Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Do You Hear What I Hear?


Posted on - Faith Teachers Confess - Their Faith Teachings Don't Work
"I like your post. I went to a Bible study and the lady who lead it said by going to see Oral Roberts she was healed of a burning problem all over her body. She also did teaching from a man named Andrew Wommack, Kenneth Copeland and others u have named. As I went I new something wasnt right. When I questioned the teaching she wouldnt talk to me. I believed the Lord was telling me to stay away from her and the others falling into these lies. It is a False teaching.The Bible warns of false Jesus. They makeup another Jesus not the Bible Jesus. I would get a bad feeling every time I went. Satan Knows when we desire closeness to God and if not careful will lead us to a trap. Hes the father of lies and knows God's word and will work through these false teachers to make God's word sound the way he wants."
-  By Anonymous

Posted on - Biblical Theology
I really wish that some of these nutbar preachers of the Faith Movement would go to Bible College before they open their mouths. Now Barrie Victory Centre is going to have a Bible College in their new building..probably taught by uneducated and ineffective people from the Victory Churches International. Already they are trying to get my high school aged children to commit to attending college with them instead of going to Ryerson. These people should be run out of town on a rail before they destroy even more lives than they have already.
- By Anonymous

Posted on - The Faith Movement Televangelist and the Word of God
It's about time that someone took on these televangelists and Word of Faith preachers. Most of them don't have a clue about what God's Word says. I have been researching a lot of your books and find the work that you have undertaken to expose these frauds inspiring. Keep up the good work.
- By J. Dickens

Posted on - A Preliminary Assessment of Word/Faith Televangelism
Televangelism is one of the biggest ways for the spread of distorted biblical information. These T.V. preachers who think that you can speak it to get it or name it to claim it are so horribly wrong. They are leading everyone who listens to them right down the road to eternal damnation. Keep on writing, Sir! Maybe someday, all of these kooks will get kicked off television.
- By R. Browning

Posted on - Scripture Twisting
What a true statement! Word of Faith "preachers" are always twisting the scriptures to suit their own agendas, especially when it comes to getting their poor deceived attendees to give more and more money! They are so deceived that they don't realize what is happening until they are broke and discouraged. God never said that we would be wealthy! He said He would provide for our needs if we trust and obey Him. That doesn't mean paid for houses and big cars! We found this out way too late.
- By Name Withheld Because of Embarrassment

Posted on - A Preliminary Assessment of Word/Faith Televangelism
So delighted to read your latest series! You give hope to those who have family members caught up in these cultic Victory Churches. We were able to get our children to see reason after we sent them to this clearly researched blog. Of course, their "pastor" tried to say that you were a "nut" but with the list of books that you have read and provided information to us, our kids finally saw the light. They are back in our Baptist church and we are very grateful to you. Keep it up -- maybe your boys will eventually see the light.
- By Lorena Goldsmith

Posted on - Assessment of Positive Confessionism
This is a very interesting concept. I am sure that many people don't understand it and get sidetracked by these misinformed preachers. I hope that a lot of people find the truth through your blog.
- By Anonymous

Posted on - Assessment of Positive Confessionism
I just want to encourage you to keep writing. My wife and I have found your blog to be one of the most helpful ones when dealing with the Faith Movement and Victory Churches International. This plague of heretical teachings is spreading across the world like wildfire and so many people who think they are saved are actually worshipping a god that is not in the Bible nor the Saviour of our world. We continue to pray that more people will find your blog and that God will open their eyes to the truth.
- By B. McTavish

Posted on - Scripture Twisting
I have been following your blog with some interest for the couple of years or so. I've never been one to comment because I've found everything to be well-researched and presented. The library list has allowed me to purchase some of the books and review them in conjunction with looking up the Scriptures that are referred to and I must say that there is no doubt that these Bible scholars know what they are talking about. It is clear that they know their Bible inside and out -- I hope that you continue writing so that all of the deceived people in these cultic churches will have their eyes opened.
- By W. Fitzsimons

Posted on - Assessment of Positive Confessionism
I find this blog to be an eye-opening experience into the problems with the Victory Churches and in particular, with Barrie Victory Centre. I find it completely unbelievable that so many people can be duped by the biblically uneducated people who are running all the programs especially the youth leaders who have had no biblical training whatsoever.
- By Anonymous

Posted on - Scripture Twisting - Conclusion
Once again, Mr. Poo-Bah, you have hit the nail right on the head. These Faith Movement people are so deceived by their leaders (I refuse to call them pastors or ministers--they can stick anybody at the front to rant and rave at them--and that's preaching????) It really saddens me that these uneducated followers of the Faith Movement are going to hell because they are being led down the garden path by charlatans and false teachers just like the Bible says will happen in the end times. Keep the faith, Brother. God will pass His final judgment on all of these when it is in His time.
- By Edward C. Tomson

Posted on - Ye Shall Be As Gods
I have been reading your last few posts with great interest. This last one about the little gods syndrome is so typical of what is being taught at the Barrie Victory Centre (in fact, all Victory Churches).. and if you don't adhere to their teachings -- watch out. I hope that you are aware of how far these BVC nuts are ready to go to keep their adherents toeing the line and believing all the drivel that that nutbar in charge along with the youth leaders are teaching. I have stopped attending and now my family is being harrassed because I used to contribute a lot of time and money to this Devil-lead group. Do be careful as they will stop at nothing to keep their attendees under their thumbs.
- By Name Withheld Out Of Fear

Posted on - Ye Shall Be As Gods
You are so right on with this interpretation of how the Victory Churches think. Kenneth Copeland and his wife are the worst of the worst in teaching this to the millions of deceived people who watch their TV programs and read their puff-books. And they get filthy rich off the hard earned dollars of their followers. We were sent a link to your blog and after reading it all -- our eyes were opened. We no longer have any dealings with the Copeland organization and are actively trying to show our family and friends the error of their ways. Thank you for taking a firm stand -- we believe that God led us to you.
- By V. Totten

Posted on - Scripture Twisting - Conclusion
The twisting of Scriptures is something that the Faith Movement does well. They take a piece of God's Word and manipulate it to suit their purposes. Nowhere in the Word are Christians guaranteed health, wealth or freedom from trials by having enough faith. In fact, the Bible says that Christians will face many trials to bring us closer to God. A "feel good" church is a "bad" church. For example, true churches teach everything based on Scripture while "feel good" places (like Joel Osteen's) are full of deceived people. I enjoy reading your blog. 
- By Constance H; Wyatt

Posted on - Misapplied Texts and Terms
I wish these "little gods" preachers would stop incorrectly quoting Scripture. You can sure tell when you sit in their services that they don't have a clue about real teaching based on the truth of the Scripture. And forget asking them about it -- they swear that you are a "Devil's Spawn" and tell you not to come back to their "church." Blahhhh! Somebody ought to run these charlatans out of town on a rail! 
- By B. Corrigan

Posted on - Misapplied Texts and Terms
One of these days all these "little gods" people will be rotting in hell for deceiving Christians. On that note, Christians who follow these "little gods" preachers like Paul McCullough from Barrie Victory Centre cannot possibly be Christians. They go broke supporting this idiot who tells them that they need to give more and more money. Their youth leaders have no Bible training at all to teach correct Scripture to the children. This new church is costing every attendee a fortune in covenant spending. The school is a farce and none of the children who go there will be able to cope in the real world when they graduate. Thanks for letting me rant.. I am afraid to leave my name because of the repercussions that could happen.
- By Anonymous

Posted on - Scripture Twisting - Conclusion
If these so-called churches are twisting Scripture to suit their warped sense of worth to deceive their followers into giving them things that aren't scriptural - they should be closed. Most of these Faith Movement organizations are run by a tyrant who keeps everyone toeing the line. There is no accountability and that's why they get away with it. I wish that their followers would miraculously get their eyes and ears opened and run these charlatans out of town.
- By Anonymous

Posted on - False Teachings of Barrie Victory Center
I was looking up Barrie Victory Center and your blog came up right underneath their website. I'm so glad that I read your take on this church. We have attended there for a few weeks and just felt that something was "off" about the touchy-feely aspect of this group. The constant grab for money was also a bit much and the process is very sneaky. My wife thought that some of the teachings were a bit off the mark and after we read this posting on your blog, we know why. Thank you for putting the finger on what we felt was wrong. We'll be finding another church to attend.
- By C. McKenzie

Posted on - False Prophesies and a "Born-Again" Jesus
We are so glad that you are continuing to write about these "false Jesus" teachings. It breaks our hearts that we have children involved in a local faith movement group that distorts the true Scripture in order to create a pyramid scheme of pastors getting rich quick on the backs of their followers. We hope that your children will also see the light about what is really going on in their church.
- By D. Grienway

Posted on - False Teachings of the Barrie Victory Center
Boy, am I ever glad that I read this blog post about the Barrie Victory Centre. My teenage kids want to go to their youth group because they are friends with the Kenney kids... after reading this; there is NO WAY that I would let my children attend anything at that so-called church. How heartbreaking it must be for you to watch your children and grandchildren going down this path where they are so deceived by the leadership at this cult. Now that the church is in a huge building I can just guess how much cash this guy is taking out of the families' pockets who attend there. I will keep you and your family in prayer that somehow they will see the light and get out before it is too late. 
- By Can't Leave My Name

Posted on - "Health and Wealth" Teachers Claim Direct Counsel from God
What a load of hogwash! These people are so out to lunch and it is so unfortunate that they don't see what they are doing to their followers. I really wish that they would wise up before it is too late.
- By Anonymous

Posted on - What is the Health and Wealth Gospel?
This is so ridiculous. Nowhere in Scripture does God tell Christians that everyone is going to be rich and healthy. So many people get deceived with TV preachers like Joel Osteen and Joseph Prince. In fact, Scripture teaches that Christians will suffer more for their faith than worldly people. Thank you for continuing the fight for true Christianity.
- By A. Dysarairt

Posted on - Errors of Positive Confessionism and Consequences
Wow! I had no idea that all these people were teaching a false Scripture. I stumbled upon your blog when I was doing research for a paper on pentecostal teachings. What a wealth of information you have provided. Thanks to you and your certified reference materials, I have been able to rethink my position on pentecostalism and I am now looking for a true Bible believing and preaching church in my home town. We do have a couple of Victory churches in our area and they seem to be mesmerizing all of our kids in the neighbourhood with the crap that they are teaching. Good for you. 
- By Owen Blythe

Posted on - The Bible Shows Faith Teachers' Errors
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 realize 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! 
- By Gordon Thomas

Posted on - The Bible Shows Faith Teachers' Errors
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. 
- By R. & B. Chattyn

Posted on - Does the Atonement of Christ Allow Us to Claim Physical Healing This is a very interesting article. God can choose to heal some people while He chooses not to heal others. Scripture doesn't say anything about us being able to CLAIM healing. It does allow us to pray for it but the healing is at God's discretion, not our demand to be healed. Where these people misinterpret the Scriptures to teach that Christians can claim healing is beyond me. I hope that some of these misguided people can find your blog and read what true Bible scholars are saying about these health and wealth teachings. 
- By O. Kennedy

Posted on - Errors of Positive Confession and Consequences There are so many things that are wrong with this positive confession theology, especially when you have to come up to the front of the church and confess everything that you've ever done before the congregation. I always thought that the only person you had to confess to was God but when we unwittingly got involved with one of these faith movement churches, we had no idea of what positive confession was. It turned out to be humiliating and we were told that in order to be accepted we had to sign a covenant with the church to ensure that we would not backslide into sin. Included in that covenant document was a list of MUST DOs and DON'Ts. We so wanted to be accepted that we went in blindly to this agreement to support the church and then in turn, they would support us. Well they did -- right into bankruptcy and by using emotional blackmail, caused my wife to attempt to take her own life. Fortunately we found a real saviour in our doctor who realized what we were involved with and he helped us disentangle ourselves from this abuse.  Make no mistake -- it is abuse -- of the worst kind.  These pastor-charlatans are nothing more than demons in disguise who eat up their followers and when there is nothing left of them, spit them out and move on to the next bunch of easily led people.
By M. Torey

I agree with O. Kennedy's comment about the physical healing. We were involved in BVC and had several health issues. We were told that if we had enough faith (1st thing) that God would have to bend to our will because we were on the same level as Jesus. What a crock of crap that was -- then the next line was that we weren't tithing enough to get God's attention for healing -- so we gave more money -- still ill. Then we had to sign up for a covenant relationship to help build the kingdom (guess what we were building -- yup -- that big new edifice that belongs to the pastor and his wife) and it's going to be paid for in a few short years thanks to all of us fools who were taken in. Still no health for either my wife or I. We have since left BVC and we are expecting to receive some sort of legal action because we are not paying our covenant bill (turns out -- it's a mortgage hidden in there -- and our lawyer says we probably don't have a leg to stand on to get out of paying unless we go bankrupt
- By Anonymous

Posted on - Does the Atonement of Christ Allow Us to Claim Physical Healing The ability for these fraudulent "pastors" to guess about what they don't know in the area of physical healing just makes me sick. God is in full control and decides for whatever reason He chooses to heal some people while others suffer. It doesn't matter whether you have enough faith or pay enough money. God decides, not man. Nobody can claim healing in the way that these faith people say they can. Somebody ought to send them out to see a real mission field where they cannot dupe people into giving them money to live high on the hog lives like Paul and Debby McCulloch on the backs and wallets of their followers. Your revelation of the false doctrines of these churches has been an eye-opener to us. Keep up the work and maybe your sons and their families will realize just how much they have been deceived. 
- By Grace Whyte


I am so disgusted with the youth leaders at Barrie Victory Centre. Every time you turn around, they want to take our kids on a "faith retreat" -- what this has turned out to be is them being taken to another Victory Church location where they become free labour to help build classrooms, benches, and other things. This is supposed to enrich their faith experience. I agree that kids need to have some experiences but every month for the last 6 months? Really? When we refused to let our kids go the last time, they were ridiculed because God's work should come before family. The youth leaders have since asked us "nicely" -- to stop bringing our kids to youth group. This group should be exposed for the charlatan church that it is!


- By Anonymous

Posted on - Errors of Positive Confession and Consequences I think my family is attending one of these "itching ear" churches based on this article. Everything that their leader says to them, they do. They have lost all common sense about life when it comes to this guy. He tells them that he needs a new car and the church comes up with enough money for a new Mercedes. In the meantime, their family car needs winter tires and they cannot afford to put them on. I am sending them the link to this article. Maybe it will make them see some sense since I can't.
- By Roger Tompkin



I Hope You Hear What I Hear!



For more information on Victory Churches and the Faith Movement, go to the Reference Library.  Click on any book title to get a brief overview of the book.  All books on the list are available through www.amazon.com. 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Other Distorted Views of Positive Thinkers

The faith teachers have misread the plain meaning of the words of the Bible in their context.  Gloria Copeland, Kenneth's wife, is a good example of how the faith teachers not only misinterpret but occasionally deliberately delete the words of Scripture that deny their view.  For example, Gloria Copeland quotes Daniel 3:17, 18, which is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo where they told the king that they would not serve their gods.  These men tell us they believe it could be God's will not to save them, but they will still trust and serve Him just like Job . . . .  But this goes against the theology of the Copelands and other faith teachers who say Christians should overcome in every circumstance.  Since the words of Daniel 3:18 didn't fit her view, Gloria deleted them.  She leaves out the words "but even if He does not".  She actually cites a Scripture in her defense that were it quoted in full would disprove the point she is making.

Consider the following areas that the faith teaching has distorted.

God

Faith teaching has distorted both the sovereignty of God and the will of God.  God is no longer sovereign if He can be forced to act on the basis of what men do.  Thus, in some cases, His will can be replaced with man's will.  In essence, what God's sovereignty lacks, human sovereignty supplies.  Not even God will interfere with the believers "divine rights."

Jesus and the Atonement

Faith teachers have redefined the mission of Jesus Christ to incorporate their beliefs.  For example, J. Osteen teaches, "did Jesus die for your prosperity?  Yes."  Robert Tilton teaches, "Jesus came to deliver man from failure, and to cause him to be once again a success . . . Christians who do not believe in divine healing, who do not believe in prosperity -- they do not believe in what was atoned for  at Calvary."  Charles Capps teaches that Jesus came and died for us to get Adam's power back to rule and dominate the earth.  Gloria Copeland states, "You have a titled deed to prosperity.  Jesus bought and paid for your prosperity just like He bought and paid for your healing and your salvation . . . .  This prosperity already belongs to you."  Here you can see these four faith teachers are saying that because of Jesus' death on the cross, He bought and paid for your healing or success now.  Their conclusion is that (even if it takes time to manifest) you can claim success or immediate healing by faith.

This is wrong.  Why?  First, because it is another misinterpretation of Scripture; namely, Isaiah 53:4, 5 and Matthew 8:17.  

Secondly, it is wrong because the Bible plainly teaches that the average Christian, the Apostles, and Jesus Himself did not teach or hold this view.  Physical healing is not the instantaneous gift assumed by the faith teachers.  The Apostle Paul himself had a physical infirmity or bodily illness he simply had to live with.  Paul told Timothy to take a little wine "for the sake of your stomach [problems] and your frequent ailments."  Paul said, "Trophimus I left sick at Miletus."  Paul never once told Timothy or anyone else to "claim your healing."  He clearly did not believe the death of Christ healed believers' illnesses.  Otherwise, how did such great men of faith as Paul and Timothy fail to know and teach that Christ died for our illnesses?  Nor was Christ's death a guarantee of success in this life.  To the contrary, by worldly standards, Paul, the apostles, and the early church were highly unsuccessful.  These godly men accepted the fact of their sickness and tribulations.  Even Jesus also accepted and expected sickness and hardship among believers.  In fact, Jesus Himself taught that sickness could be to the glory of God.  Jesus said of Lazarus, "this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it "(John 11:4).

Faith

In prosperity thinking, faith is similar to the power of magic.  J. Osteen states, ". . . faith reaches out into the invisible area.  It creates the physical realm out of invisible truths."  Here the faith teachers ascribe faith as a force to be exerted upon God forcing Him to act in our behalf.  But this is wrong.  The Bible nowhere states that God relinquished His will to each one of our wills.  He knows that would be chaos.

Man

In Positive Confession,  man is considered "a god" or a godlike being.  In some ways man is the ruler of God, who is his servant.  Like the genie in the bottle, man decides what he wants and then commands or demands God to do his bidding.  In some teachings, man comes close to deification.  
As Charles Capps states, "natural men can become supernatural" . . . and are no longer totally subject to their natural ability."  For example, the miracles done in the book of Acts were not done solely and directly by God but by believers exercising their supernatural powers and influence on others.  In Acts 14:8-10 when Paul told the cripple "stand up," the result is that "spirit words received into his spirit released spiritual power in his physical body.  This creative ability of spirit words formed in his spirit and produced physical results."

Nevertheless, the idea that men are gods is denied in the Bible.  Even Paul, a man of great faith, never considered himself a god.  

Angels

The prosperity movement is overly obsessed with the demonic and has distorted biblical teaching on the angels.  Many teach that physical illness results from demons.  They do this even though Scripture clearly distinguishes physical illness and demon possession (Luke 8:2).  Frances Hunter, for example, teaches "a demon takes a look at a woman and says, 'Wow, I think I will lay a little cancer on her. . . ' so he jumps into her body . . . and before long, the woman discovers she has cancer of the breast . . . . "  Not only does such teaching produce fear of demons in people, it offers a cruel and false hope of a "quick fix" by "exorcism" to those with serious illness.  The logical conclusion of reading some of the faith teachers' instruction has been to lead many people into fear and bondage to demons.  An example of how far this can be taken is seen by Don Basham's teaching that post-nasal drip, fingernail biting, and arthritis of the knees, among many other normal ailments, can be caused by demons. 

Conclusion

Many people have been influenced by false teaching in the church.  Some of them have been hurt because these teachings have not worked.  For example, the "faith assembly" of Hobart Freeman has resulted in the deaths of almost 100 people because his people were told that seeking medical help was supposedly "a sin" and "denial of faith."  Instead they were to claim their healing.  But sadly in claiming their healing the sick all died one by one.  This is just one of the terrible consequences of false teaching.  Not surprisingly, many of the other people felt betrayed and felt like giving up on Christianity.

Jesus stated that false teachings will lead to harmful consequences (Matthew 7:17; 24:11, 12: Acts 20:30), but He said there is a way out.  Those who truly live by His Word , the Bible, can stand the pressures of life because their lives are built on His Word, the solid rock (Matthew 7:24-27).  He promises those who know and obey His Word, that they will be set free (John 8:31, 32).  Have you neglected to learn and obey His Word, relying instead on spiritual experiences and unbiblical faith?

If you are hurt, feel betrayed, and feel like giving up on Christianity, what can you do?  First, you should not continue to fellowship where false teachings are taught (Romans 16:17).  Diligently search until you find a church where the Word of God is honoured and taught accurately, where the pastor has spent years of study in an evangelical seminary.  

Second, you must learn the Word of God yourself.  Take the time and effort to learn the basic doctrines of the Bible so that you will know when it is being "wrongly divided" (misinterpreted).

You should visit a Christian bookstore and purchase some good commentaries.

Try and help those still caught in false teachings.  The Bible encourages us to reprove those following false teachings "severely that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13).

Finally, we ask some of you to consider whether you have substituted a technique of salvation for salvation itself.  Is what you consider "faith" in God really nothing more than a mechanical technique to manipulate God for your own ends?  In John 6:26, 27 Jesus said that many people followed Him only to satisfy their own hunger.  He said instead of following Him for "food that perishes" they should rather seek the "food that endures to eternal life."  Jesus went on to explain that His food that endures to eternal life was not anything material that we can possess; rather it is true knowledge of God Himself (John 6:33-35).

Augustine spoke of this true knowledge in his commentary on Psalm 73.  There he said that God Himself should be our only treasure and reward.  To seek anything but God alone is not to seek for God.  Does this depict you?  Do you love God for Himself alone or for what you can get out of Him?

-  John Ankerberg & John Weldon


For more information on Victory Churches and the Faith Movement, go to the Reference Library.  Click on any book title to get a brief overview of the book.  All books on the list are available through www.amazon.com.