Sojourner, the fact that these people are rich is no more evidence that they are false teachers than one whose bank account is empty. Money is not a measure of spirituality, rich or poor. Their doctrine is the measure of a false teacher and I believe they are false. We should all know the Word and judge every spiritual teaching by it.
Know what? So called men of God can preach all the health and wealth they want, until each believer studies the Word for themselves the wolves will continue feeding on the sheep. No excuse or twist of scripture is as obvious as looking at their bank accounts, homes, clothes...etc. Their wealth is here, not where we are told to store it up. I don't allow the Kirby vacuum sales guy/gal in my yard, let alone my home.
I was involved with the Copeland "word of faith" movement for more than a year. During that time, I "confessed away" an incipient cold ... but I couldn't move the mountain of my poverty. Copeland may truly believe what he says, but when he sent me a BEGGING letter telling me they were going to build a college (of course he didn't say he needed me to send money ... that goes against his teaching) and that the college would cost THIS MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS (oh ... and included a pre-addressed, stamped envelop with a pledge card) I wrote him back and told him I had been unemployed for over a year with two small children and if HE would answer MY need I would answer his. I never heard from him again. Believing that you can SPEAK THINGS INTO EXISTENCE is witchcraft. Ask any wiccan and they will tell you that words are powerful ... you SPEAK A SPELL and it will work .... (they say.) The Bible says that Jesus had no home ... and the many martyrs through the years (both ancient and modern) suffer great hardships and even death ... does that mean they don't have faith enough to escape martyrdom? Copeland and his followers are isolated from the large portion of the Church that still undergoes persecution every day of their lives ... and, should America ever go the way of the rest of the world, their "faith" will never survive. My prayer for them is: God help them all!
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
You said: Let's hold each other up, like Scripture says. I do believe it is a trick of the devil to stir up constant division when one ministry differs from what we "think" things ought to be.
In God's word, there are many references to wolves among us. It's not a warning about Islam or athiests, it's a warning about false teachers in our church.
2 Timothy 4:2-5 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."
Mr Copeland has made many errors without repenting. False prophecies in the name of our Lord, twisting the Word of God to cause confusion, etc etc etc. It's not rumor, he recorded these things, we can see the words come from his mouth. According to God's word, he should repent and step away from the pulpit. Until then, it is our duty AND YOURS, to "...be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
We'll let the IRS deal with his new shiney airplane...
It is sad when one minister decides to speak against another when the body of Christ is already so fragmented. I have been to some of the Copeland's meetings and to be honest, when you get involved with them, you feel like you know them. Of course, they have been in ministry for 40 years and they will tell you their trials and dilemmas over the years. I believe we must give the Holy Spirit credit because NO one has to accept what another ministry is doing or saying. They enourage people to study the Word for themselves, pray, fast, and they DON'T beg for anything nor come up with any gimmicks like what happened with John MacArthur. The Copelands are also very generous in sending free material including groups of CD's up to 15-20. At their meetings, their staff is so kind and lovable and I also have purchased wholesale products from them and I don't believe they are out to take advantage of people. They don't say that you claim it and get it the next day necessarily, but Jesus does say that we have the power in Mark 11:22 etc that "we can say to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and if we DON'T doubt", that we can have what we say. Kenneth is ALWAYS speaking about the law of Love. I have not always followed them, but I wish I had been more consistent because I believe I would be further in my spiritual maturity. Let's hold each other up, like Scripture says. I do believe it is a trick of the devil to stir up constant division when one ministry differs from what we "think" things ought to be.
I came from a family of 11 children and 4 different dads, an alcoholic mother and poverty is a dog. I don't believe that God, who is greater than our earthly father wants us struggling, sick, in lack or need. Are you a parent? Do you thinK Bill Gates wants his children to be in lack? If you actually study the Bible, I believe God does want us to be rich because, money rules on this earth and in Revelation 1, it does say, we will rule as Kings and priests. It also says the rich will rule over the poor. I think too many Christians are living at a disadvantage because God who says in Haggai, " the silver and gold are mine" would be a louzy Father is He wanted His children to struggle. No, we are not to make money our aim, but God does promise us a lot in Deut 28 if we follow Him. I believe the Word of God, in the Word and in the ministry of the Copelands. Maybe if you research some of what they are saying, you might agree, and God could bless your ministry more. Who wants to contribute to a cause which increases division among us. Maybe some might.
I bet you that Joh MacArthur is rich, Charles Stanley, etc. They write books and everything else. I bet they are NOT even average. nullnull
