THE WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
By: Victor T. Stephens
"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." (Acts 20:29-31)
THE THREATS FROM THE UNTOUCHABLES (continued)
Let's now look at Romans 14:4.
"Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Rom. 14:4)
Reading verses two through four, it is clear that this passage is about judging one concerning what is proper to eat. In other words, we should not become embroiled over non-essential, senseless, and inconsequential matters. This verse has no relation to judging significant deviations of scripture within the Word-Faith movement. Their faith doctrine, their view of God and Jesus, their atonement theology, and their health and wealth doctrine considerably deviate from essential doctrines in the Word of God. Thus, we must divide.
There are many passages in the Word of God that give believers the moral right to judge and discern. For example:
1) John 7:24 says to "Judge with righteous judgment," meaning we should exercise moral and doctrinal discernment.
2) In Romans 16:17-18, Paul commands believers to "note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom. 16:17-18)
The word "note" means to "discern and judge." When we identify false teachers, Scripture commands us to "avoid them." But many Christians ignore the warning and blindly follow those who promote error.
3) First Timothy 5:20 says, "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning." (1 Tim. 5:20)
Public sin, which includes teaching false doctrines, should be judged and rebuked publicly to warn others of impending danger.
4) In the Book of Galatians, Paul publicly exposed (judged) Peter's hypocrisy.
"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, 'You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?'" (Gal. 2:11, 14)
5) In the first Book of Timothy, Paul judges the false doctrines of Hymenaeus and Alexander.
"Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." (1 Tim. 1:19-20)
6) In 1 John 4:1, it says to "test the spirits to see whether they are of God." (1 John 4:1)
To "test the spirits", we must judge them.
7) In 1 Corinthians 5:12, it states, "Do you not judge those who are inside?" (1 Cor. 5:12)
This verse indicates that Christians should judge sinful acts. That includes those who teach false doctrines within the church.
8) In 1 Timothy 1:3, it says: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer…." (1 Tim. 1:3)
In order to determine if a doctrine is false, we must judge it by the Word of God.
9) In the Second Book of Timothy, Paul instructed Timothy to:
"Rebuke and encourage --- with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
Now, on what grounds would one be able to "rebuke" without having to judge doctrine? Moreover, note that Paul says the time is coming when people will no longer adhere to sound doctrine but rather congregate with not a few, but many false teachers who teach what they want to hear. Thus, they will reject the truth and follow false teachers. Undoubtedly, this is happening today.
The abusive, illegitimate, and unbiblical threats issued by Word-Faith teachers should now be transparent to the unbiased reader. Considering the corrections and refutations in this article, one should recognize that proponents of the Word-Faith Movement utilize intimidation tactics in a diabolic and desperate attempt to preserve their high profit-yielding extortion scheme. Although they may engage in some positive works, their determination to remain in error coupled with threats indicate that acquiring money and other valuable resources is their primary agenda.
CONCLUDING STATEMENTS
As we have learned, Word-Faith teachers are expounding false doctrines in several key areas. Their chief established heresies entail:
It is important to remember that God's Words instruct us to "test all things" (1 Thess. 5:21). The Berean Christians, who were of noble character, "searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things (which Paul taught) were so" (Acts 17:11). The Word of God cautions us to beware of false teachers and their corresponding false doctrines (Matt. 7:15; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Titus 1:9-16). Failing to expose and separate (Eph. 5:8-11) from wolves in sheepskin permits them to have a "field day" on unsuspecting, naïve, and idolatrous sheep. The wolves who quote and attempt to hide under Psalms 105:15, Matthew 7:1, and Romans 14:4 are so filled with greed that they don't want to see the errors of their ways and the inconsistencies in judging others who must investigate those who teach in the church (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16; 4:2-5; 1 John 4:1).
The bottom line is this: If we "test" and "search the scriptures," we will discover that Word-Faith proponents teach a different God, a different Jesus, and a different gospel. We can rest assured that refuting and exposing their false teachings brings swift inflamed responses from these self-professed "anointed ones" and their zealous supporters. While some readers may get offended, we must understand that godly love does not rule out correction. Godly love for people does not signify that we disregard truth so that we do not "rock the boat." Proverbs 27:5 says,
"Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed." (Proverbs 27:5)
Godly love for people does not signify that we engage in self-imposed blindness, tolerating false doctrine to maintain unity. Psalm 119:104 says:
"Through Your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104)
It brings discomfort to my spirit to observe how Word-Faith teachers have infringed upon the body of Christ. They spread their false and cultic doctrines while concurrently raping the victims of their financial resources. It further grieves my heart to observe Word-Faith proponents swindle and ridicule handicapped persons. If you are someone crippled by disease, an accident, etc., remember that the Lord loves you. And whatever your condition, God can use you to bring glory to His Kingdom.
I will conclude this article with some words of warning from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
"But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets."
(Luke 6:24-26)
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