From: "Castillo, Jaime W." <jwcastil@utmb.edu>

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 18:10:21

To: "''WalterMartin@mail.serve.com ' '" <WalterMartin@mail.serve.com>

Subject: WM: RE: Word Faith teaching

Your assumptions are incorrect and is done out of spite towards WOF people.They are taught to have compassion on the poor, ill, and suffering

----Dave

Dave,

It would be my joy to be mistaken about the Word Faith people. It is not out of SPITE (as you accuse me of) that I say these things, and if you accuse that I judge people, you have just erroneously judged me. I may be MISTAKEN, but it is not done out of MALICE. When I speak, all I am after is we be in truth, against the deception of LDS, JWs, Word Faith, and more. Never has it crossed my mind to speak in this forum out of SPITE. I respect your observation though, but I humbly tell you, I am not being spiteful at all. I have been a sinner of sinners, and if there is anyone here who truly deserves a curse, it would be me.

First, I am not questioning Hagin or any WOF person's "compassion" towards the needy--I am questioning their DOCTRINE on why there are people who remain poor, ill, or have trials that they are NOT delivered from. Am I mistaken that WOF people blame it on "lack of faith"? Please correct me on this, but do not throw a red herring by claiming they have "compassion". Those are TWO different things. Catholics are likewise "compassionate" to the poor, but have a different DOCTRINE of salvation. WOF people are "compassionate", but believe that persistent trials are from lack of faith. If I am wrong about this, I would rejoice, for then I know that the WOFpeople are actually in the truth.

Same thing with your example of WOF dying of illness. Your statement of such an obvious reality that can happen to everyone does not address the fact that the WOF DOCTRINE claims that illness can be overcome and treated by FAITH alone. Correct me if I am mistaken by my perception of their doctrine, and not by giving EXAMPLES of WOF people who died. These are TWO different things.

If you do, I would be glad--because then WOF people are just like Christians in our view of trials and tribulations. Trials are not just based ON FAITH ALONE, but also based on God's sovereign plan. Please elaborate (if you have patience and time) when you explain their teachings on these, and thanks in advance.

Love in Christ,

Jaime

P.S. Can you also share what the "balance" is in the prosperity gospel? All I know is the "extreme" some "prosperity" preachers preach, that all of us are supposed to be rich, because it is in the will of God for ALL OF US to be materially wealthy. And that is obviously against the truth in Scripture--of which Jesus as a mere carpenter is a glaring example. I also mentioned the word "some" who may be like Simon the Sorcerer--and you say I am "incorrect" in assuming that? So you say that all who believe in the prosperity gospel are ALL true believers, and are not like Simon the Sorcerer. I ask you back: what makes you so sure, do you know their hearts? I repeat, I said "I fear for some", not "all"; this means that I know there are true believers who are just deceived by the prosperity gospel, though I fear there MAY BE false believers. Is that "incorrect" to assume?

One last thing. You have been constantly saying I err in using Scripture, and judging people in many of your posts. I respect that. But please address the issues I have raised about tongues, instead of merely commenting on my errors and poor judgement. If you ask which issues, I can give them to you again. Thanks!