Tallen
17th July 2009, 01:42 PM
The Prosperity Message of Kenneth Copeland: Examined
By: Ted A. Clore
Part I
Creating Faith
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)
The Word-Faith religion has at its heart certain uniquely defined doctrines. These doctrines are usually based upon an eclectic style of theology, piecing together a theological mosaic in which the doctrines exist. Sometimes this style of theology is driven by the attitude of searching through materials hunting for what confirms it. This often leads to finding a verse, paragraph, sentence or historical document, or author into which the theology is read. The presuppositions and presumptions of the theology emerge as the defining process. Instead of seeing the contextual or historical data in the proper light and setting, the theology is read into the data in a manner that the adherent thinks he has found affirmation and confirmation for his belief. I call this treatment of theology, Eclectic Theology, because of the hunting and searching process it so often demonstrates as its driving force.
This method was adopted in the beginning stages when this theology began to emerge and its founder, E. W. Kenyon, formulated it’s foundational doctrines. He began with certain presuppositions and presumptions and then searched for, hunted and invented means and ways to find those in the biblical record and materials he encountered over many years of effort. That method has been the theological standard since, as the Word-Faith apologists, teachers and leaders demonstrate over and over in their methods of apologetics and teaching1.
For example, Kenyon taught a heretical view that Christ took a Satanic nature while atoning for the sin of man2. This change in the nature of Christ he deemed as a “spiritual death”, which is a redefining of the orthodox and historical view. His claim was that Jesus died two deaths, one a physical death and the second a spiritual death. He stated at one time that he wasn’t sure about this doctrine but was searching for a way to confirm it, as it was something that he believed in his heart. He says, “For years I knew this but I had no scriptural proof”.3 He continues to explain that he found his answer when he learned of the Intensive Plural used in Isaiah 53:9:
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death (deaths); because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (Isa 53:9 KJV)
The Hebrew used in this verse employs a grammatical method common among Hebrew writers. It is the use of a plural noun to signify the intensity or magnitude of an event. It has nothing to do with the number of deaths Christ died, but is signifying the type of violent and intense death of Christ. His death, is viewed as a death of such magnitude that it was a severe and intense death. The Hebrew would say, “He died the deaths”.
My point being this, Kenyon believed prior to his finding a source that Christ died two deaths, one spiritual and one physical. When he found something that he could use to support his belief, he misapplied a definition of a word to show his belief, he read his belief into scripture and was satisfied with the outcome. Although it is a misapplication and ignorant use of a word. This demonstrates the method used in the theology. It is to find things that can be used to confirm the theology, rather than adopting the theology to what is meant by the source, the Bible. It causes the adherent to seek for things it finds useful for it’s purpose. This is what I mean by Eclectic Theology, it is a means to use various unrelated and often misused sources to construct a belief, and confirm it with outside sources, even though it would mean that those sources would be redefined and misused in the application.
Kenneth Copeland has emerged as one of the leaders and definers of this Eclectic Theology. He is probably the foremost and most celebrated minister of this particular religion and is often looked to for his views from the Word-Faith adherents. He has written many books, articles, spoken worldwide, and been found in all types of media to promote his message of “faith and prosperity”. This is a foundational doctrine of the movement, and is what is said to be the defining doctrine. Almost all of the adherents of this religion, view this a common bond between those that claim this as their theology.
In his book The Laws of Prosperity, Kenneth Copeland lays out the fundamentals of his belief and the foundational scriptures in which he is going to build from, to show how to achieve the favor of God and prosper, both financially and spiritually in the kingdom of God. As we look at this teaching remember his claim that, “this is the foundation of the doctrine” and is what he deems “foremost throughout the study” and is the “scriptures on which our (his) whole study is founded”.
It is my contention that the Word-Faith apologist builds his doctrines by reading his assumptions into the scriptures. This has been demonstrated upon several occasions. The Eclectic Theology of the Word-faith religion works upon this very basic mistake. Instead of letting scripture build it, it reads into the scriptures and all supporting materials what is found within the basic teaching. Let us examine that this is indeed what is happening and that instead of proving his points, Copeland instead builds upon poor logic, poor principles of handling the Scripture and an overall, albeit unknown, dishonesty in doctrine.
Mr. Copeland starts his teaching with the following:
As we begin this study of prosperity and how it functions according to the Word of God, let’s read the basic scriptures on which our whole study is founded. Let me mention here that we are putting the Word of God first and foremost throughout this study, not what we think it says, but what it actually says! When we see it in the Word, believe it, and begin to act on it, faith is created. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”, Romans 10:17.4 (Emphasis mine)
He is stating, a foundation to build upon, and saying that “faith” is something that is created within the believer by certain actions that person takes. Namely that the believer would “believe it and begin to act upon it”. “It” is the word of God. He appeals to a verse that says faith is created by “hearing” the word of God, but that is not how he is interpreting the verse.
True Christian faith comes by comprehension of the word of God through a process of hearing it. This is a foundational scripture to what he is going to build upon, and is for the most part a truth that is fundamental within all of the Christian faith. That is, that it is believed that faith comes from hearing the message of God. That is common among all of the Protestant church to read this scripture as the means of proclaiming the gospel message to bring people into the kingdom of God or into “the faith”. So that those who hear the message will be strengthened and be built up in their faith.
He continues:
”As you read our basic scripture text, remember Jesus said in John 17:17, “Thy word is truth.” For a clearer meaning substitute the Word for truth as follows: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth [the Word] that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth [the Word]. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth [the Word]” 3 John 2-4. 5
Now Mr. Copeland’s own words say that this is “the foundation” and “the foremost” principle of his teaching, that is that scriptures are to be believed and acted upon. These verses and his premise is what he is going to build one of the unique doctrines of the Word-Faith Religion on. He being one of the prominent leaders of this religion is stating that he views these scriptures to be what is foundational to the Word-Faith theology of prosperity and a fundamental truth to the Christian believer. He even implies that the scriptures are the “truth of God” and he is confident that the truth is a sure thing to build his doctrine upon. And with this he has brought three verses together as the foundation of his doctrine. Here they are for clarity and focus.
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (Joh 17:17 KJV)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 Jo 1:2-4 KJV)
And Copeland leaves us with the impression that this is all well and good, and he is going to begin his doctrine upon sound scripture truth, not building upon what “we think” these verses say, but we will “believe them and act upon them”.
Let us examine his premise and see how sound this teaching is, in an honest and straightforward manner. Seeking the truth of the teaching and most importantly the truth of the Bible, the word of God. This is what he wants us to do, he said it himself, believe the Bible and not what someone thinks it says, I would hope he would apply that principle to himself as well.
His first assumption: “Faith”, is a creation from taking scripture and “believing it and then beginning to act on it”. If you do this then, according to him, a person will “create faith”. This is the beginning of the many assumptions the Word-Faith apologist makes as he teaches the traditions and beliefs of those that taught him. I would have you note that he has not shown that faith is created by believing and acting upon the word, because the scripture he uses for this assumption says nothing like that. Notice what it says, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. Where does this verse say that faith comes from “believing and acting upon the word”? It doesn’t.
Actually this verse tells us something very different, that is, that faith comes from hearing the Gospel message of Christ, and the meaning here is comprehending the message of Christ, which sets all others apart from those that are believers. Any man can hear and act on the word of God, but only the believer can hear and comprehend the word of God, it is foolishness to those that have not been born of the Spirit of God6. Consider this in the context it was written:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:8-17 KJV)
Faith is a product of hearing do you see that? Mr. Copeland’s beginning premise is a reading into the scriptures, eisegesis, and is not at all “putting the Word of God first and foremost throughout this study” as he claimed he would be doing. Instead he substitutes his meaning at the onset of his foundational teaching, “believe and act”, in a most deceitful way. Although I believe that it is unknown to him of this deceit, for he himself is deceived as he has been taught it by his mentors and teachers. The Word-Faith theology holds true to its agenda. That is, to prove itself at all cost just like E. W. Kenyon demonstrated when he was formulating his theology, looking for what would confirm his already established premise. This is not splitting hairs finding a problem as some have claimed, but is in fact a fundamental flaw in the teaching and apologetic methods employed within the theology, from its beginning. Mr. Copeland is parroting the method he learned from his predecessors and mentors of his religion.
Instead of assuming, as Mr. Copeland does that faith is created by some action of man, “believing and acting”, and not supporting that claim with scripture, let us look at what this scripture says about where faith comes from. The scripture is clear that this “faith” comes from that which you already heard. The Apostle is referring to the message that was already proclaimed to those that were reading this. He, in context, is talking about what is it that has given you the ability to “call upon the name of the Lord” for salvation. And that which gave you that “faith” was “the gospel of peace”. A message that is near you and in your heart already, that is the message that the Apostle preaches. Read Romans 10:8-17 again in the previous highlighted paragraph and see if that is what the Apostle is teaching within the context of these verses. Make your own mind up by reading the verses, not by listening to a man’s opinion. Whether this is my opinion or anyone else’s. A reasonable mind can determine this without much effort. Please consider:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Rom 10:8 KJV)
And,
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom 10:15 KJV)
Please note here, faith is a fruit of the Spirit of God that is in union with the born again man and this faith is bore or produced in the believer. A fruit that is born out of the Spiritual Life of God and the believer’s life with that Spirit. It comes from, not “believing and acting”, but instead by comprehending the gospel of peace through an action of God within man. The Apostles tells us to realize that we have it in our hearts. This is something that the believer has already received when he was enabled to accept the message of the Apostle, the gospel message of peace, glad tidings and good things. A message of reconciliation between those that believe and the Giver of Life. It is that we can comprehend the peace and good news of the message of Christ that is the source of our faith. We shouldn’t put the cart before the horse here, but instead put the scripture before the teaching.
The Apostle is telling us faith’s source is that the believer has already heard the Gospel of peace and glad tidings, and it already exists within him, not something to be created by works and actions, but something already created and near the believer. It is in his mouth and heart already, because they had already heard the “word of faith”, the message of the peace between man and God given by the grace of God by the work of Christ. What could bring more confidence and trust (faith), than knowing that the enmity between you and God is healed, and you are in right standing with God because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The believer already has this in his heart, as it is what he has been established upon in the first place.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Rom 10:8 KJV)
And because they had already heard that message of peace and glad tidings, that was brought to them by the Spirit of God through the Apostle’s message. They would bear fruit of that union between man and God, produced not from the action of man, but by the effort of God that had brought them the message of liberation, hope, trust and confidence. In other words, men don’t hear the message and then act upon that message to create “faith” and then again later to create “more faith”. Instead, they have already received the message and can have confidence in the fact that they are reconciled to God and faith springs forth from that fact through the work of the Holy Spirit. The action will be a fruit of what is already received, not what they can produce through their own actions. Their action will agree with the work of the Spirit in them. The word is near the believer, already, even in our mouth and heart. We are reconciled to God through Christ and the message of justification and reconciliation has already given us the faith to proceed on.
The Apostle confirms this fact, that faith is Spiritual fruit that is bore by the believer. Fruit that is produced by the Spirit, not by “believing and acting”, but by being a person that has the gospel message in their heart and mouth. The principle being taught is that faith is an action that will cause the believer to act. We don’t act to gain faith, but instead we act because of faith. Actions are a result of faith. Consider the Apostles words:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1 KJV)
And,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 KJV)
And, that by grace salvation is realized through faith, this being a gift from God. Both the salvation and the faith resulting from God’s grace, is not something born from a man’s effort to believe and act upon the word of God. But he believes and acts because of the word of God that he has already received, producing what it is designed to do within the heart that has received it.
It is here where we find the Pelagian7 tendencies of the Word-Faith religion. That is that man produces within his own effort that which is needed for life and salvation, a heresy rejected by the historical church. It is here that we find that the Word-Faith religion teaches that faith is not a Spiritual fruit created when the Gospel message was preached and comprehended, but is instead something that the believer manufactures through the effort of “believing and acting”. This is a self-determining action rather than a Spiritual result. The Word-Faith religion is teaching a basic belief inherent in it and that belief is determining how the scripture is being read and understood from the Word-Faith perspective.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Eph 2:8 KJV
This is something that is an already realized fact, that God has already dealt to the believer a measure of faith. Created, not by “believing and acting”, but by grace, that is realized through sober thinking devoid of the pride that the Word-Faith religion comes to the scripture with. Thinking that doesn’t cause us to believe we create our own faith by a pride in our own effort, but through the already grace given faith measured to the believer. “God has dealt”, and that is contrary to the Word-Faith teaching that we deal and create faith by “believing and acting”. It is an unbridled mind and one that thinks more highly of itself than it should when it attributes to man what God has done.
Two mutually exclusive ideas, the idea taught in the scriptures that finds God as it’s source and creator of faith in man, and that of the Word-Faith adherent that attributes to himself the ability to create what is pleasing to God by reading his theology into the scriptures.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Rom 12:3 KJV)
Let me continue with the Apostles thoughts that faith comes from the Gospel you have already heard.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)
The first “hearing” is a grammatical genitive. It is showing an action coming away from or out of the subject, toward the predicate, or toward an object. The faith is coming from the subject, which in this portion of scripture is the gospel (the word of God) that has been already received, and toward the object, which is the one hearing or comprehending the gospel of peace and reconciliation. The Genitive is showing possession, they already possess both the gospel and the faith that came from that message. Now think about this for a moment. The gospel is what produces a salvation-al faith in the hearer, not a person that hears the word and then causing himself to “believe and act”. That is, the gospel message causes faith in the one hearing the message and it is hearing which caused one to act in belief. The gospel has caused faith through hearing it, the Gospel message becomes the means that God has used to produce the proper action in His people and the Apostle is telling the Roman believers they already have received the gospel of peace and glad tidings, because he knows they already have received that message from him.
Mr. Copeland’s first premise is faulty, he plainly states that a person can hear the word of God and then he can act creating faith. But the scripture says that it is not something that comes from the believer’s side, like Copeland is teaching, but from the other side, that is, that faith is a result of the gospel. Our actions are not creating faith, but instead hearing the gospel message and the fruit of that hearing is what causes our faith, our confidence determines our actions.
We remember that consistently the scriptures teach us that faith is a fruit, not a work. (Gal 5:22) In other words, Christian faith is not something that comes from the effort of man, but is instead something that comes from God through the means He has created. Faith’s source is God’s Spirit enlightened message and its object is Jesus Christ.
1: See my articles Eclectic Theology and its Natural Errors, and The Failure of Charismatic Theology for further examples and explanations of the theology.
2: For more on this see: A Different Gospel, by D. R. McConnell, and What Happened from the Cross to the Throne, by E. W. Kenyon.
3: Identification, p. 18, Kenyon.
4: Laws of Prosperity, by Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1974: p. 9.
Please note that this same book is still being offered through Mr. Copeland’s ministry. It is promoted as the foundation to financial success and sound instruction and guidance regarding finances.
5: Ibid
6: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1Co 1:17-18 KJV)
7: Pelagius, was a teacher in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He denied the teaching of original sin and the results of that teaching. Thus he taught that man has a God given freewill to choose spiritual things according to that will. To him faith is the result of will and determination, as apposed to faith being the result of God regenerating the heart of man. I would recommend reading R. C. Sproul’s short essay, The Pelagian Captivity of the Church. It can easily be found on the Internet.
By: Ted A. Clore
Part I
Creating Faith
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)
The Word-Faith religion has at its heart certain uniquely defined doctrines. These doctrines are usually based upon an eclectic style of theology, piecing together a theological mosaic in which the doctrines exist. Sometimes this style of theology is driven by the attitude of searching through materials hunting for what confirms it. This often leads to finding a verse, paragraph, sentence or historical document, or author into which the theology is read. The presuppositions and presumptions of the theology emerge as the defining process. Instead of seeing the contextual or historical data in the proper light and setting, the theology is read into the data in a manner that the adherent thinks he has found affirmation and confirmation for his belief. I call this treatment of theology, Eclectic Theology, because of the hunting and searching process it so often demonstrates as its driving force.
This method was adopted in the beginning stages when this theology began to emerge and its founder, E. W. Kenyon, formulated it’s foundational doctrines. He began with certain presuppositions and presumptions and then searched for, hunted and invented means and ways to find those in the biblical record and materials he encountered over many years of effort. That method has been the theological standard since, as the Word-Faith apologists, teachers and leaders demonstrate over and over in their methods of apologetics and teaching1.
For example, Kenyon taught a heretical view that Christ took a Satanic nature while atoning for the sin of man2. This change in the nature of Christ he deemed as a “spiritual death”, which is a redefining of the orthodox and historical view. His claim was that Jesus died two deaths, one a physical death and the second a spiritual death. He stated at one time that he wasn’t sure about this doctrine but was searching for a way to confirm it, as it was something that he believed in his heart. He says, “For years I knew this but I had no scriptural proof”.3 He continues to explain that he found his answer when he learned of the Intensive Plural used in Isaiah 53:9:
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death (deaths); because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (Isa 53:9 KJV)
The Hebrew used in this verse employs a grammatical method common among Hebrew writers. It is the use of a plural noun to signify the intensity or magnitude of an event. It has nothing to do with the number of deaths Christ died, but is signifying the type of violent and intense death of Christ. His death, is viewed as a death of such magnitude that it was a severe and intense death. The Hebrew would say, “He died the deaths”.
My point being this, Kenyon believed prior to his finding a source that Christ died two deaths, one spiritual and one physical. When he found something that he could use to support his belief, he misapplied a definition of a word to show his belief, he read his belief into scripture and was satisfied with the outcome. Although it is a misapplication and ignorant use of a word. This demonstrates the method used in the theology. It is to find things that can be used to confirm the theology, rather than adopting the theology to what is meant by the source, the Bible. It causes the adherent to seek for things it finds useful for it’s purpose. This is what I mean by Eclectic Theology, it is a means to use various unrelated and often misused sources to construct a belief, and confirm it with outside sources, even though it would mean that those sources would be redefined and misused in the application.
Kenneth Copeland has emerged as one of the leaders and definers of this Eclectic Theology. He is probably the foremost and most celebrated minister of this particular religion and is often looked to for his views from the Word-Faith adherents. He has written many books, articles, spoken worldwide, and been found in all types of media to promote his message of “faith and prosperity”. This is a foundational doctrine of the movement, and is what is said to be the defining doctrine. Almost all of the adherents of this religion, view this a common bond between those that claim this as their theology.
In his book The Laws of Prosperity, Kenneth Copeland lays out the fundamentals of his belief and the foundational scriptures in which he is going to build from, to show how to achieve the favor of God and prosper, both financially and spiritually in the kingdom of God. As we look at this teaching remember his claim that, “this is the foundation of the doctrine” and is what he deems “foremost throughout the study” and is the “scriptures on which our (his) whole study is founded”.
It is my contention that the Word-Faith apologist builds his doctrines by reading his assumptions into the scriptures. This has been demonstrated upon several occasions. The Eclectic Theology of the Word-faith religion works upon this very basic mistake. Instead of letting scripture build it, it reads into the scriptures and all supporting materials what is found within the basic teaching. Let us examine that this is indeed what is happening and that instead of proving his points, Copeland instead builds upon poor logic, poor principles of handling the Scripture and an overall, albeit unknown, dishonesty in doctrine.
Mr. Copeland starts his teaching with the following:
As we begin this study of prosperity and how it functions according to the Word of God, let’s read the basic scriptures on which our whole study is founded. Let me mention here that we are putting the Word of God first and foremost throughout this study, not what we think it says, but what it actually says! When we see it in the Word, believe it, and begin to act on it, faith is created. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”, Romans 10:17.4 (Emphasis mine)
He is stating, a foundation to build upon, and saying that “faith” is something that is created within the believer by certain actions that person takes. Namely that the believer would “believe it and begin to act upon it”. “It” is the word of God. He appeals to a verse that says faith is created by “hearing” the word of God, but that is not how he is interpreting the verse.
True Christian faith comes by comprehension of the word of God through a process of hearing it. This is a foundational scripture to what he is going to build upon, and is for the most part a truth that is fundamental within all of the Christian faith. That is, that it is believed that faith comes from hearing the message of God. That is common among all of the Protestant church to read this scripture as the means of proclaiming the gospel message to bring people into the kingdom of God or into “the faith”. So that those who hear the message will be strengthened and be built up in their faith.
He continues:
”As you read our basic scripture text, remember Jesus said in John 17:17, “Thy word is truth.” For a clearer meaning substitute the Word for truth as follows: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth [the Word] that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth [the Word]. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth [the Word]” 3 John 2-4. 5
Now Mr. Copeland’s own words say that this is “the foundation” and “the foremost” principle of his teaching, that is that scriptures are to be believed and acted upon. These verses and his premise is what he is going to build one of the unique doctrines of the Word-Faith Religion on. He being one of the prominent leaders of this religion is stating that he views these scriptures to be what is foundational to the Word-Faith theology of prosperity and a fundamental truth to the Christian believer. He even implies that the scriptures are the “truth of God” and he is confident that the truth is a sure thing to build his doctrine upon. And with this he has brought three verses together as the foundation of his doctrine. Here they are for clarity and focus.
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (Joh 17:17 KJV)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 Jo 1:2-4 KJV)
And Copeland leaves us with the impression that this is all well and good, and he is going to begin his doctrine upon sound scripture truth, not building upon what “we think” these verses say, but we will “believe them and act upon them”.
Let us examine his premise and see how sound this teaching is, in an honest and straightforward manner. Seeking the truth of the teaching and most importantly the truth of the Bible, the word of God. This is what he wants us to do, he said it himself, believe the Bible and not what someone thinks it says, I would hope he would apply that principle to himself as well.
His first assumption: “Faith”, is a creation from taking scripture and “believing it and then beginning to act on it”. If you do this then, according to him, a person will “create faith”. This is the beginning of the many assumptions the Word-Faith apologist makes as he teaches the traditions and beliefs of those that taught him. I would have you note that he has not shown that faith is created by believing and acting upon the word, because the scripture he uses for this assumption says nothing like that. Notice what it says, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. Where does this verse say that faith comes from “believing and acting upon the word”? It doesn’t.
Actually this verse tells us something very different, that is, that faith comes from hearing the Gospel message of Christ, and the meaning here is comprehending the message of Christ, which sets all others apart from those that are believers. Any man can hear and act on the word of God, but only the believer can hear and comprehend the word of God, it is foolishness to those that have not been born of the Spirit of God6. Consider this in the context it was written:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:8-17 KJV)
Faith is a product of hearing do you see that? Mr. Copeland’s beginning premise is a reading into the scriptures, eisegesis, and is not at all “putting the Word of God first and foremost throughout this study” as he claimed he would be doing. Instead he substitutes his meaning at the onset of his foundational teaching, “believe and act”, in a most deceitful way. Although I believe that it is unknown to him of this deceit, for he himself is deceived as he has been taught it by his mentors and teachers. The Word-Faith theology holds true to its agenda. That is, to prove itself at all cost just like E. W. Kenyon demonstrated when he was formulating his theology, looking for what would confirm his already established premise. This is not splitting hairs finding a problem as some have claimed, but is in fact a fundamental flaw in the teaching and apologetic methods employed within the theology, from its beginning. Mr. Copeland is parroting the method he learned from his predecessors and mentors of his religion.
Instead of assuming, as Mr. Copeland does that faith is created by some action of man, “believing and acting”, and not supporting that claim with scripture, let us look at what this scripture says about where faith comes from. The scripture is clear that this “faith” comes from that which you already heard. The Apostle is referring to the message that was already proclaimed to those that were reading this. He, in context, is talking about what is it that has given you the ability to “call upon the name of the Lord” for salvation. And that which gave you that “faith” was “the gospel of peace”. A message that is near you and in your heart already, that is the message that the Apostle preaches. Read Romans 10:8-17 again in the previous highlighted paragraph and see if that is what the Apostle is teaching within the context of these verses. Make your own mind up by reading the verses, not by listening to a man’s opinion. Whether this is my opinion or anyone else’s. A reasonable mind can determine this without much effort. Please consider:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Rom 10:8 KJV)
And,
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom 10:15 KJV)
Please note here, faith is a fruit of the Spirit of God that is in union with the born again man and this faith is bore or produced in the believer. A fruit that is born out of the Spiritual Life of God and the believer’s life with that Spirit. It comes from, not “believing and acting”, but instead by comprehending the gospel of peace through an action of God within man. The Apostles tells us to realize that we have it in our hearts. This is something that the believer has already received when he was enabled to accept the message of the Apostle, the gospel message of peace, glad tidings and good things. A message of reconciliation between those that believe and the Giver of Life. It is that we can comprehend the peace and good news of the message of Christ that is the source of our faith. We shouldn’t put the cart before the horse here, but instead put the scripture before the teaching.
The Apostle is telling us faith’s source is that the believer has already heard the Gospel of peace and glad tidings, and it already exists within him, not something to be created by works and actions, but something already created and near the believer. It is in his mouth and heart already, because they had already heard the “word of faith”, the message of the peace between man and God given by the grace of God by the work of Christ. What could bring more confidence and trust (faith), than knowing that the enmity between you and God is healed, and you are in right standing with God because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The believer already has this in his heart, as it is what he has been established upon in the first place.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Rom 10:8 KJV)
And because they had already heard that message of peace and glad tidings, that was brought to them by the Spirit of God through the Apostle’s message. They would bear fruit of that union between man and God, produced not from the action of man, but by the effort of God that had brought them the message of liberation, hope, trust and confidence. In other words, men don’t hear the message and then act upon that message to create “faith” and then again later to create “more faith”. Instead, they have already received the message and can have confidence in the fact that they are reconciled to God and faith springs forth from that fact through the work of the Holy Spirit. The action will be a fruit of what is already received, not what they can produce through their own actions. Their action will agree with the work of the Spirit in them. The word is near the believer, already, even in our mouth and heart. We are reconciled to God through Christ and the message of justification and reconciliation has already given us the faith to proceed on.
The Apostle confirms this fact, that faith is Spiritual fruit that is bore by the believer. Fruit that is produced by the Spirit, not by “believing and acting”, but by being a person that has the gospel message in their heart and mouth. The principle being taught is that faith is an action that will cause the believer to act. We don’t act to gain faith, but instead we act because of faith. Actions are a result of faith. Consider the Apostles words:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1 KJV)
And,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 KJV)
And, that by grace salvation is realized through faith, this being a gift from God. Both the salvation and the faith resulting from God’s grace, is not something born from a man’s effort to believe and act upon the word of God. But he believes and acts because of the word of God that he has already received, producing what it is designed to do within the heart that has received it.
It is here where we find the Pelagian7 tendencies of the Word-Faith religion. That is that man produces within his own effort that which is needed for life and salvation, a heresy rejected by the historical church. It is here that we find that the Word-Faith religion teaches that faith is not a Spiritual fruit created when the Gospel message was preached and comprehended, but is instead something that the believer manufactures through the effort of “believing and acting”. This is a self-determining action rather than a Spiritual result. The Word-Faith religion is teaching a basic belief inherent in it and that belief is determining how the scripture is being read and understood from the Word-Faith perspective.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Eph 2:8 KJV
This is something that is an already realized fact, that God has already dealt to the believer a measure of faith. Created, not by “believing and acting”, but by grace, that is realized through sober thinking devoid of the pride that the Word-Faith religion comes to the scripture with. Thinking that doesn’t cause us to believe we create our own faith by a pride in our own effort, but through the already grace given faith measured to the believer. “God has dealt”, and that is contrary to the Word-Faith teaching that we deal and create faith by “believing and acting”. It is an unbridled mind and one that thinks more highly of itself than it should when it attributes to man what God has done.
Two mutually exclusive ideas, the idea taught in the scriptures that finds God as it’s source and creator of faith in man, and that of the Word-Faith adherent that attributes to himself the ability to create what is pleasing to God by reading his theology into the scriptures.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Rom 12:3 KJV)
Let me continue with the Apostles thoughts that faith comes from the Gospel you have already heard.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)
The first “hearing” is a grammatical genitive. It is showing an action coming away from or out of the subject, toward the predicate, or toward an object. The faith is coming from the subject, which in this portion of scripture is the gospel (the word of God) that has been already received, and toward the object, which is the one hearing or comprehending the gospel of peace and reconciliation. The Genitive is showing possession, they already possess both the gospel and the faith that came from that message. Now think about this for a moment. The gospel is what produces a salvation-al faith in the hearer, not a person that hears the word and then causing himself to “believe and act”. That is, the gospel message causes faith in the one hearing the message and it is hearing which caused one to act in belief. The gospel has caused faith through hearing it, the Gospel message becomes the means that God has used to produce the proper action in His people and the Apostle is telling the Roman believers they already have received the gospel of peace and glad tidings, because he knows they already have received that message from him.
Mr. Copeland’s first premise is faulty, he plainly states that a person can hear the word of God and then he can act creating faith. But the scripture says that it is not something that comes from the believer’s side, like Copeland is teaching, but from the other side, that is, that faith is a result of the gospel. Our actions are not creating faith, but instead hearing the gospel message and the fruit of that hearing is what causes our faith, our confidence determines our actions.
We remember that consistently the scriptures teach us that faith is a fruit, not a work. (Gal 5:22) In other words, Christian faith is not something that comes from the effort of man, but is instead something that comes from God through the means He has created. Faith’s source is God’s Spirit enlightened message and its object is Jesus Christ.
1: See my articles Eclectic Theology and its Natural Errors, and The Failure of Charismatic Theology for further examples and explanations of the theology.
2: For more on this see: A Different Gospel, by D. R. McConnell, and What Happened from the Cross to the Throne, by E. W. Kenyon.
3: Identification, p. 18, Kenyon.
4: Laws of Prosperity, by Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1974: p. 9.
Please note that this same book is still being offered through Mr. Copeland’s ministry. It is promoted as the foundation to financial success and sound instruction and guidance regarding finances.
5: Ibid
6: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1Co 1:17-18 KJV)
7: Pelagius, was a teacher in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He denied the teaching of original sin and the results of that teaching. Thus he taught that man has a God given freewill to choose spiritual things according to that will. To him faith is the result of will and determination, as apposed to faith being the result of God regenerating the heart of man. I would recommend reading R. C. Sproul’s short essay, The Pelagian Captivity of the Church. It can easily be found on the Internet.