Review of Christianity in Crisis

Christianity in Crisis 21 st Century is Hank Hanegraff's updated critique of the Word of Faith Movement. In this latest edition of his most popular work Hanegraaf sets out three objectives for the book. First, he wishes to help those who are Word of Faith adherents to see the truth of the biblical gospel; second, he seeks to clear up any confusion that may exist in the minds of believers concerning the movement's true nature; third, he wants to demonstrate to outside observers that the Faith movement does not represent biblical christianity.

The book is broken up into seven parts. In part one the reader is given an overview of Word of Faith teaching (mythology not theology) and is introduced to its leading proponents (a veritable rogue's gallery).A galaxy of famous 'Christian' authors and 'teachers' such as Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Ken Copeland, Benny Hinn, and many others are one by one named and shamed. In parts two through to six the movement's heretical teachings are explained and refuted at length. Its doctrine of faith, God, man, Satan, Christ, the atonement, wealth and want, sickness and suffering are all carefully dissected and examined in the light of scripture. They are all shown to be not merely unscriptural but decidedly anti-scriptural. In part seven the reader is given an essentials guide to biblical christian living. The book concludes with an epilogue and some helpful appendices.

In writing this book Hanegraaff has provided a much needed, well organised, extensively documented, thoroughly biblical, and simply written exposure of the Word of Faith Movement. He has unmasked some of modern day Christianity's most famous names as purveyors of soul destroying heresies. Personally, I was constantly shocked by the blasphemous statements and relentless false teaching of this movement. The scale of departure from the most basic tenets of biblical christianity was frankly overwhelming. It is a sad day in evangelicalism when such teachers dominate the shelves of mainstream Christian bookstores and continually preach to meetings of thousands and tens of thousands worldwide (not to mention the millions who constitute their TV congregation).

My one major concern with this book was Hanegraaff's attempt to distance this heretical grouping from the wider charismatic movement. Contrary to his assertion that the charismatic movement is a legitmate one within broad christianity, in fact it represents a departure from historic christianity and its influence in promoting false ecumenism and unscriptural views of the person and work of the Holy Spirit has been wholly negative.

With that important caveat kept in mind I feel this work will prove useful to all who read it with discernment and on that basis I recommend it.