Mark & Avoid Word Of Faith Teachers
Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, and others in those circles will tell you that "positive life confessions" or "power thoughts" or just taking authority over your life in some way or another will give us positive results and blessings simply because we say good things about ourselves. As if that's our main problem...
The Bible paints a very different picture as to what is wrong with humanity. The reason there is death, loss, disease, hardship, poverty, murder, sadness, etc., is because of sin. It may not be your particular sin that brings these things directly, but it is the fallen, sin-filled world in which we all live. Why would the Bible speak of endurance? Why would it teach to rely on God for strength if we didn't really need it? The false teacher says that it's in you to fix these things. They twist the Bible, take a verse here and a verse there to prove their wrong points, and point away from God's Word, and away from truth to fool you - to trap you. To take your money.
It all sounds good, but it's mythology. A false teacher doesn't just deny scripture, but they will add to it, subtract from it, and twist it for dark purposes. Mostly, these people want your money. They're tricksters. If this was the 1800's, they'd be the charlatans selling snake oil and elixirs. It's no different. By the way, Satan won't just try and make people believe there is no God. One of his more powerful tricks is to lie about God to those who want to believe. Imagine, you think you're getting God, but instead, you're getting a repackaged version of yourself that is irresistible to many.
Deny yourself. Read God's Word and submit to it. Christ died for you, not so you can be successful and awesome, but so you can have eternal life and glorify him now, in this life wether you have money, health, success or not. RUN FROM THE TEACHINGS OF Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, and anybody that runs in those circles! The easiest way to identify a false teacher, is who supports and celebrates their teachings. Birds of a feather flock together.
The problem with the prosperity gospel is that it's a corrupt gospel - which means it's false. It's not "close enough." It's a lie. These Word/Faith "teachers" have moved the focus off of sound doctrine, good theology, true worship, pursing holiness, service and sacrifice, ministry, and they've shifted it to promise physical, financial, and material blessings via the amount of faith you show by, well, giving these teachers money. The prosperity gospel (or Word of Faith Movement) tries to employ the power of the Holy Spirit to allow the believer to get anything they want, when in reality, the Holy Spirit delivers us from sin to do what God wants. Joyce Meyer claims that Jesus was the first born again man, and that God the Father sent Him power while He was in Hell (which He was not), and in the same way, with enough faith, we may have that power to rid ourselves of poverty and sickness. They teach us to "realize our potential" and become "little gods."
The Bible teaches however that Jesus IS God and it is WE that must be born again. This movement is birthed out of a love for money. Mammon - which is a very unforgiving god. Bottom line, you cannot buy a blessing. Peter said, ""May your money perish with you, because you thought you could purchase the gift of God with money!" (Acts 8:20). BEWARE OF ANYBODY IN THE WORD / FAITH MOVEMENT. In their greed, they will exploit you.
