How the Bible Describes God
How does the Bible describe God? The first truth taught in scripture is that God is not to be compare to any likeness on the earth. In Exodus 20, God commanded that the people were not to create any image with the likeness of anything that is in heaven. Why? When man creates a god, he exalts it to become his god. In the heart of man is a need to worship. When we exalt something, we worship it. The only way to successfully worship God is to keep a sense of awe about Him. When we compare something to God, even if we have good intentions, God is diminished. If nothing seen can be compared to God and we say ‘God is like…’, then we have brought God down to the image we have created in our mind. Once God is inside the box, we are no longer worshipping the true and living God.
Why does God warn not to compare Him to anything created?
Why do enormous wonders like the Grand Canyon, high mountains or magnificent falls make us stand in awe?
If we lose our sense of awe, what happens to worship?
The Bible is very careful in how God is identified. God is never really described, only attributes are described. ‘Our God is a mighty Warrior’ describes the attribute that God conquers. ‘He Covers us with His feathers’ describes God’s protection and because we can see a hen protecting her brood from danger in nature, we can get a glimpse of how God protects us. ‘Our God is a consuming fire’ depicts God’s holiness and that anything that does not withstand His judgement will not remain. ‘God is light’ describes God’s truth and how we can see only if we are walking in it. There are many other attributes described. None of these describe God, but they all describe attributes of God. One thing the Bible does make clear is that God is not a man and God is Spirit. Look at John 4
23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
If God is Spirit, how can these teachers all declare that God is a six-foot tall man? They are demoting God and creating Him into their image rather than conforming to His image. Let’s take a little time to look deeper into the demotion of God. This is a very serious challenge against God, His word, and to our faith. You cannot serve a demoted God and serve the true God at the same time. In the next few sections, we will look at how God and Jesus Christ are demoted while Satan and man are exalted by this movement that claims to be part of the evangelical church. But first let us look at other Word-Faith teachings that find their origins in cultic philosophy.
What motivates cults to re-create God into a man or other image that reduces our ideas of God?
I dislike the practice of speaking ‘a word of knowledge’ in a time of worship. I have been in services where people take turns saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord….’ and then proceed to give a word of revelation. People are led to believe that the first word that pops in their heads is a revelation of the Holy Spirit. God said that if we say that He has spoken when He has not spoken, then we are declaring falsely. Speaking for God is taken far to lightly in the church today. Generally speaking, God’s will is revealed through His word, through prayer, and seeking Him. To blurt out declaration in the name of God is putting yourself at risk needlessly. To say the Holy Spirit reveals something is blasphemy if the Holy Spirit is not the author of our thoughts.
Is the first thought to enter our minds of the Holy Spirit?
Does God call us to make snap decisions based on a thought without prayer and seeking Him?
An example of this blasphemy is when Benny Hinn stood before a congregation and stated that the Holy Spirit was coming upon him. He then began to reveal to the audience what the Holy Spirit supposedly had revealed. Here is what he said:
"I feel a revelation of the Holy Spirit coming upon me. God the father is a triune being by himself - separate from the Son and the Holy Ghost. God the father is a person. God the Son is a person and God the Holy Ghost is a person. But each one of them is a triune being by himself. If I can shock you, and maybe I should, there are nine of them."
If the Holy Spirit came upon Hinn, would his revelation be an error?
If God is not three separate persons with 3 separate bodies, what spirit spoke to Hinn?
What does the Bible command us to do with the doctrine of those who prophesy in error?
Does Hinn’s revelation by the Holy Spirit agree with scripture?
Notice what he said, 1. This is a revelation by the Holy Spirit; 2. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are beings separate from each other 3. Each is a triune being by himself. Can anyone follow Benny Hinn without denying the scripture? The Bible clearly teaches that God does not change nor will His word ever change. If someone reveals what is contrary to the revealed word of God, they are in opposition against God. Deuteronomy makes it equally clear that if someone speaks in God’s name and it turns out to be false, they are a false prophet. If someone speaks in the name of God and they speak error, they have shown themselves to be a liar. If I say, ‘The Holy Spirit says’ and it is really my own derived words, then I have lied by saying that the Holy Spirit was speaking. Benny Hinn later said that his comments were stupid. However, you cannot retract the statement ‘The Holy Spirit said to me…’. Anytime we say, ‘thus says the Lord’ it is blasphemy if God hasn’t spoken. Everyone should take heed before they ever declare God’s voice. Even though Hinn did retract his 9 gods statement, he did reiterate his belief in Tritheism. Tritheism is the belief that the Trinity is three separate gods. Here is a conversation between Benny Hinn and Paul Crouch:
Hinn said in a conversation with Paul Crouch, “There are three members of the Godhead”.
Crouch, “Not nine? Where did that silly charge come from?”
Hinn, “They have said some much about this that it almost became comical. Here is what I believe: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost - three separate individuals, one in essence, one in work and may I add each one of them possesses His own spirit body. You don't like it?”
Does the Bible support Tritheism (or three separate gods in the Trinity)?
Are there any pagan religions that teach Tritheism?
The Bible does not in anyway support Tritheism. This is pagan at the core. From the beginning, God has made it clear – He is One God. The Trinity doctrine does not teach that there are three gods or three separate persons. The Trinity is one God in three persons. In Deuteronomy 6 God said:
4 " Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
The Lord is one – not three separate ‘spirit bodies’ as Hinn claims was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit contradicts what God has already declared, it isn’t the Holy Spirit talking. The basics of the Trinity doctrine can be found in two passages:
Isaiah 48:
16 "Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me."
17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.
The LORD (Jehovah) said that the LORD (Jehovah) and His Spirit have sent me. If we think this means three individuals, we only need to go back four chapters to see that God has already clarified this:
Isaiah 44
6 " Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God."
How can the LORD (Jehovah) send the LORD (Jehovah) and still be one God alone?
Can someone believe in three separate gods and still stand upon the word of God?
Is the god (or gods) of Benny Hinn the same as the God of the Bible?
The LORD (Jehovah) and His Redeemer who is also Jehovah declares that He is the first, the last and the only God. Beside God there is no other god. Hinn has revealed through his teaching and affirmation of his teaching that his doctrine does not agree with scripture. Tritheism is a known pagan doctrine, does not have a place in scripture and it is diametrically opposed to Christianity. Hinn’s view of God is not compatible with the Bible; therefore His god’s are not the same as the Christian God. Many will overlook this incompatibility even though they must violate scripture to do so. This is because they are looking for a ‘me’ centered gospel. This is in spite of the warning of the Bible in 2 John 1:
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
If the Bible warns us not to give those who bring false doctrine an opportunity to teach, why do so many people willingly ignore this mandate by scripture?
The sad reality is that people fear the teacher more than they fear God or they desire the promise of gain more than they desire God. Therefore, they overlook any challenges against God – even if it takes us straight into paganism. The top ‘Word-Faith’ teachers also butt heads with the Bible on the New Age doctrine of visualization.
Visualization
This is the belief that we can create our own reality. This belief has been around for ages and has always been taught by shaman and gurus. It has been repackaged for each culture and is part of the mainstream New Age movement. Shirley McClain popularized visualization in several books. During a visit India and said she was disturbed by all the suffering she saw. Hindu is the primary religion of India. Hinduism teaches that people suffer to work off bad Karma. It is a disservice to help those who suffer. The people Shirley saw were diseased and starving in the streets and no one was willing to help. She was bothered at first, but then her she applied her creative visualization techniques and all was well. Instead of seeing beggars, she saw happy people, disease free, filled with health and beauty. She took what she saw, which she determined was an ugly illusion and created her own beautiful ‘reality’. Sadly, in true reality, nothing was changed. The people were still suffering but she was now living in self-delusion while pretending that what she saw was not real. Instead of taking action to help those in need, she alienated herself from being able to see the need.
How does visualization differ from what the Bible teaches?
Why does the New Age need to create an illusion of beauty while the Bible does not?
Shirley McClain teaches the New Age doctrine that says that each of us has the power to create our own reality. If we don’t like what we see, we can recreate it. If we are in need, we only need to picture it in our mind’s eye and believe and it will become reality. In the last few decades, this same doctrine has penetrated the church by being repackaged in Christian terms.
Benny Hinn made statements identical to New Age doctrine and even admitted that witches taught him spiritual truths:
- Your words in the spirit create reality
- The Bible declares clearly that faith is a force and so is fear. Faith activates God and fear activates the devil.
- Witches know the secret. Words can kill. Witches are taught to kill or disease people with the power of words.
Does the Bible teach that faith and fear are forces in the universe?
Do New Age religions teach these things?
Is it alarming that New Age witches are teaching Word-Faith teachers so-called spiritual truths that are not found in scripture?
Shouldn’t we be concerned that someone claiming to be anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel is consulting witches to learn “spiritual truths”? It is no accident that Hinn seldom quotes scripture when he claims the Bible says something. The Bible does not say faith or fear is a force. Pagan religions teach these things, but not the Bible. The Bible teaches that faith is trusting in God, and that fear is based on unbelief. Genesis 15 tells us that Abraham believed God and God credited it as righteousness. Romans 4 reveals that Abraham’s belief was faith in God. Jesus commanded us to have faith in God – not to tap into faith as though it were a force. Not one place is scripture are we told to ‘use faith’. Nowhere is faith called a force and nowhere is fear called a force. Buhddism and other pagan religions teach these things, but not the Bible. It is ironic that Hinn teaches that words can kill and then proclaims:
-I pronounce a curse upon everyone who dares to speak against this ministry.
-Those who attack me, your children will pay for your stupidity.
-I am looking for one verse in the Bible that says, if you don't like them, you can kill them.
-Sometimes I wish God would give me a Holy Ghost machinegun and I'll blow your head off.
Read Matthew 5:21-22. If Word-Faith doctrine things that words can kill, what do these curses reveal about the hearts of those issuing them?
Does the Bible tell us to curse our enemies – or bless them?
Would a man of God curse others? In Matthew 5, Jesus said to love your enemies and bless those who curse you. Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse”. If Jesus said not to curse but to bless our enemies and the apostles said not to curse our enemies but to bless them, why then do we hear a constant stream of curses coming from the Word-Faith teachers? Does a man have the power to curse us? I believe Psalm 109 gives the answer:
26 Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
27 That they may know that this is Your hand -- That You, LORD, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but You bless; When they arise, let them be ashamed, But let Your servant rejoice.
Can those who do not want to be questioned curse us when we uphold the truth of scripture?
The key to blessing and curses is found in Deuteronomy where God tells us that those who obey His commands are blessed and those who disobey are cursed. Words of men can never challenge the blessings of God that is given to those who obey.
Others affirm visualization in the Word-Faith doctrine. Kenneth Copeland teaches:
Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and that's when the action takes place because that is when the spiritual force is brought up out of the mouth - whether it be fear or whether it be faith - and when that spiritual force comes out, it is going to give substance to that image that is inside of you. People say, 'that is that New Age visualization stuff'. The New Age is trying to do this. And they get somewhat results out of it because it is a spiritual law.
You may notice that because scripture does not support these doctrines scripture is vaguely eluded too or not given at all. Teachers may declare that the Bible says these things, but for obvious reasons they don’t provide the passages so their congregation can read for themselves. The first error in the above doctrine is that Jesus’ quote is taken completely out of context and then Word-Faith doctrine adds to it while implying that what they are saying comes from the Bible. Jesus did not say anything about a spiritual force or actions of our words. In fact, the focus of Jesus’ statement is to show that the words are a product of what is in our heart. The focus is on the heart and not on words. Copeland is teaching that the focus is on words and not on a heart that is right with God. This passage that Faith doctrine quoted vaguely resembles the original text in Matthew 12:34, Matthew 15:18 and Luke 6:45.
Hinn and Copeland are not alone. Most of the prominent Word-Faith teachers echo similar beliefs. One other example is Jerry Seville:
Before this world came into being, God conceived [visualized], he began to put into words and then he uttered them. Then what happened? The Spirit of God took those words and then a world was created. And that is exactly how you change your world. You mean I can talk my world into existence? You certainly can.
Read Matthew 12:33-37, Matthew 15:18-20, and Luke 6:44-46.
What is the focus of this passage, the power of words or the intent of the heart?
In each quote, Jesus is putting the focus, not on words, but on what is really in our hearts. Sin is the result of the heart and out of it comes evil thoughts, adultery, murder, etc. Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord and do not do the things I say?” Jeremiah 17 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and no one can know it? Only God can try our motives and reveal what is really in our heart. Far from being words of fear or faith creating our world, Jesus’ statement was to draw attention to the motives behind our words.
Copeland also acknowledged that this is a New Age teaching. Is visualization a spiritual law as Copeland claims? Let’s look at the words of Jesus:
Matthew 22
37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 "This is the first and great commandment.
39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Can anti-Christian religions use ‘spiritual laws’ to enact God?
How does creating wealth, health and a personal reality fit into the foundation of all ‘spiritual laws’ to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves?
Read James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-17.
Can we stand on the laws of loving God and desire the world at the same time?
Is the visualization doctrine self-centered or Christ-centered?
Why does this Word-Faith doctrine acknowledge that it is the same as New Age practices?
Where does loving God fit into creating our world and wealth through words? What about loving our neighbor as ourselves? I see loving self in this Word-Faith doctrine and loving others in the two commands that Jesus said are the basis of all spiritual laws. There appears to be a major disagreement between Word-Faith doctrine and the Bible.
The Bible says that God, by His own power, created the universe and all that is in it. Word-Faith teachers say that God used a power outside of Himself. He used words and faith to create the world. They teach that we also have the same power available to us. Just as God has done, so we also can do. In this doctrine, Word-Faith has both exalted man and demoted God.
Exchanged Life Outreach
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