I’m often asked to assess what others teach. I do not do this lightly, but it is necessary. Before reading this page, or any of the pages about specific people, I recommend that you read What is a False Teacher?, which explains what the Bible says about false teachers, and why I would bother to research who they are and what they say. You may also want to check out a list of Bible Teachers I Can Recommend.
Sally asked about Kenneth Copeland’s teaching on “the law of faith,” where he cites Mark 11:12-24. In that passage, Jesus cursed a fig tree and it withered. He points to this passage as an example of using words to change reality, and suggests that we can do the same. Is he right?
Let’s think about Mark 11:12-24 together. Kenneth Copeland’s point – clearly and obviously, from his many years of teaching – is that you and I can change reality by speaking faith-filled words. Right? If that’s true, here are some other things that are true:
- Kenneth Copeland (let’s call him KC for short) can curse a fig tree and cause it to wither.
- You and I can curse a fig tree and cause it to wither.
Not only that, but
- KC – and you and I – can bless a fig tree and cause it to bear fruit.
Right? An honest question: why do Word of Faith teachers take donations? Sometimes they SAY it’s to allow their audience to experience a blessing, by giving. Of course, if you look at their finances, they take those blessings and buy expensive suits, build big houses, and buy private jets. Why do they not simply speak faith-filled words and gather so much money that they’re able to have those things AND give away billions of dollars? Why do they not bless their own fig tree?
The Law of Attraction is a lie
The answer is that the “law of attraction” is a lie. What did KC use to buy his private jet? Money. Why? Couldn’t he just manifest a jet? Of course not. Where did he get the money to buy a jet? From people who donated their own money to his ministry. Why isn’t he asking people to only send him their address, so he can send THEM money? Because that’s not how it works.
Back to the fig tree. Jesus spoke, and the tree withered. Traditionally, the explanation for WHY is that He was making a point about people… about the religious leaders of Israel, who – like the tree – appeared to have fruit, but did not. They were leaving the area of Bethany and Bethphage. Bethany means “house of dates” and Bethphage means “house of unripe figs” or “house of green figs.” They had a unique kind of fig known as the green or winter fig. When Jesus saw the leaves, it wasn’t regular fig season… but the leaves on the tree indicated that it had fruit, so He went to check it out. Most commentators throughout history agree that Jesus cursed the tree as a sign for Israel, which had the appearance of having fruit, but actually did not. They ‘had leaves’ but did not produce righteousness in its people or growth for the kingdom of God. This kind of symbolism, where Israel is represented by trees, is common in the Bible.
Jesus Spoke
Now, forget for a moment WHY Jesus did it. Let’s address HOW He did it. He used words. KC points this out. Jesus spoke and changed reality. This isn’t really disputed by anyone who believes the Bible is true. Let’s examine another time Jesus spoke:
In Matthew 9, Jesus told a paralytic that his sins were forgiven. The teachers of the law thought this was blasphemy. Now, this doesn’t fit KC’s teaching. KC teaches that we aren’t “like” God in some ways but unlike God in other ways. Here’s an example of what he teaches:
“Today, as believers, we have that same God-like ability to speak those things which be not as though they were.”
Let’s put that to the test in Matthew 9. Jesus did NOT tell the teachers of the law that anyone can forgive sins. What did He say?
“I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
In verse 8, we see this: “When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.” This is true, but KC teaches this:
“God’s reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself… He was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even… Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus… Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh.” and “You don’t have a god in you. You are one.”
If we are duplicates of God… or if we ARE gods… then anybody can do what God can do. Anybody can forgive sins, anybody can curse a fig tree, and anybody can speak faith-filled words to create an entire universe of their own. The simple fact is that we are NOT gods, and we CAN’T do those things.
About verse 22, Copeland claims that it teaches we’re to have the same faith as God. He relies on the fact that most people who hear him speak will do exactly no homework of their own. They’ll just believe him, but they shouldn’t. Here’s the Greek for Mark 11:22…
ECHETE PISTIN THEOU
It means “have faith in God.” It doesn’t mean “have the faith that God has” or “God-faith,” as he claims. The same words are used around 40 times in the Bible. Here are a few… you tell me if these mean “have the faith of God:”
- Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5)
- In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:4)
- Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1)
- When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God. (Proverbs 14:32)
- I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:18)
- Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)
- The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. (Acts 16:34)
- For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
- The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. (1 Timothy 5:5)
No, Kenneth Copeland is wrong. He teaches things that simply aren’t true. Worse, like a child trying to not get caught, he compounds one lie on top of another. We are not gods. We are not exactly like God. We cannot do all that God does. There are a lot of teachers out there who teach unbiblical things, but Kenneth Copeland is one of the worst. There’s a reason he’s the richest “pastor” in the world, and it’s not because he follows Jesus and preaches the truth. It’s because he’s been fleecing the flock for longer, and more effectively, than the rest of them.
Please: don’t pay any attention to Kenneth Copeland. Listen to preachers and teachers who are not lying to you. I’ve begun a small list of people I’ve found reliable, and you can probably hear them on the radio in your area. You can certainly watch and listen to them online, and they will teach you the truth from God’s Word: Bible Teachers I Can Recommend.
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Hello. My comment is breaking the ties that bind. When you hear truth it does something to your spirit, but it may take time for it to change your circumstance. For all the people that sit under preachers like the one’s you have listed it may take time before they have the courage , or should I say the faith to leave. What advice would you give someone that may be torn? I assume they have stayed under these people, because they have seen some benefit from their teaching.
Joseph:
Thanks for your comment. Here’s my advice for someone who’s torn: leave.
I say that as someone who’s attended church for almost 50 years, who’s been a licensed minister, and who’s been studying false teachers for decades. I don’t say it lightly, either. The standard in Scripture is clear: we’re to have nothing to do with false teachers. Those who welcome them take part in their wickedness. They must be silenced (at the local church level). This isn’t optional, and it’s not in any way squishy.
How much poison do you want in your coffee? Just a little? No, none at all.
I get this question regularly: what if they’ve really helped me? The answer is that they could have received the same help – or better – from a responsible Bible teacher. It can be hard to find a good church, but there are plenty of solid Bible teachers we can learn from who don’t put just a little poison in our coffee. Should we excuse a false teacher because they also say some things that are true? Of course not. It’s hard to hear, but that’s the best advice. Turn away. Get away. Run away. Don’t listen to false teachers.
What do you think?
It’s funny how people wanna believe in the God of the bible, but never actually believe his words , God says the earth is flat and has pillars, god says the earth has foundations and a firmament, that it is surrounded by water, god says he opened the windows of heaven and flooded the earth.
These are just a few examples of his truth, so to my point, if the god of the bible says wickedness shall be rebuked and vengeance is mine then why worry about Kevin Copeland , the Lord of all Heaven and Earth will very well take care of him, if he is indeed stealing from the house of god. The bible also says who are you to judge, David knew better then any of us , to attack the Lords anointed is a no no! By the way the Hebrew savior Yeshua ( who all of you call Jesus, which is not his real name ) he said “ is it not written in your scripture “ , “ ye are gods” , when they tried to stone him, definitely sounds like we are gods too ME , Christ said so himself!
David:
First, I want to thank you for writing. I’m not sure where to begin, though… there’s so much wrong here. I guess I’ll just go in order of what you wrote.
>> It’s funny how people wanna believe in the God of the bible, but never actually believe his words
Amen. This is something I can definitely agree with.
>> God says the earth is flat and has pillars
The Bible doesn’t say that the earth is flat. As for pillars, Jesus said that he will make those who are victorious pillars in His temple. The Bible also says that God has wings and feathers. Maybe it would be wise to consider that some things aren’t literal, but symbolic. Yes, it’s harder to understand what the writers MEANT, but it’s better than being silly.
>> if the god of the bible says wickedness shall be rebuked and vengeance is mine then why worry about Kevin Copeland
It’s Kenneth, not Kevin… and writing about false teachings isn’t vengeance. Why would I worry about him when you aren’t worried? It’s quite simple, David: because I know the Bible better than you do. That’s not a put-down. It’s an observation. Your comment shows that you simply know a few things, but don’t know most of the rest. Along those lines, here are a few verses about rebuking:
I could go on. By the way, I haven’t rebuked any false teacher, either. I cite these verses to show that you really should do a lot more reading to understand what the Bible does and does not say. Why? Because it’s important. I write about false teachers because false teachers are leading people astray, teaching contrary to God’s Word, and because we find all kinds of warnings and instructions about false teachers in the New Testament. Maybe you should take a few minutes to read What Is a False Teacher? to see why it’s important to point out false teaching.
The alternative is to do nothing, David. Do you think that would be better?
>> The bible also says who are you to judge
LOL. Come on, David: who are you to judge me? Isn’t that just a tiny (large) little (gigantic) hypocritical? Next you’ll be telling me you hate people who hate people. No, seriously: read the article. Read the New Testament. Study it so you can know it, and not expose yourself as one with opinions but little knowledge. Let’s take a quick look at something the apostle Paul said in the Bible, which is God’s Word:
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
As long as people claim to be Christians but teach in contradiction to what Jesus taught, we are to judge what they teach. Check out 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus to see how strongly we are to respond to false teaching.
>> to attack the Lords anointed is a no no!
Who is the Lord’s anointed, David? Are you? I am. Are false teachers anointed by God? I wouldn’t think so.
>> By the way the Hebrew savior Yeshua ( who all of you call Jesus, which is not his real name )
Again and again with the ignorant opinions. Don’t take my pointy jabs as dislike, David. I don’t know you. I’m simply responding to the silly things you’re saying. There’s only ONE NAME used in the Bible for the Messiah. The Old Testament doesn’t name Him by name, so it’s not in there. In the New Testament, the people who knew Jesus personally and wrote the books of the New Testament use the same name, every time. It’s not Hebrew. What is it?
IESOUS
That’s right. Every single time the Bible refers to the Messiah by name, THAT is what it says. It’s Greek: IESOUS CHRISTOS. Did you not know that? We don’t know what Joseph and Mary called their little boy, do we? Yes, we can assume it was probably Yeshua or maybe a nickname like Buddy… but your argument about what to call Him is completely based in ignorance of what the Bible actually says. Maybe before you run around telling people how wrong they are, you should double-check to see if you’re right.
>> he said “ is it not written in your scripture “ , “ ye are gods” , when they tried to stone him, definitely sounds like we are gods too ME , Christ said so himself!
David, David. Have you never thought to ask what Jesus MEANT? That’s pretty important. The Bible was written a long time ago by people from cultures very different than any today, in three languages that nobody uses anymore. You can’t just read it without asking what the writers meant to say. Does God have feathers? Does He own the cattle on a thousand hills… and if He does, who owns the other cattle? Come on, my friend. Think harder. Study harder. You can do this, and it’s important that you do. You influence other people, and it should be a high priority that you influence them with biblical truth, rather than your own uninformed opinions.
Let me know how I can help.