Why do so many christians call WOF a cult?

One thing I have discovered is that a lot of Christians couldn't be bothered to stand on the word and believe God, it takes too much time and effort...

it is far easier to say... "you never know what God is going to do..." and then they don't actually have to do anything... if things go wrong for them then they can always blame God and say things like... "well it must have been God's will for me..."

Since this is the WoF forum, I want to respect the congregational rules, but I would like to answer the question as respectfully as possible. In short, I think it comes down to a fundamental difference of opinion as to what "faith" is and how this plays out in our Christian walk, to be fair, I think that a fair number of televangelists and other con-artists have hijacked the WoF to make it appear to be something other than what it is. The first is a conversation that WoF and non-WoF Christians really should engage in. The latter is just an unfortunate reality that sincere proponents of WoF will, perhaps unfairly, have to address so long as con-artists besmirch WoF theology by using it for their own personal gain.

greatlyloved said:

Well, I am WoF and my definition of faith is believing what God says and trusting him to do what He's said He would do. And, since the bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please Him, then we need to spend time with Him, get to know Him and His character so that we can strengthen our faith and learn to trust Him more.

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I don't want to get into this issue too much more, because I want to show respect for the WoF forum, and as a non-WoF believer, it is not appropriate for me to debate here. I just wanted to throw that out there as a possible discussion point about the disagreements between WoF and other Christians.

Certainly I agree that there are a lot of televangelists that are questionable; however, that is true in all denominations. I've heard denominational preachers who are well known due to radio or television that I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them so people who have been corrupted by their status as a radio or TV preacher are not limited to WoF.

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Many of the most egregious abuses by televangelists and other slimy religious figures have been by people twisting WoF to make it about making themselves rich. What I am talking about here are the preachers who prey on poor people by telling them that they will be blessed with riches if they "sow a faith seed" and send large donations to the ministry. I realize that this is not consistent with genuine WoF, but it is not hard to see how WoF is twisted into this. And, while these represent a very small minority within the WoF movement, they are the most visible to those of us who are not WoF. Just an observation.

greatlyloved said:

Hello all!

I was doing a search for WOF forums today and came across all sorts of links where people were calling Word of Faith a cult. The things people said are being taught by WOF preachers were totally wrong - at least I've never heard any WOF preachers teaching some of the stuff these people were attributing to them. In fact, I have never heard any true WOF preacher teach anything that could not be backed up by two or more (most of the time many more) scriptures. I have considered myself Full Gospel or Word of Faith for years and have listened to tons of teaching tapes - many of them several times. The things some of these mainline christians are saying about Word of Faith do not fall in line with what I have heard preached.

Does anyone understand why this might be? I have seen some questionable groups out there that people consider Word of Faith. I suppose they are fringe groups that started as WOF and then branched off and went into some strange doctrines. Could some of those groups be how we got such a bad reputation? I know I lost a friend to one of those groups.

I was hoping to find more forums and christian boards with Word of Faith people there to make friends with, discuss things with, share prayer requests and victories with, and frankly, I am particular about who I have pray for me. I want to know that the person has a solid relationship with the Lord and knows how to use their faith. Although I know there are many sincere Christians in other denominations, I have seen the most prayers answered under Full Gospel or WOF teaching.

Has anyone else encountered this negative reaction to WOF and what do you think about it?

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Hello greatlyloved! I'd just like to welcome you to this forum and it is my sincere prayer for you that you enjoy some warm and friendly fellowship here, knowing that by faith all things are possible with God, and that we stand with you in believing for all of those dreams to come true! Be blessed!

PS Come join us on CindyisHis fellowship thread if you're led - we do have so much fun sharing in God's word and all the wonderful promises He has for us! I just know you'd be welcome there and I'm sure we would all be blessed by having you there too. Many thanks to you for joining with us, delighting in the Lord together! Amen!

greatlyloved said:

Hello Shepherd1,

Thank you so much for the welcome. I will definitely check out the CindyisHis thread. Looking forward to getting to know people here!

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YAY! C U soon!

greatlyloved said:

I agree with you and it really makes me mad when I see things like that. There are a few who are famous in my mind for manipulating people into giving in order to get God to bless them. In fact, there are a few people that seem to be hired specifically to bring in money. When I see those people, I turn the channel and lose respect for the people who hired them to bring in the dollars. It's a shame that people are made to believe that they have to buy answers to prayer. These ministries that use the professional moneymakers and who give speeches to convince you to donate to them in order to be blessed just show me that they are lacking in faith.

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I can understand why that would be frustrating -- to see someone twist a belief that you hold dear in order to exploit people. But, for whatever reason, this is what a lot of us have come to associate with WoF. I am sure that if we discussed we would find some genuine disagreements. However, it's not a bad idea to look at the misconceptions that people might have and why these misconceptions exist in answering questions like the one you posed in the OP. Thanks for your comments.

On that note - preachers twisting the Word to try to extricate money from people, exploiting them in doing so, I will say this.

I have been partners with very well known "WoF" minister of the Word, one that frequently comes under attack and misquoted or quoted out of context all the time. People really should hear the whole thing! Anyway, he always receives an offering on a particular day, and that is the only time he talks about money, as far as getting it. (And it is not for himself. It's to be credited to their account.) When he does, he always says he "does NOT want your money if you think you have to send it", or if you think he needs it to keep the ministry going. It is clear he relies on God to keep the ministry going! After all, isn't God the one who called him to it? But the point is, he specifically requests not sending money if you think that's all he wants.

On the other hand what he does do is this - he GIVES things away all the time! On his broadcast he offers this or that almost every week. All you have to do is ask. You don't have to send ANYTHING. He gives it. He also publishes a monthly magazine you can have delivered to your home free of charge. He gives many books and materials away to prisoners. He'll fly to any place in the world to preach to any size congregation for no charge. He was sent to one country once because the LORD said there was one woman He needed to minister to, and would you please go do that for Me? And of course he preaches to very large audiences too.

I have gone out to my mailbox and gotten a surprise gift more than once out of the blue. I have had someone from the ministry personally call when a hurricane, a category 3, was approaching us, to pray with us and they also played a recording of him with a message that was so encouraging it about shot me through the roof with faith in God's love and protection for me!

These are the giving people who have stepped out in great faith to obey God's call who come under persecution of religious people.

I am honored to be a partner with folks like this. Very much so. I have listened avidly to teaching from them for nearly 30 years, listening a lot, going to meetings, and reading books and articles. I met them once in person. They are the real thing.

His name? Kenneth Copeland. He is my brother, and I am not ashamed to say so. He is my father in faith. He and Gloria are like spiritual parents to me. I am honored to be partners with them and will continue to stand with them.

CindyisHis said:

On that note - preachers twisting the Word to try to extricate money from people, exploiting them in doing so, I will say this.

I have been partners with very well known "WoF" minister of the Word, one that frequently comes under attack and misquoted or quoted out of context all the time. People really should hear the whole thing! Anyway, he always receives an offering on a particular day, and that is the only time he talks about money, as far as getting it. (And it is not for himself. It's to be credited to their account.) When he does, he always says he "does NOT want your money if you think you have to send it", or if you think he needs it to keep the ministry going. It is clear he relies on God to keep the ministry going! After all, isn't God the one who called him to it? But the point is, he specifically requests not sending money if you think that's all he wants.

On the other hand what he does do is this - he GIVES things away all the time! On his broadcast he offers this or that almost every week. All you have to do is ask. You don't have to send ANYTHING. He gives it. He also publishes a monthly magazine you can have delivered to your home free of charge. He gives many books and materials away to prisoners. He'll fly to any place in the world to preach to any size congregation for no charge. He was sent to one country once because the LORD said there was one woman He needed to minister to, and would you please go do that for Me? And of course he preaches to very large audiences too.

I have gone out to my mailbox and gotten a surprise gift more than once out of the blue. I have had someone from the ministry personally call when a hurricane, a category 3, was approaching us, to pray with us and they also played a recording of him with a message that was so encouraging it about shot me through the roof with faith in God's love and protection for me!

These are the giving people who have stepped out in great faith to obey God's call who come under persecution of religious people.

I am honored to be a partner with folks like this. Very much so. I have listened avidly to teaching from them for nearly 30 years, listening a lot, going to meetings, and reading books and articles. I met them once in person. They are the real thing.

His name? Kenneth Copeland. He is my brother, and I am not ashamed to say so. He is my father in faith. He and Gloria are like spiritual parents to me. I am honored to be partners with them and will continue to stand with them.

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CindyisHis said:

On that note - preachers twisting the Word to try to extricate money from people, exploiting them in doing so, I will say this.

I have been partners with very well known "WoF" minister of the Word, one that frequently comes under attack and misquoted or quoted out of context all the time. People really should hear the whole thing! Anyway, he always receives an offering on a particular day, and that is the only time he talks about money, as far as getting it. (And it is not for himself. It's to be credited to their account.) When he does, he always says he "does NOT want your money if you think you have to send it", or if you think he needs it to keep the ministry going. It is clear he relies on God to keep the ministry going! After all, isn't God the one who called him to it? But the point is, he specifically requests not sending money if you think that's all he wants.

On the other hand what he does do is this - he GIVES things away all the time! On his broadcast he offers this or that almost every week. All you have to do is ask. You don't have to send ANYTHING. He gives it. He also publishes a monthly magazine you can have delivered to your home free of charge. He gives many books and materials away to prisoners. He'll fly to any place in the world to preach to any size congregation for no charge. He was sent to one country once because the LORD said there was one woman He needed to minister to, and would you please go do that for Me? And of course he preaches to very large audiences too.

I have gone out to my mailbox and gotten a surprise gift more than once out of the blue. I have had someone from the ministry personally call when a hurricane, a category 3, was approaching us, to pray with us and they also played a recording of him with a message that was so encouraging it about shot me through the roof with faith in God's love and protection for me!

These are the giving people who have stepped out in great faith to obey God's call who come under persecution of religious people.

I am honored to be a partner with folks like this. Very much so. I have listened avidly to teaching from them for nearly 30 years, listening a lot, going to meetings, and reading books and articles. I met them once in person. They are the real thing.

His name? Kenneth Copeland. He is my brother, and I am not ashamed to say so. He is my father in faith. He and Gloria are like spiritual parents to me. I am honored to be partners with them and will continue to stand with them.

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I don't particularly like or dislike Kenneth Copeland (honestly, I don't know much about the man and his ministry). However, I will say that he is not one that comes to mind when I think of people twisting WoF as a moneymaking scheme. While I probably wouldn't agree with all of his teachings, I can say that what little I have seen of him, he seems like a pretty decent guy, for whatever that's worth.

I think that part of the problem might be that many of us do not completely understand what is and is not WoF. If you don't mind me asking, what would you all consider core WoF beliefs (i.e., what beliefs make a person WoF or not WoF)? Also, who would you say are some of the more well known WoF teachers?

There were many who didn't like Jesus either

dies-l said:

I think that part of the problem might be that many of us do not completely understand what is and is not WoF. If you don't mind me asking, what would you all consider core WoF beliefs (i.e., what beliefs make a person WoF or not WoF)? Also, who would you say are some of the more well known WoF teachers?

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The biggest thing about WOF folks is we believe the Bible. We do not negate the miracles, we believe Jesus meant what He said.

My question to you is what is it You believe? How do you think that differs from what WOF people believe? Where did you get your information/what is your source?

You have come to a WOF thread, I think it is a fair question for you to post what you believe the questions/differences may be and check whether your assumptions are valid.

Pastor Russ said:

The biggest thing about WOF folks is we believe the Bible. We do not negate the miracles, we believe Jesus meant what He said.

My question to you is what is it You believe? How do you think that differs from what WOF people believe? Where did you get your information/what is your source?

You have come to a WOF thread, I think it is a fair question for you to post what you believe the questions/differences may be and check whether your assumptions are valid.

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I came here as the title is "Why do so many Christians call WOF a cult". I find it dissappointing that some feel restricted in what they say due to it being a "WOF" thread. For example I searched "new posts" not specifically WOF thus I am here now.

I had never heard of the WOF to start with, so thought I would see the fors and against here so that may get a better picture. I am sorry if I wrongly interpret what has been said above but it does not seem a very welcoming warm response. I believe in miracles but also even more so believe in the fruits of the Spirit even more so.

It is easy to see what I believe in my profile. I googled WOF and came to a site "Word of Faith Church" not sure if the same one but the statement of faith seems fine to me anyway.

I hope not to offend but just felt that a question was asked so it would be good to hear from both sides. Blessings in Jesus name

Pastor Russ said:

The biggest thing about WOF folks is we believe the Bible. We do not negate the miracles, we believe Jesus meant what He said.

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In all fairness, I think that most Christians would say they believe along these lines. However, different Christians interpret and understand differently what this means in application. My perception is that WoF teaches generally that if you pray for something with a faithful heart, you will get it and that a faithful heart is generally one that believes that God will give you what you ask for. Is that a fair summary?

My question to you is what is it You believe? How do you think that differs from what WOF people believe? Where did you get your information/what is your source?

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Where I perceive that I disagree with many WoF folks is that I believe that God can and does often say no to our prayer or directs us along a path that conforms with his will and that He uses our suffering to build our character and our faith. For example, my wife and I were recently diagnosed with infertility. We have prayed continuously that my wife would get pregnant, and we accepted the medical diagnosis as God's way of saying no, or at least not yet. At this point in my life, I do not know whether I will ever have biological children of my own, but I highly doubt it. Instead, I believe that God is using this to prepare my wife and I to invite into our home children who do not have families of their own, through foster care and older child adoption. At this point, we do not pray that God will allow my wife to become pregnant; instead, we ask that He will guide us in understanding what His calling is for our lives.

I don't know if this is completely inconsistent with WoF beliefs. However, I do a fair amount of work with a church in Central America that I understand to be quite WoF in its theology. The reaction that I have gotten from people that I know who tend to lean in that direction theologically is that I should not adopt, because God will bless me. I believe, however, that this is not necessarily correct, because I believe that God is seeking to bless us by using us to bless a child who needs a family and that infertility may be His way of confirming in us that calling.

As for where I get my information about WoF, this is largely from WoF friends both here on CF and people that I know in person. I acknowledge that there is a lot of misunderstanding of WoF out there, so I encourage and welcome corrections where I myself may be guilty of misunderstanding.

You have come to a WOF thread, I think it is a fair question for you to post what you believe the questions/differences may be and check whether your assumptions are valid.

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I agree. I just want to avoid crossing the fine line between fellowship/discussion and debate/proselytizing. This is your forum, and I respect your right to discuss without people like me coming in and debating. So, I would just ask that if anyone here thinks that I am crossing that line, please let me know.