"Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" Luke 6:39
Keith Thompson reveals how the teachings of Joel Osteen, Kenneth Hagin, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, T. D. Jakes, and others are pure blasphemy. This film takes a look at the major doctrines which separate
this movement from historic Biblical Christianity. Its origins and
errors are documented, then contrasted by the biblical teaching with evidence and fact.
If you aren't able to view the full film, at least watch the origins of the movement. The film isn't comprehensive of all of the Word of Faith's error, but he does a nice job gathering the evidence.
Last week Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, spoke out about Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith. He said, “When I hear Mitt Romney say that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God — that he’s the Christ, raised from the dead, that he’s his Savior — that’s good enough for me.” He then goes onto say that he wants to be “inclusive” and welcoming to those who claim they accept Christ. That's an interesting word to pick.
This isn't the first time he's made this statement. He expounded on some of his other beliefs when he was on Oprah, and that's when he told the world there are many paths to Jesus.[1]
His choice of words concerning an "inclusive church" is quite revealing on his part. It is the third leg of Rick Warren's purpose driven/communitarian "three-legged-stool". The "inclusive church", according to Warren, is a church that includes a broad spectrum of believers with a common purpose. This fits very neatly in with Warren's PEACE Plan, and kingdom building with/for the Roman Catholic church.[2]
Shouldn't a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ be able to differentiate the truth from a lie? Since he is one of the Most Influential Christian Leaders in the U.S., he is leading many of the sheeple toward the wide gate. Let's look at some key differences between Christianity and Mormonism.
God is a spirit without flesh and bones (John 4:24)
Mormons
"And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light (Book of Abraham 4:3)
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits
enthroned in yonder heavens!!! We have imagined that God was God
from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so
that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's,"
(Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; Compare with Alma 18:26-27; 22:9-10).
"Therefore
we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature
perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and
bones," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
Mormon's "sacred" under garments
The Trinity Christians
The Trinity is
the doctrine that there is only one God in all the universe and that He
exists in three eternal, simultaneous persons: The Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
Mormons
The Trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct
from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine
dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35).
Mormons, as do other cults, uses the beehive in their symbolism. The beehive represents the Mother Goddess, and is part of Satan's Unholy Trinity (or
triangle): Mother Goddess (the Queen Bee), Father of Light (Lucifer) and
Antichrist, the Son of Perdition, all conspiring to take control of
planet earth.[2]
Jesus is the eternal Son. He is second person of the Trinity. He has two natures. He is God in flesh and man (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9) and the creator of all things (Col. 1:15-17).
Mormons
Jesus is the literal spirit-brother of Lucifer, a creation (Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).
Holy Spirit Christians
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is not a force. He is a person. (Acts 5:3-4; 13:2)
Mormons
Mormonism distinguishes between the Holy Spirit (God's presence via an
essence) and the Holy Ghost (the third god in the Mormon doctrine of the
trinity). "He [the Holy Ghost] is a being endowed with the attributes and powers of Deity, and not a mere force, or essence," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 144).
First generation temples like the one located in Nauvoo, are loaded with Hermetic
symbolism. The image of the "sunstone" is known to occultists as
the symbol for Ba'al.[3]
Salvation Christians
Salvation is the forgiveness of sin and deliverance of the sinner from damnation. It is a free gift received by God's grace (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 6:23) and cannot be earned (Rom. 11:6).
Salvation has a double meaning in Mormonism: universal resurrection and . . . "The
first effect [of the atonement] is to secure to all mankind alike,
exemption from the penalty of the fall, thus providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure remission of personal sins," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 78-79).
"As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that
forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with
prescribed requirements -- 'obedience to the laws and ordinances of the
Gospel,'" (Articles of Faith, p. 79).
Another view of the symbol for Baal, we see the pentagrams on the side of their Navoo temple. They tell their members it represents Christ's condescension and then resurrection.
The Bible Christians
The inspired inerrant word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). It is authoritative in all subjects it addresses.
Mormons
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated
correctly. . ." (8th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church).
Mormonism is not the biblical version of Christianity. It is
not Christian, and Mormons serve a different god than do the Christians
-- a god that does not exist. Paul talks about this in Gal. 4:8,
"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods." Only the God of the Bible exists. There are no others. Mormonism puts its faith in a non-existent god.
First Question
Oprah asks, "Are there many paths to get to the one God."
Joel's answer: "I believe that Jesus is the way to the one God, but I believe there are many paths to Jesus. You don't know how Jesus would reveal Himself to somebody. So, I'm not into excluding people. Jesus can reveal Himself to anybody.
Let's give Joel a second chance to explain. Maybe Oprah made him nervous:
From all of that twisted explanation, I'd say that Joel believes that Jesus is not the only way to heaven. If he does, he needs to get his story straight.
New Age teaching says: Jesus was not and is not the only Christ, nor is he God. Many New Age writers on the other hand refer to a Christ spirit. They believe there have been many Christ, Jesus being only one of many. [1]
Is Joel really teaching New Age doctrine, Universalism, or is he pushing the false gospel of ecumenism?
Second Question
Oprah asks: "Will a gay person be accepted into heaven, as you see it?"
Joel's answer: "I believe they will."
The Apostle Paul says, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that homosexuals "shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9, 10). God said to Israel, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13).[2]
Does Joel believe that hell is a fraud? He's a man-pleaser.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. 4:3-4
John Foster Dulles helped open the doors for the 1954 Graham Crusade in London. Dulles was the founder of the pro-world government Council on Foreign Policy.[1]
In Matthew 24, there can be many parallels draw from scripture to what is occurring in our world today. For example, "The disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus answered by saying that one of these signs would be when false prophets would rise and deceive many. If you want to see how far the modern Church has drifted, take a look at this new study released by Barna Group.
41 percent of American adults were unable to identify who they believe to be the most influential Christian leader in our nation today.
EvangelistBilly Graham who was named by 19 percent of adults.New Age
Pope Benedict XVI came in second in the results, with nine percent of those surveyed. New Age
President Barack Obama with eight percent.Luciferian
Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church got five percent of adults. Word of Faith
Charles Stanley or Joyce Meyer got 2 percent of the vote. New Age and Word of Faith
The remaining 1 percent surveyed said: Franklin Graham, T.D. Jakes, George W. Bush, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and James Dobson. New Age, Word of Faith, and Luciferian
We live in a world of confusion, heresies, and blatant falsehood. A day doesn't go by when I hear of churches accepting false teachings, or disowning certain Scriptures because they don’t believe they align with the teachings of Jesus. Some Christians will have courage to speak out against them, while others decide it’s best not to make waves.
False teachings creep into the Church easily, because believers trust their sincere Jesus-loving pastors. These teachers will lay God's Word alongside a falsehood, making the principle appear to be true, thus giving continued life to a lie. It then grows and lures in others, and before you know it - they've created a monster.
The Word of Faith doctrine of “positive and negative confession” is one of these false teachings. By embracing a faulty view of faith, hundreds of thousands have been captivated by it. This teaching is inseparably linked to the belief that “faith is a force,” which maintains that words themselves actually contain the power to change reality (positively or negatively, depending on what kind of words are spoken) when coupled with the faith-force. So basically, “What you say is what you get.”
What most people don’t realize, is that the Word-Faith movement is one of the most subtle heretical systems to emerge during our lifetime. Their teachings dominate television ministries and make them appear like Biblical Christianity. Those involved in the movement have no idea of its cultic qualities and theology. The gospel of the Faith movement does produce results, but you will find that the gospel of metaphysics does as well.
Mary Baker Eddy
Some who have been in the movement may say that they have seen healing and miracles occur, but results can never be the criterion by which the truth of an idea is proven. If that were the case, Charismatics would have to claim Mary Baker Eddy as a prophetess, and Christian Science as the true Gospel. But Christian Science is not the true gospel and Word-Faith is deeply rooted in the metaphysical cult schools.[1]
Spiritual Laws and Formulas New Agers follow a similar principal of the“Law of Attraction.” The Law of Attraction
simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about. Your dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest. Sound familiar? This is the same kind of rhetoric heard in the Word-Faith movement. But what is actually taking place here? Is the occult world literally trying to offer mankind the “powers of creation and lordship?” These are powers that we as believers know belong to God alone. God never gave man the right to be his own master and live according to his own will. Yet, this is precisely what those promoting occult spiritual laws want. But you will find that it is what the vast majority of today's Christian wants too.
It is, in fact, the exact same offer the serpent brought to Adam and Eve in the Garden — powers that will make you “like God.” “And the serpent said unto the woman, “You shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5).
Essentially, faith teachers are recommending “formulas” that a person should follow in order to get whatever he/she wants from God. And, of course, Scripture verses are taken out of context and misused in order to try to justify these formulas. They demote God to make Him look more human than He is. They deify man to make us look more like God.
Word-Faith theology’s view of spiritual laws and formulas can really only be understood in light of the doctrine of god in the metaphysical cults. The “god” that the metaphysical cults believe in is not a personal God who sovereignly governs the universe, but an impersonal force - “the Force,” “the Infinite Power,” “the Spirit of Infinite Life,” and “the Infinite Intelligence.” This infinite, but impersonal, force rules the universe indirectly through “immutable laws” rather than directly through His presence and wisdom. [2]
How are the Word-Faith and metaphysical cults similar?
Consider the similarities between the Word-Faith and the metaphysical teachings of New Thought, Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, Divine Science, the Church of Religious Science, and the Society of Healing Christ.
1. Metaphysical cults say: Faith is a force that both God and man can use Word-Faith says: “Faith is a force just like electricity or gravity” (Copeland), and it is the substance out of which God creates whatever is (Capps). God uses faith, and so may we in exactly the same way in order to produce the same results through obedience to the same “laws of faith” (Capps) that God applied in creation. “You have the same ability [as God has] dwelling or residing on the inside of you” (Capps). “We have all the capabilities of God. We have His faith” (Copeland).
2. Metaphysical cults say: Faith’s force is released by speaking words
Word-Faith says: “Words are the most powerful thing in the universe” because they “are containers” that “carry faith or fear and they produce after their kind” (Capps). God operates by these very same laws. “God had faith in His own words … God had faith in His faith, because He spoke words of faith and they came to pass. That faith force was transported by words … the God-kind-of-faith … is released by the words of your mouth” (Hagin). “Creative power was in God’s mouth. It is in your mouth also” (Capps).
Consider the teaching of Joel Osteen and the power of words:
Word-Faith says: “Man was designed or created by God to be the god of this world” (Tilton, Hagin, Capps). “Adam was the god of this world … [but he] sold out to Satan, and Satan became the god of this world” (Hagin). “We were created to be gods over the earth, but remember to spell it with a little ‘g’” (Tilton, Hagin, Capps). “Adam was created in God’s class … to rule as a god … by speaking words” (Copeland). “Man was created in the God class … We are a class of gods … God himself spawned us from His innermost being … We are in God; so that makes us part of God (2 Cor 5:17)” (Copeland).
Consider some of the things Kenneth Copeland has said:
(YouTube link) (Please watch the entire piece to get the jist)
4. Metaphysical cults say: Anyone — occultist or Christian — can use the faith-force
Word-Faith says: Because man is a little god “in God’s class: very capable of operating on the same level of faith as God” (Capps), and “because all men are spirit beings” (Hagin), therefore anyone, whether Christian or pagan, can release this “faith force” by speaking words if he only believes in his words as God believes in His (Hagin). “God is a faith God. God releases His faith in Words, [and we must do the same:] … Everything you say [positive or negative] will come to pass” (Capps). “Spiritual things are created by WORDS. Even natural, physical things are created by WORDS” (Hagin).
5. Metaphysical cults say: You get what you confess Word-Faith says: The vital key is confessing, or speaking aloud, and thereby, releasing the force of faith. “You get what you say” (Hagin, Hunter). “Only by mouth confession can faith power be released, allowing tremendous things to happen” (Cho). “Remember, the key to receiving the desires of your heart is to make the words of your mouth agree with what you want” (Copeland). “Whatever comes out of your mouth shall be produced in your life” (Tilton). “They’re [his two children] 30-some years of age today, and I don’t believe I prayed more than half a dozen times for both of them in all these years. Why? Because you can have what you say — and I had already said it!” (Hagin).
Word-Faith says: The tongue “can kill you, or it can release the life of God within you … whether you believe right or wrong, it is still the law” (Capps). There is power in “the evil fourth dimension” (Cho). If you confess sickness you get it, if you confess health you get it; whatever you say you get” (Hagin). “Faith is as a seed … you plant it by speaking it” (Capps). “The spoken word … releases power — power for good or power for evil” (Bashan). Therefore, it is very important never to speak anything negative but only to make a positive confession — hence the name of the Positive Confession movement. [3]
The following metaphysical cults, which have ties to the Word of Faith, have said the following.
7. New Thought says: “This Infinite Power is creating, working, ruling through the agency of great immutable laws and forces that run all through the universe, that surround us on every side. Every act of our everyday lives is governed by these same great laws and forces . . . In a sense, there is nothing in all the great universe but law.”
8. Unity School of Christianity says: “The mental and spiritual world or realms are governed by laws that are just as real and unfailing as the laws that govern the natural world. Certain conditions of mind that are so connected with certain results that the two are inseparable. If we have one, we must have the other as surely as night follows day.”
In other words, “every thought of the human mind causes an effect in the universe through the operation of spiritual laws.” In such teachings, man does not have to deal with a personal God, but rather with impersonal laws that can be manipulated by anyone, regardless of their standing with God. Faith is merely a formula by which you manipulate the universe, by which you manipulate things.
Kenyon and Spiritual Laws
Kenyon
E.W. Kenyon (1867–1948), the Father of the Word of Faith, referred to “the great spiritual laws that govern the unseen forces of life,” in many of his writings. He espoused the metaphysical version of deism, a universe governed by spiritual laws, instead of by God. So, in practice, the Word of Faith “god” does not differ from the god of the metaphysical cults, and both must do the bidding of universal laws that are activated by human faith.
Therefore, the numerous healings and miracles occurring in the Word-Faith movement are not necessarily signs from God, and the Faith gospel may not be the Gospel of the New Testament. Charismatics who assume that healings vindicate truth are overlooking the fact that almost every major religion and cult the world has ever known, has produced healings. For every god there is a religion, and in every religion there are healings.
Smith Wigglesworth has also been given credit as an early proponent of the metaphysical. In 1944, the teaching that stated: “What you say will come to pass. Speak the word and the bound shall be free, the sick shall be healed,” was written by Pentecostal evangelist Smith Wigglesworth in a publication titled Pentecostal Evangel. It is viewed by some to be a significant point on the timeline of 20th century ecumenical apostasy.
Smith Wigglesworth
Granted, the Faith movement does claim to heal “in the name of Jesus,” but this proves nothing, because the New Thought movement does also. Both the Faith movement and metaphysical cults incessantly use the name of Jesus. Because of the historical connection between the two, the question that must be raised again is whether the Jesus of the Faith movement is the Jesus of the New Testament. Perhaps the Jesus of the Word-Faith movement is “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4) and the gospel of the Faith movement is a “different gospel” (Gal. 1:6).
More Background on Kenyon and the Metaphysical Cults E. W. Kenyon established his ministry in the late 1800s. Kenyon adopted the teachings of New Thought. New Thought is a spiritual movement which developed in the United States during the late 19th century and emphasizes metaphysical beliefs. It is a set of beliefs concerning the effects of positive thinking, the law of attraction, healing, life force, creative visualization, and personal power. The beliefs of New Thought are based in a variety of religious and philosophical sources, including Platonism (with its emphasis on the realm of Ideas), Swedenborgianism (biblical interpretation based on the view that the material realm has spiritual causes and divine purposes), Hegelianism (a philosophy identifying the nervous organism as the meeting ground of the body and the mind); spiritual teachings of Eastern religions like Hinduism, and especially the Transcendentalism of the 19th-century American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.[4]
Emma Curtis Hopkins
There have been two people who have claimed to found New Thought - Phineas Quimby (1802-1866) and Emma Curtis Hopkins (1849-1925), a former student of Mary Baker Eddy of Christian Science. Hopkins wrote High Mysticism and Scientific Christian Mental Practice and founded the Emma Hopkins College of Metaphysical Science, where the vast majority of graduates were women. The two most commonly-held and fundamental beliefs in New Thought are: (1) the Divine is in all things and (2) the mind is much more real and powerful than matter.[5]
What most people don't realize is that the New Age movement, with the help of Alice Bailey, articulated and enlarged the Spiritualism of the 19th century Helena Blavatsky, Phineas Quimby, and Mary Baker Eddy, and brought it to a new level of metaphysical sophistication into the 20th century. [6] As you watch the video, you will see how New Thought and Christian Science has been woven together. The video give credit to Phineas Quimby's New Thought as the forerunner to the New Age movement.
Does a Christian compromise his faith if he uses the metaphysical faith-force?
Are there power in words? Yes, I believe there is. Is positive confession to be used as a tool to get what a Christian wants? No, I believe that by doing this, a believer has compromised, because it uses mystical practices. The point of magic in Witchcraft
is to make the "bendable" world bend to your will.[7] Christians are not to bend the world to our will. God has provided the Christian with prayer, and it is the only means by which we have communication with Him and convey our requests. We are given answers according to His will.
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." 1 John 5:14-15
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
It's plain and simple, with no formula required!
In Dave Hunt’s book Beyond Seduction, he said, “In the world of the occult, the metaphysical “mind power” of one’s belief is reinforced by speaking it aloud. This act releases what occultists call the “creative power of the spoken word” and brings into existence whatever one says or decrees. This occult idea forms the basis for mantras, incantations, and hexes. Nevertheless, the faith teachers continue to expound upon this unbiblical and occult thesis and represent it to be the teaching of Scripture through their ministry in the pulpit, radio, and television, and in books such as The Tongue - A Creative Force and You Can Have What You Say.
So you see, God provides boundaries, and they are for our benefit. Dabbling in the metaphysical is mysticism, and mysticism is the occult. The word "occult" means hidden, and when we hold that words have hidden powers in themselves, we are saying they have occultic powers. Contrary to what many Charismatic Christians believe about the power of their personal positive and negative confession, the practice has crossed the line. Their confessions become more like magical rituals, than an exercise of faith.
But, make no mistake, the Lord does not function through magic! It completely ignores His Sovereign Will for a person’s life as the individual attempts to operate within particular “laws” to bring about what he desires for his own life. Attempting to operate outside the Will of God and/or rebelling against His will is witchcraft (I Sam. 15:23).
Anton LaVey helps us see how Lucifer has manipulated his way at an attempt to reach the top. He wrote, “Satanic ritual is a blend of Gnostic, Cabbalistic, Hermetic, and Masonic elements, incorporating nomenclature [system of principles] and vibratory words of power from virtually every mythos ....” In these rituals, the knowledge of the right words, appropriate phrases and the more highly developed forms of speech, gives man a power over and above his own limited field of personal action.”
Power and success are why so many people are willing to sell their soul to the devil! The True Power of Words
In Biblical Christianity, we learn that the Word of God carries power to restrain (Psa. 119:9, 11), guide (Psa. 119:133), it is living and active (Heb. 4:12), it is a source of joy (Psa. 119: 47, 97, 162), of new life (1 Peter 1:23), and a source for spiritual food (1 Peter 2:2). The Word can deliver from troubles (Psa. 107:20), make free (John 8:32), illuminate (Psa. 119:130), bear witness (John 20:31), produce faith (Rom. 10:17), delight the heart (Jer. 15:16), and it has the ability to destroy the world in judgement (2 Peter 3:5-7).
God’s spoken Word produces a crop (Matt. 13:23). The "good seed," the truths preached, have an affect by the Gospel being preached.
In Romans 10:8-10, the Bible says that our spoken confession of heartfelt belief has the power to bring salvation. “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.”
On the negative side, we find that words alone have the ability to wound (Prov. 26:22), sustain (Isa. 50:4), determine destiny (Matt. 12:36, 37), and stir up anger (Prov. 15:1). They can invoke a blessing upon another (Gen. 24:60; Gen. Gen. 27:4, 27) and invoke a curse (Gen. 3:17; Gen. 4:11; Gen. 9:25; Gen.9:47; Deut. 28).
Conclusion Biblical faith is not magic.Yes, God does send His power as a result of proper faith, but faith is not the power of God in and of itself. Neither does “speaking words of faith” exercise the power of God. God exercises His own power. No human can direct or command the power of God. Humans only receive what the Lord sovereignly supplies.Faith is not the power of the mind, nor an attitude of mind over matter. Faith is trust and rest, specifically in the work Jesus did at Calvary.
Kenneth Hagin: Modern-Day Father of the Word of Faith Movement
Kenneth Hagin was heavily influenced by Kenyon’s writings. He elaborated on Kenyon’s theology of covenant confession, preaching a four-part formula for receiving God’s promises: “Say it; do it; receive it; tell it.” Hagin has essentially taken doctrines from a few different sources and has molded the Word of Faith teachings to what it is today. He pointed to E.W. Kenyon, T. L. Osborn, and William Branham as true men of God who greatly influenced his life and ministry.
Bible preachers and teachers have been influenced either directly or indirectly by Kenneth Hagin and his teaching. The most recognized include Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Jerry Savelle, Bill Winston, Joel Osteen, Jesse Duplantis, Charles Nieman, Hobart Freeman, and Bill Johnson.
Kenneth Hagin wrote that God "made us in the same class of being that He is Himself," and that the believer is "called Christ" because "that's who we are, we're Christ!" According to Hagin, by being "born again," the believer becomes "as much an incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth."
Based on Psalms 82:6, which says "I have said, Ye are gods and all of you, children of the Most High;" Jesus made reference to this Scripture when He was defending his deity in John 10:34.
Jesus was talking about the Old Testament judges that were set to rule over Israel. They were to carry out justice, so these judges had the responsibility of judging the people of Israel. They were like magistrates. They judged in the place of God who was the supreme judge. Any justice they did was God's justice. Any judgment they gave was God's judgment. Any rebellion against them was rebellion against God. They ruled in the place of God and so they were called in the Old Testament gods. It's just a term that means authority or rule. They were called gods. And so the term referred then to those judges of Israel. They received their office by divine appointment. They were called gods since they ruled in the place of God. (Liberty Commentary)
Do you see the connection with Gen. 3:5? It is the lie the serpent told Eve in the Garden. If she eats of the fruit, "...then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Satan used a sincere motive to tempt Eve - "You shall become like God!" To become more like God is the highest goal of humanity. But Satan misled Eve on what he believed was the right way to accomplish this goal. He told her that you become more like God by defying God's authority, by taking God's place and deciding for yourself what is best for your life. You become your own 'god.' (Life Application Bible)
Some may argue that Adam was created in the image of God, as it says in Gen. 1:26. This does not mean that man is exactly like God? We are reflections of God's glory. God is sinless, eternal, and unlimited. We are given the potential to become sinless when we become a Christian, however, but we are given the choice to fall short - and we do. We will never be like God, or even a god. Our hope is to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. (Life Application Bible)
We see Satan's temptation being posed to the Faith Movement as some believe they are like a god. By acting as gods, with a little "g", we can confess our desires until they become manifest. But all this truly does is set the believer up for a crisis in their own faith - since he will eventually learn that God doesn't work this way.
There is only one true God. He has said, “I am God, and there is none else” (Isa. 45:22). Of course there are many false gods, and none of them escape judgment, for He has said:
“The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens” (Jere. 10:11).
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Cor. 11:13-15 KJV
The True Conspiracy
"The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." Psalm 2:2-4
Unholy Alliances of Church & Government
"Would that I had the power to bring to your minds the vision as it unfolds before me! I see all denominational emphasis set aside...I see the church molding the thought of the world as it has never done before, leading in all great movements as it should. I see it literally establishing the Kingdom of God on earth." ~John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Don't be like the one who thinks that if you can't see it, then it can't see you.
Sign up for Daily Emails: Please confirm your subscription email
Translate
Search This Blog
Listening to Another Viewpoint
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." Prov. 18:13
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matt. 7:15
Are we to be ignorant?
"It's Christians who haven't got the faintest idea in the world what's going on. Christians are the most ill-informed ignorant people on the face of the earth." Jordan Maxwell
Wall of Shame
Are we to look the other way when we hear false teaching?
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:17-18
"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. " 2 Thess. 3:14
The Church: The Devil's Playground
"I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit. Crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and worldliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment." Horatius Bonar, (1808-1889)
Is Bible doctrine important?
"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." 1 Tim. 4:16 (KJV)
A Reader's Comments
"Rick Warren's a fake, the tablets---fake, the shroud---fake, the media---fake, the government---fake, the food---fake. Did I miss anything?" ~Karen
Disclaimer
Dear Blog Reader
This site has information compiled for research purposes only. I am a woman, but I don't consider my self an authority on the subject. I do not consider myself as a discernment ministry, rather a believer that finds many teachings to be problematic, and I want others to be aware of them.
I do not promote any Bible teacher, ministry, or author. If there is a video by any particular Christian minister within a post, it does not mean that I have endorsed their work. If you disbelieve anything presented on the site, please follow-up by doing your own research. Don't just consider it as being wrong.
This blog has over 1000 posts, and it has taken over 3 years to compile. Attempts are no longer being made to keep these posts up-to-date. Many links lead to a dead-end, and I'm sorry about that. Many earlier posts may seem vague, but they were written while I was still putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
A word of advise: Learn what you can, but don't get consumed by it. Bring your head out of the sand, check out the ugliness of the Satanic conspiracy, then proceed with your life. I do believe that this is a time when the Lord is separating the sheep from the goats. Praying that you won't get caught on the wrong side.
