I attended the DeKalb County Ministerial Association luncheon yesterday, a fellowship of area ministers. Sometimes we have in a speaker, such as a retired successful minister, or sometimes we just do some community-building. Yesterday we had some discussion questions. One question was: Who is the most famous person you have met.
Some of the pastors talked about meeting past Presidents or famous actors, sports pros or politicians. I suppose Bozo the clown was about the most famous person I’d met, but I shared another story. Some years back I attended a pastor’s conference when Kenneth Copeland was a featured speaker. I’m not a raving fan of Kenneth Copeland, as I think he takes some faith principles out of context. But he said some things that ministered to me, so I went forward at the altar call and he laid his hands on me. I didn’t feel anything different so I just put it out of my mind.
The following Sunday when I preached, there was a distinct difference in my preaching, like a renewed confidence. I still don’t understand the laying on of hands act, but something was surely transferred to me that night.
Have you ever seen a change in your own life after having someone lay hands on you?
Tags: Copeland, laying on of hands, power, spiritual gifts
In a 2005 article published in Ministries Today magazine, Eddie L. Hyatt remarked, “Shortly after enrolling as a student at Christ for the Nations Institute in 1973, Kenneth Copeland taught there for one week. During that week he made the emphatic statement, “I will never be sick.” About twenty years later, however, I heard Copeland speak to a small group of faculty and students at Oral Roberts University School of Theology and Missions. He shared honestly about a time of sickness he went through during which he thought he might die.”
Copeland’s experience is common among the word-faith movement. Richard Roberts once talked about a famous word-faith televangelist who checked himself into a Christian Hospital under an assumed name because he was afraid his illness may harm the faith of viewers. That’s hypocrisy! In an attempt to claim the promises of God for healing, they took upon themselves the responsibility for the healing rather than trusting in God. And God loves each of us enough to teach us the truth over time.
What are you learning about faith?
Tags: Copeland, faith, healing