Customer Reviews

A Different Gospel: Biblical and Historical Insights into the Word of Faith Movement

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

This is a book that tells the truth. I have always believed that truth is truth, even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is falsehood, even if everybody believes it. The word-faith movement is big, what with the TBN television network and other big names promoting it, but that doesn't make it truthful. It is almost embarassing to say that I was raised a Pentecostal, because most of Christendom today (and non-Christians, for that matter) identify me with this movement. It is indeed an heretical movement, based on the teachings of Kenyon, who was steeped in the Eastern idea of there being a god within each of us, and the idea that Jesus was someone who needed a regeneration of his own heart after the death on the cross (discounting the orthodox Christian idea of a sinless man having broken the chains of death, hell, and the grave). This movement is based on Eastern concepts, but because it has taken on the terminology and outward appearances of Pentecostalism (speaking in tongues, on-the-spot translation, faith healing), many believe it to represent Pentecostalism. Nothing could be further from the truth. One only needs to ask an older member of a mainstream Pentecostal church (Church of God, Assembly of God) to find out this isn't so.
Classic Pentecostalism has always maintained that there is no such thing as a "free lunch" in this fallen, sinful world, even for saints. We will all grow old and die (the death rate is still one per person, as Hank Hanegraaf says), and there is no guarantee of wealth in this life. Just because someone is a "child of God" is no guarantee of continued health and wealth. Both the godly and ungodly include the poor and sick. In fact, Jesus himself claims that his disciples "shall be hated of all men for my name's sake". The important things of life are not bound up in trying to surpass Bill Gates' bank account, nor in visiting the plastic surgeon past the age of 90.
As we have all heard of "get rich quick" schemes, if it "sounds too good to be true, it probably is". In this case, some of these word-faith teachers are becoming wealthy off people's desire to have God's promises in this life (health and wealth forever), and are using the ploy of religious fervor to do it.
McConnell has done a fantastic service by writing this book, even though sincere, dedicated Christians are unknowingly involved in this movement. He details the history of the movement to the present day, something that Hanegraaf's book didn't do. Very interesting and convincing. Would that there were more brave souls as McConnell to step forward.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? I have read the book twice and found the information 100% correct and on target. However, there are times when the author has forgotten (in my opinion) Peter's instruction in 1 Peter 3:16 to use gentleness and respect when challenging another. Other than this, the book is supurb.

It is unfortunate that there are those who are biblically unsound and do not know how to properly interpret scripture. As a result you have unfounded and distorted reviews concerning this fabulous book. McConnell's research is perfect, timely and well documented.

I was a licensed minister and pastor in the Word of Faith movement for ten years. I can attest to the validity and accuracy of what has been uncovered in this book. Only a foolish and a scripturally unlearned heart could say otherwise. Please, for your sake and the eternal sake of untold thousands, get this book! If you are involved in this hereitcal movement, repent, learn to love God instead of things and learn to walk in love and humility. True Christianity alone and not an empty religion such as the Word of Faith movement will set people free! Will set you free!

Again, GET THIS BOOK! Read it and read it again. Titus 1:10-16

God bless you as you endeavor to seek the truth over fantasy.

Write a book like this one! McConnell wrote one of those "you either love it or hate it" books. Witness the raging reviews below!

McConnell hasn't written the perfect book. There are some loose ends that could have been addressed more thoroughly. For example - if the faith preachers have it wrong, then how does faith work? What about the clear scriptures that tell us we can move mountains (Mt 21:21), rebuke storms (Lu 8:23ff), and have what we say (Mk 11:23)? Some very clear scriptures need to be addressed, IMO.

However, McConnell nails many of the loose ends in the word faith / positive confession movement. Like the fact that occult groups have long taught that the forces of nature, or God, have to do what you tell them to, if you get the words right. That's the essence of magic. And it's the essence of the faith people's teaching -- You get what you say, you live your words (good or bad)...

McConnell's careful footnoting connects the founders of the faith movement clearly to the occult, New Thought, and Christian Science movements. And he raises the very relevant point - do heresy and error create orthodoxy?

McConnell updated his book in the mid 90's and answered his critics. The claim that this book is dated or debunked is silly. The issues are still on the table.

Get this book. It's the best, most balanced, most researched book done to date on this important rift in the church.

McConnell sheds light on the real story behind Kenyon, Hagin, and the Word of Faith movement. As someone who grew up in the movement, it is good to see a fellow charismatic believer give a rebuke to the utter unchristian doctrines that are flaunted within this movement. McConnell gives a well-balanced perspective on faith, healing, and prosperity. God Bless McConnell

My summary above is a brief review of people named and judged, in writing, by the Apostle Paul for one reason or another. Why didn't Paul just read his Bible and not judge anyone else? "A Different Gospel" is one of the most important treatments of the Faith Movement, as it is written by a charismatic graduate of Oral Roberts University. One reviewer attacks Hanegraaff, who only wrote the forward to this edition of McConnell's book. McConnell wrote this book in the 80s before Hanegraaff was known.

The single most damaging fact shown by this book is that the "Father of the Faith Movement," namely self-proclaimed prophet Kenneth Hagin, plagiarized the writings of no less than three ministers (including E. W. Kenyon) throughout his own ministry. When he was caught and confronted, Hagin blamed God for it. Since Hagin and others were long ago confronted individually and by groups, it is certainly proper to go and "Tell it to the church." For Hagin fans, I'll make it simple: plagiarism is theft; saying that God made you do it unwittingly is lying. This is the root of the fruit.

Speaking of the fruit, if healings validate the spirit behind a ministry, then those in the Faith Movement should feel well at home in a Christian Science reading room. This is a fitting observation, because McConnell discovered that Kenyon has direct educational, doctrinal, and testimonial links to the metaphysical cults (Christian Science, New Thought, etc.). Thus, Hagin has plagiarized and popularized, via Kenyon, key Christian Science ideas unknowingly. These ideas have become so entrenched in modern charismatic thought (although they are not inherently charismatic in nature), it is difficult to get adherents to see the forest through the trees.

Other people, including but not limited to Gordon Fee, Walter Martin, Michael Horton, Curtis Crenshaw, Richard Abanes, James White, Chuck Smith, Michael Moriarty, John MacArthur, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ron Rhodes, and Elliot Miller have written and spoken against the spiritual dangers of the Faith Movement and its teachers. Rest assured, the Apostle Paul would be proud. But I'm also sure that the followers of Philetus viewed the Apostle Paul with the same measure of contempt that most of the one-star reviewers feel toward the brave people listed above.

Many Pentecostals and Evangelicals are so unwilling to bend their pride and allow a book, a teacher, or even the Bible itself to teach them God's truth. Like the Pharisees of old, many are so stuck in their traditions and idealogy that they refuse to read any other books unless they agree with it. Surely many have fallen captive to Mark 7:1-13.

That is the case with many reviews I have read on Dr. McConnell's well researched and well written work on the Word-Faith Movement. In this case, Dr. McConnell has shown how key Word-Faith doctrines derived themselves in the teachings of E.W. Kenyon and then to Kenneth Hagin. He does a great job of showing how similar Kenyon and Hagin are on various topics and leaves the reader little doubt of who copied who.

I was raised Pentecostal. I currently work in a Pentecostal church however I read many different opinions from non-charismatics to charismatics from Reformed to Baptist to Arminian. However, I hold the Bible to be the sole authority for faith and practice (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:3) and I test all things by Scripture (1 Thess. 5:21). It's time for the Church to return to a true love for the Word of God and not for emotional, experiential, health and wealth teachings found in the minds of Word-Faith teachers and not in Scripture. May we once again preach the Word!

i have ever read on the topic of the Word of Faith heresy. If you are in one of these "ministries," pray for enlightenment, and read this book; even if you have to steal it due to having all your money stolen by the "minister."

Read and pray over Job and 2 Corinthians 12 too, while you're at it. These are the passages the Holy Spirit of truth Himself illuminated to me, in delivering me from this deadly deception.

My apologies for such a heated (even emotive) polemic, but i was seduced by this monster myself, through a desire for worldly riches bordering on coveteousness. Well, hmm, i probably was being coveteous? And this as i went about "dreambuilding" with my buds in "the business." But that's another story for another day.

Another title to see is the more poular treatment by Hank Hanegraaf, "Christianity in Crisis," even though he's been correctly criticized for painting with too broad a brush in his analogous introduction. Pick it up anyway, though, it (the fairy tale-like analogy) does make for a very entertaining read. You may even laugh out loud!

I am an M.Div graduate from Oral Roberts University. Many of my friends and I were deceived by the Word of Faith Movement. This has caused us much pain and grief. A Different Gospel has proved liberating for me. Please don't hesitate to purchase this book. Life is not a game that we play by finding the right formulas for getting God to move. As one who has been trained in scholarship, I respect the time and research that has gone into this work. The author is careful to document all of his sources and backs up his assertions with proven documented facts. A professor of mine came close to losing his job when he required one of his classes to read the book. It seems that politics, not truth is the key motivator in the Word of Faith Movement. This book is for truth seekers.

Thanks for providing such a thorough research. This book clarified my many questions, but made me feel even more worried when I see the trend in Christianity today...

I have had first hand experience with a faith teacher, who graduated from Rhema Bible College. I can tell you that the faith teacher's teachings are exactly the way described in this book. The problem for faith teachers are that they mixed up God's promise for the future (a new world), with the reality we have in this fallen world. The reality is that God's Kingdom is still in the process of realization and will not be completed until Jesus returns.

Their method of positive-confession is highly questionable as it is not biblical. This method creates very high pressure for individuals. By their teachings, a Christian cannot admit he is a sinner, or he is weak, or otherwise the power of the prayer will be weakened...

The way faith teachers quote the Bibles are very questionable, and that's why it lead to such deviation.

I totally think this movement is a disease in Christianity. It is very dangerous. Unless major denominations label Rhema and other Word of Faith Churches as heresies, we will find it difficult to stop this disease. Watch out! Some faith teachers are beginning to infiltrate major denominations...

Anyone giving this book one star has obviously been brainwashed by The Word of Faith Movement. Kenneth Hagin Miseries along with others have cause more pain and suffering then they will ever know. I know many people who have personally been crushed by the teachings of this cult like movement. Just look at the lack of training by the teachers of this movement. Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, WERE ALL GIVEN HONORARY DOCTORATES BY ORU. They don't have a lick of Biblical training and they have the audacity to use "DR." in front of their name! What a joke. These so called teachers have NO EARNED BIBLICAL DEGREES. They have bilked millions of dollars out of gullible people. Dr. McConnell (a REAL scholar) shows how the teachings of this movement are utter nonesense and not even Christian. THe quotes are relevant, context is given, and the presentation is fare. If you want to escape from the disease called the "word of faith" movement, this book will show you the way.