Is the SBC becoming Word of Faith?

When you think of the Word of Faith movement, you imagine leaders like Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn and others who tell us that our faith is a “force,” and the words we speak have the power to create something new. The Word of Faith proponents promise we can obtain health, wealth, success, and more if we simply have enough faith. Biblical Christianity says no.

Just two weeks ago, Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). In his article, Steve Gaines: You Must ‘Name It and Claim It,” Or You Will ‘Walk In Fear and Defeat,’ Jeff Maples reports:

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Congratulations to Southern Baptists. We have now tipped the tides to a fully Word of Faith-affirming denomination. Recently elected SBC president, Steve Gaines has told his followers that they need to pray and claim God’s promises in Scripture in order to have “victory,” otherwise you will face sure defeat.

Never-mind that Jesus has already defeated the enemy on the cross. Never-mind that salvation is by Grace Alone through Faith Alone. According to Gaines, you must actively repeat God’s words back to him on a regular basis in order to walk in faith and victory.

Below is his tweet:

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“Naming it and claiming it” is a phrase used in reference to the Prosperity Gospel (Word of Faith), an aberrant and unbiblical theology that is closely tied to charismatic and non-cessationist congregations.

This isn’t the first time that Gaines has promoted his Word of Faith ideology. In 2014, he tweeted a statement that referenced the classic seed-faith heresy that our words are “seeds” that can bring prosperity or curse among us. See below:

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While we certainly believe that cursing and using foul language is unbecoming of someone who calls themselves a Christian, we unequivocally deny Word of Faith theology, and all of it’s derivatives.

In 2014, Pulpit & Pen did a podcast program with Justin Peters discussing this very issue around Steve Gaines. The discussion begins around the 10:00 mark.

Please see our White Paper on the Word of Faith Movement.


© Berean Research, 2016

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6 Responses to Is the SBC becoming Word of Faith?

  1. Manny1962 June 29, 2016 at 10:42 am #

    Good morning Amy!

    I read this over at Pulpit & Pen, to be frank, maybe ten years ago I would’ve been shocked, but given the apostasy that is ravaging Christendom I’m not in the least. Isn’t that sad, I’m not outraged, I guess I’ve gotten used to the fact that mainline Christianity is fully apostate, there’s no denomination left that can say it isn’t. Either through Seeker Friendly, Emergent, NAR or Word Faith heresies. What’s left? I think I know, the utter rejection of the name of Jesus Christ. I think eventually they’ll stop using His name and inject some other mystical name, like McLaren does.

    I guess what will signal the completion of the Great Apostay, is when Jesus is fully out of apostate Christendom, and the pope points to the antichrist as the world’s returned messiah, the antichrist will receive a head wound that will miraculously heal and the followers of these false teachers and the pope will declare the man of sin messiah…….. I personally believe we are extremely close to that scenario!

  2. Manny1962 June 29, 2016 at 10:48 am #

    Again, my beef with those that blame the bride for the ills of the culture, why haven’t the elders, board, or governing body at SBC, kicked out this man? For those that think “Christianity” can cure the culture, here’s a prime example! The SBC won’t kick out this heretic! If we don’t clean house, how can we ever clean the culture? Judgement begins at the house of the Lord. I know it won’t happen! These people are in place as a judgement against corrupt Christianity! God always has a witness! And a remnant! Amen! God bless his people!

  3. Darrel June 29, 2016 at 11:05 am #

    Seems that the SBC has developed a case of claustrophobia in their closet of deceit and just can’t stand it any more.

    I don’t know why people should act so surprised since the SBC has taught “name it and claim it” for decades every time they tell people to “accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior” as if the proclamation in itself equates to “salvation.” Their stupid and heretical “sinner’s prayer” is nothing more than a mockery of the God they speak about while they tell people that by their “choosing” to follow Jesus they are declared to be saints—just like the pope of Rome tells his followers. And who said you can’t know whether someone is saved or not; the preacher has declared them to be “saved” because they prayed his stupid little prayer, so it must be so and who are you to contradict the Preacher?

    The SBC has been infiltrated and overrun by masons long ago but does anyone expose them on this? Not JD Hall, not Jeff Maples, no one at Pulpit and Pen or anywhere else. Why? Do they refuse to expose them because they are themselves a mason? Makes on wonder. The SBC’s own in-house survey from nearly thirty years ago found 14% of it’s pastors were openly a “free-mason” and over 37% of the membership (5,000,000+++) admitted it also—these were the ones that answered the survey honestly, only God knows the true numbers.

    It’s laughable to see this new boldness. The truth is that it is nothing more than a desperate attempt to bolster their dwindling numbers and bank accounts. Pathetic, and all in the name of their god, which is no god at all, but a figment of their wishful thinking.

  4. Manny1962 June 29, 2016 at 11:21 am #

    With all these stories coming out………are there any believers left in these congregations? It breaks my heart. They’re overrun by Freemasons? How can one justify Masonry? Its occultic, satanic, and filled with lies? Wow.

  5. David July 1, 2016 at 2:52 pm #

    Darrel, very interesting observation regarding JD Hall and free-masons within the SBC. I left the SBC and wondered myself about this matter in the church I left. Pastor came back from the annual SBC convention praising the entire event which had to do with the rising homosexual agenda and the church just a couple of years ago. Upon his return, he preached on the need for a revival as well (echoing Ronnie Floyd’s message – the then president of the SBC). That’s not in scripture as occurring in the last days. Rather we know there is going to be a falling away and it’s happening right now – full speed ahead. I too contacted JD Hall asking him why he was remaining with the SBC knowing the direction the leadership was taking the denomination and all the apostasy and heresy that was occurring within the SBC. That direction is ecumenicalism (one world religion). Never got a response back from him. That spoke volumes to me. I do not trust him, but do appreciate his exposure of the SBC.

  6. kim July 13, 2016 at 9:08 pm #

    I think you really need to go back and reread your bible and stop lying about others. Copeland has NEVER ONCE said our faith is a “force,” and the words we speak have the power to create something new. Never. Once. What gets me is folks like you lie about others and you don’t care. You seriously don’t care. Do you not understand how Satanic that is???? Do you even know who Jesus is? Is He the precious Lamb of God or a trend to you?

    I’ve listened to Copeland every day for 20 years and he’s never said faith is a force and my words create new things. He only preaches the bible and yet you twist his words to destroy him. Why would you do this to another human being?? I don’t care who that person is, you don’t lie about them. You don’t twist their words. You don’t try to destroy them. How is that Christ like?? You lie about Copeland and others and think you are doing God a favor. When did Jesus say, yeap, lie about others. I hope the SBC is becoming Word based. We need God’s word in our churches.

    As for your quotes you captured, you do know those ARE bible verses, right??? Or are you now against God’s word? Pray back God’s promises and you’ll walk in victory and faith. Romans 10:17 says Faith comes by HEARING the Word of God. aka, the bible. God expects us to use His word in prayers and yes, it will bring Victory as we HAVE victory in Christ Jesus. Is 55:10-11 says God’s word will not return to Him empty but Will accomplish what it is suppose to do. Paul prayed God’s promises in ALL his prayers. And yet, I”m not suppose to do it?? really?? Jesus prayed God’s word. If Jesus did it, then shouldn’t I do it?? God’s word does equate victory. How do I know? 1 cor 15:57.

    Curse words equate spiritual curses. YES!! IT does. James 3:5, proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 12:22. You’re telling Jesus that He’s wrong in saying cursing brings down curses. I think you might want to actually LISTEN to what these people are saying b/c they are using God’s word. You might as well call yourself the Anti Christ as you are saying God’s word is wrong. The quotes you used ARE IN THE BIBLE! So God’s word is wrong now?

    What gets me is that you KNOW what these people have said b/c you see the transcript and you see the entire video/recording. Yet you only show parts of them that equate your accusations. Do you not see how satanic that is??? You can’t pick and chose a transcript or video to equate your evil accusations. Do you think God will just sit back and let you do this?? Don’t you think His anger will eventually fall on you? Do you think He will just look away? Not care? You need to repent before God for all the lies you’ve told. God will not let this go unpunished. You really need to think what will Jesus say when you stand before Him with all these lies under your belt. Do you think He will say, well done, good and faithful servant or I don’t know you. He said only those who do the Father’s will will get into heaven. How is lying about others the Father’s will???? You’re playing a game of Russian Roulette with a gun in your mouth and hopefully it won’t go off. Why would you do that???

    You do know that what God did for Copeland in giving him money, God will do for you. But there’s a catch. You MUST do whatever God tells you to do and that’s to give most of that money away, which is what Copeland does, give it away. Love of money is root of all evil. I think you’re too much in love with money as the pastors you attack HAVE money from God. I have a feeling also that God has convicted you of this nonsense and you just ignore it. Now that conviction is gone and God has handed you over to the devil. Good luck with that b/c right now, that’s all you have. luck, not His blessings.

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