Christianity in Crisis

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable Up-close look at the "Word of Faith Movement"
Review: This is truly an eye-opening book. Hanegraaf gives a careful and thoroughly documented examination of several popular televangelists that have gained huge followings worldwide. Some of the main characters are Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Frederick Price, Marilyn Hickey, Morris Cerullo, Robert Tilton, Paul and Jan Crouch, and others. I think that almost every one of the above, still is broadcasting on TV or operating some multimillion dollar "ministry". And these televangelists have their imitators and disciples too, so their teachings are much more widespread then you might like to acknowledge.

He shows that even though they go under the guise of being Christian, they are really false teachers, or as Jesus said, Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Hanegraaf exposes the wolves from their sheep's clothing, and turns the light on their false teachings. Each of these teachers promotes gravely dangerous false teachings that are jeopardizing the souls of millions, not to mention profaning the name of Christ. It will truly shock you, if you don't already know firsthand, how distorted their teachings really are.

Hanegraaf identifies the most blatantly false teachings the Faith Movement espouses, such as the deification of man, basically elevating him to equality with God; demoting God to appear as a if He were merely a weak entity that lost control of His creation and somehow needs OUR PERMISSION to work in this world; teaching that Satan defeated Christ at the cross, and tortured Him in hell before Jesus escaped out of Satan's clutches by a cosmic technicality; a slew of false teachings on the atonement; fraudulent claims of physical healing that have led many to refuse needed medical attention; and they have a strange teaching of faith which makes it out to be some cosmic power we can tap into if we only try hard enough, rather than the Biblical teaching that faith is trust in Christ Jesus.

Some of these so-called Faith teachers have actually taught that God is a failure; that the Trinity is really three triune Gods instead of One God; that Jesus was an exceedingly wealthy man, and that He promises us the same wealth and prosperity. In short, these self-proclaimed prophets of the Word are clearly teaching contrary to the very word of God--sometimes even so bold as to CHANGE the words of the Bible to an entirely opposite meaning! And many of them claim personal revelations from God or angels to authenticate their claims!

If you are a follower of this movement, you need to read this book to have the wool pulled off your eyes. Even if you just consider yourself an average Christian who watches these televangelists on occasion, and thinks that they are harmless--read this book and you will be convinced that they are in fact distorting the Gospel of Christ. We all would do well to remember St. Paul's admonition to the Galatians when they were being misled by false teachers: Galatians 1:6-8 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- [7] not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. [8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." The so-called "Gospel" of the Faith Movement is not the Gospel of Christ, that is, the Gospel of the Bible. Rather it is a false Gospel which is really no Gospel at all. It is critical that Christians today follow the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) who daily tested what they were being taught and compare it to the Word of God.



Rating:
Summary: A shout out to the Church.
Review: This was an absolutely breathtaking book Hank Hanegraaff has written. I have seen the enormous effect of the Faith Movement in Tulsa, Ok. They say this is the heart of the Bible belt, well, it has definitely been corrupted. Thanks be to God that His light will shine through me. I am not going to let all these people continue to be decieved. Why should you? Read this book and watch with discernment, and present the truth to those that are in a whirlwind of deception. I strongly recommend all readers of my review to read this book. You will gain massive understanding of this movement and how fatal the effects are. I can almost guarantee you have already been exposed to this type of movement. I was, didn't even know it at all, and I thought I knew what discernment was. Those who trust in others information should always DIG to find the truth and real meaning of God's word. Love you all, Ray