Table of Contents
→ Word of Faith Movement Overview
→ Word of Faith Movement Roots
→ Word of Faith Movement Teachings
→ Initial Leaders of the Word of Faith Movement
→ Recent Popular Leaders of the Word of Faith Movement
→ For More Information on the Word of Faith Movement
→ More False Movements in the Church
Word of Faith Movement Overview
The Word of Faith Movement, also known as the prosperity gospel, is an attempt to utilize God for personal benefit based upon supposed truths from the Bible. Followers of the Word of Faith Movement are taught they were created as little gods and are encouraged to speak their own desires out loud to God. In return, God is obligated to fulfill those desires, since their words literally manipulate the “faith-force.” In this movement, you may also hear things like “Name it and Claim it” or “Health and Wealth.”
Word of Faith Movement Roots
The Word of Faith Movement has its deepest roots in Pentecostalism, specifically both the Latter Rain Movement in Canada in 1948 (which greatly affected the Assemblies of God denomination) and the ministry/teachings of William Branham and E.W. Kenyon. In many ways, its basic philosophy is most easily defined as a “mind science” type cult. By “mind science” we mean it teaches there are universal laws which God has put into place. Those laws are useful to anyone who wishes to “tap” into them, and they are supposedly found in the teachings of the Bible. This allows the believer to “claim” the truths found in the Bible as their own and God is now obligated to carry them out. In one sense, through this belief, a person can place God in their debt because He is now subject to and committed to these supposed laws. But if the laws are not actually true and Biblical, then the person has actually committed idolatry!
Word of Faith Movement Teachings
Some of the specific false teachings in the Word-Faith Movement: Kingdom Now Theology, Manifest Sons of God, New Breed, Joel’s Army, Revelation Knowledge, Positive Confession, Name-It and Claim-It, Prosperity Theology, Adam as God Incarnate, and The Born-Again Jesus.
Initial Leaders of the Word of Faith Movement
William Branham, E.W. Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts
Recent Popular Leaders of the Word of Faith Movement
Morris Cerullo, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Paul & Jan Crouch, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, John Hagee, Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes, Bishop Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, Mike Murdock, Frederick Price, R.W. Shambach
For More Information on the Word of Faith Movement
What is the Word of Faith movement? Is it biblical? Compelling Truth
Research: Word of Faith By Marsha West, Christian Research Network
Justin Peters: Clouds without water – False prophets Video
Spiritual Shipwreck of the Word-Faith Movement – Justin Peters Video
Exposing the Word of Faith Prosperity Gospel – Justin Peters Video
More False Movements in the Church
→ Overview of each of the following false movements
→ Spiritual Formations “Infiltration”
