702 - The Word of Faith Movement

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Comments

[Curtis Turner]

I don't believe that the Free Methodist Church is called to minister or evangelize exclusively to the poor and disenfranchised even though that is a rich source of persons for the Kingdom of God. When the Free Methodist Church was formed, most of our constituency was formed from these people. Since then much has changed. It seems that our motto, "One More Soul . . . ," covers the waterfront pretty well.

And . . .

"The mission of the Free Methodist Church is to make known to all people everywhere God's call to wholeness through forgiveness and holiness in Jesus Christ, and to invite into membership and equip for ministry all who respond in faith."

I believe that these statement addresses our current situation and cannot be improved on. We just need to make these good statements our own and make them the important part of our lifestyle.

[Sarah Ehlers]

I was involved in the Word of Faith Movement from my mid-teens to age 29. This movement is not mearly a "name it and claim it" prosperity movement. The greater problem exists in the dotrine preached that ties person righteousness to termperal blessing. I agree that a study and doctinal position my be helpful in providing clear leadership for the members of the Free Methodist Church. In doing so, please remain causious about making generalized statements. There is significant sound teaching mixed in with the error of this group. Much discernment will be needed to clarify this issue. They are not a denomination with written doctrinal statements as we are.

[Curtis Turner]

Some have suggested that Christians need to "experiment" with God such as was true of Frank Laubach, a missionary to the Phillipines who was dubbed "the Apostle of Literacy." He was a humble man and composed a game with minutes in which he endeavored to see how many minutes out of the hour his thoughts could be fully devoted to thinking about God. Dr. Mary Alice Tenney remarked about Laubach that he visited Greenville College years ago. She overheard the comment, "who is that guy in the unpressed suit? It was Frank Laubach. He found that he could devote most of his time to God by simply eliminating from his thought those ideas/distractions that do not aid in this. With all the distractions we have with internet, tv, and technology,this would certainly be a wonderful goal for Christians today in endeavoring to worship God with our minds.

[Sarah Ehlers]

I noted a type-o or two in my first posting and I thought it would be good to explain further. I intended to say that the Word of Faith movement ties personal righteousness to temporal blessing. This is a damaging and subtle twisting of the truth. Bible verses, rather than enlightening the conscious mind, are thought to have power in themselves to create reality. If you have sickness you are encouraged to quote scripture verses over and over again to receive your healing. In doing so, your health is regained by your ability to "believe God's Word". In other words, the blessing of health is dependant on the strength of your faith not the faithfulness of God. People who are already poor and struggling are encouraged to give above and beyond their tithe (a tithe is the minimum to remain in covenant with God) in order to “open the windows of heaven” so they can receive help from the Lord for their poverty. This is called “giving out of your need” and justified by the widow who supported Elijah. Usually this kind of giving results in continued poverty. While the book of proverbs warns us about impulse purchases in many different ways, the Faith Movement encourages its followers to give abundantly without forethought to the latest minister or project presented as “good ground” to “plant seed”. This damaging doctrine should be addressed in some way and our members warned.

[Curtis Turner]

What do you think about Isaiah 58, where God promises uncommon health, uncommon favor, uncommon healing, uncommon joy, owenrship in your own home, etc.?

Does that apply today for those who fulfill the requirements listed in the chapter?

v. 8 uncommon health & favor
v. 9 answered prayer
v. 10 uncommon charity
v. 11 uncommon guidance & satisfaction
v. 14 uncommon travel "Then you shall take delight in the Lord and ride upon the heights of the earth;"

One tv evangelist advocated "sowing a seed of $58 dollars a month into a ministry and with your desires in the memo line of the check. . . above and beyond the tithe. Would it be presumptuous to do this kind of thing, say, for our FM World Missions . . . say the Umri Mission Hospital rebuilding. "Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt, you will raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in."

[Sarah Ehlers]

Curtis, you are welcome to e-mail me directly at sehlers@sundotcom.net. My intention is not to create an ongoing argument. Yet I ask you, does God build up one part of His body at the expense of another? Does God support the rich at the expense of the poor? In my first posting you will see my acknowledgement that there is much truth mixed with error in the Faith Movement and blanket statements are not helpful. The resolution calls for study of this issue and guidance to be provided. I strongly urge the general conference to do so. 1 Timothy 6:3-7

[Jerome Van Kuiken]

Curtis, passages such as Isa. 58 must be counterbalanced by the testimony of Paul in 1 Cor. 4:9-13, as well as throughout his other letters; the testimony of Peter in 1 Pet.; of James in his letter; and the rest of the New Testament, all of which portray the present experience of Christians as involving a good deal of hardship and loss of goods for Christ's sake. The testimony of American Christians who visit believers in, say, Latin America, is that they have great joy in the Lord despite (or because of?) having virtually nothing but the Lord. I find it impossible to believe that Christians in Sudan or North Korea are destitute, imprisoned, and oppressed because they lack the faith that a middle-class American has! It seems to me that the testimony of Scripture is that, on Judgment Day, it will be the poor, persecuted, despised Christ-followers who receive the greatest rewards for their faithfulness in spite of all the obstacles the devil and the world have thrown at them. Biblical faith is faithfulness to Christ, not a magic force or formula to manipulate God for my instant gratification.

[Curtis Turner]

Once, while traveling to a job, I encountered a man who was paying for his kerosene at a gas station. From his two gallon can, corked with a hand carved wooden plug, I could see that he was a man in the lower economic eschelons of society, perhaps living in a tar paper shack someplace. My thought iterations kicked in and I offered to buy his kerosene. He, out of natural pride, did not accept my offer. In any case, I believe the emotions I felt at that time were from God. Oddly, that same day I received a call from a county surveyor's office who had 18 lots to receive my services. Somehow, in my mind, I connected the two events. I offered charity to a stranger. God gave me a super large job. Is it presumptuous for me to say that I believe that God was blessing me for a heart attitude by allowing me to have the larger job which was received the same day? I cannot disconnect the two events. Then I recall 2 Cor. 9:6-8 that says, "6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." There are spiritual applications of that verse as well as temporal. That day I felt that the temporal application was being realized.

[Sarah Ehlers]

Curtis,

I know very few people that would not agree that God rewards his children for their faithfulness and obedience. What I and others are concerned about is a "gospel" that portrays material blessing and "success" as evidence of God's approval. Under the assumptions of some, the poor man is cursed and receiving the just reward for his sins and/or ignorance of the “full gospel” while the rich man displays the “evidence” of God's reward for his "great faith". Some act as if faith is a power given to us for the obtaining of cool stuff. The more faith you have the more and greater stuff you can get.

I recall the pain in my own heart as I listened to my former pastor proclaim that everyone who has been tithing and giving offerings would be financially blessed and will have no lack. I struggled every month to pay my bills the entire time I was "giving out of my need" which was over ten years. I have not struggled at all since I left that church over 10 years ago. The poor should be encouraged, supported and assisted just as you have it in your heart to do. Many poor people are men and women of strong character who are not just looking for the next hand out. And yes God will bless us as we serve Him. 1 Timothy 6:6.

[Curtis Turner]

Spiritual giving comes from the heart and there is an attitude in which the giver gives out of what has been called "superarrogation." In other words, he may be proud or nurturing a spirit of pride when he gives, maybe trying to prove to himself that he is really somebody special. Jesus said, "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Since the heart is deceitful above all things, one should pray about how he gives as well as how much. I have known people who I believe were great givers but they set up blind trusts so that no one ever knew how much they gave or to which Christain causes. If I were to become wealthy, that is probably what I would do.

[Jerome Van Kuiken]

Thank you, Sarah, for your willingness to be vulnerable in your blogging in order to offer the wisdom of your experience. God's grace be with you!

[Sarah Ehlers]

Thank you, Jerome. I really appreciate your kind words. I am more than willing to elaborate further if it were asked of me. I am so thankful to be with the FMC! The only thing I miss about the faith movement is the precious people. Philippians 3:15-16.