I do not know Pastor Hagin but have heard a lot of good about him.
If you've ever heard of Rhema Bible college, you'll be able to find alot of good information on the man there since he was largely apart of its foundation. For more, one can go
here and here. Had alot of family/friends that either went to Rhema or had family attending there (alongside other schools connected to it such as Oral Roberts University)--and in many ways, the material they use by Hagin is radically different from the ways many people claiming to be apart of the Faith movement utilized it....and Hagin at one point had to call out many of those people in his work entitled
"The Midas Touch" when it came to people taking concepts that others were blessed by in the Faith movement....and turning them into abusive practices (i.e. the concept of reaping and sowing being used to say one can say whatever they desire/get it simply by asking--even if it goes against God's heatrt, the concept of saying all forms of giving MUST result in getting financial blessing back, giving under pressure as often occurs on telethons asking for money on Christian broadcasting networks when others say "God will curse you if you're hearing this and don't give", etc).
He also addressed the ways that tithing was being abused by many within the Faith movement and tried to show a Balanced perspective 4 years before he died.
For more, one can go
here and
here.
If you'd like some other good sources of information, you can always ask the people on the Word of Faith forum since there are alot of informed members there, be it people such as ABlessedMan or VictoryWord (Troy) or dbkwarrior and many others (alot of whom I've been blessed to have as friends for many years now
).
What do you think about the slang slogan for Word of Faith that some use who vigorously disagree with the "calling things that be not as though they are" --- that phrase would be "name it, claim it." I have a good friend who is an AG Pastor who told me about that slogan the first time. Is that accurate?
Truthfully, after having to do alot of battles with others who asssumed all in the Faith Movement were about speaking things out of nowhere like magic, I think the term can be a bit of a buzzword. Alot of times, it is used as a pejorative...and the term people in the movement tend to use is Positive Confession.
Positive Confession is the The Theology of the Spoken Word (
Rhematology), or thought actualization
. It stresses the inherent power of words and thoughts. Each person predestines his own future by what he says verbally and by how well he uses spiritual laws. Whereas some in the WOF movement did sadly treat the concept of speaking things as though they were like it was an incantation, much of what was utilized in other camps was simply based on speaking in accordance with what the Lord expects/sees even when it seems that reality says different...in light of Hebrews 11:1-6 where the writer spoke on the reality of faith and how the Lord spoke the entire universe into being...and in light of Romans 4 where Abraham was noted to believe and the Lord spoke in regards to Abraham having a child even when it seemed ridiculous to expect that:
Romans 4:17
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not
Others saw it in the sense that people need to be careful of what one says since our words have a tendency to transform others/ourselves, according to Proverbs 18:21 on how death and life are in the power of the tongue....and generally, if one continually speaks in negative manners, they may end up having exactly what they'll say (i.e constantly saying one's a failure and then wondering why one always messes up...or constantly telling others they're worthless and then having people not value themselves). Most of it is also based on James 3 which speaks on the tongue being like a fire set aflame by Hell itself and having potential to do great destruction.
Of course I disagree with the mentality that ALL ONE'S CIRCUMSTANCES are based on what we say.
People living impoverished in the projects/ghetto didn't make it there soley because they said something, as some were born into------and others are given that lot in life (in light of the Bibles teachings on the POOR/RICH and the Lord being sovereign over all). However, in that statement,
considering the general reality of positive thinking and how what we say often affects our reality, I have no problem. And no, I'm not saying that means someone who's poor is suddenly going to come out of poverty by declaring it. Hard Work, Examining Habits/Mentalities, Cooperation/Support from others, patience (in light of the complexities of aiding those who're on the streets & impoverished), and various other factores are involved.
But what one says does make a difference. Personally, one of the best places people can start is with Pau
l:
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me (Acts 27:22-25).
Now if that is not a positive
confession of God's promise, I'm not certain what is...and for that matter,
2 Corinthians 4:13 when Paul quoted Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint) in saying "I believed, therefore I spoke" and mentioned what it meant to speak in a spirit of Faith. When the psalmist uttered the words, he was greatly afflicted (see
Psalm 116:3,
Psalm 116:6-8 )--and in these circumstances, he prayed to God, and expressed confidence in him. And having spoken in this manner was the result of his belief, or of his putting confidence in God. That significantly made a difference in his situation...just as proclaiming confidence in the Lord with our words makes a significant difference when it comes to going through difficult times:
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) (Heb. 10:23)
In regards to what you noted on your friend who is an AOG Pastor, one of my dear brothers in Christ once noted to me how since
AoG pioneers have taught on "positive
confession" ....and at first, I didn't really believe it till I saw the documentation for myself. In example, one can consider Mrs. Cornelius Nuzum:
Never say, “I have pain, disease, doubt, or other evil.” Say, “I will not have it. I will not let Satan put it on me. I refuse to accept it or recognize it or own it.” Continue to say, “I am delivered, no matter how I feel or look.” Praise hastens victory. Believe the thing is done, praise and rejoice, not because it is going to be done, but because it is done, even though you cannot see it or feel it. - The Life of Faith (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1997), p. 64. First published in 1928
Her book came from an AoG publishing house and she was a missionary ordained by the AoG. There are similar quotes by P. C. Nelson, Lillian B. Yeomans, and others - all AoG pioneers. Other AoG have noted that others present day AoG may have rejected their heritage, but not everyone within the AoG is of the same mindset.