Word of Faith: A Powerful New Revelation, The True Gospel with Errors, Or Not the Gospel At All?
From "The Line of Fire" radio broadcast
By Michael Brown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QCM7IaUpSI
I would encourage all those that are not sure of whether the Word of Faith teachers are teaching truth or error or a mixture to listen to this discussion. This balanced teaching will prove to be helpful to you.
I'll also recommend this link for helpful information on this issue:
Cristianity in Crisis by Hank Hanegraaf:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdNN7hst8f8
Some names addressed are Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin and Fred Price.
Among other resources the Lord used this resource by Hank Hanegraaf to deliver me from this false teaching.
In the end, there can be different information from different perspectives or "biases". May the Lord reveal to us what is truth concerning this teaching.
I'd like to share also this one dealing specifically with Benny Hinn. It touches briefly on the issue of physical healing among other issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ozGZWlO8tw
I bring this up for a few reasons. First, I know Dr. Brown has shown much fondness of Benny Hinn in recent times. Secondly, I know Dr. Brown shares the same view with Hinn and other WOF teachers on the issue of physical healing. They teach that physical health and healing is guaranteed to every believer through faith. They teach that if a believer is sick it is due to either sin or a lack of faith or failure to speak a word of faith. Imo it's the same kind of accusation brought upon Job by his "counselors". I know Dr. Brown tries to make a distinction between believing in guaranteed physical healing and believing in guaranteed financial prosperity. But to me there is not much of a difference because they are both forms of earthly prosperity, one being prosperity in health and the other being prosperity in material possessions.
This is a good article on the topic of healing for further biblical study:
http://www.letusreason.org/Wf9.htm
In the broadcast shared in the OP Dr. Brown points out that he checked out statements of faiths on websites of certain faith teachers and that he found that the statements of faith seemed sound doctrinally in the essentials. But by that line of reasoning we could also go to many websites of apostate churches that teach homosexuality is not a sin and find that their statements of faith also seem sound in the essentials. Let's continue to test all things.
I think we have to be careful about going to certain teachers or certain websites to defend our view or to find criticism of a view we disagree with with. They all have their biases.
For example- Hank Hanegraaf is a very strong partial preterist when it comes to eschatology. He is also an "old earth creationist." A great big chunk of modern evangelicals would probably disagree pretty strongly with him on these issues, including on this forum. I happen to agree with him on both. But I absolutely don't agree with him on certain other issues. John MacArthur is exactly the same. Great teacher who I have listened to a lot but he has totally missed it when it comes to his extreme conservatism on the gifts of the Spirit, and this saddens me.
I have listened to dozens and dozens of Michael Brown's sermons (some are available on SI) and I have never heard him once stress physical healing or prosperity. They are never a focus of his message. Does he believe that God still heals miraculously today? Absolutely, but so do I. He definitely leans toward the charismatic side and has challenged MacArthur to discuss the issue but has been refused. But I would call him a conservative charismatic and he simply cannot be placed into the same category as Hinn, Copeland and the like.
TMK, I agree with this comment of yours, quote: "I think we have to be careful about going to certain teachers or certain websites to defend our view or to find criticism of a view we disagree with. They all have their biases."
This also applies to Michael Brown. He is not THE authority on Pentecostal/charismatic doctrine. There is much he says I agree with, but also some that I consider him to be lacking discernment, which is experienced based rather than solid biblical exposition. I have heard Brown debate cessationists and make a lot of good biblical points to show this position to be wrong. However he often does not distinguish misuse of gifts and expose much of the hyper charismatic abuse.
I would tend to agree with Oracio's position on this subject, probably because I came through a similar revelation on this many years ago. I think the point Oracio is making is that Brown has been a supporter of Hinn in being a guest on his program. When challenged about this he would not say anything against Hinn's ministry.
I know this is a very emotive subject with a lot of folk who hold to healing as a right of the believer. So much so that if you try and discuss from scripture that healing is not an automatic benefit for all believers for all sickness that just has to be claimed by faith, they will not hear because they think that is unbelief and they are not open to consider something different to what they have taken as a faith position. That think you are being negative and un-believing. Once we realise that God is far bigger than my weak grasping hold of a belief (as if that somehow will force God to act), we can allow ourselves to re-evaluate what the bible truly teaches and allow God to reveal His truth and more importantly Himself to us in a ever growing reality.
The fact is, the teaching that 'healing is in the atonement' and should be reality in our lives now is very much part of the Word of Faith teaching. If you study the history of the instigators of the WoF movement they were very much involved in the healing movement of the early 20th Century. Healing IS in the atonement and a part of salvation, BUT it is the part that is ultimately linked to when we get a new resurrected body. The salvation that Christ purchased for us on the cross involves Spirit, soul, body and even this earth. Our spirit is saved at point of regeneration by faith. Our soul is being saved as an ongoing process in our walk in faith. Our bodies will be saved at the resurrection and the earth will be saved when it is renewed when Christ sets up His Kingdom. We must not force all of these events into this age. Otherwise we end up with false teaching and great disappointment when we do not see it.
All that said I do believe that healing is a gift that we can ask for and see today because something of the future Kingdom will spill over into this life as a 'sign' and 'confirmation' of the gospel message, but it is at God's will and discretion when and if this happens. We must trust that our lives are in His hands and that He will only allow that which is his will.
Amen Heydave. Glad to see I'm not the only one with this concern here.
This reticence about Hinn is disappointing. You know, you live faithfully as a Pentecostal believer. You embrace and accept the orthodox teachings of the faith. Out of the overflow of your heart and the work of Christ in you, you follow sound teaching. Then, people are associated with your understanding of Scripture and they take on a mantle of "Pentecostal" and they blur it with words like "charismatic" (which I think is Greek for "anything goes" -- I'm joking). A new creature gets made and, although no one puts it to a vote most everyone you look to as reasonable and faithful to the orthodoxy of the Christian faith and as Pentecostal sweeps into the tidewaters of this new and different thing. Suddenly or not, the new thing becomes a heterodox thing as concerns the faith. And, the associations that get made become less likely to be abandoned than the orthodoxy of the faith.
Eventually, YOU, who really didn't change, become the guy who wouldn't get along. YOU, who didn't seek out a newer subdivision when everyone else decided the one they were in wasn't stylish enough anymore, become a burden or a troublemaker or hypercritical or just not spiritual enough.
I've been through an identity crisis as a Wesleyan-Holiness tradition Pentecostal. I came out of that long process as a Wesleyan-Holiness tradition Pentecostal. We are currently being dragged through it again within our local body as if we are just not spiritual enough and that we're not truly Pentecostal. I didn't leave Pentecost for good; but when I came back, no one else was around.
I hope Michael Brown hasn't left, too. If he supports Hinn, that's one foot in the grave of error and the other on a banana peel. I don't understand reasonable people attaching themselves in any way with Benny Hinn. I truly believe Hinn to be true evil, especially to the saints of God.
TMK: "I think we have to be careful about going to certain teachers or certain websites to defend our view or to find criticism of a view we disagree with with."
Wouldn't it be better to dedicate more energy on discussing what is true, relative to discussing what or who is false? (as much as there could be a legitimate role for the latter)
Once you know what a real dollar bill looks like, fake imitations would be easy to spot. Conversely, just because you can spot a fake, it doesn't necessarily follow that you recognize what is real.
Very true Yuehan.
I attended a church a few years back that got heavily influenced by one of the very popular "streams" in the evangelical movement. As this began to permeate I didn't need to visit a "discernment" website or any such thing because my own inner spirit and discernment was throwing up red flags all over the place so we got out of there and quick.
I think the problem is that for whatever reason some Christians suppress their own discernment about some things for various reasons. If we would just heed immediately instead of quenching we would be much better off.
Dolfan-- Michael Brown does not support Hinn. I emailed him about this several years ago and he responded to me. I encourage you to do the same.
Check out:
www.askdrbrown.org/Justin-peters-Benny-Hinn-and-the-pursuit-of-truth/
Just a few observations about the topic that come to mind as I read.
First, the teaching that healing is in the atonement of Christ did not originate with the WOF movement. It actually came from the foundations of 20th century Pentecost. Charles Parham taught it and F.F. Bosworth, a close personal friend of Parham's, wrote a book called Christ the Healer that laid out the doctrine fairly clearly. The WOF movement, coming out of the Pentecostal movement simply continued in this doctrine.
Second and actually the reason for my post...and how do I say this so that it comes out right?
Almost every error is in reality a truth exalted to the exclusion of another truth or other truths. It is a lot like a pair of colored glasses. A particular truth becomes revelation to us, and we immediately go in whole hog after that revelation. If we are not careful, we cannot see anything but that one revelation and we view all other truth through the lens of that revelation. We become attracted to the specific teachers who are also teaching that revelation. We scour the scripture for evidence of and support for that revelation. And over the course of time, we begin to get out of balance. From that unbalanced perspective, we begin to misread or misinterpret scripture. Eventually we can even begin to believe false doctrines.
If we believe for a moment that this process only plays itself out in "those other guys who don't see it the way I see it" we are deceived.
There is truth in the WOF movement. There is also truth in those who would so ardently resist and oppose the WOF movement. There is error in the WOF movement. There is also error in those who so ardently oppose the EOF movement. We are born again, but we are not yet glorified. Therefor we are still susceptible to error. None of us has all of the revelation. None of us has it all right.
It is vitally important that we realize this one simple fact. If we fail to realize that we are all fallible then we can very rapidly succumb to what we would call spiritual pride. We decry anyone who does not agree with the unique doctrinal slant that we and our favorite teachers hold to.
I think it is critical that we become students of the word of God and that we realize that simply studying the writings of other men and their view on scripture will not be enough to keep us on the right path. We must study the word for ourselves.
This is one of the reasons why I do not like denominationalism. Believers need to fellowship with one another across the narrow boundaries we set due to our own unique slants on scripture. I grew up in very traditional pentecostal ranks. I need to fellowship with Oracio, for example, and have the opportunity to give and receive of the word of God. He can challenge me and I can challenge him, and if we both have the right attitude and are both willing to conform to the word of God, we will both be much better for it. We may never agree on everything, but we need to understand that neither of us has it all.
TMK: "I think the problem is that for whatever reason some Christians suppress their own discernment about some things for various reasons. If we would just heed immediately instead of quenching we would be much better off."
Something I read recently (it's by Dustin Horstmann):
"It's much easier to receive truth from others if we don't see them as Jesus.
If we do see them as Jesus, we are likely to drink in everything they say without prayer or thought.
Then, after this has hurt us, we are likely to completely write people off who show some imperfection.
But when Jesus has our gaze, we can receive from those who are imperfectly reflecting His glory.
We can love them."
TMK, thanks for the link. I had already seen Justin Peters' article that responds to this and Justin gives a different side of this issue.....which I guess you would expect! Some of the comments posted below the linked article on Michael Brown's website are interesting and few call him out in his error of judgement. I also think he is mistaken in his association with Hinn. Although he keeps saying he is not a defender of Hinn, why does he consistently defends him??? And at the same time claim he does not really know much about Hinn's ministry (which is very odd).
It does not take a lot of discernment to see where Hinn is coming from. It is this that disturbs me the most about MB's stance. I have heard stuff where Benny has claimed he has repented about stuff and spoken against false teaching, but he has an empire to run and he has to keep ahead of the game and keep as many on board as he can. When he gives away his mansion, jets and all the wealth he has got from his years of fleecing the sheep, I might think about taking him seriously!
The link is a little helpful. I agree with Dave, though. Brown's quasi defense of Hinn, or at least his refusal to go farther in holding Hinn accountable for recent heresies and horrible practices, strikes me as a sort of "that was then, this is now" two step. I would take Brown a lot more seriiously if he would engage RECENT Hinn statements like these:
An email from Hinn in 2013, well before Brown's blog from Feb. 2014
"Let me quickly explain about this historic miracle: A long-time and beloved friend of mine and of this ministry shared something with me this week that literally touched me to the core!"Benny,” he said, "God wants your ministry to be completely out of debt, and I want to plant an anointed seed that will help you take a giant step toward becoming totally debt-free!”
Now this is a very precious man of God whom I have known and loved more than three decades. He has been such a blessing to the cause of Christ. So when he said this, needless to say, I was thrilled beyond words at his unbelievable generosity and the remarkable timeliness of his offer.
You see, even as God has given us a new beginning, we have faced incredible challenges as a ministry as a result of things that happened in the past few years. At the same time our broken home was attracting attention from worldwide news services, the economies of so many of the countries where our partners live have been hit mercilessly. As a result, some of our partners decided to suspend giving or to simply walk away.
And while we have seen God beginning to restore so much, one of the last pieces of the puzzle has been our finances. So you can only imagine how it nearly took my breath away when he told me how much…
But then there was something more this man of God added:
Benny, God has laid it on my heart to plant a seed of $2.5 million into your ministry, but God only wants me to make this gift if the ministry partners match the amount within 90 days! I feel so strongly that He wants them to be part of the supernatural wealth transfer that is coming to every believer who will obey God’s Word.
What could I say? Immediately I saw the hand of God in this. Our Lord could have simply used our friend to plant the seed and be blessed immeasurably by it. But it was so evident that God wants to provide an even greater miracle than the $2.5 million. He desires for our partners and ministry friends to be blessed as they join together with this precious man of God by planting a much larger seed into the work of the Lord, and, in so doing, doubling the blessings.
I quickly told him, "I cannot say no. When I share with my partners what God is doing, they will jump at the chance to be part of this amazing opportunity. I just know it!” ....This Incredible Season of Miracles Begins Now
That’s why I am now coming to you through this urgent and time-dated letter. We have an astonishing opportunity to release an amazing $5 million harvest into this ministry by matching an incredible $2.5 million gift in the next 90 days, or the opportunity will pass. We cannot let that happen. Not now. Not during this incredible season!
My dear friend who is planting this seed has lived the principle of giving unselfishly to the Gospel throughout his life and ministry, and he has been fabulously successful. I believe, with him, that this is a unique moment in time””an awesome season of debt cancellation””as the wealth transfer takes place to God’s people around the world.
God’s Word proclaims that His grace is "sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Because of God’s grace, He wants to restore your home, your favor, your protection, your fellowship with Him, and so much more. And I truly believe that as you take part in this great challenge as we match this $2.5 million gift together, you will see a miraculous breakthrough in breaking the bondages of debt during the next 90 days.
Your Double Harvest Miracle
Are you ready for God to do the "impossible” in your life!
Are you ready to see your harvest doubled?
Are you ready to see your debt cancelled in the next 90 days?
Imagine not dreading going to the mailbox, no bills piling up on your counter, and no calls from collectors coming to your home. God wants to wipe your debt out! Every bit of it…and in the next 90 days!
This is an appointed hour. Imagine: Your $100 gift immediately doubles to $200. Your $500 seed literally becomes $1,000. If God leads you to plant $10,000, it instantly grows into a $20,000 seed! And your double seed, sown bountifully, will reap bountifully through the supernatural law of multiplication!
Only God could provide something like this””a double harvest for you. And the more you plant, the more you will reap!
The anointing for biblical abundance is being released. As you step into this miracle by faith, it will be poured out upon you, too! Your giving is literally the weapon that breaks the bondage of debt in this ministry and in your home during the next 90 days.
Plant your seed-gift now, then begin confessing over every bill, every debt, and every area of financial struggle in your life:
"With God I’m coming out of debt in 90 days!!!”
These repeated confessions will be constant reminders of the financial breakthrough that is coming to you."
http://www.bennyhinn.org/emailletters/9236/breaking-the-bondage-of-debt-during-the-next-90-days
This remains in his website even today.
If you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas. I think Brown has erred in judgment. I am not yet to the point of mistaking his scratching for grooming.
This is a brief, yet pretty informative article on WOF:
In the Michael Brown broadcast shared in the OP, Brown condemns the teaching which says that Jesus took upon Himself the nature of Satan in hell and became born again. He says it’s the most serious heresy within the WOF movement. Yet at the same time in that same broadcast he seems to defend and commend Kenneth Hagin, one who clearly taught that very heresy. Is not Dr. Brown aware that Hagin taught that? It is quite confusing.
Oracio: "In the Michael Brown broadcast shared in the OP, Brown condemns the teaching which says that Jesus took upon Himself the nature of Satan in hell and became born again. He says it’s the most serious heresy within the WOF movement. Yet at the same time in that same broadcast he seems to defend and commend Kenneth Hagin, one who clearly taught that very heresy. Is not Dr. Brown aware that Hagin taught that? It is quite confusing."
Can someone share about distinguishing between (i) a false teacher, and (ii) a true disciple of Christ with bits of wrong theology?
Well, if you are seeking a preacher with impeccable theology and whose speech is above reproach all the time, you will be disappointed looking for that in man - including preachers who are listed here on SermonIndex. You would have to look to God for that.
I missed that bit where Brown commends Kennith Hagin, but if he does then he really is confused. Everyone knows that Hagin is the 'Daddy' of the WoF movement, so how can you criticise the WoF and commend Hagin at the same time.
Many years ago when I was influenced by and listened to much of Hagin, Copeland, et al it was seeing that Hagin had been very closly copying the teaching of E W Kenyon that open my eyes to this deception. Kenyon was in to metaphysics and how you can create your own reality. Hagin taught exactly the same.
If Brown does not know these facts and understand the serrious error of people like Hagin he shoul keep quiet and not claim to speak as one who has authority. He will lead many astray with his commendations.
This discussion is locked.
