Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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56 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
mcconnell tells the truth about the pentecostal imposters, December 4, 2002
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.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Doctrinally Good But Historically Questionable, January 21, 2005
As a note to anyone who cites Joe McIntyre's attempted reply to this book - it's called "E.W. Kenyon: The True Story" - I have already reviewed that book. This one is far better but has its own shortcomings.
In 1982, D.R. McConnell wrote a Master's thesis at Oral Roberts University. This book is the expansion of that thesis with new information and additional citation of what occurred post graduation.
McConnell takes on five different teachings of the Word of Faith movement - faith in faith, healing, prosperity, the born again Jesus, and the little gods teaching. The tone is somewhat dry and comes across as more of what it is - a thesis - than the sensationalistic but less accurate presentations of Dave Hunt and Hank Hannegraaff. He shows these teachings to be in contradiction with the Word of God and - as a consequence - entitles his tome "A Different Gospel."
There is much good in the pages. He devastates the false doctrines of the Faith movement with historical and biblical arguments. And unlike most critics of the Faith movement, McConnell himself is a practicing charismatic - so the usual irrelevant argument about him not believing in spiritual gifts simply doesn't apply.
There are TWO valuable services performed by this book. The first is the expose of Kenneth Hagin as a complete copycat and plagiarist. McConnell PROVES that Hagin's claimed 'revelations' from God are nothing more than intellectual property theft. And that discovery leads to another fundamental truth: E.W. Kenyon, whom Hagin plagiarized extensively, is the actual father of the Faith movement.
But it is here that the argument McConnell constructs collapses into uncertainty.
McConnell demonstrates that Kenyon attended an East Coast college called Emerson School of Oratory. He further demonstrates that Kenyon used some of the same terms used by New Thought metaphysics. But it is a stretch to argue - as McConnell does - that since Kenyon attended the school and the school is a hotbed of metaphysical thought, the Faith movement is therefore a cult. If Kenyon's defenders go too far in exonorating him, it is equally true that McConnell - additional evidence would be necessary to prove his charge - has gone too far in indicting Kenyon.
In one sense, McConnell has done the Faith movement a major favor. Since the link of Kenyon to New Thought is superficial at best, it allows Faith members to slam McConnell as 'inaccurate' and thus never deal with the core problem with their movement. McConnell may be reaching and wrong in his history of the Kenyon movement - but he is dead on accurate in how wrong the major doctrines that Kenyon's followers espouse truly are.
The book has one other weakness, namely, the title. It is taken from Galatians 1:6. But the problem is that if the Faith disciples believe a different gospel, it is fair to conclude they are not saved. Yet McConnell even concedes they are - and concedes that Kenyon's heresies are born of pure motives as opposed to antagonism towards Christ.
The first two chapters and the last five are very good. The middle is lacking.
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36 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If You Can't Stand The Heat - Get Out of The Kitchen!, February 26, 2000
By A Customer
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.
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