Jesus taught that there would be an increase of false teachings in the last days. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24 (NKJV) Then secondly Paul said in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV) “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” In my opinion, the two occurrences could be directly connected to each other. Could the false teachings of the extremes of the hyper-faith movement and its appeal to people to buy into Satan’s original lie? It was “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5(NKJV). Could misinformed conversions to a “false Christianity” lead to teetering converts whose theology cannot stand the test of time and reality?
Jesus seems to answer this question directly in Matthew 24:12 (NKJV), “And because lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold.” Later again we see Paul address the issue as well. “But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such turn away!” 2nd Timothy 3:1-5(NKJV)
Which doctrine has been introduced to the church in the past 30-40 years that might serve as the framework for the predicted last days falling away from the faith? Almost daily we read in some form of media about another well-known person that is announcing that they are leaving the Christian faith. While this greatly saddens our hearts, and it should, we also recognize that God has been using his servants to trumpet warning sounds to the church concerning these hyper-faith teachings to all who will listen. The obvious long-range fruit of these false teachings is that they over-promise and under-deliver. God is no slave to a false teaching about Himself nor is He obligated to perform in accordance with what they promise. Many of these that fall away have been very close to putting God to the test by grabbing a scripture out of Biblical context and “commanding God to perform His Word.” Jesus said to Satan during in His own temptation said, ‘It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Jesus understood that leaping forward and believing God will catch you was not faith but a form of foolishness.
Many of these extreme faith teachings originated in the teachings of EW Kenyon (1867-1948) and his “little gods” theories. Although many of the more modern faith evangelists hail his teachings, little is known about his life growing up or the foundation of his theology. A large part of the evangelical community of his day did not believe that his beliefs had a solid biblical foundation. Interestingly enough, the philosophies tied in with his elevated faith revelations have their roots in the hunger for personal power which has postulated this teaching. The epitome of personal power is to become like a god! It was this very sinful, prideful desire of Satan himself which got him kicked out of Heaven. Is it any wonder it was the first lie that he used on mankind and possibly is the last lie he is propagating in these last days to pull possibly millions away to eternal destruction by following a false doctrine?
The simplest test for people who want to genuinely follow Christ is that they should realize that what is blatantly missing with these hyper-faith teaching is balance. There is a large amount of the Bible that is intentionally never taught because it would expose the idiocy of some of their claims. Those that have come out of the movement have discovered the rest of the Scripture. Sadly, those that have fallen away from the “faith” because of it have not!
