What I don't likes about the Word of Faith Movement

[Jethro Bodine]

I started out in the Word of Faith movement. I am truly thankful for lots of things I learned in it that I'm confident I would not have learned had I started out in some other movement. The experience was invaluable. But there are things that bother me about the movement (in completely random order as they come to mind):

1. Godliness is understood to be a means to riches.
2. Tongues is improperly elevated above the other gifts.
3. Teaching in character in regard to the fruit of the Spirit is terribly lacking, apparently because it's not as important or valued as spiritual gifts.
4. Those who perceive themselves as spiritually gifted condescend to those who aren't
5. A lack of compassion for those who are perceived as having less faith.
6. Tongues is regarded as a sign of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
7. The teaching that faith demands where God has not specifically spoken.
8. Character is not regarded as the measure of spiritual maturity, spiritual gifts are.

Remember, these are generalities. If your Word of Faith church is different, good.

Share your thoughts.

 

[Blake]

I'm transitioning away slowly from my pentecostal faith and looking elsewhere. My problem is that in the five fold realm of thinking, everyone seems to be an apostle or a prophet these days. Emotionalism seems to be the factor in deciding if you're close to God or not. And a big factor that hurts me personally is the lack of empathy concerning spiritual struggle. It seems like one has to be happy to be authentically Christian, jumping from mountain top to mountain top waiting for the next big movement of God. I'm burning out.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I was Word of Faith for a season.
It was good to me.
But there was too much wrong glaring me in the face for me to stay with it.

Let's see, if I could find one reason why I left a church that says it all, I would say...a pastor failing to take care of his flock.
So Word of Faith or anything else, they're all the same.

Big business.
A pastor seems to be more concerned with his own affairs rather than the flock.
The more money, the more separation.

 

[jasonc]

much of what I have seen has been posted. particularily by Jethro but if one is mature in the lord and uses the gifts much of the faults wont be there as well falling tends to humble you. lets just say I fell recently and Im a bit more humble but not where I ought to be.

 

[Gary]

Share your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1...(NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

.

 

[brother Paul]

Thinking what God says He thinks, saying what God has said are both good practices but much is wanting (and that I suppose is true in any denomination until we are 'face to face'). Then we all shall know even as we are known.

 

[JCitoL]

i can only share some comments of course without judging anyone

1. Godliness is understood to be a means to riches.

i would agree with them on this only if the riches are used for the growth or according to the requirements/rules of the true Church of God and Jesus

2. Tongues is improperly elevated above the other gifts.

i would agree with them on this only if those "tongues" are their respective right faith in the true Lord God

3. Teaching in character in regard to the fruit of the Spirit is terribly lacking, apparently because it's not as important or valued as spiritual gifts.

i would agree with them on this only if the fruit of the Spirit is something good serving/fulfilling the overall weal in Him

4. Those who perceive themselves as spiritually gifted condescend to those who aren't

i would agree with them on this only if the people who are not spiritually gifted not only do not contribute to the overall salvation in the true Lord God, but even vaunt themselves threatening/interfering/foiling the true salvation in Him

5. A lack of compassion for those who are perceived as having less faith.

i would agree with them on this only if the people who are considered to have less faith commit unrighteousness in the faith/spiritual iniquity bringing so desolation to others

6. Tongues is regarded as a sign of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.

i would agree with them on this, as i already did it above in the answer for the 2nd point/item, only if the so-called "tongue" is their respective right exercise of the faith

7. The teaching that faith demands where God has not specifically spoken.

i would agree with them on this only if that teaching reveals only things of the true Lord God that were/remained somehow hidden for many and they become/are now in use (of course for the benefit of the overall salvation in Him)

8. Character is not regarded as the measure of spiritual maturity, spiritual gifts are.

i would agree with them on this only if those spiritual gifts include obligatorily the holiness/righteousness/goodness as fundamental

but i say this not with aiming any person or the (right) faith of anyone to be desolated

Blessings

 

[Jethro Bodine]

1 Corinthians 1...(NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

.

Amen!
The Word of Faith movement should come into agreement with me on these issues and end this division!

 

[Gary]

Amen!
The Word of Faith movement should come into agreement with me on these issues and end this division!

Absolutely. But you know what they say.

2 Corinthians 4
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

.

 

[JeffS]

I would agree with the poster in most cases. I would add that I don't know if this is a general belief or not, but the Word of Life people I have met see sickness as a sign of a lack of faith. If you are sick then it is your fault or if you have a disease like cancer or diabetes or high blood pressure.

 

[junkyardmystic]

I started out in the Word of Faith movement. I am truly thankful for lots of things I learned in it that I'm confident I would not have learned had I started out in some other movement. The experience was invaluable. But there are things that bother me about the movement (in completely random order as they come to mind):

1. Godliness is understood to be a means to riches.
2. Tongues is improperly elevated above the other gifts.
3. Teaching in character in regard to the fruit of the Spirit is terribly lacking, apparently because it's not as important or valued as spiritual gifts.
4. Those who perceive themselves as spiritually gifted condescend to those who aren't
5. A lack of compassion for those who are perceived as having less faith.
6. Tongues is regarded as a sign of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
7. The teaching that faith demands where God has not specifically spoken.
8. Character is not regarded as the measure of spiritual maturity, spiritual gifts are.

Remember, these are generalities. If your Word of Faith church is different, good.

Share your thoughts.

What is word of faith exactly?

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

I started out in the Word of Faith movement. I am truly thankful for lots of things I learned in it that I'm confident I would not have learned had I started out in some other movement. The experience was invaluable. But there are things that bother me about the movement (in completely random order as they come to mind):

1. Godliness is understood to be a means to riches.
2. Tongues is improperly elevated above the other gifts.
3. Teaching in character in regard to the fruit of the Spirit is terribly lacking, apparently because it's not as important or valued as spiritual gifts.
4. Those who perceive themselves as spiritually gifted condescend to those who aren't
5. A lack of compassion for those who are perceived as having less faith.
6. Tongues is regarded as a sign of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
7. The teaching that faith demands where God has not specifically spoken.
8. Character is not regarded as the measure of spiritual maturity, spiritual gifts are.

Remember, these are generalities. If your Word of Faith church is different, good.

Share your thoughts.

Brother that junk above is wrong no matter what movement teaches it. I have not ever heard anything like that ever taught. Perhaps it was during nap time,

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

I would agree with the poster in most cases. I would add that I don't know if this is a general belief or not, but the Word of Life people I have met see sickness as a sign of a lack of faith. If you are sick then it is your fault or if you have a disease like cancer or diabetes or high blood pressure.

No that is not correct. That is generalising what is taught into a condenced few words as possible statement.

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

1 Corinthians 1...(NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

.

That be true BUT what happens is every generation gets a new revelation on Gods word and when they begin to preach this new understanding many will not except it and many will not beleive and many distort what is being preached. Man fail to move up on a higher place on the mountain if you will and simply deisre to stay where they are speaking from their traditions and religious points of view.

It has happened generation after generation. 20's to the 30' to 40's 50' 60's 70's 80's and so forth. I have a chart around here of this. It's pretty cool to see. I will hunt it up.....Any way this is why so many so called denominations rise up. Some people still think that when God said do not love the things of this wortld that He meant we can NOT have anything nice....It's stupid stuff like this that keeps the body of Christ separated into groups and guess who is behind it all. Yep non other then that old defeated bluffing foe.....the devil.....

 

[Cturtle]

I started out in the Word of Faith movement. I am truly thankful for lots of things I learned in it that I'm confident I would not have learned had I started out in some other movement. The experience was invaluable. But there are things that bother me about the movement (in completely random order as they come to mind):

1. Godliness is understood to be a means to riches.
2. Tongues is improperly elevated above the other gifts.
3. Teaching in character in regard to the fruit of the Spirit is terribly lacking, apparently because it's not as important or valued as spiritual gifts.
4. Those who perceive themselves as spiritually gifted condescend to those who aren't
5. A lack of compassion for those who are perceived as having less faith.
6. Tongues is regarded as a sign of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
7. The teaching that faith demands where God has not specifically spoken.
8. Character is not regarded as the measure of spiritual maturity, spiritual gifts are.

Remember, these are generalities. If your Word of Faith church is different, good.

Share your thoughts.

To me it seems as if not all churches or pastors are that way, and those who are not, get judged with those who do. With that said...this goes for all of the churches out there. If one looks hard enough, one can find fault with everyone. But that is where i believe that God calls us to forgive and then to be praying for our pastor, that the truth and wisdom of God is made real to him, thus he will only preach the truth, at all times.
We have a responsibility to our pastors, to pray for them, instead of judging them. They are human just like us, and make mistakes. So if all we do is point out all their faults (judging them) then we better go back to the Word that says to pull the plank out of our own eye, prior to opening our mouth. Be careful when you judge lest you be judged the same way.
Good day.

 

[Gary]

That be true BUT what happens is every generation gets a new revelation on Gods word...

That has no affect on the scriptures.

.

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

That has no affect on the scriptures.

.

Care to explain this to me.

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

That has no affect on the scriptures.

.

Just so you know you can get a new revelation on any scripture for God has many meanings or levels of His truth in each scripture. Thats a fact

 

[Gary]

Care to explain this to me.

Hebrews 13
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.


Personal revelations don't alter the Word of God.

Just so you know you can get a new revelation on any scripture for God has many meanings or levels of His truth in each scripture. Thats a fact

Care to show me how that works? Use the verse from Hebrews. Show me the multiple levels of truth in that verse.

Please.

.

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Hebrews 13
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.


Personal revelations don't alter the Word of God.




Care to show me how that works? Use the verse from Hebrews. Show me the multiple levels of truth in that verse.

Please.

.

How does it work.........Draw near to God and He draws near to you.
Before you think I am just pulling the wool over your eyes, seek this out. Revelation knowledge is also know as spiritual understanding.........God takes you into a deeper realm of understanding of His word and of Him as well.
I am NOT trying to be ignorant here Gary It is the truth.....