Saturday, July 7, 2007

One of these is not like the other, can you spot the difference?

When I read this article this morning derived from doing a Google, I thought my blood was going to boil. It was written back in 1998 but this is probably the best indictment I have ever seen of the Word Faith movement and in particular one of the greatest heretics the English-language world has ever known, Kenneth Copeland:

My Word of Faith Testimony by Tricia Tillin

Note the stark similiarities that have resounded through the last century or so -- the "New Thought" that we are little gods and can make ourselves like God which led to:
  • Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science;
  • E.W. Kenyon, the founder of the Word of Faith (someone who Kenneth Hagin later relentlessly plagarized);
  • Rhonda Byrne and "The Secret";
  • And of course, Tom Cruise.

There can be no greater heresy as far as Christianity is concerned. Jesus died physically, not spiritually as the Word Faith claims. Jesus' blood atoned for the sins of humanity, the Word Faith states it did not. Jesus promised the bandit executed alongside him that he would be with him in heaven -- not that he would be transformed into a god.

When St. John wrote God wanted us to prosper, it didn't mean financially. God cannot be manipulated. Sooner or later Byrne, Cruise, Copeland and the rest of them will get their just reward. I don't know if I'm going to heaven or to hell but I sure know those three aren't going to heaven.

The only difference between Byrne and Copeland is the plumbing between their legs. Nothing more or less.

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3 comments:

Verndigger said...

Hello Robert; I am a lifelong student of Christian Science, and while I agree completely with the tone of your post, especially regarding "the secret", I would like to point out that you are mistaken in tarring Christian Science with the same brush.
Christian Science DOES NOT teach "that we are little gods and can make ourselves like God" !

It teaches what the Bible teaches in Genesis 1, that we are made in the image and likeness of God, and therefore (are capable of) reflect(ing) His qualities.
For example, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures states on page 250:12 " Man is not God, but like a ray of light which comes from the sun, man, the outcome of God, reflects God."

You can read more of this book by Mary Baker Eddy here

regards,

Verndigger

BlastFurnace said...

Thanks for writing, Verndigger. I was writing at a furious pace this morning and perhaps should have given some second thought to Mary Baker Eddy, who I actually respect to some extent. No question, the power of positive thinking as some have called it have resulted in wealth for some and spontaneous remissions for some.

But having read "Science and Health" and some of Eddy's other writings, I regrettably have stand by what I wrote. We may be very well made in God's image but in trying to be the reflection of God we fall into the trap of trying to be like God. Atonement comes not from our works but believing in the power of the Blood of the Lamb, a point on which something even my Catholic Church finally came around to conceding a number of years back.

Verndigger said...

Hello again, Robert: -
perhaps should have given some second thought to Mary Baker Eddy, who I actually respect to some extent.

thanks for this courteous re-consideration. :-))

No question, the power of positive thinking as some have called it have resulted in wealth for some and spontaneous remissions for some.

Perhaps you should refresh your reading of Science and Health, especially the 100 pages of testimonies; you will see that 'positive thinking' and 'spontaneous remissions' are not a good characterization of Christian Science healing.
We may be very well made in God's image but in trying to be the reflection of God we fall into the trap of trying to be like God.

hmmmm - why would an 'image and likeness' of the Creator have to TRY to be like the Creator?

Please re-read, not the whole of Science and Health, but just the one sentence I quoted in my first response to you.

Atonement comes not from our works but believing in the power of the Blood of the Lamb,...

this seems to be a whole new topic - certainly could be a deep discussion.
I believe this is argued even in the Bible, for example James 2:17-24.
do some Bible research on 'works', see for example, Matt 5:16
Matt 16:27
John 14:12
Acts 26:20
I Tim 6:18
II Tim 3:17
Titus 2: 7

anyhow, that's not the discussion; we are discussing your statement that Christian Science teaches "that we are little gods and can make ourselves like God".

Methinks, my friend, you need to read Science and Health again, seeing if you can find any teaching that man, God's image and likeness, is trying to make himself like God.

Jesus said "be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

So is he here directing us to "fall into the trap of trying to be like God" ?

OR is he telling us to BE as God, Love, made us ?

I wish you Numbers 6:24-26 ,

Verndigger