What is the difference between WoF & Charismatics

In my limited knowledge the term Charismatic is generally a "catch-all" phrase for modern day tongue speaking/sign seekers (which I understand grew out of the general old line pentecostal groups). WoF groups are specific identifying themselves with "word of faith" churches, (although they operate as Charismatics in their services). I am the least knowledgeable person to speak on this subject, but I took a stab at it.
Thanks --Bart "Be verwwy, verwwy qwwiet, I'm hunting wabbit's"

 

Charasmatics come out of the Charasmatic movement of the 1960's.

The word of faith movement is relitively new on the scene and was endorsed inititially by Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin.

The Charasmatic movement is more about an expression of the way that people worship God, wheras the Word of Faith movement is based around doctrines such as how to manipulate God into blessing you with money and material goods in prayer by using the right "keys" in prayer.

The best site to read good discernment articles on why the wof movement is a heresy is Let Us Reason.

http://www.letusreason.org/

John Ankerberg also has some good articles on his site too,

http://www.ankerberg.org/

 

There is a lot of overlap between Charismatics and WoF. But they cannot be seen as equivalent.

Charismatics generally describe traditional denominational groups (Catholics, Baptists, Prebyterians, etc) influenced by the Pentecostal movement to embrace the modern giftings of the Holy Spirits like healings, tongues, etc. The Charismatic movement is usually dated as starting between 1950s-1960s while the Pentecostal movement dates back to the Asuza Street Revival of 1906.

Charismatics usually are clear to distance themselves from the more militant Pentecostal groups who claim that tongues or other "gifts" are evidence of baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Word of Faith movement is strongly influenced by both Pentecostals and Charismatics. It gained popularity primarily through Kenneth Hagin's radio program that started in 1967 although there were earlier influences including E.W. Kenyon (1867-1948).

A nicer way of saying what Ben W described is that is that the emphasis on Word of Faith is the formulaic recieving of things from the Holy Spirit, in particular material goods, health and social status. With that kind of message it is easy to see why this is one of the fastest growing segments of Christianity around the world, especially in Asia.

I attended a conference where David Yonggi Cho was speaking, a world reknown Korean WoF pastor who boasts the largest individual church in the world with a membership nearing 1 million. I went in as a strong critic of the movement and left a strong critic of the movement. However I did leave with a respect of two things of Yonggi Cho. 1) His faith in God's ability to work. 2) His comprehensive use of scripture which I do not feel he abused.

I would describe the WoF problem as an overemphasis on things we recieve and the implied promise of a guaranteed formula for recieving them. I believe we should have faith that God can give us material wealth, health and social standing and it is found in God's word. God wants to give his children good gifts. But there is no biblical formula for that and we need to remember that it is up to God's sovereign will. Additionally there is so much more to the message of Christianity than the things we recieve.

 

I highly recommend the book "A Different Gospel," by D.R. McConnell
Henderson Publication.
It will tell you what you need to know about these folks. Its very good reading I might add.

 

They're both fruity as far as I can tell.

WoF try to order God around, demanding that He do this and do that.

Charismatics are just plain strange.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

trotter wrote,

Some of them are—but very few of them are as strange as Southern Baptists!

“Charismatics” initially were Christians in the mainstream denominations who had received what they interpreted to be the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by a much more dynamic Christian life associated with the charismata, and especially the gift of tongues. The meaning of the word has now been expanded to include all Christians who have received this same experience but who do not have strong ties to Pentecostal denominations.

Word of Faith preachers and lay adherents are found among both Charismatics and Pentecostals, but make up only a small percentage of both groups.

 

No one pointed out some of the WoF heresies such as:

1. Jesus' death on the cross did not "finish" it but he had to go to hell to fight Satan for 3 days
2. Jesus becamse Christ at his baptism (an old heresy called adoptionism)
3. God has a body (taught by K Copeland)
4. We are "little gods" and can create like God
5. God lost his power over earth when man sinned, because that gave Satan the "legal" right to come in and rule, so God had to depend on man to bring about his plan of salvation

WoF elevates man and demotes Jesus Christ and God.

 

The problem Marcia is that as this movement grows so to do the "heresies". What worries me is the number of names that seem to be affiliating with it.

Yet the Ankerberg site and Let us reason are a good start for research.