Apologetics

KENNETH COPELAND REVISITED

by Jeffrey Hagan
08/25/20
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Introduction

It is so disheartening, and frustrating, to see the influence false teachers such as Kenneth Copeland still have on people. So much has been published in print and video exposing these heretics you would think no more need be said. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Recently Copeland came into the limelight again as he is being ousted from TBN and replaced by Steven Furtik (another individual who has been exposed). At this point the reason, or reasons, are unknown other than the current head of TBN, Matt Crouch, wants to take the network into a “different direction.”

This news has brought Copeland back into discussion among church going individuals. A recent conversation I was engaged in brought to light the fact that many people still staunchly support and defend this already proven heretic. There is no longer any reasonable defense of this false, self proclaimed prophet, but those with no discerning capacity are still under his spell. One need not have the gift of discernment to identify Copeland as a crazy man with anti-biblical teaching, common sense is enough to figure this out. However, not only are a large number of evangelicals today biblical illiterate, they are lacking in common sense as well.

The Conversation

My recent conversation, mentioned above, gave witness not only to a lack of discernment and common sense but also to the fact that those who are duped refuse to even investigate provided sources in order to fact check information which cite specific documentation proving the validity of the claims being made against Copeland.

The conversation began with the usual “be wary of this man he is a false teacher” which solicited the typical response of taking Matthew 7:1-2 out of context and telling me not to judge. This brought me to explaining I have studied the Word Faith Movement and Copeland ad nauseum so I am not violating the passage in Matthew which is speaking of self righteous, hypocritcal judgment. I informed her I was merely comparing his teaching with that of the bible.

Of course, as can be predicted, the next attempted point from this Copeland defender was yet another line from Scripture taken out of context having nothing to do with the topic at hand, “touch not God's anointed.” This phrase is found in two places, 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15. “These passages are sometimes used in Pentecostaland Charismaticcircles to defend certain preachers from criticism. Preachers who promote themselves or their ministries as “anointed” warn their would-be critics, “Do not touch God’s anointed!” Of course, this helps to insulate them from scrutiny and allows them to spread falsehood and bad theology unrestrained.”(1)

So I advised this person to restudy those passages and make sure to do so in context. I also added that even if they did mean what she is claiming, the person must be a man of God, and Copeland is not. She then proceeded to tell me I have proved nothing. I agreed and said it was up to her to study to show herself approved, however, I did provide two small examples. I showed her the YouTube video of Copeland denouncing the Covid virus and “blowing it away.” (What a circus show that was). Her reply was simply, “So what. That doesn't prove anything.” So, I showed her a quote where Copeland states Satan defeated Jesus Christ on the cross. It is a quote taken directly from Copeland's own published reference bible, page 121. Still not enough...I knew it wouldn't be.

At this point I again reminded her it was her responsibility to investigate these things, not mine to investigate for her. I then gave her four sources which provide thorough documentation where she could see with her own eyes and hear with her own ears from the very words of Copeland himself via his books, his telecast The Believer's Voice of Victory, his sermons, audio clips, and video clips. The thoroughly documented resources I informed her of were: Clouds Without Water, a three session video presentation by Justin Peters at Justin Peters ministries and also found on YouTube; the book Christianity in Crisis: 21^st Century by Hank Hanegraaff; Walter Martins popular book Kingdom of the Cults; and an eight page PDF document accessible online by simply searching “Quotes from Kenneth Copeland false teaching pdf.” She refused to look at any of these and simply said “You still haven't proven anything.” I let her know if this wasn't enough for her to at least question and investigate then nothing would ever be enough and she is already deeply deceived. I had to cease the conversation at this point.

Kenneth Copeland Quotes(2)

This is a selected list of quotes. Many more could be cited but that is beyond the scope of my intention. I will not provide any commentary as the quotes are so outlandish in and of themselves nothing need be said, they speak for themselves.

“God did not create the world out of nothing, He used the Force of his Faith” (Spirit, Soul and Body, #01-0601, Tape #1).

“Adam was not subordinate to God” (Following the Faith of Abraham, Tape #01-3001).

“God and Adam looked exactly alike” (The Authority of the Believer, IV; Tape #01-0304).

“Adam was God manifested in the flesh” (Following the Faith of Abraham, Tape #01-3001).

“God is approximately 6'2'' to 6'3” tall” (Spirit, Soul, and Body, Tape #01-0601).

“God weighs approximately 200 lbs.” (same as above).

“Jesus death on the cross was not enough to save us” (What Happened From The Cross To The Throne, Tape #00-0303; Believer's Voice of Victory, September 1991; Doctrinal Statement, March 12, 1979).

“Jesus took on the nature of Satan when He was on the cross” (What Happened From The Cross To The Throne, Tape #00-0303).

“Every Christian is a god” (Force of Love, Tape #02-0028; Believer's Voice of Victory, broadcast July 9, 1987).

“There is a god class of beings” (Force of Love, Tape #02-0028; Praise the Lord broadcast (TBN), recorded February 5, 1986).

“...God must obey what we request. God traveled to earth in a space ship called light...” (What Happened From The Cross To The Throne, Tape #00-0303).

“Jesus had a beginning and an end” (same as above).

“The biggest failure in the whole Bible is God” (Praise-a-thon, (TBN) recorded 1988).

“The earth we live on is a copy of the mother planet” (Following the Faith of Abraham, tape #01-3001).

“Words are spiritual containers” (Forces of the Recreated Human Spirit, 15 cf. 14).

The “force of faith is released by words” (Authority of the Believer, audio tape #01-0302, side 1, 1987).

“God's on the outside looking in, He doesn't have any legal entry into the earth. The thing don't belong to Him” (The Image of God in You III, audio tape #01-1403, side 1, 1989).

“You are not a spiritual schizophrenic – half God and half Satan – you are all God” (Now We Are in Christ Jesus, KCP Publications, 1980, pp.16-17).

“I don't preach doctrine, I preach faith” (Following the Faith of Abraham I, side 2).

“Heaven has a north and a south and an east and a west. Consequently, it must be a planet” (Spirit, Soul, and a Body 1, audio tape #01-0601, side 1, 1985).

Conclusion

This is just a small fraction of the evidence out there proving that Copeland is a complete heretic. The few items listed here should be enough to alert anyone to the dangers of listening to, let alone following, Copeland and his perverted gospel. Anyone in their right mind would be inspired to at least investigate these claims in order to search, listen, or read his teachings for themselves and compare them to the Bible.

Let me wrap up here with some Bible passages regarding false teachings, warnings about false teachers, and those who fail to seek the truth and are led astray by these teachers and teachings.

Jeremiah 14:14, “Then the LORD said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds'” (NIV).

2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (NIV).

Acts 20:28-30, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (NIV).

1 John 4:1, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (NIV).

2 Peter 2:1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves” (NIV).

2 Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (ESV).

1. 
   

   gotquestions.org/touch-not-gods-anointed.html



2. 
   

   www.falseteacher.com>kennethcopeland