I believe The Exchanged Life and other Keswick movement teachings are not Biblical teachings. In this multi-part post, a comprehensive treatment is provided.
This was originally a letter prepared by Pastor Steve McGee to instruct someone on the dangers of the exchanged life movement.
EXCHANGED LIFE
By Steve McGee
Before I begin my critique of the "Exchanged Life" movement I want the readers to understand that I am approaching this as a pastoral duty. I do not believe that God has called me to "straighten" everyone out in the Body of Christ that does not agree with me. My calling is to this local congregation and as a pastor I am an under-shepherd. Therefore I must protect this Body from doctrinal error. I do not intend to be harsh and I know that some of my criticisms will seem to come across that way. However, as you are well aware of, we are living in an age that is anti-doctrine. Therefore, anyone who dares to criticize anyone else is viewed as unloving, intolerant, and of being a Pharisee. I trust that you will not take this critique that way. True love seeks to correct and warn those who are in error.
I want to call your attention to a few Scriptures that speak to this. The book of Galatians was written to refute a false gospel. Jude tells us to contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Our Lord said we are to judge with a righteous judgment (John 7:24). Ephesians 4:1-6 tells us to keep the unity of the Spirit and then goes on to tell us that our unity is expressed in doctrine. When anything is taught that is contrary to Scripture, we have an obligation and command to confront it in love and refute it.
Many in the Church today have overlooked this and in the name of love and tolerance we have put sound doctrine right out the window. So please keep this in mind as you read and know where my heart is. I love our Lord, His people, and His precious Word. Now on to the task that lies ahead. I am very familiar with the "Exchanged Life". I went through the seminar with Tom Grady at our Church in Atlanta in 1987. I went to Grace fellowship for personal counseling and I also attended a "Keswick" oriented Bible College for four years (Columbia Bible College). I must say that it has taken me years of careful Bible study and exegesis to unlearn much of the "Exchanged Life's" view of sanctification.
The theological problems that I have with the "Exchanged Life: are as follows:
1. The "Exchanged Life", "Higher Life", "Keswick Movement", and "Victorious Christian Living", are one in the same and the Theological foundation is faulty to say the least. They begin with an erroneous supposition that man is a triune being. This is no minor point for this teaching finds its origin in Greek philosophy that goes back to Plato and raises its ugly head in first century Gnosticism. I John was written to refute Gnosticism in the early Church. Paul wrote the book of Colossians to deal with the same issue. The Greek philosophers taught that man's spirit is good and that his body is evil. There were two extremes in this teaching. One school taught that you can sin all you want to because the flesh is evil and the spirit is good and ultimately saved in the end. The other school taught that you were to avoid sex , certain foods, etc. ...(asceticism). The other thing they taught was "special knowledge" God communicates to your spirit bypassing your mind (sounds like Watchman Nee). The Gnostics taught this secret, special, inner knowledge. This teaching was condemned by several church councils because it led to a distorted view of the nature of Christ and a distorted view of the Trinity (Council of Constantinople 381 AD, Council of Chalcedon 451 AD). Doctrine is important for our practice! Without realizing it we can be right back into heresy, thinking we have found something new that the Church was without for 2000 years but in reality we just revive an old heresy in new clothing.
2. "The Exchanged Life" teaches the wrong view of sin and sanctification. Charles Solomon , Bill Gillham, and other proponents of the "Exchanged Life" , teach that salvation (the real you) takes place in the human spirit and that the real you does not sin (Solomon: A Guide to Freedom Through the Cross; Gillham: Victorious Christian Living). Solomon also teaches the that Soul and Body are the part of man that is messed up. "The Exchanged Life" also teaches the Carnal Christian theory. The inner man (spirit) is good the Carnal Christian just needs to have this special knowledge. When you get this special knowledge then you will be in a perfected state where your struggles and sin cease.
3. The "Exchanged Life" teaches that man is created in three parts after the image of God. I glanced through the book by Steve McVey and without any Scriptural basis he states that man was created in three parts because this is the image of God (page 43). Where in Scripture is this?
These people just say things like this without any supporting Scripture. This is psychology dressed up in Christian clothing. It is not surprising because C.J. Jung, a father of modern psychology was an open and self-described Gnostic. Now I am not necessarily saying that anyone involved in the "Exchanged Life" is a heretic, Gnostic, or psychologist. What I am saying is that this view of flesh and spirit being separate entities in man have Gnostic tendencies. The leaders of the "Exchanged Life" movement while claiming to be "Biblical" are in fact deriving their foundations from Greek philosophy and modern day psychology. They are weak and sloppy in the study of Scripture to say the least. The following is my critique of the "Exchanged Life" doctrine.
MAN CREATED A BODY AND SOUL
We do not have to go to far in Scripture to find this fact. Genesis 2:7 clearly states that God breathed the breath of life into him (Adam) and the man became a living being (soul). According to this account, God formed the man out of the dust of the earth, breathed the breath of life into him, and he became a living being in whom is a living soul. This is no more than a material body formed and the living principle (soul) derived from God. The soul of man is intermingled with the body and they affect each other. In other words when a person does something his whole being is involved. The Hebrew and Greek word for soul and spirit are used uniformly in Scripture and are constantly interchanged. The one can and is substituted for the other in Scripture, and what can be predicted of the one, is predicted of the other. The Hebrew and Greek words for soul mean breath, life, the living principle; that in which life and the whole life of the subject spoken of resides. The same is true for the Hebrew and Greek words for spirit. They also mean breath, life, the living principle. Therefore the Scriptures speak of spirit and soul not only of that which lives or is the principle of life to the body, but as that which thinks, feels, and which may be saved or lost, which survives the body and is immortal.
The soul is the man himself in which his personality and identity dwell. It is the EGO. There is nothing higher in man than his soul. Here are a few Scriptural proofs: Matt. 10:28 " Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both the soul and body in hell". Notice here that the whole man is destroyed (body and soul) in hell. Matthew 16:26, " What can man give in exchange for his soul", Rev. 6:9, "I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God", Rev. 20:4 "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus...", I Peter 1:9 "for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls", James 1:21 "accept the word planted in you, which can save you (your souls)". Every one of these references use the Greek word for soul and not spirit. There are an abundance of Scriptural references to show that salvation occurs in both the soul/body, ie., the complete man. If this so called the "real you " is in the spirit man then why isn't the word spirit mentioned? Jesus would have surely said be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both your body and spirit. It is evident that the word soul does not designate the mere animal part of our nature, and is not a substance different from our spirit.
The Hebrew and Greek words for soul and spirit are further used in the Scriptures to describe both men and irrational animals. If the Scriptures used the word soul to speak of animals and soul and spirit to speak of men, we would have some grounds for assuming the two are distinct. However Ecclesiastes 3:21 uses spirit to describe both men and animals. The living principle in animals (soul) is irrational and mortal. The soul of man is rational and immortal. The soul of the animal is the immaterial principle which constitutes its life, and which is endowed with sensibility, and that measure of intelligence which experience shows the lower animals to possess. The soul of a man is a created spirit of a higher order, which has not only the attributes of sensibility, memory, and instinct, but also the higher powers which pertain to our intellect, moral, and religious life. As in the animals it is not one substance that feels and another that remembers; so it is not one substance in man that is the subject of sensations and another substance which has intuitions of necessary truths, and which is endowed with conscience and with the knowledge of God. These all belong to one and the same immaterial, rational substance.
SCRIPTURES THAT APPEAR TO TEACH TRICHOTOMY
I do want to be fair and deal with two passages that seem to show a trichotomy of man. I will point out that nowhere have I seen the proponents of the "Exchange Life" deal with the Scriptures I pointed out in the above argument. However the two passages commonly quoted by "Exchanged Life" people are: I Thessalonians 5:23 "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." What is helpful to our understanding of these passages as well as others is the understanding of Hebrew parallelism. The Old Testament is filled with this (most of the writers of the N.T. were Jews). Hebrew parallelism uses different words to add further meaning or explanation to the same thing. Paul is not dividing man up into 3 parts, he is simply adding further explanation to the immaterial part of man (inner man).
If you notice in Heb 4:12, Paul ends this verse by saying the Word of God judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Is Paul saying now that man is four parts consisting of: body, soul, spirit, and heart? No he isn't. A few examples of Hebrew parallelism might be helpful here. Psalm 19: 7-13 the Psalmist is commenting on Law of God. He then gives further explanations of the Law. He calls the Law statutes, precepts, commands, and ordinances. The Law is all of these things and more, however, there is only one Law. Mark 12:30, Jesus gives the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and strength. Jesus is not dividing man into 5 parts here but simply using parallelism to speak of the immaterial part of man.
Continued...here.
This was originally a letter prepared by Pastor Steve McGee to instruct someone on the dangers of the exchanged life movement.
EXCHANGED LIFE
By Steve McGee
Before I begin my critique of the "Exchanged Life" movement I want the readers to understand that I am approaching this as a pastoral duty. I do not believe that God has called me to "straighten" everyone out in the Body of Christ that does not agree with me. My calling is to this local congregation and as a pastor I am an under-shepherd. Therefore I must protect this Body from doctrinal error. I do not intend to be harsh and I know that some of my criticisms will seem to come across that way. However, as you are well aware of, we are living in an age that is anti-doctrine. Therefore, anyone who dares to criticize anyone else is viewed as unloving, intolerant, and of being a Pharisee. I trust that you will not take this critique that way. True love seeks to correct and warn those who are in error.
I want to call your attention to a few Scriptures that speak to this. The book of Galatians was written to refute a false gospel. Jude tells us to contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Our Lord said we are to judge with a righteous judgment (John 7:24). Ephesians 4:1-6 tells us to keep the unity of the Spirit and then goes on to tell us that our unity is expressed in doctrine. When anything is taught that is contrary to Scripture, we have an obligation and command to confront it in love and refute it.
Many in the Church today have overlooked this and in the name of love and tolerance we have put sound doctrine right out the window. So please keep this in mind as you read and know where my heart is. I love our Lord, His people, and His precious Word. Now on to the task that lies ahead. I am very familiar with the "Exchanged Life". I went through the seminar with Tom Grady at our Church in Atlanta in 1987. I went to Grace fellowship for personal counseling and I also attended a "Keswick" oriented Bible College for four years (Columbia Bible College). I must say that it has taken me years of careful Bible study and exegesis to unlearn much of the "Exchanged Life's" view of sanctification.
The theological problems that I have with the "Exchanged Life: are as follows:
1. The "Exchanged Life", "Higher Life", "Keswick Movement", and "Victorious Christian Living", are one in the same and the Theological foundation is faulty to say the least. They begin with an erroneous supposition that man is a triune being. This is no minor point for this teaching finds its origin in Greek philosophy that goes back to Plato and raises its ugly head in first century Gnosticism. I John was written to refute Gnosticism in the early Church. Paul wrote the book of Colossians to deal with the same issue. The Greek philosophers taught that man's spirit is good and that his body is evil. There were two extremes in this teaching. One school taught that you can sin all you want to because the flesh is evil and the spirit is good and ultimately saved in the end. The other school taught that you were to avoid sex , certain foods, etc. ...(asceticism). The other thing they taught was "special knowledge" God communicates to your spirit bypassing your mind (sounds like Watchman Nee). The Gnostics taught this secret, special, inner knowledge. This teaching was condemned by several church councils because it led to a distorted view of the nature of Christ and a distorted view of the Trinity (Council of Constantinople 381 AD, Council of Chalcedon 451 AD). Doctrine is important for our practice! Without realizing it we can be right back into heresy, thinking we have found something new that the Church was without for 2000 years but in reality we just revive an old heresy in new clothing.
2. "The Exchanged Life" teaches the wrong view of sin and sanctification. Charles Solomon , Bill Gillham, and other proponents of the "Exchanged Life" , teach that salvation (the real you) takes place in the human spirit and that the real you does not sin (Solomon: A Guide to Freedom Through the Cross; Gillham: Victorious Christian Living). Solomon also teaches the that Soul and Body are the part of man that is messed up. "The Exchanged Life" also teaches the Carnal Christian theory. The inner man (spirit) is good the Carnal Christian just needs to have this special knowledge. When you get this special knowledge then you will be in a perfected state where your struggles and sin cease.
3. The "Exchanged Life" teaches that man is created in three parts after the image of God. I glanced through the book by Steve McVey and without any Scriptural basis he states that man was created in three parts because this is the image of God (page 43). Where in Scripture is this?
These people just say things like this without any supporting Scripture. This is psychology dressed up in Christian clothing. It is not surprising because C.J. Jung, a father of modern psychology was an open and self-described Gnostic. Now I am not necessarily saying that anyone involved in the "Exchanged Life" is a heretic, Gnostic, or psychologist. What I am saying is that this view of flesh and spirit being separate entities in man have Gnostic tendencies. The leaders of the "Exchanged Life" movement while claiming to be "Biblical" are in fact deriving their foundations from Greek philosophy and modern day psychology. They are weak and sloppy in the study of Scripture to say the least. The following is my critique of the "Exchanged Life" doctrine.
MAN CREATED A BODY AND SOUL
We do not have to go to far in Scripture to find this fact. Genesis 2:7 clearly states that God breathed the breath of life into him (Adam) and the man became a living being (soul). According to this account, God formed the man out of the dust of the earth, breathed the breath of life into him, and he became a living being in whom is a living soul. This is no more than a material body formed and the living principle (soul) derived from God. The soul of man is intermingled with the body and they affect each other. In other words when a person does something his whole being is involved. The Hebrew and Greek word for soul and spirit are used uniformly in Scripture and are constantly interchanged. The one can and is substituted for the other in Scripture, and what can be predicted of the one, is predicted of the other. The Hebrew and Greek words for soul mean breath, life, the living principle; that in which life and the whole life of the subject spoken of resides. The same is true for the Hebrew and Greek words for spirit. They also mean breath, life, the living principle. Therefore the Scriptures speak of spirit and soul not only of that which lives or is the principle of life to the body, but as that which thinks, feels, and which may be saved or lost, which survives the body and is immortal.
The soul is the man himself in which his personality and identity dwell. It is the EGO. There is nothing higher in man than his soul. Here are a few Scriptural proofs: Matt. 10:28 " Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both the soul and body in hell". Notice here that the whole man is destroyed (body and soul) in hell. Matthew 16:26, " What can man give in exchange for his soul", Rev. 6:9, "I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God", Rev. 20:4 "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus...", I Peter 1:9 "for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls", James 1:21 "accept the word planted in you, which can save you (your souls)". Every one of these references use the Greek word for soul and not spirit. There are an abundance of Scriptural references to show that salvation occurs in both the soul/body, ie., the complete man. If this so called the "real you " is in the spirit man then why isn't the word spirit mentioned? Jesus would have surely said be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both your body and spirit. It is evident that the word soul does not designate the mere animal part of our nature, and is not a substance different from our spirit.
The Hebrew and Greek words for soul and spirit are further used in the Scriptures to describe both men and irrational animals. If the Scriptures used the word soul to speak of animals and soul and spirit to speak of men, we would have some grounds for assuming the two are distinct. However Ecclesiastes 3:21 uses spirit to describe both men and animals. The living principle in animals (soul) is irrational and mortal. The soul of man is rational and immortal. The soul of the animal is the immaterial principle which constitutes its life, and which is endowed with sensibility, and that measure of intelligence which experience shows the lower animals to possess. The soul of a man is a created spirit of a higher order, which has not only the attributes of sensibility, memory, and instinct, but also the higher powers which pertain to our intellect, moral, and religious life. As in the animals it is not one substance that feels and another that remembers; so it is not one substance in man that is the subject of sensations and another substance which has intuitions of necessary truths, and which is endowed with conscience and with the knowledge of God. These all belong to one and the same immaterial, rational substance.
SCRIPTURES THAT APPEAR TO TEACH TRICHOTOMY
I do want to be fair and deal with two passages that seem to show a trichotomy of man. I will point out that nowhere have I seen the proponents of the "Exchange Life" deal with the Scriptures I pointed out in the above argument. However the two passages commonly quoted by "Exchanged Life" people are: I Thessalonians 5:23 "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." What is helpful to our understanding of these passages as well as others is the understanding of Hebrew parallelism. The Old Testament is filled with this (most of the writers of the N.T. were Jews). Hebrew parallelism uses different words to add further meaning or explanation to the same thing. Paul is not dividing man up into 3 parts, he is simply adding further explanation to the immaterial part of man (inner man).
If you notice in Heb 4:12, Paul ends this verse by saying the Word of God judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Is Paul saying now that man is four parts consisting of: body, soul, spirit, and heart? No he isn't. A few examples of Hebrew parallelism might be helpful here. Psalm 19: 7-13 the Psalmist is commenting on Law of God. He then gives further explanations of the Law. He calls the Law statutes, precepts, commands, and ordinances. The Law is all of these things and more, however, there is only one Law. Mark 12:30, Jesus gives the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and strength. Jesus is not dividing man into 5 parts here but simply using parallelism to speak of the immaterial part of man.
Continued...here.
