Christianity in Crisis: The 21st Century

by Hank Hanegraaff and E. M Blaiklock

Book Overview

These are not obscure teachers that Hanegraaff unmasks. We know their names. We have seen their faces, sat in their churches, and heard them shamelessly preach and promote the false pretexts of a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0849900069
• ISBN13: 9780849900068
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Detailed and thought-provoking...

I received the book Christianity In Crisis: The 21st Century by Hank Hanegraaff recently, not knowing exactly where he would be going with his material. Turns out that he takes on the whole "Faith Movement" belief system, sometimes referred to as the prosperity doctrine. By researching and documenting the teachings of people like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and others, he reveals a brand of Christianity that is far different than what's been practiced for the last 2000 years. And while it's easy to just flip over the channels where these people teach their brand of faith, it's far more dangerous not to know the background and dangers involved... Contents: Part 1 - Turning Truth Into Mythology: Cult or Cultic?; Charismatic or Cultic?; Cast of Characters; Charting the Course Part 2 - Faith in Faith: Force of Faith; Formula of Faith; Faith of God; Faith Hall of Fame Part 3 - Little Gods: Deification of Man; Demotion of God; Deification of Christ; Demotion of Christ Part 4 - Atonement Atrocities: Re-creation on the Cross; Redemption in Hell; Rebirth in Hell; Reincarnation Part 5 - Wealth and Want: Cultural Conformity; Cons and Cover-Ups; Covenant-Contract; Context, Context, Context Part 6 - Sickness and Suffering: Symptoms and Sickness; Satan and Sickness; Sin and Sickness; Sovereignty and Sickness Part 7 - Back to Basics: A = Amen; B = Bible; C = Church; D = Defense; E = Essentials Epilogue; Appendix A - Are "God's Anointed" Beyond Criticism?; Appendix B - Apologetics - The Defense of the Faith; Appendix C - The Three Universal Creeds; Scripture Index; Subject Index; Bibliography; Notes Hanegraaff takes on the prosperity preachers and the "Faith Movement" in all areas here. Using documented sources such as interviews, books, television appearances and more, he strips the veneer off of preachers like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and many others. He goes beyond the praise Jesus and send us money stereotypes to dig into the doctrine and belief systems that these people espouse. And that theology is dangerous. Beyond the "we deserve to be rich and prosperous" message lies more deadly teachings such as God can't do anything until we ask, we're no different than Jesus, and all illness is a sign that you are harboring sin in your life. Single verses are taken out of context to support their activities, while whole other passages are ignored that would correct their errors if only they were considered. And if they don't like the implications of a particular verse, they just rewrite to say something completely different. In some areas, the book seems to require some heavy slogging, as there is so much detail involved. Also, after a while it's hard to keep the different players straight as they all seem to share much of the same erroneous theology and distasteful practices. But this type of a book needs to be out there, and it needs to pull no punches when it comes to combatting heresy. This should be

Christianity in Crisis: The Bible vs Word of Faith

"Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth..." The Apostle Paul (Acts 20:30) I knew some of the theology of the "Word of Faith" movement but I never knew just how messed up and how full of error it actually is. After reading this book it is amazing and sad how many people are hooked by the personalities and the "Name it Claim it" and the "Jesus was rich and he wants you to be too. If you want a very well documented treaty on what some of the major players in the movement are and what they say or believe and how it stands up to an Historical and Evangelical view of the Bible. Or, if you are or have love ones who are in or listen to any of them -- This book is for you. It is amazing how far the "Word of Faith" movement moves from what the Bible clearly teaches. With this book you will learn about some the history of the "Word of Faith" movement. The Fathers of the movement and some of the current stars of it. You will also walk through some the major tentants of the movement.... and how it contrasts with the Bible and Historic Christianity.... 1. The reason of Faith and how it works in the spiritual economy. 2. Who is God? Are God's hands tied and does he need our permission to do anything on earth? What is Man? A Little God or not? Is Satan a God? And What about Christ? Did he take on the essence of Satan and go to hell? 3. What about Christ's atonement save us and what do they say about it? 4. The issue of wealth and the name it claim it "God wants you to be rich!" 5. The issue of sickness and suffering and then after that Hank takes us back to the basics... What is neccesary for a healthy Christian walk and how to spot a haresy from 100 yards away... and a basic primer on apologetics (The Study of the Defense of the Faith) My only issue with this book is that the same quotes seem to be used over and over and over again. After awhile it does start to wear on you. On the positive Hank and his crew set out to make a highly readable, understandable, highly documented (Over 50 pages of notes), and usable book about the differences between the "Word of Faith" movement and Historic - Evangelical Christianity (Including pentecostals). Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

A "GOTTA HAVE"

This is an incredible, eye-opening exposé of a movement that is trans-denominational and is devouring Christians with the rapidity of a wildfire. Ironically, one of the reviewers condemns it as saying it is limiting the Holy Spirit, but this is simply not true. Hanegraaff himself is a Charismatic so he hardly wants to do that. Instead, it's a movement that puts words in Holy Spirit's mouth, claiming He has revealed things to them that are CLEARLY against the Bible.This is not a Charismatic/non-Charismatic issue at all. It is spreading into so many churches that you owe it to yourself to find out about it. In the audio book, you can actually HEAR these teachers making statements like, "The greatest failure in the Bible is God" (Kenneth Copeland) and Paul Crouch's threat against anyone who demands an adherence to sound doctrine (who he calls "heretic hunters"), "I think they're damned and on their way to hell; and I don't think there's any redemption for them." And of course, who could ever forget Hinn's rewrite of Job 1:21, "You know what? We've said this a million times and it's not even scriptural -- all because of Job: 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord'. I have news for you: that is not Bible, that's not Bible. The Lord giveth and NEVER taketh away." Guess God was wrong when He inspired the writer to say, "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing" in the very next verse.When you listen to the first tape, your jaw will fall open at what is being taught out there in TV land and on the radio...and you'll be even more amazed at how many people are gobbling it up (lots of itching ears, huh? 2 Timothy 4:3). One of the best things you can do for yourself is to get this audiobook!

EXCELLENT TRUTH~~PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW OF APOSTATES

I would urge anyone who disagrees with Hank Hanegraaff to actually get their bible out and READ IT! So much of what the people in these Faith Movements say are complete blaspheme, apostasy & unbiblical. Hank is only doing what God called every Christian to do. Titus 1:11 says "They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain." This was a great book and so very important to Christianity today where so much false doctrine is going around!

RHEMA GRADUATE AGREES WITH HANNEGRAFF

AS A GRADUATE OF HAGIN'S SCHOOL I AM PERHAPS WELL QUALIFIED TO WRITE A REVIEW. SADLY, THE THEOLOGICAL INFORMATION HEREIN IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. I WAS A FAITH TEACHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE I REALIZED THAT I WAS DECIEVED AND BEING DECIEVED. AS A RESULT I WAS DECIEVING OTHERS. FAITH THEOLOGY NEARLY RUINED MY LIFE. TO ME HAGIN WAS GOD AND THUS INFALLIBLE. THANK GOD FOR MEN OF GOD SUCH AS HANK AND DAVE HUNT WHO DARED TO TELL THE TRUTH DESPITE THE ENORMOUS PERSECUTION THAT RESULTS FROM IT. I AM CURRENTLY TRAVELING AND SPEAKING ON THIS SUBJECT AS WELL AS WRITING 5 BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT MYSELF. MY NAME IS MIKE DYAL AND I GRADUATED FROM RHEMA IN 1988. THE LEGALISM AND GNOSTICISM I LEARNED THERE TOOK ME FROM A YOUNG MAN WHO LOVED JESUS AND JUST WANTED TO WIN SOULS TO A MONSTER WHO THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AS GOD11 E MAIL IS JYAM@WEBTV.NET. CONTACT ME FOR MORE DIALOUGE AND INFO. I WILL GLADLY SHARE MY RHEMA FILES WITH YOU. BY THE WAY, WHY DOES HAGIN'S GOD NEED FAITH????????