Christianity in Crisis

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Summary: Powerful counterattack against heretic beliefs
Review: I consider this a counterattack because the false beliefs described in this book are themselves an undeclared attack on core Christian truth. The prosperity belief, "name it and claim it", faith in faith, the healing gospel, all these are exposed of their heretical nature because they oppose many key teachings.

Hanegraaff tackles the Word of Faith beliefs espoused by Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Fred Price, Marilyn Hickey, Benny Hinn, and many others, all of which owe their source of ideas from EW Kenyon, though this may never be admitted. He gives extensive explanations of how Word-Faith theology and practices contradict orthodox Christian beliefs, citing bone-jarring quotes from these preachers and

His organization of the book's content is very studious, using acronyms to organize information, like ABCDE, FLAWS, FAITH, and so on. Aside from studying the errors, he re-explains basic Christian beliefs. It is not that easy to follow as promised, however, and though replete with information, it gets a bit difficult to absorb the volume of it. He also inserts anecdotes to illustrate a point, but sometimes draggingly. But what you get, you get it correctly, and his doctrinal explanations are correct.

Word-Faith adherents may be shaken in their boots because of this book, but they should put aside their reactions and study this book. And if you are not, this book will greatly help if you want to remain out of error.

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Summary: [e-mail]
Review: I GAVE MY LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST IN 1992. AT THAT TIME, I WAS SO GREEN IN THE WAY OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. I HAD LIVED LIFE AS A DOPE FIEND AND AN ALCOHOLIC. NOW, AS A BABY CHRISTIAN I WAS WILLING TO BELIEVE ANYTHING I HEARD CONCERNING JESUS....INCLUDING KENNETH COPELAND AND FRED PRICE. WHILE NOT EVERYTHING THESE TEACHERS SAY IS FALSE, A MAJORITY OF WHAT THEY DO TEACH IS LACED WITH A REAL EAR TICKLING LIE. THIS BOOK REVEALED TO ME HOW THESE TEACHERS MANPULATE THE SOVEREIGN WORD OF THE LIVING GOD TO MAKE THE BELIEVER THINK THAT WE ARE GOD.....THAT GOD IS OUR SERVANT....THAT ANYTHING WE ASK FOR IN JESUS'S NAME WE MUST HAVE BECAUSE "GOD IS BOUND BY HIS WORD". THE WHOLE "NAME IT AND CLAIM IT" BELIEF SYSTEM TAKES GOD'S SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY AND PLACES IT IN THE HANDS OF SELFISH AND GREEDY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ACTUALLY DESERVE MORE THAN WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN TO THEM.....ETERNAL LIFE. I AM GRATEFUL TO HANK AND THIS BOOK BECAUSE I ALMOST LEFT THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO TOLD ME THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH. IF THE NAME IT AND CLAIM IT TEACHINGS WERE TRUTH,WE WOULD NEVER GET SICK, WE WOULD ALWAYS BE RICH, AND WE WOULD NEVER DIE. MY ONLY CRITISISM OF THIS BOOK IS THAT IT SEEMS THAT HANK IS A LITTLE BIT AROGANT IN THE WAY HE REVEALS THE LIES. I LOVE YA' HANK! BUT I THINK YOU WILL REACH MORE OF THE MISLED IF YOU HAVE MORE LOVE IN YOUR REBUKES. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF HANK AS AROGANT AND ARGUMENTATIVE BUT HE HAS A STRONG GRASP OF THE WORD AND UNDERSTANDS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. I LISTEN TO HIS RADIO PROGRAM MOST EVERYDAY AND I CAN SEE WHY HE IS CONTROVERSIAL. I CHALLENGE ALL TO LISTEN TO HANK'S RADIO SHOW FOR 30 DAYS. HE CAN LEAD YOU THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES TRUTHFULLY. BY THE WAY, HE IS A CHARASMATIC WHO BELIEVES IN SUPERNATURAL GIFTS. BUT HE DOES HOWEVER BELIEVE WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE MASTER.....NOT ON WHAT IS ON THE MASTER'S TABLE.

Rating:
Summary: Gotta hear it to believe it
Review: I have to say that even as an apologist I didn't really want to believe that some of the things I've heard about were REALLY being taught out there. But after listening to this chilling tape I had to face the reality that they really are being taught from "Christian" pulpits.

Even if you are a fan of Hinn, Copeland and the rest you aught to give this tape a listen. Don't take anyone's word on what these men teach. Hear it from their own mouths and then judge for yourself if they are speaking God's Word or not.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite impressive
Review: If we want to know what a person says it is better to listen to them personally, ie hear it from the horses mouth. I think this is what Hank has done, given it to us straight from the people themselves. There is no way I could hear all of these various teachings on these subjects. I appreciate this work Hank has done, now I don't have to say, "he said", "she said," I can let people hear it for themselves. Thanks Hank.

Rating:
Summary: Christianity in Crisis
Review: It is one thing to read a quote, another thing to hear it live. I think this book should be bought only in conjunction with the audio tape (after listening to the audio tape first). Otherwise, people in the Word-Faith movement will simply say that it is all lies. Other books dealing with this movement can be found by browsing the material of Spiro Zodhiates, John MacArthur, and Faith Misguided by Arthur Johnson.

Rating:
Summary: Christianity in Crisis
Review: It is one thing to read a quote, another thing to hear it live. I think this book should be bought only in conjunction with the audio tape (after listening to the audio tape first). Otherwise, people in the Word-Faith movement will simply say that Hank is lying. Other books dealing with this movement can be found by browsing the material of Spiro Zodhiates, John MacArthur, and Faith Misguided by Arthur Johnson.

Rating:
Summary: Such a valuable book
Review: My husband and I left the Word of Faith movement years ago, but not until I heard Hank Hanegraaff's radio show (and subsequently bought this book) did I realize there were Christians out there combatting the false doctrines of the movement.

I thank God for Hank Hanegraaff, as he has laid out so clearly in this book the problems with Word of Faith doctrine. Simply put, Word of Faith is unscriptural and contradicts orthodox Christianity. I think any Christian (especially those who've encountered Word of Faith teaching) would benefit immensely from reading this book.

The only reason I give it 4 stars is because the book isn't the academic treatment of this topic that I would like. I would love, for example, to read a more thorough analysis of how Word of Faith teaching derives from the teachings of EW Kenyon. That said, Hanegraaff definitely documents his sources -- which greatly bolsters his arguments.

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Summary: ............
Review: Satan sang the song and the Church danced...

This book is guaranteed to cause more division, hate, strife, confusion, unbelief, doubt, sickness, and poverty within the Body of Christ.

Thanks a lot, Hank Hanegraaff. Satan loves your book!

Rating:
Summary: Such a valuable book
Review: This is an incredible, eye-opening exposé of a movement that is trans-denominational and is devouring Christians with the rapidity of a wildfire. Ironically, one of the reviewers condemns it as saying it is limiting the Holy Spirit, but this is simply not true. Hanegraaff himself is a Charismatic so he hardly wants to do that. Instead, it's a movement that puts words in Holy Spirit's mouth, claiming He has revealed things to them that are CLEARLY against the Bible.

This is not a Charismatic/non-Charismatic issue at all. It is spreading into so many churches that you owe it to yourself to find out about it. In the audio book, you can actually HEAR these teachers making statements like, "The greatest failure in the Bible is God" (Kenneth Copeland) and Paul Crouch's threat against anyone who demands an adherence to sound doctrine (who he calls "heretic hunters"), "I think they're damned and on their way to hell; and I don't think there's any redemption for them." And of course, who could ever forget Hinn's rewrite of Job 1:21, "You know what? We've said this a million times and it's not even scriptural -- all because of Job: 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord'. I have news for you: that is not Bible, that's not Bible. The Lord giveth and NEVER taketh away." Guess God was wrong when He inspired the writer to say, "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing" in the very next verse.

When you listen to the first tape, your jaw will fall open at what is being taught out there in TV land and on the radio...and you'll be even more amazed at how many people are gobbling it up (lots of itching ears, huh? 2 Timothy 4:3). One of the best things you can do for yourself is to get this audiobook!

Rating:
Summary: Informative but harsh
Review: This is an interesting book exploring the teachings of the Word of Faith Teachers. It looks at the people behind the doctrines and cites Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Hagin & Fred Price to name but a few. Hanegraffe delves into detail and does an excellent job doctrinally to disprove certain teachings.

I would say however that he is somewhat harsh in his writing tone and one concern that I have is that one can become too careful in Pentecostal issues that they don't receive anything (only that which is genuine).