Critics and Controversy
The Word of Faith emphasis adhered to by LWCF is widespread within Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. It has been criticised and has created controversy in theological circles of academia. One of the earliest critics of the teaching was Oral Roberts University professor Charles Farah, who published From the Pinnacle of the Temple in 1979. In the book, Farah expressed his disillusionment with the teachings, which he argued were more about presumption than faith.
In 1982, one of Farah's students, Daniel Ray McConnell, submitted a thesis to the faculty at Oral Roberts University arguing against E W Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin and the doctrines of the Word of Faith.
Other critics have included Hank Hanegraaff, Norman Geisler, Dave Hunt and Roger Oakland.
There is support for the Word of Faith teaching in similar circles, and the doctrine appears sound, so long as the teaching is balanced and does not take Scriptures out of their proper context. For instance, Dr Frederick K. C. Price of Crenshaw Christian Center, one of the notable Word of Faith proponents wrote a popular title called Faith, Foolishness and Presumption in an endeavour to redress the balance on the genre teaching.
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