Product Description

Nearly two decades ago Hank Hanegraaff's award-winning Christianity in Crisis alerted the world to the dangers of a cultic movement within Christianity that threatened to undermine the very foundation of biblical faith. But in the 21st century, there are new dangers-new teachers who threaten to do more damage than the last.

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 give-to-get gospel. They are virtual rock stars who command the attention of presidential candidates and media moguls. Through make-believe miracles, urban legends, counterfeit Christs, and twisted theological reasoning, they peddle an occult brand of metaphysics that continues to shipwreck the faith of millions around the globe:

"God cannot do anything in this earthly realm unless we give Him permission."

"Keep saying it-'I have equality with God'-talk yourself into it."

"Being poor is a sin."

"The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews!"

"You create your own world the same way God creates His. He speaks, and things happen; you speak, and they happen."

Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century exposes darkness to light, pointing us back to a Christianity centered in Christ.

From the Preface:

"Having lost the ability to think biblically, postmodern Christians are being transformed from cultural change agents and initiators into cultural conformists and imitators. Pop culture beckons, and postmodern Christians have taken the bait. As a result, the biblical model of faith has given way to an increasingly bizarre array of fads and formulas."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51914 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780849900068
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

If you've experienced this theology, read this book!
I grew up with these teachings. As an adult, I had to heal from a lot of spiritual abuse. Both the Billy Graham organization as well as Focus on the Family recommended 'Christianity in Crisis'. So much of that book was so familiar to me. I've seen the word-faith teachings evolve since my childhood several decades ago. This book captures that evolution perfectly. Mr Hanegraaff's book is a must-read for anybody touched by these teachings. I still have family seduced by this theology. I wish they'd read this book.

Disturbing but Necessary
I found the book to be well-researched, disturbing, frustrating, saddening, discouraging. I think it's a needed book, a timely book. But I also think it is a book with power. I have no doubt that Hanegraaff will infuriate some readers. He has that way about him. A no-nonsense, tell-the-truth manner about him. He isn't seeking popularity. He isn't seeking flattery. He doesn't care if you "like" him. He has a job to do: expose the truth. And the truth he reveals is both sad and infuriating. Sad in that these false teachers and preachers have been accepted and applauded within the Christian community--within Christian bookstores--within mainstream America without a question, without a second, third, or fourth thought. It's extremely sad and discouraging to go to a Christian bookstore and see such rubbish on the shelves. Much of it prominently displayed. Sad that no one else seems willing to take a stand. Infuriating that these preachers are deceiving people, people who are being misled by what sounds good, what sounds nice. Which would you rather hear? That God has promised unequivocally to bless you and prosper you. That you can demand health and wealth from God. That he's there to grant all your wishes and desires. There to play Santa and genie all in one. Or that God has told us "in this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world." Time and time again--in the gospels and the epistles--we're told that we're to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, follow Him even if it means suffering, persecution, discomfort. God never promised us heaven-on-earth. He never promised us a comfortable life. He wants to conform us, transform us. Sure the health, wealth, prosperity gospel sounds nice enough in theory. But is it true? No! If you believe the Word of God is God's Word. That God is the author of all 66 books. Then you should take care that you're not deceived by folks who proclaim another gospel, another God, another Jesus. Preachers and teachers of this movement can and do twist and contort, abuse and misabuse, warp Scripture.

Hank Hanegraaff provides ample proof. He uses their own words--both written and spoken--to present his case against them. Not just a quote or two. Both in the text and in the end notes he shows just what these preachers and teachers have said, have preached, have believed, have promoted.

Hanegraff doesn't just argue that these preachers and teachers are wrong because he says they are, because he dislikes them, because he'd like to take them down a notch or two. No, he uses Scripture again and again and again. He righly points out the meaning of Scripture. He presents their message. Then presents proofs as to how their interpretation cannot be the correct one. Hanegraaff's message is rooted in Scripture.

One of the most shocking things I learned while reading this is that there are a handful of preachers out there saying that Christians should not pray the Lord's Prayer. That it is wrong--unbiblical--spiritually damaging to pray 'if it's according to your will' or 'in God's will' etc. That was just one of the shockers in the book.

His argument is never that the people who listen to these messages are stupid and foolish. That they're to blame, at fault, guilty. He's not attacking the listeners. He's attacking the message itself. He is moved--quite passionately so--to undeceive the listeners, to try to alert folks to the situation. He wants to wake people up--both in and out of the movement--so that they find the true gospel, that they find comfort and relief in the truth. He's actually trying to do them a favor: the whole the truth will set you free.

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 required reading for anyone involved in the "name it and claim it" movements, or for those wondering if they're out of God's will because of certain hardships they're undergoing. While it might be nice to believe that God's going to give us every material want we have, it's deadly to base your entire view of God on that premise.