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Contemporary Theological Aberration of an
“Anointing”
What then of the present day “anointing” phenomenon sweeping whole denominations and capturing the imagination of many evangelicals?
Consider:
· Benny Hinn, a popular and internationally recognized evangelist,author and conference speaker promises to feature “anointed guests” at an upcoming crusade, ultimately referencing “the anointing” on multiple levels. It is never made
clear what level of “the anointing” crusade attendees should expect to observe among the scheduled speakers.
· Creflo Dollar, the head of an Atlanta-based husband and wife ministry team, encourages an audience of women to “surrender to the anointing” in contemplation of leadership
qualities in a marriage partner, and in printed curriculum, that “the anointing” is the ability to get wealth, based on Deuteronomy 8:18. The same ministry team asserts that Jesus was an imperfect man, God’s demonstration “of what a man
with the anointing can do.”
· Kenneth Copeland, an internationally noted Bible teacher,confidently asserts to his Midwest faithful that “the anointing” will bring personal success in life, both materially and spiritually.
The same man insists that “the anointing” ultimately enabled him to retire millions of dollars of ministry debt.
· Hinn, Rod Parsley and others have extolled a plan to build a healing center where “the anointings” of evangelists and faith
healers of previous generations might be preserved and multiplied, where the “spiritual genealogies” of departed saints will be “multiplied” by “the anointing” of living saints.
These are but a few of the more prominent assertions attributed to leaders in the Word of Faith movement regarding “anointings.”
Such examples, however, are simply the tip of a large iceberg of questionable activities employed by Word of Faith ministers.
A wide array of other purported mystical phenomena is also regularly employed by Word of Faith teachers such as manifestations
of “holy laughter” and the alleged appearance of gold dust.
All teachings of this brand of teachers need to be thoroughly tested with scripture ( 1 John 4:1) due to their proclivity to step
outside the bounds of the Bible in their efforts to retain viewers and increase donations to their ministries.
Donors and viewers should not be swayed by teaching that is not in line with scripture.
Teaching Spiritual Thoughts, Spiritual Words
Regrettably, this spurious theology, which has emerged without Scriptural warrant, ranges far outside biblical use of the definitive
terms – as demonstrated above – and is foisted upon the woefully undiscerning by those who ought to know better.
Indeed, Biblical promise of hope for those who would sincerely understand the things, “God has prepared for those who love Him,” things
“taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (1 Corinthians 2:9, 13) has, at the very least, been carelessly
misused within their contexts. At worst, it has been hijacked by those desiring to avoid accountability and escape the very scrutiny demanded in Scripture.
By invoking “the anointing” as a prophetic mantle, discerning questions are deferred,
criticism is quieted, and otherwise dubious activity is given legitimacy.
As with most doctrinal disgrace, this error will be remedied only by subjecting the teaching of men to the clear standard of Scripture,
leadership within the Body of Christ which fears false pretense more than the favor of men, and a return to accountability with the terms of Scripture. The anointing designates the gifted,
supernatural enabling of the New Testament saint to be tutored in the written revelation of God, and is a function of the permanent indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit.
It is the efficient resource of God and needs no review or improvement. It cannot be managed, manipulated or merchandised.
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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