Posted on 03/05/2010 3:35:09 AM PST by Cronos
Teaching that God, who is pure spirit (John 4:24), has His own spirit body is to teach something definitely not found in Scripture. There is no biblical basis for such a teaching. This teaching would be more in line with Mormonism than orthodox Christianity.
Kenneth Copeland teaches that God created the Universe, and everything therein, out of a spiritual substance known as faith, by forming a mental picture of the creation in "the insides of Him," then by using words as containers for His "faith," projected the image outwardly into the reality of creation.
For example, in his tape, Spirit, Soul, and Body, Copeland says, "Faith is real, is a power, is a force. It's used by God at His will. This world and everything in it was created by Him and He used His faith to do it. Now you couldn't really and truly say that He created it out of nothing because faith is something, the whole thing was born out of the force of faith that was resident inside the being of God."
Copeland's misunderstanding of faith and creation has a New Age ring to it. If the universe was created out of God's faith, and if this faith is the actual life and personality of God, then the creation is merely an extension of God (pantheism or panentheism), thus making all things divine.
In his tape, Following the Faith of Abraham, Copeland asserts, "You don't think God created man in His image and created the earth in some other image, huh? There's nothing under the whole sun that's new-This is a copy of home-a copy of the mother planet. Where God lives, He made a little one just like it and put us on it."
Evidently to Copeland, God lives on a big earth just like the smaller one humans live on, since everything images the things of God.
There is a striking similarity here to Mormonism which teaches that "God is supposed to have lived on a planet near a mysterious star called Kolob" (Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 428).
Michael Horton points out in Agony of Deceit, that "any teaching that denies that Christ as `the only begotten Son, the One and Only incarnation of God' is heresy" (p. 269; John 3:16, 1:14,18; I John 4:1). It is important to point this out.
Kenneth Copeland, in Believer's Voice of Victory, in relating to what Christ told him says, "Don't be disturbed when people accuse you of thinking you're God -the more you get to be like me, the more they're going to think that way of you. They crucified me for claiming that I was God. But I didn't claim I was God, I just claimed I walked with Him and that He was in me" (August 1988, p. 8).
The early Gnostic heretic, Cerinthus, taught that Jesus was just a man, becoming divine only at Baptism. At the cross, the Holy Spirit left Him, leaving Jesus devoid of His divine nature - once again He was just a man (Baker's Dictionary of Theology, Corinthians, p. 113).
Copeland seems to advocate the same thing in the same Believer's Voice of Victory, Aug. 1988 issue when he says, "He voluntarily gave up that advantage, living His life here not as God but as a man. He had no innate supernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miracles until after He was anointed by the Holy Spirit as recorded in Luke 3:22." This is needed to understand the WOF's teaching on Jesus' spiritual death.
In God's Will for You, Gloria Copeland states, "Jesus experienced the same spiritual death that entered man in the garden of Eden" (p. 3). This can not be so because Adam's death in the garden was due to disobedience where Jesus' death on the cross was due to obedience. (Phil. 2: 8b).
In The Name of Jesus, Kenneth Hagin defines spiritual death as "something more than separation from God. Spiritual death also means having Satan's nature¼Jesus tasted death - spiritual death - for every man" (p. 31).
To many in the WOF movement, the emphasis is not on the physical death of Jesus (which is what the Bible emphasizes, i.e., "without shedding of blood is no remission," see Hebrews 9:12, 14, 15, 22) but on the spiritual death of Christ.
On his tape, What Happened From the Cross to the Throne, Copeland says, "When (Jesus) said, `It is finished' He was not speaking of the plan of redemption. The plan of redemption had just begun. There was still three days and three nights to be gone through before He went to the throne" (parenthesis mine).
This is in direct opposition to what Christ said on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The word is tetelistai meaning "paid for in full." There was nothing more to pay for beyond the cross. If there was, Jesus would not have said to the thief on the cross, "To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43), but instead would have said, "Today you will be with Me in hell."
Both are in one word - Cult. remember Rev. Jim Jones and the People’s Temple - how did that work - mass suicide.
Thanks for the post. The donors to these heretics must be accountable.
very good study, thanks!
Kenneth Copeland does NOT speak for Pentecostals any more than Rick Warren speaks for Baptists. Each is a rogue in his own community, teaching false doctrine to the dumb masses.
“Kenneth Copeland does NOT speak for Pentecostals any more than Rick Warren speaks for Baptists. Each is a rogue in his own community, teaching false doctrine to the dumb masses.”
Each claims to be saved in the same manner, Name and Claim Salvation in Christ. Each claims there interpretation of the Scriptures in inspired by the Holy Sprit.
There are many who claim their interpretation is correct according to Sola Scriptura.
“God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.
You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.”
http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html
Once saved, always saved is the condition of the claim.
“Kenneth Copeland does NOT speak for Pentecostals “ —> What about Benny Hill and Joyce Meyers?
Talk about irony...You gotta be kidding me...Catholics criticizing someone else for believing something not found in scripture...
What you guys don't get is that all Christian religions are based on elements, and some, of large elements of truth found in the scriptures...
I don't accept all of what Pentecostalism teaches but you'd find me in one of their churches long, long before you find me in a Catholic church...
The article is about the nature of the born again Christians in relation to God...I find that the statements criticized by you guys are way over your heads...
Neither of them speak for them either. These are cult mavericks. Neither speaks for any organization but their own. They are ALL (now or have been recently) under observation and/or investigation by the IRS for massive abuse.
This is a "Word Faith" principle invented from extra-Biblical beliefs. It is NOT a part of the Pentecostal Organizations' Statemement of Faith.
Do not lump all these money grabbing charlatans into one group. Pentecostals also do not believe "once saved, always saved". That mantra belongs to some Baptists.
I would suggest people do some research and discover what the Pentecostals really believe, even their own members. Do a search for Assemblies of God, Church of God (Cleveland Tennessee), Church of God of Prophecy, Pentecostal Holiness and Pentecostal Church of God. They all tend to have near identical Statements of Faith. United Pentecostal does not fall into this category -- they have their own quirks.
That is the funniest/scariest thing I have ever read.
I was turned off by his word-faith teachings, and his deceitful sermons that put shame on those in the church that did not give as much money as others. I have seen him ask everyone to stand up who gave $10000 plus to the church over the last year, then added those that gave over a $5000, then $3000, and then $1000, where he stopped and went on with his sermon about those that stood where the ones more blessed by God.
There are some good Pentecostal churches out there. Like all churches and denominations, we should test the teachings of any church we attend, and if it doesn't feel right, then find another. My wife and I attended several before we found one we both could agree on.
My only problem with the Pentecostal churches in general, is the way they look the gift of tongues. Like dunking in water is to a baptist, speaking in tongues is to a Pentecost. I was told that I would remain a “baby Christian” until I do by my Pentecostal Sister, and to her all other denominations are not fully mature until they also accept the gift of tongues.
“Do not lump all these money grabbing charlatans into one group. Pentecostals also do not believe “once saved, always saved”. That mantra belongs to some Baptists.”
Are Baptists saved? How do they differ with Pentecostalists? Why is one interpretation of Scripture inspired and the other not if one believes one thing and another something else?
Thank you for your insightful comments. Yes, far too much emphasis is placed on certain “gifts” and not enough on the actual teaching of the Bible. Ignorance has been the biggest enemy of the church.
If you want to really learn more about the “tongues”, look up the difference between “Charismatic” and “Pentecostal”. I was astonished to find that the two are NOT the same origin.
It is a good study, but prepare for a lot of reading...and of course, discernment is critical.
I cannot answer whether they are saved or not. That is between them and God. The truth is all there, not subject to individual interpretation -- but by discernment, which seems to be missing almost everywhere these days.
“The truth is all there, not subject to individual interpretation — but by discernment, which seems to be missing almost everywhere these days.”
Who discerns what is what? How is it discerned?
By what authority?
And btw, thank you for actually answering questions.
“Talk about irony...You gotta be kidding me” —> the website is of a Reformed Protestant group. If you have issues with their theology, take it up with the site
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