The Harmful Teachings of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

[Ophel]

Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Read your bible!

"Affliction" does not always mean sicknesss--that is what modern language changes it to mean. Affliction in the original language simply means a lack or deficiency (as well as sickness). So, context is important.

God never ever promises to deliver us from persecution for our faith and the suffering that it entails, for He says that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. He promised that to Paul, who suffered persecution as his thorn. He reminded Paul that he can persevere through it all, but didn't remove it.

We need to not only read our Bibles, but we need to study and understand what God says.

 

[A Blessed Man]

Well how about Jesus' friend Lazarus?
John 11:1-7
A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who poured the expensive perfume on the Lord's feet and wiped them with her hair. [fn] Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, the one you love is very sick." But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this." Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them. Finally after two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go to Judea again."

Very good question, jiggyfly.

Let's look closely at the story. For nowhere in this story is it said that God made Lazarus sick, nor does it say that God (let me grammatically odd) made Lazarus dead. No. Scripture clearly states that Lazarus was ill (v1). In v4 Jesus tells his disciples that this sickness will not lead to Lazarus' death (from this world), but that God will use this situation to bring glory to Himself, and through it Jesus will be glorified.

God is timeless. He knew Lazarus would fall sick, and that he would fall asleep (die). And he chose long ago to use this incident to bring glory. Scripture does not say that God created this situation. It does show that God used this situation for glory.

Look at verse 11:

John 11:11 (ESV)
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
​

Jesus says Lazarus has fallen asleep. Note this word in the Greek is 'koimao', which literally means 'to slumber'. This is why the disciples confusion. Jesus uses this in both verse 11 and 12. Jesus wanted to get across that he was not dead for good.

John 11:14-15 (ESV)
14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
​

Lazarus has died. Note that nowhere does Jesus say that he was made this way for Jesus to raise him; rather Lazarus died: God will use this to show His glory.

 

[A Blessed Man]

Originally Posted by A Blessed Man
I'm quite concerned by this post.
When Jesus walked this earth there were many who came to Him to be healed. Show me one whom Jesus said "No, you must suffer for a while longer." Show me one whom Jesus said "No, I won't heal YOU! You are still being chastened."
In His Love
Bob

Does this count for one to be healed spiritually?
Luk 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

I'm not sure I follow your question. "Healed spiritually" to me would be salvation. Luke 3:7 is in the center of John the Baptist warning people that judgement is coming, and that they need to accept salvation. Unpack your question a little. Thanks!

 

[A Blessed Man]

Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Read your bible!

Hi shipwrecksoul,

1Pe 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?
​

Buffeted for your faults. Who is buffetting? God? For what? faults?

The word faults in this verse is the Greek 'hamartano' and this is the greek word for sin (biblically/spiritually); or trespass or crime (world/physically). The word buffeted in Greek is 'kolaphizo', and means to be "hit with a fist;" it comes from the root 'kolazo' which means to chastise.

If we look to the Old Testament, where we see times when God will smite someone or, more usually, allow one to be smited. When sickness and disease is allowed by God it is always a form of judgement -- never correction.

Now, 1 Peter 2:20. Who is doing the buffetting? Is God punishing us for our sins? Then what did Jesus die for on the cross? Was His sacrifice only partial that we must ALSO pay a price for our sins? No. Jesus sacrifice was once and for all complete.

Hebrews 9:25-28
25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
​

Jesus paid it once and will not have to repeat it (v25, 26). We do not have to pay for it again, whether through our bodily sickness nor through our pain and death (as if a sacrifice). No, Jesus paid for our sins once and for all. God now sees us through the Blood of Jesus and we are seen as if we are spottless. We have been made righteous (2 Cor 5:21).

So what is 1 Peter 2 talking about? Look at the whole context, from v13 through the end of the chapter. We see world governments at work here:

1 Peter 2:13, 15, 18-20
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
​

This is talking about subjection to authority. And when that authority abuses you -- as the leaders abused Jesus (see v22) -- you are still to show respect and love and kindness -- for as v15 shows, it is the will of God that you do good (it does not say that it is the will of God that you should suffer). It is the will of God that you be Christ-like in all situations, no matter how severe they may be.

Please understand one thing in what I say: I do not (and in line with the OP, neither does the Copeland ministry) say that we will not suffer persecution; for the Bible is clear that we will. People will come against us for our belief in Christ Jesus. What I am saying is that this persecution is not caused/sent/delivered/instantiated by God. God wants you blessed; but He warns that we live in a cursed world. Be vigilant and be prepared.

Be blessed, shipwrecksoul.

In His Love
Bob

 

[A Blessed Man]

Good analysis Chad as there are many in the prosperity ministry that place an emphasis on material blessings and not on God's soverenity.

This is so true. It is also not a reason to throw the baby out with the bath water. There are many in ANY denomination or movement that will fleece the flock, and take only for their own satisfaction and not for the preaching of the Gospel to the lost and the edification and correction of the believer. All denoms suffer this problem.

We need to focus on Jesus and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world. And we need to edify one another -- and we need to be teachable if we are the ones on the recieving side of the edification. Praise God!

In His Love
Bob

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Here's a promise that the prosperity gospel withers on.

 

[Ophel]

This is so true. It is also not a reason to throw the baby out with the bath water. There are many in ANY denomination or movement that will fleece the flock, and take only for their own satisfaction and not for the preaching of the Gospel to the lost and the edification and correction of the believer. All denoms suffer this problem.

We need to focus on Jesus and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world. And we need to edify one another -- and we need to be teachable if we are the ones on the recieving side of the edification. Praise God!

In His Love
Bob

AMEN, brother!

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Kenneth & Gloria Copeland have one of the largest false ministries and influences in America. Copeland teaches that Adam was an exact duplicate of God. Copeland teaches that Jesus became a demonic being when he was crucified and had to go to hell and be born again. The Copelands attempt to specialize in word-faith teaching. Copeland calls God, the biggest loser in the Bible, and says Jesus was not God during his earthly life.

Anyone know if this is true?

 

[Ophel]

Kenneth & Gloria Copeland have one of the largest false ministries and influences in America. Copeland teaches that Adam was an exact duplicate of God. Copeland teaches that Jesus became a demonic being when he was crucified and had to go to hell and be born again. The Copelands attempt to specialize in word-faith teaching. Copeland calls God, the biggest loser in the Bible, and says Jesus was not God during his earthly life.

Anyone know if this is true?

That is false, too! If you are throwing a question out there asking if what you have just said is true, then YOU DON'T KNOW, do you?

I am sure there is something in the bible about slander...

Oh yeah...Proverbs 10:18

 

[shipwrecksoul]

"Jesus went into hell to free mankind from the penalty of Adam's high treason...When His blood poured out it did not atone. Jesus spent three horrible days and nights in the bowels of this earth getting back for you and me our rights with God." (Ken Copeland, Personal letter from Ken Copeland, Ft. Worth Texas, March 12, 1979. (D. R. McConnell, A Different Gospel, page 118)

"If you stood Adam upside God, they look just exactly alike....If you stood Jesus and Adam side-by-side, they would look and act and sound exactly alike....The image is that they look just alike, but the likeness is that they act alike and they are alike....All of God's attributes, all of God's authority, all of God's faith, all of God's ability was invested in that man."(Kenneth Copeland, Authority of the Believer IV (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987, audiotape #01-0304), side 1


See I Doooo know

 

[shipwrecksoul]

"He [Jesus] allowed the devil to drag Him into the depths of hell....He allowed Himself to come under Satan's control...every demon in hell came down on Him to annihilate Him....They tortured Him beyond anything anybody had ever conceived. For three days He suffered everything there is to suffer." (Kenneth Copeland, "The Price of It All," page 3

 

[shipwrecksoul]

The error at the core of the teaching by Kenneth Copeland is that his doctrines make God subservient to the will and desires of man rather than man being subservient to the will of God. He teaches that the words that the believer speaks, accompanied by faith on the part of the believer, activate spiritual laws, binding God to honor the requests expressed in those words. Words, activating spiritual laws, cause God to act, thus he names his program The Believer's Voice Of Victory, because the voice, speaking the right words, is power. Words become a power in themselves instead of God being the power and source. God becomes a provider or supplier of everything that the believer wishes or desires, regardless of the will of God in relation to that believer, because God cannot refuse the proper request through use of the right words, as a consequence of the immutable spiritual laws.

 

[Ophel]

"Jesus went into hell to free mankind from the penalty of Adam's high treason...When His blood poured out it did not atone. Jesus spent three horrible days and nights in the bowels of this earth getting back for you and me our rights with God." (Ken Copeland, Personal letter from Ken Copeland, Ft. Worth Texas, March 12, 1979. (D. R. McConnell, A Different Gospel, page 118)

First of all, this is hearsay from a debunker! BUT! I have heard him say something like that before. I don't agree with it. It doesn't make KCM diabolical!

"If you stood Adam upside God, they look just exactly alike....If you stood Jesus and Adam side-by-side, they would look and act and sound exactly alike....The image is that they look just alike, but the likeness is that they act alike and they are alike....All of God's attributes, all of God's authority, all of God's faith, all of God's ability was invested in that man."(Kenneth Copeland, Authority of the Believer IV (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987, audiotape #01-0304), side 1

Adam was created in the likeness of God. This takes it a step further. It introduces an idea that Adam was physically like God. I don't happen to think that, but it isn't heresy.

See I Doooo know

Ya think?

 

[Ophel]

The error at the core of the teaching by Kenneth Copeland is that his doctrines make God subservient to the will and desires of man rather than man being subservient to the will of God. He teaches that the words that the believer speaks, accompanied by faith on the part of the believer, activate spiritual laws, binding God to honor the requests expressed in those words. Words, activating spiritual laws, cause God to act, thus he names his program The Believer's Voice Of Victory, because the voice, speaking the right words, is power. Words become a power in themselves instead of God being the power and source. God becomes a provider or supplier of everything that the believer wishes or desires, regardless of the will of God in relation to that believer, because God cannot refuse the proper request through use of the right words, as a consequence of the immutable spiritual laws.

That is a bit overblown.

The Copelands teach that we must be in line with the will of God, and our words must reflect that.

Sometimes a distaste for a person makes what that person says distasteful. We have a responsibility to be like Bereans and not only measure what we hear against the Word of God, but we ought to hone our abilities to listen correctly to what is being said.

Sometimes the enemy will bring confusion and cause a person to miss the truth, as is demonstrated in the Parable of the Sower, and what happens is the Spirit-filled and Spirit-led teacher is defamed.

 

[shipwrecksoul]

First of all, this is hearsay from a debunker! BUT! I have heard him say something like that before. I don't agree with it. It doesn't make KCM diabolical!



Adam was created in the likeness of God. This takes it a step further. It introduces an idea that Adam was physically like God. I don't happen to think that, but it isn't heresy.
Ya think?

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

[Ophel]

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Yes, I do that consistently. Do you?

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Here lies some men weaknesses,

Because Kenneth Copeland's teaching is man-centered instead of God-centered, its focus is on the desires and fulfillments of the fleshly nature of man rather than the spiritual relationship to God. Rather than the emphasis being on the fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22, it is on the desires and wishes of the physical life; healing, wealth, houses, cars, debt elimination, personal fulfillment, self-esteem, appearance, clothing, control, position, power, prestige, status, etc., etc. When it is taught that a person can have these things, simply by making a demand of God, that He is bound and obligated to honor, then the attraction becomes irresistible. But, just as a moth is attracted to a flame and consumed in the resulting encounter, people will find that embracing the teaching of Kenneth Copeland may strip them of the wealth they already have, and may cause them to loose their soul by refusing to believe the true gospel of the Jesus Christ of the Bible, in favor of the Jesus Christ of Kenneth Copeland and the false gospel that is found in his teaching.

 

[Ophel]

Here lies some men weaknesses,

Because Kenneth Copeland's teaching is man-centered instead of God-centered, its focus is on the desires and fulfillments of the fleshly nature of man rather than the spiritual relationship to God. Rather than the emphasis being on the fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22, it is on the desires and wishes of the physical life; healing, wealth, houses, cars, debt elimination, personal fulfillment, self-esteem, appearance, clothing, control, position, power, prestige, status, etc., etc. When it is taught that a person can have these things, simply by making a demand of God, that He is bound and obligated to honor, then the attraction becomes irresistible. But, just as a moth is attracted to a flame and consumed in the resulting encounter, people will find that embracing the teaching of Kenneth Copeland may strip them of the wealth they already have, and may cause them to loose their soul by refusing to believe the true gospel of the Jesus Christ of the Bible, in favor of the Jesus Christ of Kenneth Copeland and the false gospel that is found in his teaching.

The Copelands are God-focused and not man-centered. What is the source of this post? Surely you have lifted it from anti-whatever website.

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Here's the bible take on the prosperity gospel

 

[Ophel]

Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Good scripture, but has nothing to do with your jaded viewpoint.