The rise of technology has allowed for an increased presence of the Word of Faith Movement within the larger western Christian community. The evangelist E.W. Kenyon is considered the originator of this teaching, but his successors Kenneth Hagin Sr. and Kenneth Copeland are largely responsible for spreading the movement. The Word of Faith Movement focuses on the power of faith to give Christians the desires of their hearts if they speak these desires into existence. Hagin’s theme was summarized in Christianity in Crisis (pp. 74- 75) as such:
In the opening chapter, titled "Jesus Appears to Me," Hagin claims that while he "was in the Spirit" -- just like the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos -- a white cloud enveloped him and he began to speak in tongues. "Then the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to me," says Hagin. "He stood within three feet of me." After what sounded like a casual conversation about such things as finances, ministry, and even current affairs, Jesus told Hagin to get a pencil and a piece of paper. He then instructed him to "Write down: 1,2,3,4." Jesus then allegedly told Hagin "if anybody, anywhere, will take these four steps or put these four principles into operation, he will always receive whatever he wants from Me or from God the Father." That includes whatever you want financially. The formula is simply: "Say it, Do it, Receive it, and Tell it."
1. Step number one is "Say it." "Positive or negative, it is up to the individual. According to what the individual says, that shall he receive."
2. Step number two is "Do it." "Your action defeats you or puts you over. According to your action, you receive or you are kept from receiving."
3. Step number three is "Receive it." We are to plug into the "powerhouse of heaven." "Faith is the plug, praise God! Just plug in."
4. Step number four is "Tell it so others may believe." This final step might be considered the Faith movement's outreach program.
Therefore, a person speaking positive or negative words has the power to reveal these things in his or her life. With the ability to receive whatever one wishes by simply saying it out loud, it is not surprising that this movement is so popular. A Prosperity Gospel and a Health Gospel are significant ideas woven into the fabric of this teaching. By promising wealth, success, and good health to those who follow these practices and contribute financially to this movement, these pastors are able to maintain the large sphere of influence that they have built.
In the opening chapter, titled "Jesus Appears to Me," Hagin claims that while he "was in the Spirit" -- just like the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos -- a white cloud enveloped him and he began to speak in tongues. "Then the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to me," says Hagin. "He stood within three feet of me." After what sounded like a casual conversation about such things as finances, ministry, and even current affairs, Jesus told Hagin to get a pencil and a piece of paper. He then instructed him to "Write down: 1,2,3,4." Jesus then allegedly told Hagin "if anybody, anywhere, will take these four steps or put these four principles into operation, he will always receive whatever he wants from Me or from God the Father." That includes whatever you want financially. The formula is simply: "Say it, Do it, Receive it, and Tell it."
1. Step number one is "Say it." "Positive or negative, it is up to the individual. According to what the individual says, that shall he receive."
2. Step number two is "Do it." "Your action defeats you or puts you over. According to your action, you receive or you are kept from receiving."
3. Step number three is "Receive it." We are to plug into the "powerhouse of heaven." "Faith is the plug, praise God! Just plug in."
4. Step number four is "Tell it so others may believe." This final step might be considered the Faith movement's outreach program.
Therefore, a person speaking positive or negative words has the power to reveal these things in his or her life. With the ability to receive whatever one wishes by simply saying it out loud, it is not surprising that this movement is so popular. A Prosperity Gospel and a Health Gospel are significant ideas woven into the fabric of this teaching. By promising wealth, success, and good health to those who follow these practices and contribute financially to this movement, these pastors are able to maintain the large sphere of influence that they have built.
Joel Osteen is a popular American prosperity gospel preacher and televangelist. He serves as the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas and has published several books that have sold millions of copies. He’s appeared on countless television talk shows, and Oprah credits the sermon found below for changing the way she sees her life. Please take a moment to watch the first 15 minutes of this video posted below.
Osteen drives home the power of words to influence the outcome of human lives. He states, “with words, you can bless your future or you can curse your future.” Osteen uses Biblical verses sporadically and without context to validate his claims. At the 7:50 mark, he references Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Osteen only quotes the first sentence and fails to mention the second half of the verse, which explains how it is because of Jesus Christ that Christians are sanctified and able to experience the fullness of life as God’s masterpiece. By failing to incorporate the role of Christ in the speciality of humanity, Osteen removes the central component of the Christian faith and leaves his church members with a shell of the gospel and their divine purpose on Earth.
Throughout his sermon, Osteen manipulates scripture to fit his message of “the Power of I Am.” At the 10:20 mark, Osteen discusses the story of Sarah and Abraham. In the book of Genesis of the Bible, God establishes a covenant with Abraham and promises to make him the father of a multitude of nations. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were very old and unable to conceive a child. God promises Abraham a son by his wife Sarah. God tells Abraham, “I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her...I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year” (Genesis 17: 16, 21). Osteen uses this passage as an example of how God changed her name from Sarai to Sarah, which means princess, to give her a better self image. He argues that this changed her “I am,” which in turn allowed her to conceive. By analyzing scripture in this way, Osteen removes the significance of the covenant between God and Abraham and how the birth of Isaac was a divine, undeserved gift. Osteen chalks up Isaac’s birth to Sarah’s renewed self-image. This is a gross misinterpretation of this Bible passage. Placing significant power on a person’s words is at the heart of a Prosperity Gospel. If humans have the power to determine their life situations with their words, then why are there so many poor and struggling people? What is the relationship between God and humanity? This interpretation places the power of spiritual matters in the hands of people and changes God from a benevolent creator into a complicit genie.
While this is problematic in itself, it becomes further troubling when thinking about the ramifications on the lives of those who believe Osteen. Let’s explore a possible scenario for a person that firmly believes in “the Power of I Am.” Rachel is a regular attendee of Lakewood Church, and like Oprah, she chose to change her “I am” after listening to Osteen’s sermon. Her family is struggling with financial problems, but Rachel claims, “I am rich” and “I will be blessed with a new job.” However, over the course of the next year, Rachel loses her job, her house is foreclosed, and she finds out that she has health problems. If Rachel firmly believes what Osteen says that “when you have the right I Am’s you’re inviting the goodness of God,” then her misfortunes can only be the result of a few scenarios: 1. God is punishing her for something she did wrong, or 2. God has forgotten about her and doesn’t want to bless her with good things. Neither of these reasonings push Rachel towards a sustainable and effective faith practice. The original belief system found in the Word of Faith Movement is not able to withstand the challenges that place people in tough and seemingly unmanageable situations.
The rise of technology and accessibility of this Movement creates poor theology within the Christian community that is difficult to combat, as these ideas are able to spread in rapid and effective ways.
Throughout his sermon, Osteen manipulates scripture to fit his message of “the Power of I Am.” At the 10:20 mark, Osteen discusses the story of Sarah and Abraham. In the book of Genesis of the Bible, God establishes a covenant with Abraham and promises to make him the father of a multitude of nations. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were very old and unable to conceive a child. God promises Abraham a son by his wife Sarah. God tells Abraham, “I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her...I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year” (Genesis 17: 16, 21). Osteen uses this passage as an example of how God changed her name from Sarai to Sarah, which means princess, to give her a better self image. He argues that this changed her “I am,” which in turn allowed her to conceive. By analyzing scripture in this way, Osteen removes the significance of the covenant between God and Abraham and how the birth of Isaac was a divine, undeserved gift. Osteen chalks up Isaac’s birth to Sarah’s renewed self-image. This is a gross misinterpretation of this Bible passage. Placing significant power on a person’s words is at the heart of a Prosperity Gospel. If humans have the power to determine their life situations with their words, then why are there so many poor and struggling people? What is the relationship between God and humanity? This interpretation places the power of spiritual matters in the hands of people and changes God from a benevolent creator into a complicit genie.
While this is problematic in itself, it becomes further troubling when thinking about the ramifications on the lives of those who believe Osteen. Let’s explore a possible scenario for a person that firmly believes in “the Power of I Am.” Rachel is a regular attendee of Lakewood Church, and like Oprah, she chose to change her “I am” after listening to Osteen’s sermon. Her family is struggling with financial problems, but Rachel claims, “I am rich” and “I will be blessed with a new job.” However, over the course of the next year, Rachel loses her job, her house is foreclosed, and she finds out that she has health problems. If Rachel firmly believes what Osteen says that “when you have the right I Am’s you’re inviting the goodness of God,” then her misfortunes can only be the result of a few scenarios: 1. God is punishing her for something she did wrong, or 2. God has forgotten about her and doesn’t want to bless her with good things. Neither of these reasonings push Rachel towards a sustainable and effective faith practice. The original belief system found in the Word of Faith Movement is not able to withstand the challenges that place people in tough and seemingly unmanageable situations.
The rise of technology and accessibility of this Movement creates poor theology within the Christian community that is difficult to combat, as these ideas are able to spread in rapid and effective ways.
Sources:
Bowler, Kate. "Opinion | Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Feb. 2016. Web. 02 May 2017.
Eskridge, Larry. "The Prosperity Gospel Is Surprisingly Mainstream." ChristianityToday.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
Gilley, Gary E. "The Word-Faith Movement*." The Word-Faith Movement - by Gary Gilley. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
"The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical and Theological Ethics." Bible.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
"Word Faith Movement." Berean Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
Bowler, Kate. "Opinion | Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Feb. 2016. Web. 02 May 2017.
Eskridge, Larry. "The Prosperity Gospel Is Surprisingly Mainstream." ChristianityToday.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
Gilley, Gary E. "The Word-Faith Movement*." The Word-Faith Movement - by Gary Gilley. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
"The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical and Theological Ethics." Bible.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
"Word Faith Movement." Berean Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.