अपनी पूरी करना होगा रिटर्न.

May God help each and every one of you who read this article to play a role in eradicating this cancer from the body of Christ.   Amen! मई भगवान मसीह के शरीर से यह कैंसर उन्मूलन में एक भूमिका अदा करने के लिए प्रत्येक और तुम में से हर एक जो इस लेख पढ़ा मदद करते हैं. आमीन!

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Many people in America know that the WoF preachers control the Christian TV and radio airwaves to spread their lies.  However many Westerners do not realize the extent of the damages that the WoFers have done in third world countries.  I want to tell the readers in advance that no pen or words can appropriately describe the damages that have been caused and are being caused by the WoF heretical teachings in India.  Only heavan knows the full picture about the extent of the damages.   However I will try to describe the WoF activities in my home country of India to the best of my ability.

Whenever a false teaching movement starts in any part of the world, they want to propagate it.   For that to happen they need agents in other countries.   As many of you know most of the third world people live in poverty and foreign currencies are a source of seduction, hence the name almighty dollar!!!.    In the Mid 80’s the dark clouds which had surrounded the Western Christian world started descending into India also.   The WoF poured out thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars, to lure certain individuals with their deceptive techniques (they essentially bought them out).   This was required to established connections in India, which is how they propagate their teachings.

In India and in other third world countries people are very respectful.   Especially to preachers who are presumed to preach God’s word.    The Indian Word of Faith leaders teachings and life style most often goes unchallenged, because people do not want to “touch the anointed”.     Many wolves in sheep’s clothing’s take advantage of Indian hospitality and start controlling and manipulating people.    Also when prosperity is promised, people are stirred up emotionally and pay attention to these perverts. So the WoF preachers were able to jump start their “ministries” by first going into Radio and most recently in TV and the internet.    For them money is not an issue at all.   The Rhema “Bible Training” Institute, and those of their ilk, are pouring out thousands of dollars, if not millions to support their WoF cronies in India and other parts of the World.

Other Indian Christian denominations and individual ministers started attacking the WoF teachings.   But they made one fatal mistake and that they still make that same mistake: The same ministers who attacked the WoF teachings restricted their role to attacking them in principle only.   But also take huge sums of donations from the WoF ministries.   Also many good Indian ministers married their daughters or sons to WoF preachers.   And as a result of this, the stand against the WoF heresy was quailed, nullified and buried.   These are some of the reasons why the WoF gained momentum in India and still is a menace to my country.   The WoF style of preaching and their ability to attract innocent and unsuspecting people have become the modus operandi for many Indian preachers, who are not WoF.   Therefore in many cases we see WoF-lites!!!.   Many good Indian Christians name their baby boys Kenneth as their first names. (in homage to Kenneth Hagin).   This includes non-WoFer’s too!!!

How the WoF preachers evangelize is an interesting thing.   They do not concentrate on the poor and needy.   But they target college professors, doctors, engineers, lawyers, businessmen and other high income group people.   You might think their target group would be people from other religions.   But unfortunately the truth is these people who are targeted by WoF are Christians from other denominations!!!

This is how a typical WoF soul winning goes: The WoF preachers will establish contacts with wealthy Indian Christians and offer them the “full gospel”!!!   Sir/Madam confess Jesus with your mouth according to Romans 10:9 and you will be saved.   No need to repent or experience a change in your life.   But just a simple confession based on the Romans 10:9 magic formula will save them.   But God only knows what they hope to be saved from by doing this?   This is not the gospel of Christ!   Genuine born again experiences and regeneration are simply dismissed by the WoFers as a “feelings based experience”.   If the people continue to live in the same sins, the WoF would shamelessly say “Oh, salvation is a gradual process!”.   Sounds good but what if a thief goes through a gradual process by gradually giving up his stealing habits.   Or what if after the Romans 10:9 based confession a child molester only molest less and less Children as they “grow” in the Lord There is no conviction about sin or the emphasis on the necessity of repentance.   Then the victims are promised health and wealth as part and parcel of the atonement.   Here is the climax; the WoFer’s then demand of the new Indian converts to sow seeds into their  ministries,  for them to get a hundred fold return.   These innocent victims who just got “saved” in order to inherit the full kingdom blessings, sell their possessions or donate them to the WoF.   Preachers often give them a piece of land, property or their vehicles.   The WoFers then ask their new converts to utter positive confessions regularly in order to possess the promises.   If they still have sickness, these perverts would say that the sick ones do not have enough faith. And if the victims financially suffer again, they are told “encouraging” words like “you should walk by faith and not by sight”, “believe in your heart and not with your mind”,,, etc, etc.    Many victims are still blabbing with their mouths but still not grabbing, confessing but not possessing. May the blab it and grab it Hocus Pocus only appear to work in the West and my people will not be deceived!!!

The WoF preachers frequently go on house visits to these rich Indian Christian houses.   And they let their wives and children hang out with their counter parts.   However they would not do the same to a poor believer’s family.   In the English language the word “you” is neither a respectful term nor a disrespectful term.   It can be used to address an elderly person or a little Child.   However in my language there are separate words for you to use when you are addressing an elderly person or a familiar person like a little kid.   It is disrespectful to use the casual word for you to an elderly person.   The WoFer’s do not hesitate to call poor Christians with the disrespectful you word, regardless of their age.   But they are very cautious to use the respectful word for you to a rich Indian Christian who is a potential donor.   I have seen this with my own eyes because I had a WoF “pastor” live in hometown, even on the same street as me!!!   They look for victims but only rich victims!!!

In India we speak British English with our own flavors.  Americans cannot understand our English unless we speak slowly and we cannot understand the American English either unless it is spoken slowly. However the Indian WoFers deliberately twist their tongues to change their accent to sound like American accent.  Even while singing they do the same. In other words they try to imitate their Rhema counterparts in America.  This is just to impress innocent people to show that they have connections with Western countries. They believe that changing their accents would give them credibility and make their messages part of Christian orthodoxy.  Many poor people were turned off by their elitist mentality because they could not understand their glorified English!!!

I am still longing to see an Indian WoF preacher flying in his own private jet plane.   For more than 20 years they keep blabbing with their mouths.   But are still unable to get even a helicopter!!!    They need to learn the difference between capitalism and socialism and using common sense.    If the prosperity “gospel” works (or appears to work) for Western preachers, why doesn’t it yield the same results for their third world counter-parts?

In the  eighties a Doctor from India got attracted to the WoF teachings. And he took my home state by storm (converting the Christians there to WoF) using his seductive powers and charismatic personality.   He said that he would never get sick.    And he even ridiculed those who were still sick.   He was spearheading the WoF movement in my home state.   Many innocent Christians were deceived by his false teachings.   But in April 1991, thankfully to God he died of a disease.  Several individuals were destroyed by that ferocious wolf.   But in spite of God expressing His disapproval by removing that man from the earth, his followers and relatives never repented. They are still advancing his legacy which was heresy!

Once the WoF movement conducted a massive crusade in India focusing on Divine healing.   Some secular news magazine reporters also attended the meeting to see what was really going on.   The WoF Bible college students used to stand in various places in the crowd and encouraged the sick people to go to the stage and testify about their healings.   When the sick people hesitated they were told not to walk by sight or feelings but by facts, revelation knowledge and not common sense.   These innocent people went to the stage and testified that they got healed while they were still sick.   The secular reporters later interviewed the people who gave their testimony on the platform and found out that they were still sick.   This news got published in a widely read magazine in my language and the name of the Lord was blasphemed.  Our fellow Indians used this to ridicule this as an “imported faith”, mocking and saying yeh right, the blind hear and the deaf see? What a shame! Many people are skeptical about genuine Christianity, healings and miracles because of the activities of these WoF perverts.

I apologize to the readers that I have not quoted any verses from scripture in this article.   God willing I am planning to release a series of articles refuting the WoF teaching.   Including but not limited to the misuse and abuse of Romans 10:9.   Was Jesus tormented in hell?   Is financial prosperity always Gods will?   If someone is sick is it because he or she does not have faith or is in sin?  Positive confession: When and how?   The concept of faith according to WoF compared with Biblical position on Faith.   And many more things about the WoF.   And I promise to quote a lot of Bible verses.

The WoF teachings are like a few drops of poison in a pure glass of milk.  Before our Lord Jesus Christ returns we must do our best to do to purify His body and bride from this monstrously evil movement.

May God help each and every one of you who read this article to play a role in eradicating this cancer from the body of Christ.   Amen!

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AND DON”T MISS OUR TWotWoF GROUP RADIO SHOW

LIVE Thursdays at 10pm central

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