Contacting alleged angels is an increasingly popular activity in our culture as illustrated by the 1992 "American Conference on Angels." Unfortunately, the messages these "angels" give prove they are lying spirits which the Bible identifies as demons. Most Faith teachers also claim they have unique relationships to angels -- as, allegedly, anyone can who applies the principles of the Faith Movement. Faith teachers believe multitudes of angels are standing by just to do our bidding, anxiously waiting to be commanded by "Faith words" which, when spoken forth, puts them into action and brings miraculous results.
Gloria Copeland and Charles Capps suggest there may be 40,000 to 72,000 angels assigned to each believer just waiting to serve us.
But the idea that people can command angels to do their bidding is an occultic belief, not a biblical practice. The idea of having power over creation mediated through alleged spiritual laws and our own mental and verbal powers (mediated through the help of spirits) is a tenet of the occult, not Christianity.
Further, these angels are angels of a particular kind -- they are spirit beings who actively support Faith practice and teaching. This raises an interesting point. If we compare the principles of occult magic and those of the Faith Movement, we can see the similarities. The question is: Would godly angels endorse such a teaching?
If godly angels would not endorse the Faith principles, what kind of angels are those that do? We offer the following to show that the leaders in the Faith Movement at the least claim that they can manipulate angels to do their bidding (an occultic practice).
Kenneth Copeland teaches that through Positive Confession, angels "are obligated to follow your command"; Gloria Copeland says, "Your words put the angels to work on your behalf to bring to pass whatever you say."
Charles Capps asserts that God told him that he was to "give orders" to angels to accomplish our desires. He teaches, "You need the supernatural beings of God working for you here on earth." And, "Angels...will work for you! They will become involved in every area of your life -- your home, your business, everything -- but only to the extent that you allow them to operate."
Kenneth Hagin claims that Jesus appeared in front of him with an angel next to Him and told him that this was "his angel" who would guide and direct his life. Jerry Savelle says that when we apply the principles of the Faith Movement "...the angels come on the scene to see that what you say comes to pass." John Osteen [father of Joel Osteen] teaches that, "When you become a covenant-person, God assigns angels to watch you and your family..."
Robert Tilton says, "When you talk positively about your dream, you not only release its substance, but you release the angels to work for you, causing your dream to come to pass." For those who tithe faithfully to his ministry he says, "I prophesy these miracles are coming to pass even this very moment. Angels, I send you forth as ministering spirits to cause these supernatural miracle[s] to come into my friend's [life]." But for those who make vows to his ministry and later renege, he also warns, "If you say your vow was a mistake, your angels will hear it and the work of your hands and what you are believing God for will be cursed instead of blessed...It stops God from telling the angels to go out and round up the money..."
Benny Hinn also accepts the ministry of the "Faith" angels.
Of course, no one denies that the Bible teaches that angels do serve God's interest in the life of the believer, or that some believers have entertained angels unaware (Hebrews 1:14; 13:2). But this is the point: Angels serve God's purposes in the life of the believer -- and the Faith Movement/Positive Confession isn't one of them. And angels usually do operate unaware -- behind the scenes. We cannot command angels to bring us money, nor are we to pray to them, nor will they teach us and guide us into things that are against the Word of God.
(from The Facts on the Faith Movement by John Ankerberg and John Weldon)
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