Word Faith Preacher Joseph Prince, �Miracle Seed Sunday� and the Blessing of Suffering for Christ
By Erin Benziger ∙ 3 September 2012 ∙ In Opinion ∙ Bookmark permalink
In the Apprising Ministries article, �Word Faith Prosperity Preacher Joseph Prince,� CRN General Editor Ken Silva introduced us to Joseph Prince, Singapore�s rising Word Faith star and pastor of New Creation Church. Notes Silva,
Although slicker and more understated than most, Joseph Prince preaches the same WF prosperity message as WF royalty like Kenneth Copeland.
Bottom line is: �Pastor� Joseph Prince is an up-and-coming WF heretic who�s already a staple at TBN, itself a WF haven of heretics.1
Today, Bloomberg reports that Prince�s New Creation Church (NCC) recently held what is known as �Miracle Seed Sunday,� wherein pastor Prince encouraged his congregation to sow a financial seed into the church with the hope that they would be rewarded with material blessings from God. Bloomberg reporter Sharon Chen writes:
At �Miracle-Seed Sunday� in Singapore�s New Creation Church last month, the pastor�s sermon was preceded by PowerPoint and video presentations, and donations were overseen by Deloitte & Touche LLP auditors.
Centuries after Catholics established missions in Asia, Singaporeans are flocking to a new species of churches making appeals more in common with �Material Girl� pop-singer Madonna than the Jesuits. Wearing a white leather jacket and jeans, Senior Pastor Joseph Prince asked God to reward a crowd of about 1,200 with houses, cars, jobs, pay raises and holidays if they contributed to New Creation�s multimillion-dollar funding drive.2
Chen even notes that, at this service, �PowerPoint slides showed attendees how to write checks to the church, while armed security guards watched the cash.� We also learn about this service that,
The special session sought to raise funds for the church�s half of a S$976 million ($783 million) retail and entertainment complex, which includes a 5,000-seat auditorium. The venue, which will double as New Creation�s meeting place, is set to open in November with concerts by musician and producer David Foster and friends including Chaka Khan and BabyFace.3
It is seemingly undeniable that Joseph Prince teaches the doctrines of the aberrant Word Faith gospel. Do Not Be Surprised has documented that Prince credits Word Faith heretic Kenneth Hagin with nurturing his Word Faith roots. In his book, Destined to Reign, Prince writes:
I give thanks to God for my roots in the Word of Faith teachings. It is truly on the shoulders of great men of God like Brother Kenneth E. Hagin that we are able to see further into the Word of God today. Growing up, I learned a lot about faith from Brother Hagin, who truly had a special revelation of faith from the Lord. I deeply honor and respect him for all that he has taught me.4
Kenneth Hagin is widely recognized as the father of the Word Faith movement, as noted by D.R. McConnell in his book, A Different Gospel:
Although there is little doubt that E.W. Kenyon is its founding father, the contemporary [Word] Faith movement is virtually incomprehensible without explicating the role played in it by Kenneth Hagin.
Kenyon may have authored the teachings on which the [Word] Faith movement is based. But Hagin is the man who fashioned these teachings into the fastest growing movement in charismatic Christendom.
All of the major ministers of the [Word] Faith movement admit Hagin�s tutelage. He is universally recognized in the movement as both a teacher and a prophet.5
The aforementioned Bloomberg article continues with an astute observation:
By making their services enjoyable and embracing prosperity, groups such as New Creation, City Harvest and Hillsong in Australia are able to attract followers, said Jeaney Yip, a lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School who has studied the marketing practices of mega churches.
�Market-friendly ideologies associated with individualism and self-empowerment are often blended with selective Christian theologies to emphasize positive living and blessings, while deflecting overtly negative Christian doctrines such as suffering, judgment, sacrifice, hell or death from sin,� Yip said. �Their church services are scripted and �produced� with deliberate use of contemporary music, sound and lighting.�6
These observations sadly are true. Churches such as Prince�s New Creation Church and many others around the world have chosen to denigrate the Word of God simply by refusing to preach all of its truths. They blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ by offering false teachings in His name.
�Positive living and blessings� by the world�s standards do not necessarily constitute the life of a true Christian. May believers be reminded that Christ taught of suffering for His name�s sake.
�If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: �A servant is not greater than his master.� If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. John 15:18�21
The blessings bestowed by God upon the Christian are far greater than any material trinket or temporal wealth (see Eph. 1:3�14). May we then follow in the steps of the apostles, who rejoiced in suffering for the name of their Savior, counting not cars and cash, but insults as blessings.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ�s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Pet. 4:13�14
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Acts 5:41-42
GOD'S SAINTS STRIVE FOR AND ONLY HAVE FAITH IN *TREASURES* AND *REWARDS* IN HEAVEN!!
Ephesians 2:8,9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the **GIFT** of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!"
Matthew 5:19,20: Jesus says, �Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves **TREASURES** in Heaven!� Luke 12:33 adds �Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide for yourselves.. a **TREASURE** in heaven that will not be exhausted. For where your **TREASURE** is there your heart will be also!!�
22 Corinthians 6:6-10: As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses, in beatings, imprisonments; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God...Dying, and yet we live on, beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; **POOR**, yet making many rich, **HAVING NOTHING**, and yet **POSSESSING EVERYTHING**!!�
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him."
Ephesians 6:7,8: "Serve wholeheartedly...because you know that the Lord will *REWARD* everyone for whatever good he does!"
2 John 1:8: "Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be *REWARDED* fully!"
I Corinthians 3:6-9: Paul said, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be *REWARDED* according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!"
Daniel 12:3: "Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!"
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your *REWARD* in heaven!" {See Luke 6:35}
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My *REWARD* is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!"
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: "So we make it our goal to please Him..For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!"
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**{See Matt 24:30-31;25:31-40}, and **THEN** He will *REWARD* each person according to what he has done."
Jesus says in Rev 2:17; 3:4, 5, 21: �To him who overcomes...I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.....He will walk with Me for he is worthy... I will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels.... I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem.....I will write on him my New Name... and I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.� According to Rev 22:3 these 2 thrones will be the only thrones in the Heavenly New Jerusalem!.
So Salvation is a 100% FREE GIFT as per Ephesians 2:8,9 and eternal *REWARDS* for God's faithful saints are 100% earned!
I Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for *ACTION*, and set your hope *FULLY* on the grace to be given *YOU* when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED*!!"
