Word-Faith, Charismatic, and Pentecostal Book Reviews
by Troy J. Edwards
Another Side of the Coin
Gregg N. Huestis
Few have been the books that have responded directly to Hank Hanegraaff’s landmark book, Christianity in Crisis. Hanegraaff’s book supposedly exposes the Word-Faith Movement as a “cult” by quoting statements by its major leaders. Yet, many of the accused Word-Faith leaders have kept to an understandable policy to neither read nor respond to this criticism. Nonetheless, many Word-Faith adherents felt they needed someone to take Hank to task for what they believe to be out-of-contexts quotes, strawman arguments, false allegations, and bias unscriptural theology.
One person attempted to answer that call. In 1994, Michael Bruno wrote Christianity in Power, responding to Hank using love, Scripture, and reason. We are thankful to God for Rev. Bruno’s book, as it has restored the faith of millions of Christians who fell victim to Hanegraaff’s specious thesis. I also believe that Bruno does a very good job showing his readers that Hank’s theology is the one that is in error if Scripture is to be used to judge these things. Though we laude Bruno’s courage in standing against the Bible Answer Man, and his efforts were certainly blessed by God, Bruno’s book did not address all of those “quotes” in Hank’s book that make the faith teachers look ever so guilty.
God has raised another author to take up where Bruno has left off. Gregg Huestis in his excellent book, Another Side of the Coin, not only answers Hank’s spurious attacks with scripture and reason, but he also takes the quotes that Hank used and placed them within their contextual setting. By doing this, Huestis demonstrates to his readers that Hank has put words into the mouths of faith teachers that were not there.
Huestis also uses quotes by faith teachers that Hank fails to quote since they would have been counter-productive to his agenda to paint them as cultic and heretical. These quotes from the writings and teachings of the faith teachers simply prove Hank’s thesis to be dead wrong! Many adherents to the faith movement believe that Hank is wrong but cannot afford to purchase all of the books and tapes to prove this. Huestis provides them with the necessary resource for this endeavor.
Huestis begins his thesis by citing a number of apologists, those in the same field as Hank, who disagree with how this man has handled the Faith Movement. Afterwards, Huestis covers such subject as the force of Faith, the Formula of Faith, the Faith of God, the alleged deification of man, the alleged demotion of God, the Jesus-Died-Spiritually doctrine, and other subjects of interest. You will find Huestis’ handling of these controversial subjects done with care and precision, demonstrating Hanks’ work to be counterfactual and his own theology to be erroneous according to Biblical standards.
The book is available in both electronic (PDF) and hard copy. I personally receommend the hard copy unless you have a printer and you can afford to print out a very large PDF (or read it from a computer screen). Either way, I believe that this book will help you to understand how detractors of faith teaching distort and twist the words of the faith teachers, thus destroying the myth that faith teachers are shooting from the hip.
If you have been in doubt concerning the genuineness of Hank’s work, but have been waiting for someone to make proof of this, then your prayers have been answered in the form of Another Side of the Coin. You will find this to be a great resource for maintaining your faith as well as providing an accurate answer to Hank’s disciples.
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E. W. Kenyon: Cult Founder or Evangelical Minister?
Geir Lie
After a published thesis by an Oral Roberts University student that accused E. W. Kenyon of incorporating in metaphysical cultic practices (like New Thought and Christian Science), universalism, Gnosticism, and other aberrancies into his Christian teaching, the Faith Movement, which he allegedly founded, became suspect. In many Christian circles, some looked at the movement as an outright cult. A number of writers and “apologists” afterwards would use this ORU student’s thesis as a foundation for their own “battle” against the popular Word-Faith Movement.
While many in the Faith Movement were able to ignore the charges of cultic roots in the movement they were aligned with and went on in their faith, many others forsook the movement altogether, believing that they had been deceived. Geir Lie also went through a crisis. However, rather than just simply ignoring the accusation or altogether forsaking Kenyon, Lie decided to investigate this ORU student’s claims. The results of his investigation demonstrated that beyond a shadow of a doubt Kenyon was not a founder of a new pseudo-Christian cult, but an Evangelical minister.
This book will bless those who already believe in their hearts that Kenyon was a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ as it makes a scholarly, informative, and solid case. For those who have had doubts and struggle with the rumors concerning Kenyon, Lie can relate. His findings will comfort your heart and will bring you out of the “crisis mode.” For those who will not be convinced no matter what, buy the book anyway. At least you can say that you checked all sources as you continue to oppose the movement.
Lie traces Kenyon’s theological roots to the Holiness, Higher-Life, and Faith-Cure Movements. He Lie documents Kenyon’s associations with well-known Evangelical leaders such as S. D. Gordon, A. B. Simpson, R. A. Torrey, F. B. Meyer, Andrew Murray, and many others. Lie is able to disconnect Kenyon from the false accusations surrounding his theological roots and demonstrate to the reader that Kenyon, though unique in some of his thoughts and teachings, was indeed an Evangelical, Bible believing minister of the gospel.
While Lie defends Kenyon, some readers may be concerned that he accepts the charges of plagiarism against Hagin. Lie agrees with the critics that these plagiarisms are “conscious and deliberate.” Being one who feels a spiritual debt to Hagin, I personally believe that the jury is still out on this one. Nevertheless, Lie does not spend lot of material on this (less than two pages – pages 129, 130) and I believe that he attempts to be charitable to Hagin.
Along with Joe McIntyre’s book, E. W. Kenyon and His Message of Faith: The True Story, I recommend Geir Lie’s book in defending Kenyon as an Evangelical minister. After reading Lie’s book, you will begin to enjoy Kenyon once again as a man who attempted to stay true to scriptural integrity.
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The Abrahamic Blessings Series (Four Volumes)
Dr. Jay Snell
Some critics of Word-Faith theology say that there is very little to no scholarship within the Movement. I don’t totally disagree with this accusation. The Word-Faith leaders are not theologians and (in my opinion they rightfully) disparage “dead powerless orthodoxy.” For too long the church has built itself on scholasticism rather than relying upon the Holy Spirit to open up Scripture to the believer.
The reliance upon intellectual knowledge and man-made sciences for Scripture interpretation seems to have unintentionally placed the Holy Spirit’s illumination to the sidelines. Therefore, the majority of faith teachers believe that the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the willingness to be a doer of the Word is sufficient for expounding its truths. Not that they do not make use of Greek and Hebrew resources mind you, but these are secondary, rather than primary.
Nevertheless, in the past few years, some have taken up the challenge to demonstrate to those who will listen that many truths taught in Word-Faith circles can be supported from a scholarly aspect. Dr. Jay Snell is that brave soul. Snell, who is a former Southern Baptist Pastor turned Charismatic and who is proficient in the original Greek language, has written four books proving that Christians have been engrafted into the Abrahamic Covenant and are entitled to healing and prosperity. Within these four volumes, Snell also responds to detractors of the message of healing and prosperity.
In volume 1 titled, What Are Abraham’s Blessings Anyway, Snell builds a foundation from the original Hebrew and Greek scriptures demonstrating that Abrahamic blessings were not only spiritual, but material as well. He then demonstrates that these blessings belong to the church as well as present day Jews. The church are Abraham’s spiritual descendants, thus making us the Abrahamic seed group. Then Snell goes on to refute the detractors on such subject as Paul’s thorn in the flesh, the perfect canon doing away with God’s material blessings, a several other theories used in an attempt to disparage the message.
In volume two titled, What’ve They Done With Abraham’s Blessings?, Snell, in his own words, destroys the modernistic denial that healing and prosperity belong to Christians now! Snell confronts a number arguments used by modern theologians and refutes them using Scripture and scholarly insights. In volume three, The Unbroken Force of Abraham’s Blessings, Snell once again takes on modern scholarly arguments against healing and prosperity including certain dispensational arguments. Finally, in volume four titled, How To Obtain Abraham’s Blessings, Snell shows the reader how to practically appropriate God’s goodness.
Most reading this review may already agree with Snell that healing and prosperity is indeed the Christian’s birthright, but some might consider his approach to border on "overemphasis." I sympathize with this concern but I would also believe that Dr. Snell is primarily concerned about using these blessing for the upbuilding of God's kingdom. Unfortunately, without Dr. Snell putting more emphasis on this aspect, one could be easily led into using these otherwise excellent teachings as "bless me only" blessings. Furthermore, Snell could possibly open himself to false criticism of his motives. But for the Word-Faither who already understands that his birthright to health and prosperity is for kingdom business, these books are definite faith-strengtheners.
If you are looking for scholarly arguments for healing and prosperity and a refutation of modern arguments designed to discourage the believer from appropriating these blessings, then I highly recommend Snell’s books. You can purchase them in printed form or you can download them electronically for FREE from Dr. Snell’s web page. I personally recommend the printed forms if you can afford them, but if you cannot, take advantage of the free downloads. That’s what they are there for.
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Am I Being Deceived?
Mark and Patti Virkler
It appears that in our day and age, the fear of becoming deceived is keeping many of God’s children in bondage. Any Christian teaching that seems to bear some similarity to what is taught in a well-known cult is shunned outright, regardless of the fact that the Christian teaching is based entirely on Scripture kept in context. I believe that many Christians are rejecting a life of victory for a life of fear.
The Virkler’s have written an excellent book for those who need a balance between what is actual Christian teaching, what is actual phariseeism, and what is actual New Age or cultic teaching. Phariseeism is the current heresy hunting type of spirit we are seeing all over the internet, some popular radio programs and some books that attack Charismatics, Pentecostals, Word-Faith, Third Wave, etc. These “discernment ministries” often like to make false comparisons of legitimate ministries to well-known cults.
One of their favorite comparisons is to the New Age movement. By spreading fear among Christians that the New Age has infiltrated the church, they have prevented Christians from engaging in Biblical practices that were actually borrowed by this group. Pharisees have forgotten that the devil has no original tactics and often borrows from God. As one man once wrote, “Satan is God’s ape.”
In their excellent book, Mark and Patti give characteristics for Pharisees and the New Age and compares them to genuine Christian teaching. The Virklers also give you a Biblical Christian understanding of visions, positive attitude, visualization, imagination, self-esteem, and journaling. He then shows how the New Agers pervert Scriptural truth and how Pharisees reject Scriptural truth because cults have taken hold of it. You will learn from their book that truth is truth and Christians should not reject it.
Virkler writes, “Christians have a standard, the Word of God, and our acceptance of a truth is not based on whether or not a deceitful group has yet picked it up. We look to see if it is taught in Scripture (Acts 17:11).” Amen Virklers.
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Moving Mountains: Lessons in Bold Faith from Great Evangelical Leaders
Paul L. King
Anyone who has read the articles on my web page will detect a love of some of the classic faith teachers – those who taught the principles of faith many decades before the present day Word-Faith movement. In the late eighties I became interested in the writings of Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, F. B. Meyer, A. B. Simpson, and numerous others. Though I was (and am very much still) what one would label a "Word-Faith preacher," it was the writings of Albert B. Simpson, R. A. Torrey and others that saved me from becoming discouraged early in my ministry.
Many years ago I came under attack by some sincere Christians for what they claim was an overemphasis on faith and healing in my preaching (I was told by one person that I should not preach on divine healing). The books of A. B. Simpson (along with the Bible) became a great source of inspiration to me. I found from his writings that I was not preaching a new theology created by a fringe group of present day Charismatics. Since then, I have found that others such as Joe McIntyre (E. W. Kenyon and His Message of Faith: The True Story) have taken many of these writings and shown their similarities to present day faith teachings, making a case against the fallacious New Thought connections promoted by the critics of the Faith Movement.
Paul L. King takes on a similar task in his book though he moves in a slightly different direction than McIntyre. King finds difficulty with both the cries of heresies against the Faith Movement as well as what he perceives to be an overemphasis by some faith teachers on health, wealth and prosperity. King believes that the middle ground is to be found in the writings of some of the classic faith teachers.
King selects passages from the writings of such classic stalwarts as George Mueller, Charles H. Spurgeon, Phoebe Palmer, E. M. Bounds, and several others and demonstrate how where they affirm Biblical principles of faith that are proclaimed from pulpits of present day faith teachers as well as where King believes that they conflict. For example, King takes passages from Spurgeon’s writings and sermons and shows that he taught such things as tapping into the forces of faith and prayer, knowing who we are in Christ, Growing faith by exercising it, confessing the Word, and “seed faith.” It is ironic that many today that extol C. H. Spurgeon as a great example to follow are quick to decry some of these teachings as heresy when taught by men such as Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, or Jerry Savelle.
There are a number of contrasts between the classic faith teachers and modern faith teachers cited by Dr. King. I agree with King at some points that we modern Word-Faithers would do well to look at the classic understanding of Biblical faith principles in comparison to our own. This would assist in maintaining some balance within the movement. On the other hand, Dr. King comes to conclusions based on these contrasts that I must strongly disagree with. We could cite several examples but this would call for a longer book review. Nevertheless, in spite of my dispute with Dr. King in some of these areas, I have found King’s book to be a valuable and well-researched resource. While King may not agree with some aspects of modern faith teaching, he has been very charitable towards the Faith Movement and has proven that most of its teachings indeed has historical roots in classic Evangelicalism. I believe that it is well worth the purchase price for Word-Faithers who would like to understand more of their classic roots and take comfort that the heresy hunters are not simply opposed to modern day faith teaching, but much classic teaching as well.
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Faith Dynamics
Dr. Ken Chant
Australian Pentecostal Bible Teacher Dr. Ken Chant has an earned PhD and a command of Biblical languages. This command of these languages is profoundly demonstrated in his excellent book, Faith Dynamics. I am close to declaring this is the best book on faith and how to operate its principles, in spite of the fact that Dr. Chant has told me personally that he could not consider himself Word-Faith.
Yet, I could not find one thing in this book that conflicted with my Word-Faith beliefs. On the contrary, everything written in this book seemed to affirm everything I had ever learned and studied. One of the many treasures I read in this book are statements like, “It hardly takes any faith at all to say, ‘God can do anything.’ But only real faith can say (and mean it), ‘God will do this thing!” (page 110). This is so true since people confuse the mental acknowledgment of God’s ability to do something as faith rather than the confident expectation that God will do the very thing that you ask. One is mental assent to a doctrinal truth and the other is Bible faith. Chant does an expert job at defining such differences.
Moreover, Chant presents these principles in such a scholarly, yet simple manner. He under girds his exposition of Scripture with insight from the original Bible languages. He touches heavily on such things as speaking forth your faith (what many of us refer to as “positive confession”), faith having a point of contact and many other aspects of the principles of faith. Chant adds many insights to our understanding of faith by presenting some “golden nuggets” from a study of several Greek words.
I would encourage Word-Faithers to purchase this book, read it, and be blessed by it. While detractors of the faith message scoff at what they claim to be a lack of scholarship in the Faith Movement, we can attest to the fact that there is some scholarly backing to support our beliefs (along with the books by Jay Snell reviewed above). It is not that it is necessary that scholars must back a Bible truth: we only need the Holy Spirit to support Bible discoveries. Nevertheless, it is always helpful to the movement when one more accusation is destroyed by pertinent facts. Yet, the best part of this is that this book will reinforce your understanding of how faith works and how to walk in it.
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