In Monday’s newsletter, we discussed how enjoyable reading is, but when it comes to Christian books, we need to have our guards up. In case you missed that newsletter, you can check it out at the following link:
https://markcahill.org/get-your-story-straight-part-1/
In continuing the discussion on this topic, when I found myself in a fiction mood recently, I ran into this problem. Since I want to put good things in front of my eyes, I did some research on Christian fiction authors and decided to try some of their books.
Using Discernment
As I was reading one book, I noticed some things. Some phrasing seemed to be off. Some of the theological thoughts being woven together in the storyline were off. You can pick these things up if you know your Bible.
This gentleman loved quotes. And so do I! I love a good quote from someone. A simple sentence can provoke some profound thoughts. He put a quote at the top of each chapter. When I saw the quote at the top of one chapter, it all hit me. He used a quote from Andrew Wommack. Andrew is a well-known false teacher.
I went to Andrew’s website to check him out a bit further. I happened to find another quote of his that said, “The Bible is clear that Jesus has already healed ALL our sickness and disease. Don’t let the doctor’s report become more real to you than God’s report. … Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 reveal that our healing was paid for when Jesus died on the cross.” This quote was sourced from his official ministry website. It is from the article titled “Healing Is In The Atonement” on the Andrew Wommack Ministries website (awmi.net).”
These types of teachings come out of the health, wealth, and prosperity movement, or the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. Another term they use is Dominion Theology. It teaches that Christians are called to take dominion over society. And that, if you are truly following Jesus, you won’t get sick and you will have an abundance of financial wealth at all times, etc.
But is this biblically true? Is that what the Bible teaches?
Jesus stated in John 12:8:
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
I may not be the best Bible scholar out there, but this verse is pretty easy to figure out. We will always have the poor with us. Have you ever looked around? Ever seen any poor people? Does your heart ever move you to want to help those people, and then you actually do something about it?
Let me be very honest here. Some of the greatest saints I have ever met had very little means when it came to their lives down here. But what they had was great faith! Great, great love for Jesus. They wanted to serve Him and share Him and glorify His name! I would take faith like that over all the riches of the world any day of the week.
Proverbs 13:7
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Also, have you ever seen a brother or sister of the Lord finally get some wealth, and it derailed their service for Jesus? They seemed to care more about the things that money could buy, and their faith either moved in the direction of lukewarmness, or they went all the way into a lukewarm state. I have seen that more times than I can count.
But is healing really in the cross? Is it true that if we are saved, then we don’t get sick? We don’t get diseases? We don’t get COVID? We don’t get cancer?
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Of course, the reading of that verse is simple. We are spiritually healed of our sins by what Jesus has done on the cross for each one of us. Hallelujah!!
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Believers Still Suffer
Biblically, we know that what Andrew is teaching can’t be true. How do we know that? The apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
So here we have Paul, a great, great man of faith. He is the type of man we should all aspire to be like. He knew the importance of the cross better than probably anyone. Paul knew Jesus in such an intimate way.
Galatians 1:11-12
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Let’s put all of this together. If God does not take away Paul’s thorn in the flesh, then He might not take mine away either. Now, He might take it away as well. Healing is such a fascinating thing when you see God heal someone! But being healed from a condition is not guaranteed. Maybe God is going to show out in our weaknesses. Just maybe, God is going to use someone who is going through a very difficult time and who won’t lose their faith in order to show a lost person that we can trust this same God through thick and thin. And maybe, just maybe, when we are weak, God is very, very strong.
Strong Faith
I had a nice phone call with a friend of the ministry. He has a certain disease where the sheath around his spine causes intense pain. He has had it for a very long time now. He let me know there have been numerous times when he wanted to throw in the towel. As we chatted, he let me know that he supports Christian ministries, he shares his faith, and he loves to give the gospel to the lost. The entire time we chatted, all I could think about was how he is a man of great faith, how he loves Jesus, and how he wants people to know Him. If only I had faith like that.
Are you going to tell me that Andrew Wommack has greater faith than these two men? Please. Don’t even go there with me. I recognize men of God when I read about them and when I meet them. We need more men like them walking around during these days.
In Part 3 of this newsletter series, we will discuss still another way that false teachings can be woven into fictional books. Tune in next Monday to see which false philosophy I stumbled across in yet another Christian fiction book.
Until the nets are full,
P.S. To help your summer reading and equip you to reach the lost at the same time, we are offering our three fictional novels for $20! These would be $45 if picked up separately, but now they are $20 for all three books! That means you can pick some up for the people you know and for those you’ll be running into while witnessing. And once you’ve finished reading them, pass them along to someone who needs to read them as well! These are great to give your friends who like to read fiction and if someone is not a big reader, maybe they will be turned into a reader by giving them one of these books. You can find them by clicking on the link below!
https://markcahill.org/product-category/specials/
P.P.S. One of the dangers in life is when someone thinks it is their right to teach and train your kids however they see fit.
This is the danger found in much of the gay rights movement and in the public education system. They actually look at your children as “their kids.” They feel free to teach and train them however they want. A teacher’s job is to assist parents in the raising of their children. It is never to usurp parental authority. Your best bet: Get your kids and grandkids out of the American public education system as quickly as you can.