Positive confession is not a biblical teaching and the scores of Scriptures used to support it are typically misinterpreted or misapplied. For example, in reference to Matthew 6:20 ("lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven") we are told by Kenneth Copeland, "Jesus is not referring to when we get to heaven. He was teaching about God providing for us now." Anyone who wishes to prove to himself how extensively such verses are taken out of context need only examine Positive Confession literature and then consult standard commentaries to prove their errors.
For example, 3 John 2 (that you may "prosper and be in good health") is a personal wish for Gaius, not a divine promise of money and health to every Christian. It was a standard greeting in antiquity and had nothing to do with money. How many of us would really end up "spiritually prospering" if we were rich? Likewise, Mark 10:29, 30 ("the hundredfold return") is not literal but figurative since believers do not literally receive one hundred mothers and sisters and brothers as well. So why is it used literally only in reference to money? Also, Jesus says this is true only of those who have nothing now because they have left everything behind to follow Him, which is not true of most Christians. It is especially not true of the prosperity teachers who are generally very wealthy.
Instead of having the poor people send them money, if the hundredfold return is really true, why don't the prosperity teachers (such as Kenneth Hagan, Kenneth Copeland, Jerry Savelle, Charles Capps, etc.) send $100 to every person on their mailing list in order to get billions of dollars in return? But it doesn't seem to work that way.
The Bible, far from stressing the spiritual benefits of wealth, encourages us to be content with what we have. We are told, "keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have . . . " (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, it often warns about the perils of money. Jesus said, "You cannot serve both God and Money" (Matthew 6:24, James 5:1-5). The Apostle Paul "suffered the loss of all things" (Philippians 3:7,8). He was content to live in poverty, hunger, and to suffer need (Philippians 4:12). He also noted that most Christians were "poor" and "had nothing" (2 Corinthians 6:10). Paul said not wealth but "the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance" (2 Corinthians 1:5). If these "prosperity" teachings really came from the Lord, why did the Lord Himself and His disciples end up poor and martyred?
Paul also said that greed was the same as idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The Bible teaches we are to place God's will first in our lives -- not self-will. We cannot "write our own ticket with God." "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). Even Jesus Himself, when He prayed for deliverance before the cross did not demand of God but said, "if you are willing . . . " (Luke 22:42). James taught that it was "arrogant" and "evil" to presume of the Lord. He said, "instead you ought to say, 'if the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.' but as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil" (James 4:15-16). Paul himself said "if the Lord wills . . . " (1 Corinthians 4:19). He referred to those who supposed that godliness (religion) was a means of financial gain and he said, "for we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang" (1 Timothy 6:7-10).
2 comments:
All of these false teachers should really attend a good Bible-based seminary and learn what the Scripture really says about the verses that they all use out of context. Christians, for the most part, have more difficulties and issues because we are targets of the Devil who is constantly trying to get us to denounce God.
I find your blog extremely informative and helpful in dealing with people who are involved in such scam churches as Barrie Victory Centre. It is unfortunate that most of the adherents to this scumbag pastor cannot see the forest for the trees and it will be too late when they finally realized that they have been scammed for all their money, time and whatever else those so-called better than everyone else pastors can get out of them.
Keep up the good word!
I think that these "preachers" who lead their congregations astray with all the non-biblical garbage that you have indicated should be thrown out of their churches. It is unfortunate that so many people have their eyes and minds closed by Satan to only believe what the "pastor" is telling them instead of reading their Bibles for themselves.
Your blog is an eye-opener to us as we were involved in a Victory church years ago. If only we had known that we were being led astray and into bankruptcy and emotional breakdown because we didn't give enough or believe enough.
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