In this article we will continue to look examples from these Word of faith teachers in order for us to have a thorough understanding what preaching is not to look like. In the last article I provided a biblical warning for what a true Christian should do; when it comes to pastors and their teachings. Based on Titus 1:5-11.
Let’s consider the next set of statements from these men and women:
(1) Obviously, we can’t ignore problems and live in denial, pretending that nothing bad ever happens to us. That is unrealistic. Bad things do sometimes happen to good people, just as good things happen to bad people. Pretense is not the answer; nor is playing semantics to make yourself more spiritual. If you’re ill, it’s okay to admit it; but keep your thoughts on the healer. If your body is tired, if your spirit is weary, fine. We all understand that. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is get some rest. But focus your thoughts on the one who has promised, ‘those who wait on the lord shall renew their strength!’Tough times come to all of us. Jesus said, ‘in this life you will have trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.’ He wasn’t saying that troublesome times wouldn’t come. He was saying when trouble times come, we can choose our attitude. We can choose to believe that he is great than our problems; we can choose the right thoughts. (Isaiah 40:31/John 16:33).
It is almost as if they have realised the inherent dangers that embedded in what is being taught; when it states these words, ‘Obviously, we can’t ignore problems and live in denial, pretending that nothing bad ever happens to us. That is unrealistic. Bad things do sometimes happen to good people, just as good things happen to bad people.’
Regardless, of how hard he tries in the next breath to correct this slip up, when it says, ‘we can choose our attitude. We can choose to believe that he is greater than our problems; we can choose the right thoughts.’ No matter how hard he tries to negate the fact, it won’t do him any good. He has already admitted that we all face times of great difficulty, hardships.
Incidentally, in these words, if we take this false teaching at face value. They have just cursed their own flock and himself. For one who is always saying we can create a reality that is to our liking; he has just made this claim and falsified his whole conspiracy theory.
Now let’s consider the passages that he refers to as support for his notion:
If you’re ill, it’s okay to admit it; but keep your thoughts on the healer. If your body is tired, if your spirit is weary, fine. We all understand that. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is get some rest. But focus your thoughts on the one who has promised, ‘those who wait on the lord shall renew their strength!’ Tough times come to all of us. Jesus said, ‘in this life you will have trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.’ He wasn’t saying that troublesome times wouldn’t come. He was saying when trouble times come.
Again, one must see the stark contrast in these words and how they normally operate; they are in complete opposition. Here they are saying that we will face hardship that we have no control over: ‘we may get ill’ ‘we may get tired’ it says this is apart of life. Yet in the same breath, they can make a statement in such regard to our controlling our very destiny through our thoughts and words. It seem like his words are choking him up and are exposing his foolishness for us.
The first scripture that is quoted is Isaiah 40: 31, which reads ‘those who wait on the lord shall renew their strength!’ Let us consider the context for more understanding though.
Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40; verse 21-31)
This passage is not even one that helps these people out with this false doctrine or their conundrum which this accusative mindset has led them. The passage as a whole is a judgment on man and his idols to which Israel’s unbelieving neighbours had falsely place their hope in. Isaiah 40-48 is known as God hall of judgment; where he is bringing his final judgment on false Gods. But in this passage is very similar in focus to Gods questioning in Job 38-42. In verse 31 we have the true assurance that is found in the one true God being contrasted to that of the false hope and assurance of the false gods of the unbelievers.
Now what of the passage from John 16, we read ‘in this life you will have trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.’ Now let’s consider the context:
I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16; verse 25-33)
This is an undeniable statement from Jesus himself about a fore-coming persecution which the believers will be face. And these people cannot argue with the Lord of glory on this matter, but in their usual deceptive manner they try to give a get out clause in the words of ‘positive thought,’ which only goes to show one thing: even though he can deny the Lords very statement, he still does not believe it and that is how we know he is a wolf in sheepskin.
(2) A lot of people say, ‘well, soon as my situation turns around, I’ll cheer up. As soon as I get out of this mess, I’ll have a better attitude.’ Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. You have the process backwards; you must cheer up first, then God will turn things around. As long as you harbor that poor, defeated outlook, defeated life. Interestingly, the scripture says, ‘strip off the old nature and put on the new man. It says, ‘be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental spiritual attitude.’ You can’t sit back passively and expect this new person to suddenly appear; nor can you can go through life in a negative frame of mind and expect anything to change for the better. ….. The first place we must win the victory is in our mind. If you don’t think you can be successful, then you never will be. If you don’t think God can turn things around then he probably won’t. Remember ‘As a person thinks in his heart, he will become.’ When you think thought of failure, you are destined to fail. (Ephesians 4:22/ Proverbs 23:7).
It is almost impossible to understand how this statement is even being said without recognising the complete manipulation that is being presented as if it is truth. For instance when they say these words,
A lot of people say, ‘well, soon as my situation turns around, I’ll cheer up. As soon as I get out of this mess, I’ll have a better attitude.’ Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. You have the process backwards; you must cheer up first, then God will turn things around.
Does he actually believe that man attitude whether it is good or bad can manipulate God into doing something.
The bible is clear ‘God does whatever he pleases’ no one can influence his actions or force his hand on any matter. Perhaps the god of this New age imaginings is not able to operate independently and therefore, it is always strapped down till man makes a move. But that only proves one thing Joel’s god is not the true God.
Now let’s consider the passages that they use for support:
Interestingly, the scripture says, ‘strip off the old nature and put on the new man. It says, ‘be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental spiritual attitude.’ You can’t sit back passively and expect this new person to suddenly appear; nor can you can go through life in a negative frame of mind and expect anything to change for the better. ….. The first place we must win the victory is in our mind. If you don’t think you can be successful, then you never will be.
Based upon this false teaching of being able to control your out come from mere thought power and words; he is now read this concept into this passage of scripture. Which only shows that he has not got a clue of how to allow scripture speak for itself?
Let’s consider this text of scripture and what it states:
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! — assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4; verses 17-32)
The passage is not speaking of a different attitude one can have if he just speaks it into existence. To even consider that interpretation is to do damage to the context, for there is no contextual justification for such a lose ideal. The key to understanding this passage is the work of the Spirit in sanctification; in that the believer is conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8, Galatians 4), beyond this single important fact is another important distinction being spoken of the fleshy existence of the former life and the spiritual renewal of the believer through regeneration.
Now for the false application being made of Proverbs 23:7,
When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,
From any fair and balanced reading of this little section one can gather two things quite clearly, (1) the person hosting the party has an ulterior motive and agenda in what he is doing, perhaps twisted and sinister. And (2) there is nothing in this about this power of thought ideal, where you change our own position and reflect a more decent attitude. The worst thing about this is that this lady's understanding has no basis in the text. Whatsoever, it is being read into it from an external source of authority, and sadly these followers of hers are buying it hook, line and sinker.
(3) Our thoughts contain tremendous power. Remember, we draw into our lives that which we constantly think about. If we’re always dwelling on negative, we will attract negative people, experiences and attitude. If you are always dwelling on fear, you will draw in more fear. You are setting the direction of your life with your thoughts.The choice is up to you, you don’t have to dwell on every thought that comes to mind. The first thing you have to do is ascertain where the thought is coming from. Is it coming from God, your own thoughts or is it coming from a destructive thought of the enemy. …. The bible says, ‘we should cast down every wrong imagination into captivity every wrong thought.’ That simply means: don’t dwell on it. Get rid of it. (2 Corinthians 10: 5)
In this example we have some interesting points to consider; first of all, these teacher are promoting his usual line of reasoning. Notice his words,
Our thoughts contain tremendous power. Remember, we draw into our lives that which we constantly think about. If we’re always dwelling on negative, we will attract negative people, experiences and attitude. If you are always dwelling on fear, you will draw in more fear. You are setting the direction of your life with your thoughts.The choice is up to you, you don’t have to dwell on every thought that comes to mind.
Where is this philosophy about ‘our words having power’ it is not biblical nor is it Godly. It is in fact, demonic to its core; it is in 2 manners making a claim of divinity in man. (A) It is teaching straight forth that man has control of all matters. (B) It is teaching the doctrine that the devil proclaimed to eve in the garden ‘you’ll be gods.’ It is clear that God himself is not bringing this false teaching out, for his word is clear we are not like him at all. He is the only supernatural creator.
There is nothing even remotely biblical in this statement; and only a fool would cling to this demonic statement. Our words do not have any power in them; not in the sense that they are claiming. He is merely spouting lies and deceit and his followers are being led astray.
Now let’s consider the passage he partially quote and misapplies in this sentence:
The first thing you have to do is ascertain where the thought is coming from. Is it coming from God, your own thoughts or is it coming from a destructive thought of the enemy. …. The bible says, ‘we should cast down every wrong imagination into captivity every wrong thought.’ That simply means: don’t dwell on it. Get rid of it.
I know this is the common ‘word of faith’ misapplication of this passage, but unfortunately they have done the one thing that they should not do, cut it off too short and not allowed the purpose of the verse stand on its own. For if he had done that simple thing he would have not made this mistake; for the passage is not teaching us to ‘that simply means: don’t dwell on it. Get rid of it.’ Instead, when one actually reads the passage we see this:
I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 corinthians 10; verses 1-6)
When we read the passage in context, we immediately see the error of this kind of thinking; rather than it telling us to ignore the arguments that are raised against the faith, it tells us to ‘take them captive to Christ.’ In other words, we are to subject the very argument, statement that is raised to the bible to see if it holds any merit. If it is valid or invalid, this is a passage on apologetics. Once again, they cannot support this kind of idea from the context.
(4) You’ve got to let go of the past and start dwelling on the fact that God has a great future. He has a new beginning for you. Start dwelling on the fact that God has promised you he will turn this situation around and use it for his vantage. Choose to think on good things. You have to reprogram your mental computer, and when you do, your emotions will follow. The bible says, ‘I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses, positive and negative; therefore, God says choose life?’ (Deuteronomy 30:19)
I find this statement a little misguided and troubling. It is a misuse of scripture and one which the Arminian is often associated with, in as far as making a promise to a specific group of people a generic, universal one. As these people do here:
You’ve got to let go of the past and start dwelling on the fact that God has a great future. He has a new beginning for you. Start dwelling on the fact that God has promised you he will turn this situation around and use it for his vantage. Choose to think on good things. You have to reprogram your mental computer, and when you do, your emotions will follow
It says in this statement two important things. We shall consider the second point first as I want to bring in the quotation from scripture upon the first point. Therefore, we see that they uses these false beliefs of ‘You have to reprogram your mental computer, and when you do, your emotions will follow.’ Just how can one change his outlook as sinner from within his own nature?
This is not brought out in any fashion. We are just given a generic statement of attitudes. The next point I want to consider is Joel’s claim of ‘start dwelling on the fact that God has a great future. He has a new beginning for you.’ How do they know this is true of those in these congregations? When they are a bunch of degenerate fools. And more importantly, how do they back this statement up?
They go and quote Deuteronomy 30:19, which reads “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses, positive and negative; therefore, God says choose life?” But here is what is missed out from this section of scripture:
Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you. And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; you shall build an altar to the Lord your God of uncut stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” (Deuteronomy 27:1-8)
Here is the opening of this chapter section of curses and blesses; in which we see that this is not universal and cannot be applied to unbelievers in a false church setting such as these preachers congregation (that is not to say there are not believers in the churches they preach too). It is important for us to acknowledge that these are to the Israelites only as witnessed by the italicised section of this passage.
Now let’s also consider a few more passages from this important section:
Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.” That day Moses charged the people, saying, “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice: “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Deuteronomy 27: 9-17)
Again, upon reading this passage, it opens up with it being directed at the Israelite leaders and the tribes. There is no universal application in these passages. Over the next few chapters, we see this theme building up from blessings and curses. And it comes to the final passage in Chapter 30 where we have those familiar words. But notice in chapter 29 verses 1-2 that it is aimed at Israelite believers in God.
(5) Sadly, many people are living discouraged lives because of their words. They say things such as:* ‘Nothing good ever happens to me.’* ‘I’ll never be successful.’* ‘I don’t have what it takes; I can’t do it.’* ‘I’ll never get out of this mess.’Some people even call themselves names! ‘What an idiot! You can never do anything right.’ They don’t realise it, but their own words are paving the way for failure. Words are similar to seed. By speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious mind, and they take on a life of their own; they take root, grow and produce fruit of the same kind. If we speak positive words, our life will move in that direction. ……. The bible compares the tongue with a rudder. (James 3:1)
Here in this statement are a few interesting elements at play. The first is the idea if someone has a negative thought in regards to how they feel such as ‘Nothing good ever happens to me’ or something similar; then those thoughts will take on life of their own. This kind of notion is manifestly false as much as it is unbiblical. And therefore, is not a notion that one should be teaching from the pulpit. Preach and teach the word of God in and out of season.
But the main problem I want to address in this whole statement comes at the tail-end of it, when he states:
If we speak positive words, our life will move in that direction. ……. The bible compares the tongue with a rudder
The thought being conveyed in this statement is unfounded; there is nothing in God’s word that teaches this notion. In fact, it is a gross mishandling of James 3. One should note 2 things. First, positive or negative words do not hold such power to change the outcome in any one’s life. The word of faith heresy is damnable to the person who adheres to it. Second, the passage offers these preachers no support.
Notice what James is actually teaching in this passage and how it applies to this matter:
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. (James 3; verses 1-5a)
When quoting a verse from a passage make sure that it is actually going to support the myth you’re propounding; for it could easily be one that refutes your proposed theory and in turn it could also call into question your very ability as a preacher/teacher. This passage is basically giving a test for those who take up the mantle of being teachers. And how we are to judge if a one is teaching accurately is based on what James lays out in chapters 1 and 2.
Pay close attention to what is stated in these sections as well:
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1: 19-27)
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honourable name by which you were called? (James 2: 1-6)
In these passages, we learn 2 vital truths. (1) Our love for God is what drives us to honour his word and correctly handle his word as a sign of respect (1 timothy 2:12-16). And (2) Love the brothers with a unfailing love which would result in caring for their spiritual growth; and this this can only be attained through honouring Gods word and correctly handling it.
And it sad to note that neither of these things are even seen as vital element in these congregation as their sole intention is to teach about themselves only.
(6) Just as it is imperative that we see ourselves as God see us and think of ourselves as God regards us, it is equally important that we say about ourselves what God’s says about us. Our words are vital in bringing our dreams to pass. It’s not enough to simply see it by faith or in your imagination. You have to begin speaking words of faith over your life. Your words have enormous creative power. The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. This spiritual principal and it works whether what you are saying is good or bad, positive or negative. In regard, many times we are our own worst enemies. We blame everyone and anything else, but the truth is, we are profoundly influenced by what we say about ourselves. Scriptures say, ‘we are snared by the words of our mouths.’ (Proverbs 6:2)
In this statement we have at least 3 issues to contend with, they are: (1) God’s view of man. (2) The issue of speaking creative words over our lives. (3) The misrepresentation of the single passage as the support. Before we get into these issues there is something of a confusing issue at work in this statement. they continually set out some bogus payer intercession and claim from this that ‘we believe you just got born again’ it is frustrating for this reason, no one can be regenerated by praying a prayer; especially a false prayer at that.
The first issue: God’s view of man.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind Ephesians 2:1-3
All mankind due to the fall are sinful and depraved; there are no exceptions to this, not even these teachers: they are sinful men who shows no signs of being saved through what they preaches and teaches. It is clear, that without divine action all men are lost in their sinful state and all men deserve God just judgment and wrath as a result.
Therefore, when they make a unqualified statement such as ‘Just as it is imperative that we see ourselves as God see us and think of ourselves as God regards us, it is equally important that we say about ourselves what God’s says about us.’ they are not giving us a clear picture of what exactly they are trying to say. There is no clarification being offered just this bold assertion with no explanation offered.
The second issue: The issue of speaking creative words over our lives.
Our words are vital in bringing our dreams to pass. It’s not enough to simply see it by faith or in your imagination. You have to begin speaking words of faith over your life. Your words have enormous creative power. The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it.
This is a dangerous teaching that is leading many people to the pits of hell; there are no straight forth teachings in the Word of God that even make any such application. Our words have no power in them; they are but words that need to be interpreted by the listener. And in this, we see that it is impossible for them to have any creative power when they only carry a straight forth truth to us, and everyone else has to decipher they application. This philosophical stance certainly is a game of the imagination.
The third issue: The misrepresentation of the single passage as his support. Here is what is said,
‘in regard, many times we are our own worst enemies. We blame everyone and anything else, but the truth is, we are profoundly influenced by what we say about ourselves. Scriptures say, ‘we are snared by the words of our mouths.’
While it is true that we are our own worst enemies for we often end up contradicting ourselves with conflicting statements. And these have shown themselves to be a classic example of just this. Consider the first statement and all those that follow. The question that needs to answered is does the proverb actually support his contention. Let’s consider it this passage very closely:
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbour, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbour: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbour. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
The point behind the proverb is far from what is being assigned to it by these people; rather than it being about this foolish notion of your words having power (creative), they are testaments to a person’s character, a sign of their honesty. If you promise to do something to help someone out in a time of need and do not follow through on the promise: your words will come back to be a sign of distrust and dishonour to you as a person.
(7) Set the tone for the day as soon as you get out of bed. If you wait until you read the morning newspaper, you’ll start your day with all darts of sad, dreary news. Try starting day with some good news by speaking God’s word over your life! Don’t wait till you’ve checked the stock report, or you’ll be up one day and down the next. The moment you wake up, begin to give new life to your dreams by speaking words of faith and victory. Understand, avoiding negative talks is not enough. That’s similar to a football team having a good defence but no offence. If your team is constantly playing defence, you’ll stand little chance of scoring. You must get the ball and make it down the field; you must be on the offence. You have to be aggressive. Similarly you start boldly confessing God’s word using your words to move forward in life, to bring to life the great things God has in store for you. The scriptures say: ‘with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This same principal is true in other areas. When you believe in God’s words and begin to speak, mixing it with your faith, you are actually confirming that truth and making it valid in your own life. (Romans 10:10)
From this perspective no one can even live in a world that is consistent in one thing- evil. They are telling us that suppressing it is the best answer to the situation rather than dealing with in a biblical fashion. Notice these words:
Set the tone for the day as soon as you get out of bed. If you wait until you read the morning newspaper, you’ll start your day with all darts of sad, dreary news. Try starting day with some good news by speaking God’s word over your life! Don’t wait till you’ve checked the stock report, or you’ll be up one day and down the next. The moment you wake up, begin to give new life to your dreams by speaking words of faith and victory.
How can it be a good thing to ‘wake up every morn’ with the ideal that if we ignore the harsh reality that we are doing ourselves any favours. Apparently, this method works for these false preachers and their families but what is the evidence for such a claim; it is almost impossible to see any real positivity come from this.
Beyond this, what does the terminology ‘speaking God’s word over your life!’ mean? are we to assume that they are making a direct application of the bible “God’s word,” and even more importantly, what does he have in mind when says to ‘speak it over your life’ for I cannot fathom he precise point. Could he be saying speak your own words over your life and then declare it in some generic concept of God. And what is this concept of ‘begin to give new life to your dreams by speaking words of faith and victory’ all about.
Now let’s consider the scripture being used and twisted to speak to what they has in mind,
Similarly you start boldly confessing God’s word using your words to move forward in life, to bring to life the great things God has in store for you. The scriptures say: ‘with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This same principal is true in other areas. When you believe in God’s words and begin to speak, mixing it with your faith, you are actually confirming that truth and making it valid in your own life.
It is interesting when reading this statement that they have answered the above question for me. Notice these words, ‘Similarly you start boldly confessing God’s word using your words to move forward in life,’ they believe that such words, the things they pass off as sermons are actually God’s words. There is no distinguishing between the fact that what's being said is the word of man and that what the bible say is God only true word.
Now let’s see the scripture being twisted: The scriptures say: ‘with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This same principal is true in other areas.
The question that needs to be raised here is: what principal are they on about? There are no other areas in which this supposed principal can be applied. Because you have misapplied the point behind the passage, let’s consider the passage in full:
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (That is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10: 5-13)
Here is a larger portion of the context of romans 10 and what we learn here is that Paul is making an important point, that we should consider. Notice what verses 9-10 says. And when one does consider this, we learn that Paul is not speaking of the word of faith heresy that these teachers are spouting. But is speaking of the role of the Spirit in salvation
Now we can contrast that section with 1 Corinthians 12, which states the following:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.(1 Corinthians 12:1-3)
It is clear that since Romans 10 is a part of an unbroken chain from chapter 8 through to 11 that there is only one truth in view and that is the role of the Holy Spirit in Regeneration and sanctification. And since Romans 10:9-10 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 use very similar language; it therefore, is making the same point that it is the Spirit of God who brings a person to confess Jesus as their sovereign Lord.
There is one issue that needs to be dealt with, when they state this ‘When you believe in God’s words and begin to speak, mixing it with your faith.’ The passage in question does not teach that we “mix in our faith,” this is nothing but a false ideal. The faith that the bible speaks of is what is called saving faith, which is a result of regeneration.
(8) In the bible, we read about a man who had been crippled for 38 years. He spent every day of his life lying on the mat by the pool of Bethesda, hoping for a miracle. This man had a deep seated, lingering disorder. I think many people have lingering disorders. Their maladies may not be physical; they may be emotional, but they are deep seated, lingering disorders. --- one day Jesus saw the man lying in need. It was obvious that he was crippled but Jesus asked him a strange question: ‘do you want to be made well.’ I believe God is asking a similar question today: do you want to be made well or do you want to feel sorry for yourself?’ Jesus asked a simple, straight forward question, but the man’s response was interesting. He started to list all the excuses. ‘I’m all alone, I don’t have anybody to help me, other people have let me down, and I don’t have a chance in life.’ Is it any wonder that he remained in that condition for 38 years? Did Jesus sympathise with him? No, Jesus looked at him and said in effect: “if your serious about getting well, if you are serious about getting everything in order in your life, if you want to get out of this mess, here what is what you must do: get up off the ground, take your bed and be on your way. When the man did what Jesus told him to do, he was miraculously healed! That’s the message for us today. (John 5)
Here is one of the most common tactics of the health and wealth word of faith movements to spin an idea around a passage which was about Christ, and make it about themselves. This one demonstration of God glory; whereby Christ (the God man) heels a disabled man was evidence who Christ truly was.
And here we have these people take the simple question of Jesus and making a universal application of it. Notice Joel’s words at this point, ‘Jesus asked him a strange question: ‘do you want to be made well.’ I believe God is asking a similar question today: do you want to be made well or do you want to feel sorry for yourself?’ is this another occasion where Joel is speaking as if he is actually speaking for God and making a new pronouncement.
How does he know that God want to heal every single person in the manner his Son did in the first century; what if God has another purpose in the way things are now that is ultimately bringing him glory.
Now let’s consider the passage in question a little more closely:
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralysed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5; verses 1-18)
Here is the full context of the passage, and we learn the following thing about this section. The central focus is Christ healing on the Sabbath, which the religious people of the day the Pharisees looked on as a crime. But this is the real point: Christ is demonstrating who he is through healing on the Sabbath for he says elsewhere; ‘the Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath’ the son of man is a title he used to designate who he was. And the Lord here refers to ownership and creator. In other words, this passage is speaking of a specified time when such sign were manifest on earth in such an extraordinary means. In that I am speaking of God’s ability to work wonders was being demonstrated in and through Christ and his apostles, in a manner that is similar to 2 early occasions with Moses and Joshua and Elijah and Elisha (each period lasting for about 60 years). And what is important for us to understand is this: God has not promised anywhere in his word that there will be any other occasion where signs and attesting wonders would ever have the same function.
Of course, in this I am not denying that God can still heal people. In fact, he can and does as and when it pleases him to do so. Everything works in accordance to his will and glory.
(9) You maybe heartbroken over a failed relationship or a bankrupt business, but I challenge you to not stay heartbroken. Don’t carry around all that hurt and pain year after year. Don’t let rejection fester inside you, poisoning your future. Let it go. God has something new in store for you. When God allows one door to close, he will open another door for you, revealing something better and better. The bible says that God take the evil that the enemy brings into our lives, and if you keep the right attitude, he’ll turn it around and use it for our good. God wants to take the scars and turn them into star. He wants to take the disappointments and turn them into reappointment. But understand, whether you will experience all those good things in your future depends to a large extent on your willingness to let go of the past.Surely, we can look back and see things in our lives that we wish we had done differently. But the bible says, ‘make the most of each day’ yesterday’s gone, tomorrow may not come. You must live for today. Start right where you are. You can’t do anything about what’s gone, but you can do a great deal about what remains. (Genesis 50:20, Matthew 6:33)
Here is one of the most bizarre statements that a pastor could ever state about ‘relationships’ which fall apart; which of course, we all know brings its own issues for the couple to deal with in some manner. But notice his words:
You maybe heartbroken over a failed relationship or a bankrupt business, but I challenge you to not stay heartbroken. Don’t carry around all that hurt and pain year after year. Don’t let rejection fester inside you, poisoning your future. Let it go. God has something new in store for you.
How can a Pastor whom is charged with the greatest responsibility of caring and nurturing for the flock that he is put in charge by the Lord. Granted, his role is not to be counsellor but this type of message is not biblically founded. It is in fact, anti-biblical for one thing it could be a marriage break-down that is being pushed aside in light of the above message. These messages are just carelessly put out there. There are a number of issues to be seen here:
(1) If this was said about relationship of any kind ranging from a friendship, courtship or even marriage. they have just opened themself up to the stricter punished found in scripture. In fact, if we read these words form our brother and apostle James ‘Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.’ (Check out answer to statement 5 above).
(2) Even more important in this matter, is if a marital relation breaks down; would it be my understanding in these words ‘You maybe heartbroken over a failed relationship …but I challenge you to not stay heartbroken.’ That if this was the case, and then it is okay for Christians to get divorces for no good reason. Because this is what it appears to be saying, but this goes against everything the bible says about marriage.
Now let us consider the first passage that is being used:
When God allows one door to close, he will open another door for you, revealing something better and better. The bible says that God takes the evil that the enemy brings into our lives, and if you keep the right attitude, he’ll turn it around and use it for our good.
Now here is a great example of speculation in the first line, in these words ‘when God allows one door to close, he will open another door for you, revealing something better and better.’ As far as I am aware, this could never be seen in any scripture. It is something that these preachers have come up with to try to defuse the disappointment of those who believe that “they can have much if they give their all” unfortunately it is not what God promise to anyone.
As for the scripture that is mentioned, in light of God’s sovereignty it makes sense that God has decreed all history to line up with his will and purpose. And this means that every act... whether it is good, bad, or damn ugly; we need to understand that it all is apart of his secret decree.
Let us consult the context:
When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:15-21)
Now I grant that there is a wider application in this teaching in regard to all humanity when it comes to God secret decree of all history. But it is always important to consider verse 20 in light of this section, as well as the context of the chapter and the whole of chapters 37-50. Where have all Joseph life unfold before us, in which all that happen literally arose from Joseph’s dream of his major role as an important person. What is important that these things did not just have their origin the dream, the dream and all that subsequently followed flowed from God’s decree. And hence Josephs statement comes in here ‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.’
Finally what of the second text that is being used:
Surely, we can look back and see things in our lives that we wish we had done differently. But the bible says, ‘make the most of each day’ yesterday’s gone, tomorrow may not come. You must live for today. Start right where you are. You can’t do anything about what’s gone, but you can do a great deal about what remains.
It may be true that people make mistake that they regret for a time, but a part of life seeing them not just as mistakes but learning curb. In that they help to build us as individuals and give us incredible insight into what we should avoid in the future. But there is a problem in this thinking; none of our past mistakes can be linked to this verse.
Let us consider it for a moment:
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34)
I do not see how these preachers from verse 33 anything like this ‘make the most of everyday’ when nothing in the context even says this, not even in verse 33, where we read: ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.’ It is in fact, a great witness to the act of regeneration. But the overall context is teaching us the new life that will be granted is not be filled with worry about minor and insignificant issues; for the major significance of a believers life is devotion to what is Godly and God himself.
(10) But the good news is, you don’t have to stay down. Even if you can’t get up on the outside, get up on the inside! In other words, have a victorious attitude and mentality. Stay in the attitude of faith. Don’t allow yourself to lapse into negative thoughts, complaining or blaming God. Set your face like a flint and say, ‘God, I may not understand this, but I know you are still in control. And you said that all things would work together for my good. You said, you would take this evil and turn it around and use for my advantage. … The scriptures say, ‘when you’ve done everything you know how to do, just keep on standing firm’ you’ve place your faith firmly on the truth of God’s word. But it just doesn’t look as though anything is happening. Now you’re tempted to say, ‘what’s the use, it’s never going to change.’ Don’t give up! Keep praying, keep believing, and keep hoping in faith. ‘Don’t cast away your confidence’ one translation of the bible says, ‘for payday is coming!’ (Ephesians 6:13 and Hebrews 10:35)
Here is the final statement that I want to consider in this critique; for all these preachers continuity in promoting a positive message, it is as though in some aspect they have a very sinister heart which this positivity is masking over. It is not a bad thing to point out the harsh reality of this ‘speak your dreams into existence’ is just another way say ‘I hate certain types of people and look down on them’ as they are in a position that they cannot possibly escape from. It really is a form of being cynical.
Take his first statement:
But the good news is, you don’t have to stay down. Even if you can’t get up on the outside, get up on the inside! In other words, have a victorious attitude and mentality. Stay in the attitude of faith. Don’t allow yourself to lapse into negative thoughts, complaining or blaming God. Set your face like a flint and say, ‘God, I may not understand this, but I know you are still in control.
Notice, how this statement is started: ‘the good news is’ one would automatically assume the next thing would be to state a real application of the Gospel of Christ in this statement. But instead, they use the term as a way to deride Jesus and other people by saying these unintelligible words, ‘you don’t have to stay down. Even if you can’t get up on the outside, get up on the inside!’ Just how do we make sense of such a statement and why do they not elaborate on this idea. As it seems to be a lost course; there are many ‘what if’ situations that cannot only physically scar and shatter you but also emotionally do damage to you as well. Above in the last point on marriage, we have one of the worst case scenarios: Marriage; is a covenant between two humans and God (whether you know it or not) and when this union fizzles out due to any number of reason such as adultery… it can leave one of the partners in such place where they will find it hard to recover as a person and trust another person.
Even more is this concept of ‘faith’ that is being thrown around like a Frisbee. As it reveals a deeper issue in terms of just what these people think faith is; it would appear that Joel’s understanding is shallow and bleak as it is unbiblical. It seems like it is ordinary human faith which is something that can and does have limits due to humanities ever increasing disbelief. But the biblical faith is something which God grants to a repentant believer; who has been sovereignly regenerated; this faith has an unchanging and never ending object in Christ and his work.
Now let us consider the first scripture he uses:
And you said that all things would work together for my good. You said, you would take this evil and turn it around and use for my advantage. … The scriptures say, ‘when you’ve done everything you know how to do, just keep on standing firm’ you’ve place your faith firmly on the truth of God’s word. But it just doesn’t look as though anything is happening.
At this point I am not interested in his commentary or lack of it; I just provided it for matter of clarity. My main issue here is with their negligence of scripture, for they has shown in this example a great danger in this application of this text. Which reads:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
In the next verse we have these words, "that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." This is not the first time such language is used, in fact, it is also used in Colossians 1 but there it is referring to the fact that ultimately finds its origin in Christ, and here it is referring to the evil realm that is Satan’s. In other words, even though the evil realm belongs to Satan; it is likewise a creation of God himself just as is Satan. However, evil exists as a function that destroys those it infects. But for us who are led by the Spirit of Christ and are in Christ through the union, we have a greater promise that nothing will separate us from Christ (Romans 8:31-38, 1 john 2:24-25, 4:4-6).
Then Paul repeats the command, 'Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.' But instead of saying put on, he says to 'take up' which may means that it is speaking of the armour that is not designed to worn but that is design to carried for protection. An in this, I see that it is also referring to the apologetical nature. The first maybe being thoroughly equipped through prayer, studying and reading. This later one seems to pointing to another element whereby we are to give reasons for the faith in us and to correctly handle objections to the glory of God.
It is vital for us to point out that these preachers are giving a very good instruction in this section; even if it is one he does not do with consistency. Notice these words, ‘you’ve place your faith firmly on the truth of God’s word.’ When was the last sermon he gave where he only gave and expositional and exegetical based instruction to his congregation? He never has. Therefore, it is more than an instruction he give, it is in fact, a message of self-condemnation.
The second text reference in this statement comes from Hebrews 10, it reads:
Now you’re tempted to say, ‘what’s the use, it’s never going to change.’ Don’t give up! Keep praying, keep believing, and keep hoping in faith. ‘Don’t cast away your confidence’ one translation of the bible says, ‘for payday is coming!’
Let’s get to the text right away,
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as yousee the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:19-30)
After giving a very in depth treatise on the sufficiency of Christ atoning sacrifice for his own people; which all in all last for nearly 4 chapters (from chapter 6:13- 10: 25). The writer of this great book gives a clear warning in the manner he does 3 other times; in chapters 2, 4 and 6. However, the warning take a different measure in this chapter; for those who walk away and abandon the faith, the cross rather than being the very centre of true redemption become a sign of condemnation and eternal punishment. This is clearly witnessed by these words ‘For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.’
