Understanding Its Strengths, Weaknesses, and The Way Forward #

In the early years of my spiritual journey, around the early 2000s, the Word of Faith movement became my primary influence. Men like Kenneth Hagin, Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, and T.L. Osborn deeply shaped my understanding of prayer, healing, authority, and the supernatural power of God. Their teachings stirred a hunger for intimacy with Christ and a bold faith that refused to settle for a powerless gospel.

Reading Osborn’s Healing the Sick helped me minister healing with confidence. Hagin’s The Believer’s Authority taught me to resist the enemy with Scripture. Wigglesworth’s life story convinced me to live wholly surrendered to the Word of God. Looking back, I tremble to think where I would be if not for those men and the hunger they stirred in my heart.

Yet, as I continued walking with the Lord, studying His Word more deeply, and being tested by life’s complexities, I began to notice cracks in the theological foundations of the Word of Faith (WOF) framework. My aim in this article is not to discourage anyone who has benefited from this movement, but rather to bring a more balanced and Christ-centred understanding, grounded in the whole counsel of God.

Preaching One Truth at the Expense of Others #

Acts 20:27 — “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” (ESV)

Many movements begin by restoring a neglected truth. But when we overemphasise one aspect—be it grace, faith, holiness, or prosperity—to the exclusion of other truths, we produce distortion. This leads to confusion and discouragement, especially for sincere believers facing trials that the movement has no theology for.

Yes, I’d still rather walk with hopeful believers than with cynical Christians. But hope must be rooted in Christ, not in formulas.

Misuse of Scripture: A Hermeneutical Problem #

2 Timothy 2:15 — “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman tested by trial who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skilfully teaching the word of truth.” (AMP)

Three major errors often show up in WOF preaching:

a. Isolating verses from context #

Example: 3 John 2 is quoted as a blanket promise for health and prosperity, but the context reveals it was a personal greeting, not a doctrinal decree. The Greek εὐοδοῦσθαι (euodousthai) means “to succeed on a journey,” not a guarantee of material wealth.

b. Placing personal experience above Scripture #

Dreams, visions, and encounters are often elevated above the written Word. But even Peter, who witnessed Christ’s glory on the mountain, said:

2 Peter 1:19 — “We have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay close attention to it.” (NASB)

c. Starting with presuppositions #

New doctrines often arise from personal experiences instead of sound exegesis. This fits the warning:

2 Timothy 4:3 — “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but will gather teachers who say what they want to hear.” (NET)

An Imbalanced View of Rights vs. Stewardship #

Many WOF teachings overemphasise the “rights” of the believer while neglecting the responsibility and stewardship that come with sonship.

Deuteronomy 8:18 — “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant.” (NASB)

The purpose of prosperity is to advance the kingdom, not self-enrichment. Jesus’ words still stand:

Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (NASB)

Disregard for the Old Testament’s Moral Law #

Some WOF leaders, like Hagin, dismissed the Old Testament, saying the New Testament is superior. While the ceremonial laws are fulfilled in Christ, the moral law (e.g. Ten Commandments) remains relevant as a reflection of God’s holiness in and through Christ.

Romans 7:7 — “I would not have known sin except through the law.” (NKJV)

Cherry-picking verses like Exodus 23:25 (“I will remove sickness”) while ignoring Leviticus’ dietary and purity laws shows inconsistency. True covenant blessing is not just about quoting Scripture but walking in covenant obedience.

A Dualistic View of God’s Nature #

WOF theology tends to portray God as only good and Satan as the exclusive source of all suffering. While God is indeed good, the Bible shows that He also permits hardship, discipline, and judgment for redemptive purposes.

Isaiah 45:7 — “I form light and create darkness; I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” (NET)

Job 42:10 — “The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends.” (NASB)

Yet James affirms Job’s suffering in the New Covenant:

James 5:11 — “You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings—that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” (NASB)

God’s dealings are complex. He disciplines in love, and even permits calamity to work deeper purposes in us.

Superficiality Through Positive Confession Alone #

Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (ESV)

While words matter, confession without authenticity breeds hypocrisy. People hide behind clichés like “I’m blessed and highly favoured,” while their inner world is collapsing.

James 5:16 — “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” (NASB)

There is power in honest vulnerability. Faith does not deny reality—it proclaims God’s truth in reality.

A Transactional Approach to Giving #

WOF teaching often presents giving as a transaction: give to get. While sowing and reaping are biblical, true prosperity includes wisdom, discipline, and diligence, not just offerings.

Luke 6:38 — “Give, and it will be given to you…”

But:

Proverbs 21:5 — “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.” (ESV)

Without teaching stewardship, budgeting, and responsibility, many fall into cycles of giving without growth. The church must teach economic freedom holistically—not just offerings, but wealth creation and accountability.

Faith in Faith vs. Faith in Christ #

This may be the most subtle yet dangerous distortion: faith becomes a principle to be worked rather than a Person to be trusted. Jesus becomes a means to an end rather than the end Himself.

Mark 11:22 — “Have faith in God.”

(Not: “Have faith in faith.”)

Faith must be relational, rooted in trust and surrender, not formulas or declarations.

Ignoring God’s Sovereignty in Suffering #

When healing doesn’t manifest or provision delays, WOF theology offers few answers. This leads many to guilt, shame, or even abandonment of faith. But Scripture shows that not all suffering is due to personal failure.

John 9:1-3 — “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus replied, “Neither… but that the works of God might be displayed.”

God is sovereign. He heals and provides, but He also allows seasons of testing and mystery.

Final Thoughts #

I’m thankful for the foundations I received through the Word of Faith movement. It taught me to believe in God, to pray boldly, and to walk in spiritual authority. But maturing in Christ means recognising when partial truths must yield to the whole counsel of God.

We must build not on isolated verses or personal revelations but on Christ Himself—the cornerstone.

Colossians 2:6-7 — “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him… and established in your faith.” (NASB)

Let us seek truth, not trends. Let us follow Christ, not movements. Let us embrace a gospel that is not only powerful but balanced, holy, and whole.

In Christ,
Shaliach.