Growing up near a major Word of Faith Bible school and attending Oral Roberts University, I was taught a great deal about faith. According to the late Kenneth Hagin, Sr., faith is a force that believers can tap into in order to receive the blessings and prosperity God want them to have. He also taught that it is this same force of faith that God Himself used to create the universe, so if we learn to harness this we also can move mountain and become little gods.
To me, this sounds more like the pride that satan had in the beginning when he rebelled. Also, it puts faith above God, as it is some pre-existing force that God used, rather than God being the source of faith. Can this be the correct understanding of scripture? I know there are many passages of scripture about faith, and how having it will help us receive healings and help, but are these healings and blessings given to us by this force of faith, or are they given to us by a sovereign God who, seeing our faith, is moved to intervene for us?
Basil
| QUOTE (Basil @ Feb 24 2006, 08:00 AM) |
| According to the late Kenneth Hagin, Sr., faith is a force that believers can tap into in order to receive the blessings and prosperity God want them to have. ... Also, it puts faith above God, as it is some pre-existing force that God used, rather than God being the source of faith. Can this be the correct understanding of scripture? |
The following information is my opinion, and though there may be scripture to back it up, I can't remember exactly where to find it.
Our faith is not a force to use to our advantage. It is a force to use for the glorification of God. I do not believe that I am supposed to pray for my financial blessings daily, as some televangelists would have me believe. I do not believe I should pray for our country to become more powerful than it needs to be as some televangelists would have me believe.
I do believe that I need to pray for God's blessings upon our country (and the world in darkness) so that His Glory may increase. I do believe that I need to pray for God's blessings upon me so that I may carry His Glory to the population in which I come in contact.
Faith in God is a powerful force. Misuse of that faith is a tool of Satan, and will get the believer nowhere.
| QUOTE (clayharryman @ Feb 24 2006, 08:09 AM) |
| QUOTE (Basil @ Feb 24 2006, 08:00 AM) | | According to the late Kenneth Hagin, Sr., faith is a force that believers can tap into in order to receive the blessings and prosperity God want them to have. ... Also, it puts faith above God, as it is some pre-existing force that God used, rather than God being the source of faith. Can this be the correct understanding of scripture? |
The following information is my opinion, and though there may be scripture to back it up, I can't remember exactly where to find it.
Our faith is not a force to use to our advantage. It is a force to use for the glorification of God. I do not believe that I am supposed to pray for my financial blessings daily, as some televangelists would have me believe. I do not believe I should pray for our country to become more powerful than it needs to be as some televangelists would have me believe.
I do believe that I need to pray for God's blessings upon our country (and the world in darkness) so that His Glory may increase. I do believe that I need to pray for God's blessings upon me so that I may carry His Glory to the population in which I come in contact.
Faith in God is a powerful force. Misuse of that faith is a tool of Satan, and will get the believer nowhere.
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:thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing your view. I agree. In our tradition we most of our prayers are prayers of submission to God's will, rather than prayer asking for everything we want.
Basil