Ten Reasons NOT To Reject Word-of-Faith Teachings

A Response to the tract written by Tricia Tillin Titled “Ten Reasons To Reject Word-of-Faith Teachings”

 

Reason 7: It Promotes The Triumphant Return of Christ

 

Ms. Tillin’s seventh reason begins with more unfounded distortions and false accusations. Having been in the Faith Movement for nearly 20 years, I cannot recall one instance when I heard anyone teaching that by sheer force of numbers the church will cause the sinners to bow their knee to Christ. On the contrary, the faith teachers believe that all things (sickness, poverty, demons, etc.) in Heaven, earth, and under the earth must bow their knees to Jesus NOW (Phil. 2:8-11)[1] and we have been given delegated authority to use that name (Mark 16:115-20; Luke 10:17-20; John 14:12-14; 16:23). They were in good company with the prince of preachers, C. H. Spurgeon, who said, “All things in heaven and earth and under the earth answer to the command of prayer.”[2]

 

I can also say with confidence that I have never heard faith teacher’s say “that the laws, government and entire social structure of the world system will have to change.” On the contrary, faith teacher dispute any reliance upon the system of this world because it has Satan as its ruler. They believe that believers must look completely to God as their source in these last days.[3] They believe in supernatural provision from God.

 

In her fallacious accusations, Ms. Tillin is obviously confusing Word-Faith theology with that of the Kingdom Now and Reconstructionist Movements.[4] Tillin accuses the faith teachers of ignoring the “scriptural warnings of apostasy and increasing wickedness in the end-times.” This may or may not be true of Kingdom Now and Reconstructionists. It is not our place to examine these movements. But her accusations are from true in regards to the faith teachers.

 

In his little mini-book, Signs of the Times, Kenneth E. Hagin taught that the last days would be characterized by a distress of nations with perplexity, wars and rumors of wars, famines, mocking and scoffing at the visible return of Christ, and:

 

 

There also are predictions about terrorist groups, immorality, and crime waves…. [after quoting 2 Tim. 3:1] That means there is peril on every side. It’s no wonder at all that in these last days terrorist groups have arisen. Paul said there would be perilous times.[5]

 

 

Citing other passages of Scripture, Hagin says that “Paul is talking about an increase of sin and an increase of crime in the last days.”[6] Hagin concludes that “these signs we’ve just looked at have not begun to come to pass; they have come to pass. The end is at hand.”[7] However, Hagin victoriously proclaims that “All the signs point to the fact that Jesus is coming!”[8]

 

Most faith teachers are “pre-tribulation” in their eschatology. Therefore, it is nearly impossible for them to advocate the end-time doctrines that Tillin ascribes to them. However, amongst the various (and easily repudiated) false allegations made by Tillin, there is some truth to her statement that “They teach that all the wealth of the world will flow to the Church.”[9]

 

While the faith teachers do not believe that all will go well and the church will dominate the world before the return of Jesus, they do believe that spreading the gospel all over the world must be accomplished before this event. They take the Lord Jesus words literally in which He says, “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14)

 

Some Word-Faith critics might accuse the faith teachers of a misguided triumphalism, but they believe that the work of God can be done. Missions can be done. The gospel can be preached all over the world. The poor can be fed. The inner city can be cleaned up. The Word-Faithers have a "can-do" attitude. They know that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Phil. 4:13).

 

Because the Word-Faith takes the Word of God as being literal, true, and authoritative, they believe that Jesus meant exactly what He said and receive it as a mandate that must be accomplished. However, being practical, they recognize that this mandate will require an abundance of finances. Since much of the finances needed for the spreading of the gospel seems to be in the world’s system, they believe that “the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” (Prov. 13:22).

 

In their understanding of this passage, God will transfer the wealth of the world to the church to enable them to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to every part of the world. Unless one would believe that Proverbs 13:22 is an isolated text to use as support for this philosophy, there are a few more that would allude to a transfer of financial abundance from the world to the church:

 

 

He who augments his wealth by interest and increase gathers it for him who is kind to the poor. (Prov. 28:8; Revised Standard Version)

 

For to the man who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Eccl. 2:26; RSV)

 

Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. (Isa. 60:5; RSV)

 

Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession. (Isa. 6:11; RSV)

 

but you shall be called the priests of the LORD, men shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. (Isa. 6:6; RSV)

 

For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall suck, you shall be carried upon her hip, and dandled upon her knees. (Isa. 66:12; RSV)

 

 

With the necessary finances and the Lord’s assurance that this will be accomplished, faith teachers have set a goal and refuse to accept nothing short of world evangelism.  Therefore, Tillin is correct when she says that the faith teachers “foresee a great victory for the Church in the future, as the Spirit sweeps millions into the 'kingdom' on earth.” I will take the optimism of these men and women of faith over the skepticism of their critics any day. They do not doubt God’s Word or His power to fulfill it.

 

However, not all faith teachers believe in the “transfer of wealth” doctrine as advocated by their contemporaries. The late Kenneth Hagin actually disputed the “End-Time Wealth Transfer” teaching in his book, The Midas Touch. Hagin’s dispute is primarily on dispensational grounds: “I really don’t see anything about this in the New Testament, especially in terms of what we are supposed to be actively believing God for.”[10] Hagin also appeals to 3 John 7 to support his disagreement with his fellow Word-Faith advocates. He then writes:

 

 

Our job is not to try to get the wealth of the world. Our job is to faithfully use the wealth we already have to get the gospel out…. The Bible does teach that when the Church returns with Jesus after the Tribulation and He sets up His Millennial Kingdom on earth, we will be inheriting all of the wealth of the sinners at that time. I don’t see anywhere in the New Testament where we are supposed to be focused on getting their money now. Instead, we should be concentrating on seeking the hearts of the unsaved and faithfully using the finances we already have.[11]

 

 

Therefore, Tillin and others should discontinue painting all of the faith teachers with such a wide brush. If one must criticize, they should be accurate in their criticism. They should present all facets of a movement and the various understandings of a doctrine by the different proponents of said movement. However, we can excuse Tillin for her ignorance on Hagin’s position since the book may have been written long after she wrote her “ten reasons,” but she is without excuse concerning the numerous misrepresentations and distortions throughout her tract, and especially those evidenced in her seventh reason to reject Word-Faith teachings.