Word of Faith--Contexts

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Dave,

Your name-it-claim-it logic fails to account for the will of God.  You rest
everything on 'life more abundantly,' but God's will is often mysterious and
is not always manifest in a positive way.  You have interpreted Jn. 10.10 in
the light of prosperity.  The context makes the Scripture obviously spiritual
in application.  God's children will not always enjoy plenty.  There are lean
times, times of discouragement and trial.  If we critiqued ourselves according
to popular WoF ideology, we would necessarily question our faith in God and
God's ultimate justice.

I think of Paul's own testimony:

		 . . . in labours more abundant, in stripes
		 above measure, in prisons more frequent, in
		 death oft.  Of the Jews five times received
		 I forty stripes, save one.  Thrice was I
		 beaten with rods, once was I sonted, thrice
		 I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have
		 been in the deep; In journeyings often, in
		 perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
		 perils by the heathen, in perils in the city,
		 in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the
		 sea, in perils among flase brethren; In
		 weariness and painfulness, in watchings often,
		 in cold and nakedness.  Beside those things that
		 are without, that which cometh upon me daily,
		 the care of all the churches.  Who is weak, and
		 I am not weak?  who is offended, and I burn not?
		 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things
		 which concern mine infirmities.  (II Cor. 11.25-8)

Paul suffered some very adverse conditions.  Was it because he was not living
in the full potential of his faith?  Was it because he was not asking according
to God's will?  No!  In fact, the Apostle glories in those infirmities.

If we assume a WoF vantage post, we would, I assume, think that Paul was a
fool for not speaking himself out of those situations.  But, he didn't.  He
bore the adversities, counting it all joy.

It seems to me that WoF would leave many's faith frustrated.  We sometimes
pray, and God does not answer in the way we have asked.  People die that we
thought God would heal.  People struggle financially who we have prayed for
God to bless.  But, in His transcendent wisdom and omniscience, God's will
supercedes our own limited perspective.  God knows best, and I think this
name-it-clamedness of the movement which you involved with does not account
for His ultimate will and prerogative.

Furthermore, WoF obviously extends their fallacy beyond faith teaching false
doctrines represented in the writings I submitted earlier.  It is you, to whom
I would suggest establishing a context.  Dave, you should take a look at the
WoF doctrines that are wholly unscriptural at least and blasphemous at worst.

All Honour to Christ Jesus.



Matthew Shaw
00mcshaw@bsu.edu