The Concept of Faith: Worldview? Or Biblical Worldview?

   The concept of Faith taught by many within many Faith circles is a worldview; not a biblical concept of faith according to Hebrews 11:6 where it says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must [believe] that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." The biblical concept of Faith is trusting in the God of the Bible through which according to Hebrews 11: 6 make reference to the existence of God (v. 6a).  God is the Designer of the universe by which He created the world (Col. 1:15-17). The theistic God of the Bible is not consist of Faith nor is He a Faith Being subject to spiritual laws by which the Faith movement falsely teach (2 Pet. 2:1).  If in fact the theistic God of the Bible is consist of Faith than who or what become the Object of His faith? If in fact the theistic God of the Bible is dependent upon Something or His faith to create the universe than God cease to be God thereby He is a mere Man.  God is no longer Sovereign nor omnipotent but have to trust in Someone outside of Himself by which believers must be dependent upon the theistic God of the Bible to have such trust.  The quality and quantity of a person's faith depend upon the degree of the Object of one's own faith.  If in fact Faith become the believer's Object of faith than it is subjective, but to have God as the believer's Object of faith is objective (Mark 11:22).  The false teaching taught by such Faith luminaries Kenneth Copeland of the Believer's Voice of Victory teaches that God who is consist of faith had to utilize His force of faith in order to create the universe (contrast, Heb. 11:3).  The theistic God of the Bible did not utilize His vivid imagination through the "force" of His faith to create the universe nor was Jesus created by God's spoken word of faith. The teachings of the Faith movement fit within the category of Mormonism and Jehovah Witness by which they taught such Arian heresy: that Jesus is God's First created being (contrast, Col. 1:17).

   Many of the concept of Faith taught by proponents of the Faith movement: that of (1) the "formulas" of faith (Mk. 11:24). (2) Faith-filled words (Heb. 11:3 "framed"). And (3) Faith as a force (Heb. 11:3) have in fact systematically distort the true biblical concept of Faith into "bad" mythology (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Such carcinogenic have in fact spread through the evangelical church world including "liberal" mainline Protestant denominations (1 Tim. 4:1).  The remedy for spiritual apostasy is God's divine judgment.  People's lives have been destroyed as a result of their misguided faith (2 Tim. 2:17, 18).  

   The misconception of Faith as to the "formulas" of faith is what the Faith Christian must say it, tell it, and do it which it is based upon such legality (Gal. 3:1, 2-4). For the Faith believer failure to go according to the principle of such "formulas" of faith is to hinder their "divine" blessings or claim one's prosperity.  There are many believers who wholeheartedly follow such "formulas" of faith without reaping the benefits of the principle in and of itself. They are at default for not consistently applying the "formulas" of faith as to their prosperity, healing, and deliverance. They are made to feel a sense of guilt and shame simply because of not living up the standards of its own Faith leadership, lack of faith, or because of sin in their own lives. Many Faith leaders claim such standards based upon the Bible, but in reality it is doctrines taught by men (Matt. 23).

   Also the misconception of Faith as to God utilizing His "force" of His faith to create the universe is antithetical to the whole of the Christian faith. It was through God's divine power and nature that the universe was created; not through the "force" of God spoken word of faith. The theistic God of the Bible created the universe out of nothing, but through his divine command spoke the universe into being (Ge. 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24). The theistic God of the Bible did not utilize the "force" of His faith through "faith-filled" words create a Redeemer. The truth of the matter that the Faith movement is just as much cultic as Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. Such cults taught that Jesus is the spirit Brother of Lucifer and God's First created being which is contrary to the clear teaching of scripture according to Colossians 1:15-17.

   The "cultic" movement of the Faith movement especially in the context of the African American "Word of Faith" movement churches does not fit within the boundaries of the historic Christian church (1 Jn. 2:18).  What makes the Faith movement so much more dangerous is its supposedly Charismatic-Pentecostal jargon  that appear to be Charismatic, but is a "metaphysical" wolf in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15ff).

   The Faith movement known as many "Word" churches," "Faith" ministries" have misinterpret and radically redefined both the context of the passage/s of the Bible and biblical Christian terminologies to fit within the culture of Faith theology (2 Pet. 3:16, 17). These are ignorant and unstable people who distort the scripture as they do also the other scripture unto their own destruction (v. 16).  Many Faith teachers claim such an "anointing" to teach the Bible, but it is what is revelatory and esoteric in their understanding of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20).  In order to strip the cultic of its most powerful arsenal is to insist that they define biblical terms according to the standard definition of the Bible (Acts 17:11 with 1 John 4:1).

   There are many who are followers of the Word-Faith movement that are "unaware" of its underline false teachings (e.g. "Faith as a force") but the historical connection of this heretical movement is connected to that of Christian Science, New Thought metaphysics, Religious Science, Theosophicalism, and Swedonborgianism (1 Tim. 6:20).

    In order that the Church can avert such crisis within Christianity is to return to the theistic God of the Bible: that of a Christ-centered Christianity that proclaim the power of the message of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16). 

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the founder & Lead pastor of Contending for the Faith Church International of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also president and Chairman of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is bestselling author, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From?: Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? As an apologist, pastor, senior researcher/editor, evangelist, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside of metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."