From: Savbyfaith@aol.com

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 19:39:59

To: WalterMartin@mail.serve.com

Subject: Re: WM: Trials and tribulations 2

Hi Richard!

I agree totally with your concerns here. My experience in observing WOF teachers over the years, like Casey Treat from Seattle where I come from, is that they DON'T stress this at all, but if fact draw in larger crowds because of the material blessings and health message.

I live in Washington too...and Casey Treats church is right down the road from where I work! We have a Christian buisness...and we get many many people from Casey Treats church.....some of the things they have said to me is unbelivable!

Caseys church draws in the masses exactly because of the material blessing and health message....big time! I can spot a Christian Faith Center member 5 minutes into a conversation....I could tell ya some stories!

Richardleeevange@aol.com writes:

This gospel doesn't work in India or Bangladesh. Deliverance from pain, suffering, and even poverty is a part of Christ's message of hope (see Luke 4) but that good news is carried out through his people, the church. For example, deliverance from poverty in the early church was via sharing possessions, not hoarding them like the WOF movement SEEMS to encourage implicitly.

Good point!

Richardleeevange@aol.com writes:

Financial prosperity does come to some, but as a result of hard work and wisdom, NOT from God pouring out His bucket-o-blessings as a result of "seeding" your gift to Fred Price or Oral Roberts, or any other WOF teacher.

Another good point!

Richardleeevange@aol.com writes:

If the seed faith doctrine were true, why don't the WOF teachers seed a gift to the poor people on their mailing lists so they would never have to ask for money again??? It never seems to work that way.

That has always been my question...that would go for the Praise a-thons hosted by TBN....with all the money they make in one telethon alone they could go ahead and pray a 100 fold blessing on those tithes and never have another telethon again.....go figure!

Richardleeevange@aol.com writes:

Again, I'm not against people prospering financially, IF its a result of hard work and if they remember the poor.

Exactly!

Richardleeevange@aol.com writes:

Boasting about gain is sin. Godliness with contentment is great gain. See 1 Timothy 6:5-10. This does not sound like the WOF message is biblical to me at all. Any more

observations from anyone?

Think you said well Richard!

Sharon