The Need to Address Alternative and New Religious Movements

The history of the prosperity gospel traces its historical origins in both the philosophy of hedonism and utilitarianism (Col. 2:8).  On the one hand a "Christian" hedonist pursues that of his or her pleasure as a means to an end. In so many words the means justifies the end (e.g. "pleasure"); not the end that justifies the means.  Most "Christian" hedonist are not concern about the consequences of their action simply because they seek that which will give them pleasure.  In the words of most "hedonist," "I got to have it all. And I will do anything to get it that going to satisfy me." Not only is the "Christian" hedonist pursues that of his or her own pleasure but their persistence to go to whatever cost to fulfill their fleshly nature.  That is what known as, "consequential fatalism" by which the "Christian" hedonist can see a train heading their way but steps in front of the train by which they are not...

It is unfortunate that many Faith leaders are poor readers and interpreters of the Bible. For example they will take portions of a Bible verse or passage at the exclusion of the text as a whole so as to ignore both previous and preceding biblical context of scripture (2 Pet. 3:16). A good prime example in "how" that many Faith leaders interpret 3 John 2 where it says, "Beloved I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health even as you prospers." Many Faith leaders will take this particular Bible passage to mean something else than what God's Word warranted. First, the student of the Bible must seek to understand the history of the text of scripture under study. The rich history of the Bible is very much important in understanding the books of the Bible, the text of scripture, paragraphs and sentence within each verse of the Bible. Also when it comes to important words or "key" words at it relates to the passage/s of scripture that...

The source by which the prosperity gospel came from is from a Gnostic source: that of falsely so-called knowledge (1 Tim. 6:20).  The "unique" or supposed knowledge by which many Faith leaders claim to receive "directly" from God is in the form of such Revelation Knowledge. The quality and quantity of such knowledge or " gnosis " are beyond the mere words of the Bible or that is revealed within a person's human spirit outside the boundaries of scripture (2 Pet. 1:20).  The "knowledge" by which many Faith leaders claim to possess is what are exclusive; not what is inclusive as if they have a corner on the truth (Jude 8-10).  The truth of the matter is that God's Word is accessible to the Church as a whole; not those who claim to such "inward" voice of the spirit so as to receive such spiritual "revelation"  as a "direct" pipeline from God (Deut. 29:29).    The Late Oral Roberts of The Oral Roberts Universi...

Many of people who attend regularly Word of Faith service on Sundays are unaware of the agenda behind the prosperity-faith message.  Many of mega church leaders have in fact taken 3 John 2 to appear that it is "God's Will to Prosper" but the underlining motive and scheme of things is to give people a wrap sense of the Bible, God, self and others as to its "interpersonal" relationship.  Whenever there is a perverted understanding of God's Word adversely affects that of the ethical teaching and moral life of the Church today.  It very much seem innocuous that what many prosperity teachers when they teach about prosperity is based upon God's Word.  Looking closely as to "how" they interpret scripture and the "way" by which they come to their conclusion is based upon what is inconclusive.  They arbitrary but ignore that of the plain meaning of the context of scripture to fit within the cultural framework of the prosperity theology. Most...

There are people today who follow that of the prosperity-faith movement who feels there is nothing wrong about believing in prosperity nor being prosperous. They are told by the leadership of their church to do not listen to those who are criticizing churches who believe in prosperity and faith. As The Late Paul Crouch once says, "They are damned and on their way to hell and I do not believe there any redemption for them."  Crouch also says, "Let God sort all these doctrinal do do and get out of the way and stop bucking God's breaches." As Benny Hinns once says of his critics, "I wish I had a Holy Ghost machine gun I'll blow your head off." These are very harsh words coming from men who claimed to be Christians but are saying things that hurts that of the Body of Christ especially those who are critics of their ministries and organizations as the "enemy." I find it quite appalling but sad when I see people on social media viciously atta...

How is it that people who attend "Word of Faith" service regularly on Sundays are influence by the prosperity gospel? What is it about the prosperity message that gets people attention? How does the prosperity gospel represent that of its "brazen" message?  What are its core beliefs and practice? What are the long term ramifications of those who continue to follow this movement? As we look at Paul's letter in 2 Corinthians 11:3 where it says, "But I fear lest by any means the serpent beguile Eve through his subtlety so your minds will be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." In the Genesis account that Satan promised Eve the godhood of humanity (Gen. 3:1-7).  As "little" gods that man will surpass that of what is "limited" knowledge as to what is "unlimited" as it make reference  to the surpassing knowledge of God. The fact of the matter is our knowledge of God is "limited"; by which man is created ...

According to 2 Peter 1:20 it says, "Above all, you must understand that [no] prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things." But in verse 21 it also says, "For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." The main theme of 2 Peter 1:20-21 is that of the "prophecy of scripture," (v. 20) and "prophecy" (v. 21). The "prophecy" of scripture and that of prophecy according to 2 Peter 1:20-21 refers to God's Word (2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16).  The character of "prophecy" of scripture according to 2 Peter 1:20 is that God's Word is pure (Psa. 119:7) and that it is trustworthy (Psa. 119:9).      Throughout this article I will begin to address the subject of, "The Prophecy of Scripture." It is very important that the Church understand clearly that of the prophecy of scripture thereby ...